US FEARS OVER CHINA LONG-RANGE MISSILES

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The US is increasingly concerned about China's deployment of mobile land and sea-based intercontinental ballistic nuclear missiles that have the range to hit the US, according to people familiar with an imminent Pentagon report on China's military.

The 2007 Pentagon China military power report will highlight the surprising pace of development of a new Jin-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine, which would carry a warhead with a range of more than 8,000km.

Washington is also concerned about the strategic implications of China's preparations to deploy new mobile, land-based DF-31A intercontinental ballistic missiles with the range to target the whole of the US.

“China is moving at a pretty rapid pace to becoming a military contender,” said a senior US official. “The pace has impressed people [in the US].”

The official said the report, which could be presented to Congress as early as today, would underscore that China has the “greatest potential” to compete with the US militarily.

The report will also renew concerns about the build-up of missiles across the Taiwan Strait, and the country's recent anti- satellite missile test.

Beijing has strongly criticised previous Pentagon reports on the Chinese military, which it sees as portraying China as a cold war-style enemy. The Chinese defence ministry yesterday declined to comment.

China has consistently surprised the Pentagon with the pace of its military development. This year, military experts have been taken aback at the development of the nuclear forces, and particularly the Jin-class submarine programme. The Chinese navy plans to deploy five such submarines. One is already being tested and could become operational next year.




美国国防部即将发表一份有关中国军力的报告。据熟悉该报告的人士称，美国越来越担心中国部署陆基机动和海基洲际弹道导弹，这种导弹的射程能够覆盖美国。

美国国防部2007年中国军力报告将强调，中国发展094型（晋级）弹道导弹核潜艇的速度相当惊人，这种核潜艇将搭载射程超过8000公里的核弹头。

美国政府还对中国准备部署新型陆基机动型DF-31A洲际弹道导弹的战略影响感到担心，这种导弹的射程可覆盖美国全境。
“中国正迅速成为一个军事竞争对手，”一位美国高级官员表示。“其速度令（美国）人感到吃惊。”

这位官员表示，报告将强调，中国具备与美国军力抗衡的“最大潜力”。这份报告可能最早于今日递交美国国会。

这份报告还将再次引发外界对于台海导弹部署以及中国最近反卫星导弹试射的担忧。

中国政府曾强烈批评美国国防部以往发表的中国军力报告，认为报告将中国描绘成一个冷战风格的敌对国家。中国国防部昨日拒绝置评。

中国的军事发展速度一直令美国国防部吃惊。今年，中国核力量的发展，尤其是094型核潜艇计划，令军事专家们感到吃惊。中国海军计划部署5艘这一型号的核潜艇。其中一艘已在进行海试，可能于明年服役。