China said to buy top-of-line Russia warships amid arms race concerns

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/afp/defense/021104075051.n67ilhw2.html

TAIPEI, Nov 4 (AFP) – 07:50 GMT – China plans to purchase more top Russian warships to block US attempts to confine the fast expansion of Chinese forces, it was reported Monday, raising concern among analysts that Taipei and Beijing could resume a cross-strait arms race.
The Taipei-based United Daily News said the People’s Liberation Armyplans to order Russian Akula nuclear submarines, with China’s own efforts to develop new nuclear submarines stalled by technical difficulties.

In so doing, “the Chinese communists hope to narrow their gap with the United States in the combat capability of submarines,” the paper said.

It said the PLA navy also plans to buy two Slava-class cruisers armed with 16 P-500 anti-ship missiles which, with a range of 550 kilometers (330 miles), which could threaten US battle carrier groups.

Also on the PLA’s shopping list are eight Kilo-class conventional submarines.

During a 1996 missile crisis the US sent two battle carrier groups to waters near Taiwan in a clear message warning Beijing not to invade Taiwan, leaving the outclassed PLA with few options.

“Since then the Chinese communists … have sought counter measures,” the paper said.

Keven Cheng, manager of Taiwan’s Defense International monthly magazine, said the report suggests a resumption of the arms race across the Taiwan Strait.

“The United States could sell Taiwan more advanced weaponry, given China’s continued arms buildup,” Cheng said.

The defense committee of Taiwan’s parliament last week approved the controversial budget to buy four used Kidd-class destroyers from the US.

Navy officials say they need the four warships — modern compared with a current fleet of seven, 50-year-old destroyers — because they are can serve as offshore military command platforms should war break out.

The 9,600-tonne Kidd-class destroyers, replacing the aging fleet, would be armed with Standard II-3A surface-to-air missiles, which have a range of 144 kilometers (90 miles) and vastly outperform Standard I missiles currently installed on Taiwan’s Perry-class frigates.

The first two Kidd-class destroyers could enter Taiwanese service by 2005 at the earliest, the navy estimates.