prepared by Al Santoli in behalf of
The Conservative Caucus Research, Analysis & Education Foundation, Inc.
April, 2001

PRC IS SYSTEMATICALLY BUILDING ITS INFRASTRUCTURE AND INFLUENCE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

The emergence of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as an economic and military power bolstered by a new political and military partnership with Russia and rogue nations such as Iran, poses the greatest challenge to the security and freedom of Americans and our allies in the new Century. Beijing has also spread its influence into the Americas, through long-term leases of the strategic Panama Canal ports and Freeport, Bahamas, while establishing military relationships with Cuba, Venezuela and other countries.

WESTERN CAPITAL UNDERWRITES BEIJING’S AGENDA

During the past decade, China’s Communist regime has benefited from massive investments by Western capitalists, unprecedented loans and economic assistance from international lending institutions, and an annual trade surplus with the United States that has skyrocketed to $84 billion annually. The mushrooming trade surplus with the United States, compared to a slight trade deficit which the PRC has with the rest of the world, directly parallels the rate of Beijing’s massive arms build-up and its political arrogance, including its bullying of democratic neighbors such as the Republic of China on Taiwan (ROC) and the Philippines. In early 2001, top PRC military leaders again made thinly-veiled nuclear threats to the United States.

BEIJING-MOSCOW AXIS POSES NEW THREATS TO U.S.

While continuing to control its people with an iron fist, the Chinese Communists’ massive military expansion program has rapidly modernized its air force, navy and nuclear missile forces. weapons of mass destruction and developing futuristic cyber and aero-space lethal technologies, has created a threat unprecedented in American history.

PRC NUCLEAR THREAT "MADE IN THE USA"

While the People’s Liberation Army now targets some 300 ballistic missiles against Taiwan, Red China’s mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles and a new generation of multi-warhead submarine-launched nuclear missiles can hit almost all areas of the United States. The PRC’s new missile systems were developed with American supercomputers and rocket technology, bought from willing U.S. corporations or stolen through numerous Chinese espionage rings that took advantages of the corruption and decimation of America’s national security infrastructure during the Clinton Administration.

Communist China has prepared for conflict with the West by studying the defeat of the Soviet Union and America’s military and political successes in the post-Cold War. The result has been a new anti-Western strategy called "assymetrical" or "unrestricted" warfare, which adapts the premises of ancient martial arts to a high-tech environment, viewing America’s technological strengths, international-dependent economy and "Superpower" over-confidence as our greatest vulnerabilities. This "assymetrical" doctrine by Communist Chinese war planners has been articulated in numerous speeches and writings by some of the People’s Liberation Army’s foremost military leaders. The most comprehensive explanation of China’s "assymetrical" strategy, is articulated in the book, "Unrestricted Warfare," published by the People’s Liberation Army Publishing House in 1999. The PRC assymetrical strategy includes the use of terrorism, organized crime, narcotics smuggling, disruption of computer systems, economic sabotage and both intercontinental and back-pack nuclear weapons as a means of black mail or terror against a "Super Power."

CAPTURING THE CHOKEPOINTS: FROM PANAMA TO THE STRAITS

Worldwide, Communist China appears to be methodically positioning itself commercially and militarily along the key naval choke points between the Indian Ocean [its bases in Burma]; the South China Sea [Hong Kong]; the Straits of Malacca [the Spratley Islands and a growing role in Cambodia]; the central Pacific [a major land satellite tracking station on Tarawa]; near the coast of Hawaii [a major ocean mining tract]; the Caribbean [Cuba and the Bahamas]; the Suez Canal; and now the Panama Canal. Red China’s flagship commercial shipping fleet, China Ocean Shipping Company [COSCO], is directly connected to the People’s Liberation Army and Chinese Communist government. COSCO ships have served as carriers for massive smuggling operations around the world – including the United States -- of weapons, drugs and illegal aliens. In addition, COSCO has been used by the Communist Chinese government to ship missiles and components of weapons of mass destruction to rogue nations such as Pakistan and Iran.

LOOKING FOR VACUUMS TO FILL

The PRC’s aggressive strategy to dominate the Asia-Pacific region is exemplified in their growing fortifications in the strategic Spratley Islands of the South China Sea and blunt public warnings to the Philippines by Beijing. A "vacuum-filling" pattern seems to be emerging: Wherever in the Pacific the U.S. withdraws or is negligent militarily, politically or economically, the Chinese Communists move in.

TARGETING THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

In the America’s hemisphere, in addition to a growing commercial prowess in Caribbean ports such as the Bahamas and Panama, China recently completed military/intelligence agreements with Cuba to build communications intelligence facilities adjacent to Russia’s massive technical spy center at Lourdes, Cuba. The Lourdes facility monitors the U.S. Atlantic fleet and elements of U.S. Pacific fleet operations, as well as domestic commercial and military communications throughout the Americas. In addition, the Chinese military is now selling weapons and offering support to Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador.

NARCO-TERRORISM AS A POLITICAL STRATEGY

There is a well-documented history of both Russian and Chinese organized crime organizations working as tools of their governments. In Panama, where government corruption is rampant, there is a dangerous convergence of well-financed Chinese and Russian mobs with Cuban government operatives and Latin American drug lords, leftists and narco-terrorist militants. This dark partnership is a threat to democracy in Panama and in neighboring countries, and is a direct long-term threat to Mexico and the United States.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION USED TO DESTABILIZE

A White House report, released in December 2000, entitled "International Crime Threat Assessment," details how Chinese organized crime organizations from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Macau and Taiwan have exploited Canada’s lax immigration policies as a base for operations in the United States. The 120 page study, was produced by the CIA, the FBI, U.S. Customs Service and specialists from ten other U.S. government agencies.

THE GROWING TRIAD NETWORK EXPLOITED FOR CRIME AND ESPIONAGE

FOREIGN STUDENTS USED TO ACQUIRE "DUAL USE" TECHNOLOGY

A December 28, 1999 report in the Toronto Globe and Mail describes a series of secret documents by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service [CSIS] revealing how foreign spies have set up covert networks – including front companies and visiting scientists and students -- in Canada to obtain technology and materials illegally to produce weapons of mass destruction. The CSIS describes clandestine procurement networks that often "employ bogus companies. One CSIS briefing paper discussed how espionage agencies "use graduate students and visiting scientists involved in technical exchanges to obtain restricted dual-use expertise…" In addition, a Canadian joint-agency intelligence study, code named "Sidewinder," completed in the mid-1990s, linked covert smuggling networks and the creation of companies by Chinese organized crime groups and Hong Kong tycoons who are associated with the Red Chinese government and intelligence agencies.

ARMS SMUGGLING INTO U.S. IS OFFICIAL POLICY

During the late 1990’s, law enforcement officials in the United States, Taiwan, the Philippines, Panama and other strategic locations discovered a "New World Order" among Chinese organized crime networks, known as "Triads," some of whom have known ties to the Chinese Communist government and intelligence agencies. These groups run inter-related operations involving narcotics, weapons, technology and the smuggling of thousands of illegal aliens women forced into prostitution. In Central America, law enforcement officials have linked the Triads to narcotics and gun running partnerships with the Russian mafia, which has strong KGB ties, and the Colombian narco-terrorist cartels.

Chinese weapons smuggling into North America also involves high level Chinese officials and state-owned firms. In 1996, the U.S. Customs Service seized a shipment of 2,000 automatic weapons aboard a COSCO ship at the port of Oakland, California. The man identified as the arms dealer, Wang Jun, is the head of China’s Polytechnologies Company, the international outlet for Chinese government weapons sales. Jun also sits on the Board of CITIC, the China International Trust and Investment Corporation, the chief investment arm of the Communist Chinese central government. It is also the bank of the People’s Liberation Army, providing financing for Chinese Army weapons sales and for the purchase of Western technology. Jun’s fellow CITIC Board member is Mr. Li Ka Shing, chairman of Hutchinson Whampoa Ltd.

Hutchison Whampoa is the Chinese Hong Kong company that was awarded the 25 year lease of the Panama Canal’s ports, through its HIT subsidiary or Panama Ports Company. Hutchison has substantial links to the Chinese communist government and the People’s Liberation Army in its worldwide operations. For example, the Panama Ports Company is 10 percent owned by China Resources Enterprise [CRE], which is the commercial arm of Red China’s Ministry of Trade and Economic Co-operation. In its investigation into China’s attempts to influence the 1996 U.S. presidential campaign, the U.S. Senate Government Affairs Committee identified CRE as a conduit for "espionage – economic, political and military – for China." Committee Chairman Senator Fred Thompson said that CRE has "geopolitical purposes. Kind of like a smiling tiger; it might look friendly, but its very dangerous."

The Senate Committee also revealed that Hutchison Whampoa’s subsidiary, HIT has business ventures with the China Ocean Shipping Company, COSCO, which is owned by the People’s Liberation Army. COSCO has been criticized for shipping Chinese missiles, missile components, jet fighters and other weapons technologies to nations such as Libya, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan.

Li Ka Shing has profound ties to the Beijing regime. Li has invested more than a billion dollars in the PRC and owns most of the dock space in Hong Kong. In an exclusive deal with the People’s Republic of China’s communist government, Li has the right of first refusal over all PRC ports south of the Yangtze river, which involves a close working relationship with the Chinese military and businesses controlled by the People’s Liberation Army.

GAINING ACCESS TO MILITARILY SIGNIFICANT U.S. TECHNOLOGY

Li has served as a middle man for PLA business dealings with the West. For example, Li financed several satellite deals between the U.S. Hughes Corporation and China Hong Kong Satellite (CHINASAT), a company owned by the People’s Liberation Army. In 1997, Li Ka Shing and the Chinese Navy nearly obtained four huge roll-on/roll-off container ships, which can be used for transporting military cargo, in a deal that would have been financed by U.S. taxpayers.

A June 1997 Rand report, "Chinese Military Commerce and U.S. National Security," stated, "Hutchison Whampoa of Hong Kong, controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka Shing, is also negotiating for PLA wireless system contracts, which would build upon his equity interest in Poly-owned Yangpu Land Development Company, which is building infrastructure on China’s Hainan Island." In 1998, Li Ka Shing attempted to issue $2 billion in bonds, through his Hutchinson company, in the United States. According to the Dow Jones Newswire, Hutchinson revealed that 50 percent of the bonds would be used through a subsidiary known as Chung Kiu Communications Ltd., which had signed agreements to provide cellular services and equipment to joint ventures between the People’s Liberation Army and the Red Chinese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

CONTROL OF PANAMA PORTS IS STRATEGICALLY SIGNIFICANT

Red Chinese control of the port business in Panama has both commercial and strategic importance. With its economic strength, Hutchison Whampoa is becoming a dominant economic force in Panama. Hutchinson Whampoa, through its operations in Panama, the Bahamas. England, Holland and Hong Kong, is gaining strong influence over the movement of merchandise from Japan, Korea and other Asian exporters headed for the U.S. and Europe.

The governments of Russia and China have begun drafting of an expanded Sino-Russian "strategic cooperative partnership" agreement, expected to be signed in mid-2001. The agreement, aimed against the United States and its allies, includes a prominent military cooperation mechanism. According to the Russian and Chinese media, The treaty will stress, "the need to oppose international hegemonism [U.S. world dominance], power politics and military blocs’ military invasion and blackmail against sovereign states… When a signatory state to the treaty experiences military aggression, the other signatory state should, if requested, provide political, economic and military support and launch joint attacks against the invading forces." Although two years ago US officials did not take Russia’s security ties with China seriously, today their mood has shifted. "Our real concern," said a US military official said, "is in the things we can’t see -- the technical transfers, Russian help on China’s cruise missile program, its rockets and strategic forces."

U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS TARGETED

During the past three years, Russian and PRC military officials have conducted bilateral visits, as Russia has made available its most advanced air, naval and space-age weapons technology to the Red Chinese military. In a November 2000 visit to Beijing, Russian Premier Mikhail Kasayanov completed several military technology contracts that were signed the following month during the Russia-China Bilateral Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation meeting. The Russian media reported that purchases included various types of 3-deminensional radar systems, Shtil ship-based anti-aircraft missile systems, electronic warfare systems, Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters and Ka-27 ship-based helicopters. The Moscow Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported, some "very influential" Russian Federation military-political leaders are in favor of Chinese PLA having, in event of a conflict between the PRC and Taiwan, the potential of "guaranteed destruction of any US navy aircraft carrier strike groupings." China would also be able to "count on a positive decision by Russia" to provide reconnaissance satellite information on strategic military facilities in Taiwan.

TECHNOLOGY AND WEAPONS TRANSERS FULLY UNDERWAY

In January 2001, the Russian delivered to Communist China the first ten Su-30MKK advanced jet fighters. Another 40 Su-30MKK fighters will be delivered to Red China during the next two or three years. Within the next few years the fleet of Communist Chinese combat airplanes delivered from Russia, including the forthcoming delivery of 28 advanced Su-27 fighters, will total 118. In addition, an aircraft factory in Shenyang, China under license with Russia, will manufacture and addition 200 Su-27 jet fighters during the next 15 years. Russian aircraft, combined with indigenous Chinese production of a new generation of advanced jet fighters, have led U.S. intelligence officials to predict that Beijing will have air superiority over the Taiwan Strait within the next five years.

PRC’S SUBMARINE FLEET ACQUIRES SUPERSONIC TORPEDOES

The Chinese purchase of advanced Russian Kilo-class submarines and Sovremenny Class destroyers armed with supersonic SS-N-22 Sunburn missiles, which are nuclear capable, have substantially upgraded the Chinese navy. In addition, China has purchased around 40 of the advanced Russian Shkval [Squall] torpedoes. The advanced supersonic 27-foot-long torpedoes, which are off-limits for sale to the United States and the West, was the central issue of the Putin Government’s charges of espionage against US businessman Edward Pope. The torpedo travels through the water at a speed of up to 300 miles per hour, five times faster than other torpedoes.

The modernization of China’s conventional and strategic war fighting has far outpaced recent predictions by U.S. officials that China would not be a formidable threat until the middle of the 21^st Century. The lifting of U.S. export controls on supercomputers and sensitive telecommunications technology, aero-space cooperation, massive numbers of Chinese graduate students and scientists at America’s advanced university and defense technology programs have helped the Communist Chinese leap-frog two generations or more of dual-use technologies. In addition, the Pentagon’s ill-advised U.S.-China military-to military exchanges, as well as the new Sino-Russian strategic partnership have enabled China to make a "great leap forward," in military strength and capabilities. Flexing their new hi-tech muscles, China’s military leaders have repeatedly stated that their primary enemy is the United States "hegemonist," and make no secret of their determination to defeat U.S. forces in battle.

BEIJING READY TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGAINST THEIR "MAIN ENEMY"

During a review of recent war games, the Chinese government’s Central Military Commission met with joint military leaders to develop the new 5-year plan for the People’s Liberation Armed Forces [PLA]. The "principles guiding the plan," include: "Striving to posses the strength to win a high-tech war against intervening foreign [US] military forces while force is used against Taiwan." And, "Striving to possess the capability to counter-attack the hegemonist [US] military forces, including nuclear weapons capability."

TAIWAN IS BEING ISOLATED

Last summer, the People’s Liberation Army [PLA] conducted large-scale joint military exercises along their coast of the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating significant new fire power coordination and command-and-control capabilities. The PLA’s new high-tech capabilities, are based on U.S. military tactics with technology and weapons systems purchased or stolen from the U.S., Russia, and Israel. The PLA’s growing ballistic and cruise missile inventory, Russian Su-27 and Su-30 fighter aircraft, Information and Electronic warfare technologies and newly acquired Russian SS-N-22 supersonic anti-ship missiles pose an immediate potent threat to Taiwan’s military, whose leaders feel increasingly isolated from the West, and to U.S. military forces. Increasingly, the PLA boasts of "assymetrical" 21^st Century weapons systems, such as anti-satellite and electromagnetic pulse weapons being developed with Russian assistance, which will be used to attack U.S. dependency on high-tech military systems.

REGIONAL DESTABILIZATION IS NOT ACCIDENTAL

Last summer, along the Indian Ocean, in Burma, Chinese military advisory teams oversaw air-land-sea-communications exercises by forces of the SLORC [or SPDC] military junta, along the coast of the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, some 300 nautical miles from India, and within 450 miles of the strategic Straits of Malacca. Joining the PLA teams were observers from Pakistan’s military, which along with China, supplies fighter aircraft and other military supplies to Burma. These exercises demonstrated not only significant progress in the PLA’s hi-tech military modernization, but Beijing’s consolidation alliances with non-democratic anti-Western nations along its massive border, from Central Asia to the Pacific. In addition, in late July the PLA’s main newspaper openly published a description of its warship patrols and ultra-modern network of "fortresses of the sea" being built in the Spratley Islands, which are contested by neighboring countries.

The "assymetrical" multi-dimensional threat across Asia posed by the Beijing-Islamabad-SLORC alliance is directed against Asian democracies, such as India, Thailand and the Philippines. It is further demonstrated by China’s direct or indirect support for military aggression, terrorism and narcotics trafficking across southern Asia. Thailand’s main national security threat at present is the rapid expansion of meth-amphetamine narcotics trafficking by the PLA-backed 25,000 soldier Wa tribal army[UWSA] in Burma, who are expanding trafficking routes to the central and southern Burma-Thai border with the support of the SLORC. In addition, the Wa have moved members of its army to the India border, where they are trafficking PLA weapons to rebel tribal groups, such as the Nagas.

IRON FIST AND PROBING GLOVE

Beijiing is conducting a "double-edged" diplomatic strategy to further its strategic goals in the region, as demonstrated in China’s political/military pursuit to control the South China Sea. When pressured internationally, Beijing uses negotiation tactics to keep neighboring governments hopeful of peaceful compromise while the PLA continues its determined military build-up of permanent "fortresses" in the Spratley Islands.

In recent months, Thailand has been increasingly vocal about the sale of weapons by Beijing to the SLORC and the inter-relationship of SLORC and Chinese elements with the Wa drug-trafficking armies. On September 1, the Thai Foreign Ministry optimistically reported to the media that its diplomats had reached an agreement to work with China on a counter-narcotics policy in the Golden Triangle. However, this agreement should be viewed with skepticism. Although Beijing is concerned about the spread of drug abuse in southern China, the recent military exercises on the Burma coast indicate that the PLA cooperation with the SLORC is growing.

Thai and Indian security experts believe that Beijing is determined to control Burma’s strategic waterways to the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, for both economic and strategic purposes. There are numerous reports of the increased presence of Chinese migrants and security personnel who now dominate the banks of the strategic Irrawaddy and Salween Rivers.

In addition, as in the Beijing’s military partnership with Pakistan, the creators and still chief weapons supplier and military advisor to the Islamic extremist-Taliban, Beijing seeks to keep narcotics and Muslim fundamentalism out of its territory, while tolerating campaigns by such fanatics to destabilize or terrorize rival nations.

The preservation of ROC’s independence is essential to achieve a transition form Communism in mainland China and to safeguard the prospects for liberty and self-determination throughout the Asia-Pacific region. To the contrary, the surrender of Taiwan would be a potential death knell for freedom’s cause in the region and a threat to U.S. global security interest. Governments in the region are closely monitoring the U.S. relationship with Taiwan (ROC). If the United States abandons the ROC, or if the island republic is militarily conquered by Beijing, it will cause Southeast Asian nations to switch their alliance from the United States to Communist China.

Taiwan is undergoing a remarkable and perilous democratic transition. The island republic has become the first Chinese society to reject authoritarian government in favor of elected leaders and a free society. However, both the KMT and DPP parties are fragmented and appear to be drifting without clear policy directions. This has been caused, in part, by pressure from the Clinton Administration on Taiwan’s new elected leaders. Seemingly abandoned by its primary ally and protector, and shunned politically by much of the international community, some prominent Taiwan business leaders and politicians appear to be trying to fatalistically, or opportunistically, "cut the best deal they can get" with Beijing. The transfer of key industries to China, is giving away an important layer of Taiwan’s economic defense against military attack. The current emphasis on developing government-financed social programs while cutting-back on military spending may also be denigrating Taiwan’s vigilance against a determined dictatorship just 100 miles from its shore. This is also affecting the morale within Taiwan’s military.

During ongoing large-scale military exercises, Beijing has demonstrated significant new joint-service war-fighting skills "under high-tech conditions" that are steadily altering the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait. The PLA is applying U.S. military doctrine to integrate its relentlessly expanding strategic missile forces, high-performance Su-27 and Su-30 jet fighters purchased from Russia, blue-water navy ships -- including a Sovremenny –class destroyer with deadly SS-N-22 anti-ship missiles – and state-of-the-art secure communications systems purchased from U.S. and other Western companies. In addition, the PLA is creating advanced Information and Electronic Warfare units.

Taiwan’s senior military intelligence analysts observe that in ongoing large-scale exercises, PLA is showing surprising rapid advances in joint maneuvers between naval, air force, marine infantry, paratroop, armored, and missile units. The PLA is developing a radar information network that includes some 68 radars interconnected for the Chinese Air Force. With new generations of jet fighters, the PLA air force has been notably more aggressive in flying missions over the Taiwan Strait. On the other hand, with a 2 to 8 minute response time to a PLA air or missile strike across the Strait, Taiwan has repeatedly requested that the United States help upgrade its early-warning radar systems and to make available software that integrate its disparate early warning systems.

COMMUNICATION, COMMAND, AND CONTROL REALITIES SHAPE POLICY

Taiwan’s military is particularly concerned with the PLA’s rapid advances in utilizing a national "plug-and-play" fiber-optic civilian telecom network to thoroughly secure its military communications. At the same time, Taiwan believes its current military information system is relatively easy for the PLA to monitor. Taiwan believes its forces have fallen behind the PLA in the important command-and-control area, which could lead to ultimate defeat.

The PLA’s doctrine of "assymetrical" warfare emphasizes paralyzing the high-tech strength of the U.S. and our allies, through attacks on military, economic and governmental computerized information systems. Since mid-1999, some of the first incidents of 21^st Century Internet warfare have been conducted across the Strait, with the PLA now openly recruiting an, "army of hackers," in civilian newspapers. Taiwan’s military planners believe it is significant that Beijing is psychologically preparing the civilian population for a potential war. This includes activities such as a highly publicized mid-August air raid drill in the Shanghai area – the first such drill in 50 years.

The PLA has an aggressive new program to develop exotic high-tech weapons, titled Project 1-26, which was initiated in January, 2000. This program involves dual-use space and information technology, and exotic weapons such as miniaturized nanno weapons. Unfortunately, Communist China is using technology from the U.S., Europe and Israel in aspects of this project. In addition, the PLA is developing deception tactics to protect its missiles and other forces from detection by U.S. satellites.

These activities may not mean that Beijing is ready to immediately launch a war to conquer Taiwan. However, the PLA’s rapid advances do show that PRC is serious in its professed claims to dominate the Asia-Pacific region during the 21^st Century. This is underscored by Beijing’s steadily increasing military budget – a 17 percent increase in 2001 -- and a relentless pursuit to develop a blue water navy, state-of the-art anti-satellite and Information and Electronic warfare capabilities and, especially, medium- and long-range ballistic missile forces capable of hitting American bases anywhere in the Pacific and all regions of the continental United States.

The perception of cross-Strait military advantage in Beijing, and confidence in their militant alliance with Russia against U.S. intervention, will increase the possibility of an act of aggression by the PLA. It is significant that the PLA navy war games have included Jiangsu province and the East China Sea, adjacent to U.S. bases in Japan and Okinawa. It is essential, for the security of Taiwan and regional stability, that the United States cease its "ambiguity" and immediately assist Taiwan’s military in addressing the above-mentioned challenges.

U.S. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS:

Ballistic Missile Defense:

In order to defend our homeland, our allies and American troops in the Asia-Pacific region from ballistic missile attack from the Red Chinese, the Russians, and their allies, the United States must develop and deploy as rapidly as possible both national and theater missile defense systems.

Counterintelligence:

The United States must revitalize its counter-intelligence capabilities to secure government agencies and sensitive facilities from penetration by Communist Chinese and other intelligence agencies. A program must be developed to identify and monitor all Chinese visiting students and scientists working in advanced technology departments of universities, U.S. labs and in defense-related U.S. private companies.

Homeland Defense:

The U.S. Governors Association has called for the creation of a Federal Homeland Defense organization to develop and coordinate a national effort against the threat of terrorism and nuclear-biological chemical attacks in the continental United States This effort should include coordination between Federal and local agencies, and training for local emergency-response agencies. And to address the threat of cyber- and information warfare, it should also include the security of cyber and other information systems vital to the economy, vital utilities, and our national defense.

A Comprehensive U.S. Security Policy for the Asia-Pacific Region:

The mid- to long-term effect of Beijing’s increasing military, political and economic prowess may leave the United States without stable or reliable allies in the vital Asia-Pacific region, which is essential to America’s economic stability and national security. In addition, Beijing has become increasingly active – economically, politically, and incorporating Triad organized crime networks – in the South Pacific and in the Pacific rim nations of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is imperative that America develop a comprehensive Asia –Pacific security policy that would:

• Demonstrate support for democratic movements to replace dictatorial anti-U.S. regimes such as the SLORC in Burma and the Taliban in Afghanistan;
• Provide assistance to U.S. allies and indigenous forces to defeat narcotics traffickers and terrorists such as the Wa on the Thai-Burma border and the Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the Philippines;
• Encourage an end to systematic and high-level corruption in allied countries such as the Philippines and Thailand;
• Sell to the ROC (Taiwan) long-range radars and software links for early warning against missile attack, and assist Taiwan’s military to develop secure information systems
• Cease access for PLA officials to U.S. doctrinal, tactical and logistical centers; and
• Encourage and strengthen pro-freedom and democratic groups within Communist China.

Executive and Legislative Branch National Security Cooperation:

In order to prevent a major and highly destructive future conflict, the U.S. Government must counter the aggressive "assymetrical" doctrine of Beijing and its allies, by creating a Task Force that would fully integrate America’s 1) conventional military, 2) information and electronic warfare systems, 3) missile defense agencies, 4) counter-narcotics, customs, immigration and law enforcement agencies, 5) human, Signal intelligence and aero-space intelligence agencies, 6) US information and surrogate radio networks, and 7) economic and diplomatic agencies, into a pro-active national security team. In order to assure effective coordination and to deter inter-agency rivalries, the Task Force should be under the direction of the White House. In addition, Congress should create a pro-active bi-partisan joint-committee "homeland defense" team to interact with the Executive Task Force.

The Russia-China Alliance:

Russian political and military officials should be urged at every opportunity by members of the U.S. Executive Branch and Congress to reconsider Moscow’s military cooperation and weapons transfers to Beijing.

Al Santoli is Editor of the "China Reform Monitor" for the American Foreign Policy Council.  He is also a best selling military history author.   Santoli's books include "Everything We Did: An Oral History of the Vietnam War"; "To Bear Any Burden"; "Leading the Way"; and "New Americans".  He is on the Board of Advisors of the Washington-based Center for Security Policy and is a member of the Asia Advisory Board of the International Republican Institute.

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