China Building Up Its Military

China is building up its military for the long-term goal of projecting its power well beyond Taiwan, the self-governing island that draws most of the mainland’s attention today, a Pentagon report says. Durham Herald Sun
–Improvements in Chinese intercontinental-range missiles “capable of striking targets across the globe, including the United States.”

–Some air and naval force improvements, both planned and realized, are geared for future operations beyond the geography around Taiwan. These include airborne early warning and aerial refueling programs for the Chinese air force that will enable its fighter aircraft to operate in the South China Sea, for example.

–All of China’s short-range ballistic missiles, while deployed opposite Taiwan now, are mobile and can operate throughout the country to “take up firing positions in support of a variety of regional contingencies.”