Document No. 65

Document No. 65
by Linda A. Prussen-Razzano

With the victory of Taiwan's Chen Shui-bian, a pro-independence candidate, the saber rattling from China has increased exponentially. As early as last month, the Strait Times warned that China had prepared Document No. 65, which detailed just how they would reincorporate Taiwan into their "One China" policy:

"Document No. 65," allegedly produced by the military sub-committee of the Chinese Community Party's central committee, discussed the possible course of a war over the disputed island claimed by China. "We would have to make a military intervention as early as possible, before the American troops are fully operational," according to the document cited by the German magazine.

"Faced with US bombardment of key sites and military installations, the document stressed that China has roughly the same level of conventional forces and would benefit from a fight close to its own territory. While arguing that the US would have little interest in starting a nuclear war over the island, the file said that Beijing would be ready to turn to its nuclear arsenal should circumstances demand. [1]

Military experts can and do disagree about China's level of commitment towards launching a full-scale assault against the United States should we intercede on Taiwan’s behalf. While full-scale nuclear war seems highly questionable at this time, one thing remains certain: China has, for the last 50 years, fought against what they perceive as American "hegemony." In light of our involvement in Kosovo and the United Nations' latest assertion that "humanitarian concerns" can pre-empt a nation's sovereignty, they see attempted American domination and hegemony as the greatest threats to their survival.

If their efforts are simply saber rattling, they are putting on a good show. The Central News Agency has reported that roughly 1,000 fishing ships have surrounded the Pratas Islands, "forming what amounts to a blockade around the isolated coral atolls located some 240 nautical miles southwest of the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung." [2] This is apparently the beginning of a much larger assault. The Howangjio Weekly reported that preparations "included plans to send 200,000 fishing vessels with a 2 million-strong invading force to take over Taiwan." [3]

The fishing vessels have also closed in on Matsu Island, near Fujian. Although the Ministry for National Defense denied reports of military movement into Fujian, a Washington source revealed that "war preparedness in that area has been stepped up."

Further, on March 18, 2000, Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao's newsletter reported "The People's Air Defense Office of Fuzhou also made public through the media that Fuzhou would carry out large-scale publicity of air defense knowledge and conduct air-defense and defense exercises among the residents. The media also disclosed: Fuzhou City has allocated 60 million yuan for linking up as soon as possible existing underground air defense tunnels to form an air-defense system that spreads to all parts of the city to ensure 70 to 80 percent of the residents will be able to take shelter in the underground air defense tunnels in war time." [4]

We know that China recently made large purchases of battleships and other military technology from Russia. They have rejected peaceful meetings between Chen's representatives and China's President, Jiang Zemin. As with Serbia's Kosovo, China will hold the line and see how far they can push the United States.

Will we cave? Probably.

It's safe that say that at another time, and under a different administration, this international push and shove would not be taking place. Sadly, the Clinton administration runs its foreign policy directives the same way they run their domestic policy directives -- by the seat of its pants.

Surprised? I'm not. This is the same administration that wants to slash the funding for our APT (Accelerator Production of Tritium) program by some $30 million. "Tritium is a gas which is the critical element of nuclear weapons. Without tritium, nuclear weapons do not work, and is an element which decays at a rate of 5.5%-per-year, giving it a definite life span. At this rate of decay, the tritium supply of the United States will be depleted in approximately 10-years resulting in the unilateral disarmament of the [United States] unless new production is started by 2007." [5]

This is also the same administration that also decided not to fund the multi-level investigation known as "Golden Tiger," which was designed to investigate dual-use technology smuggling and transfers (particularly by U.S. rocket makers) to Communist China. [6]

Step by incremental step, the Clinton-Gore administration is conceding to our strategic enemies and stripping us of our defenses.

Yeah, team.

Notes

1. Straits Times, "China ‘ready to fight US over Taiwan," February 21, 2000.

2. Central News Agency, "Thousands of Mainland Chinese Fishing Boats Blockading ROC Islands," Taipei, by Deborah Kuo, March 20, 2000.

3. UPI, "Chinese report: Nuclear war with US to 'liberate' Taiwan," March 20, 2000 17:46 (ET).

4. Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao, "Ta Kung Pao Reports Military Activity in Fujian," March 18, 2000.

5. Press Release, Senator Strom Thurmond, "President & Energy Dept. Make SRS, USA Suffer: APT Funding Reduction Risks Disarmament, Violates Statute," Washington, February 9, 2000.

6. Newsweek International, "Paper Tiger," March 20, 2000.