November 10, 2016
The U.S. Army’s Long-Range Missiles Could Be the Perfect Tool to Neutralize China’s Artificial Islands
Construction of China’s massive artificial island bases appears to be progressing rapidly, and is likely to transform the military balance of power in the South China Sea. In an unclassified letter, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper assessed that the cluster of island bases will provide China with the ability to “deploy a range of offensive and defensive military capabilities,” as well as “significant capacity to quickly project substantial offensive military power to the region.” He also stated that the facilities would likely be “completed by the end of 2016 or early 2017,” a time frame that is now upon us.
In order to maintain the ability to intervene in defense of U.S. national interests in the South China Sea at a reasonable level of risk and cost, the United States needs to rapidly develop innovative plans and tools to deal with these island bases, with timelines measured in months rather than years.
Read the full article on The National Interest.
More from CNAS
-
Indo-Pacific Futures – Critical technology
Podcast
Elsa Kania joins the National Security Podcast to discuss the technologies that have become critical to national security and how they’re going to shape the region over the co...
By Elsa B. Kania
-
Taliban Terror: How Can US Support Afghanistan?
Video
Will Afghan forces will be able to hold on to the Taliban terrorism and how long? Lisa Curtis, shares her thoughts on the ways the U.S. can support of Afghanistan. Watch the ...
By Lisa Curtis
-
The United States Can’t Afford the Brutal Price of Chinese Solar Panels
Commentary
Buying Chinese solar panels to reduce emissions is like using gas to put out a fire....
By Henry Wu
-
As the U.S. Withdraws All Remaining Troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban Advances
Video
Col (Ret.) Christopher Kolenda, Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS, speaks to Jim Sciutto about the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan....
By Christopher D. Kolenda
