Ballistic Missile Initial Defensive Operations: Preventing the U.S. from Sending China the Wrong Message

Abstract

The United States is planning to deploy Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) systems in late 2004 for the purpose of national missile defense against rogue nation attacks. Part of that deployment is the Initial Defensive Operation (IDO), which will include sea-based and land-based BMD systems in the Western Pacific region. If not carefully counterbalanced, IDO risks upsetting the delicate relationship that the United States has maintained with the People's Republic of China (PRC) by nullifying the Chinese nuclear deterrent. To avoid provoking Beijing while maintaining a cooperative United States-PRC relationship through IDO planning and deployment, the Commander United States Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM) should consider ways to counterbalance the negative message that IDO risks sending. USPACOM should increase communications and collaborative planning with the PRC, stepping up military-to-military relations to carefully and subtly show Beijing that overall United States policy toward China has not undergone a revolutionary change. (31 refs.)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 09, 2004
Accession Number
ADA422751

Entities

People

  • William S. O'connor

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Cold War
  • Department Of State
  • Foreign Relations
  • Governments
  • International Relations
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Navies (Foreign)
  • Sea Based
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • United States Pacific Command
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Strategic Security Studies