Pentagon to Shift Navy Forces to Counter Rising China

Published: Jan 26, 2006
Source: www.bloomberg.com



Jan. 25 (Bloomberg) -- The Pentagon has directed the Navy to assume a "greater presence" in the western Pacific by adding at least one aircraft carrier and five nuclear submarines over the next decade, according to a draft of the Pentagon's review of strategy and forces.

The increase will put half the Navy's aircraft carriers and 60 percent of its submarine fleet in the Pacific and is largely driven by the Pentagon's concern over China's increased military might, according to a congressional defense analyst.

``They recognize they may be challenged from a modernized Chinese maritime military force,'' said Ronald O'Rourke, the chief naval analyst for the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, who's written extensively on the subject. ``It's intended to send a signal of their concern.''continue..