China did not feature prominently in the U.S. threat assessment for 1980. Focus was on the Soviet build-up, the crisis in Iran, and efforts to bring political stability to the Korean peninsula following the assassination of South Korea’s president in 1979. Instead, the normalization of U.S.-China relations in January 1979, “greatly influenced the strategic situation […]
Tag Archives: China Assessment
1981 CINCPAC China Assessment
One of the most important new developments was the launching of China’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missiles submarine. Designated the “Xia” class by the West, the new submarine had been under development for about 20 years and was equipped with 12 launch tubes for ballistic missiles (the designated JULANG-1 missile did not become operational until a […]
1982 CINCPAC China Assessment
After a pause in 1981, China resumed nuclear testing in 1982 with an underground explosion in October. Overall, nuclear forces continued to evolve with 10 ICBM sites reported including 9-20 launchers, and 64 shorter-range surface-to-surface missile (IRBM/MRBM) sites like the previous year. The number of ICBM launchers represented an increase over the previous year, although […]
1983 CINCPAC China Assessment
China conducted two underground nuclear test explosions during the year, and four new ICBM sites were reported, bringing the total to 14. The number of ICBM launchers, however, remained at 9-20. The number of shorter-range ballistic missile (IRBM/MRBM) launch sites and launchers remained unchanged compared with 1982. On the Korean situation, CINCPAC continued to stress […]
1992 CINCPAC China Assessment
Following the demise of the Soviet Union, the United States was struggling with analyzing its new security situation and foreign challenges. James Woolsey, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, said that, “We have slain a large dragon. But now we live in a jungle filled with a bewildering variety of poisonous snakes.” In listing […]
1991 CINCPAC China Assessment
Most China-related portions of the 1991 CINCPAC history remain classified, but U.S.-China relations appeared to continue at their low level from the late-1980s. CINCPAC’s Pacific Command Strategic included the following objectives for Northeast Asia with specific relevance for China: Maintain open channels with China to allow for renewal of a military relationship as political climate […]
1984 CINCPAC China Assessment
China’s positive status in support of U.S. foreign policy objectives was further enhanced in 1984. CINCPAC stated that he “appreciated the very important regional and global role” played by China in deterring Vietnamese aggression and countering Soviet power in the Pacific. About half of Vietnam’s forces were tied down along the Chinese border and approximately […]