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PRESS
RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 7, 2007
Contact: Abigail Shilling (202) 225-6365
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Forbes Questions Intentions on
China’s Reported Timeline
to Construct an Aircraft Carrier |
WASHINGTON, D.C. –
Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) reiterated his call for
transparency from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) after a
report that the PRC is on pace to develop an aircraft carrier by
2010:
“China’s unstated intentions continue to elicit rigorous examination
by Members of the Congressional China Caucus and other U.S. leaders
with regard to their aggressive military modernization. A Hong Kong
newspaper quoted a senior member of the PRC military as saying that
at current research and development levels, China will have the
ability to build an aircraft carrier by 2010. This announcement
rides on the coattails of China’s proposed 18% military budget
increase, which Chinese military officials indicated would be used
to increase pay and benefits for their soldiers.
“China’s construction of aircraft carriers, development of nuclear
missile submarines, and testing of anti-satellite weapons paints a
different picture. Persistent calls for transparency from China have
seemingly gone unanswered.”
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