Chinese Power Analysed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 17

Chinese Power Analysed

(N.I.P.A. itfutor—Copyright) PARIS, Dec. 16. The United States told its N.A.T.O. allies yesterday that China now has a ballistic missile submarine which could be equipped with rockets within two years.

The Defence Secretary, Mr McNamara, analysing Chinese strength and policies, said that the Chinese could have Intercontinental rockets in 10 years and medium-range missiles by IH«7. Mr McNamara nevertheless pledged that the United States would not drain off major combat units from Europe to South-east Asia because of the Vietnam war. It was estimated that the Chinese could probably deploy several missile launchers by 1968-69 The Defence Secretary was briefing Defence Ministers of the 15-nation alliance behind closed doors at the regular winter N A T O. Council meeting He said that over the next two years the Chinese could produce enough fissionable material to conduct a modest nuclear test programme—and perhaps produce even a small number of nuclear weapons. “Net Great Power" Mr McNamara also said that China today was not a great Power able to challenge the Western alliance, but at some point along the road it might be able to do so. He gave a detailed account on the conventional war potential of China.

The Chinese Army, with 2.300.000 men, was the largest In the world, Mr McNamara reported. Its Air Force was considerable, although Its striking power was reduced through obsolescence and vulnerability. The Air Force had more than 1300 Russian-designed MIGs. The N.A.T.O. Ministers also discussed the controversial plan put by their military chiefs to boost the total Strength of the alliance armed forces. The totals are top secret. U.K. Problems Conference sources said that Mr Healey made it plain that Britain, because of her defence commitments outside the N.A.T.O. area and her economic problems, considered the plan as unrealistic and would not support it The British Minister said

that if the plan were adopted it would add 3.8 per cent to Britain's defence budget. He proposed instead that N.A.T.O. agree to a five-year programme for building up iU forces because this would make planning more effective and economic. Two Reservations There were a couple of reservations to Mr McNamara's statement. Norwegian sources said Mr McNamara seemed to be trying to broaden the scope of N.A.T.O. They said that there appeared to be little the smaller N.A.T.O. Powers could do to cope with such a distant threat. Commenting on Mr McNamara's statement that China could be a threat within five years, Belgian officials aaid that the main thrust of this build-up appeared to be directed at the Soviet Union. “In any event,” one source saldfl “we are more concerned about tomorrow than several years from now."