Defense Secretary Talks to Media on Tarmac

choi

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Transcript: Media Availability with Secretary Gates en route to Beijing, China from Andrews Air Force Base. Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs), US DEpartment of Defense.
http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4748

Quote:

(a) China alleged intention to buy
      
           "Q:  Mr. Secretary, would you consider the sale of U.S. helicopters – non-military variety of helicopters to China if they asked?

            "SECRETARY GATES:  That’s the first I’ve ever heard of it, so I would have to –

            "Q:  They’ve said they want to buy certain kinds of dual-use helicopters – (inaudible).

           "SECRETARY GATES:  I’d have to look at it.  I just – I don’t want to answer just off the top of my head.

(b) J-20

           "Q:  Secretary, considering the revelations recently about the new ballistic missile that the Chinese are developing faster than American – the U.S. intelligence thought and the stealth fighter photos which have come out, does this – first of all, does this lend any additional urgency to your visit?  Are you particularly concerned about that?  And secondly, are you doing anything to address the possible – or checking to possible intelligence lapses that allowed them to get further than expected?

           "SECRETARY GATES:  Well, I think, first of all, we’ve been watching these developments all along.  I’ve been concerned about the development of the anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles ever since I took this job.  I would – we knew they were working on a stealth aircraft.  I think that what we’ve seen is that they may be somewhat further ahead in the development of that aircraft than our intelligence had earlier predicted.
* * *
           "Q:  Let me just clarify what you said.  You said the intel on the stealth fighter was – that they were (moving ?)ahead of that, faster than you thought?

           "SECRETARY GATES:  Somewhat.
* * *
           "Q:  Do you believe that this stealth fighter once and for all.  There’s a lot of talk about whether or not it actually is a stealth – (fighter ?).

            "SECRETARY GATES:  I think there is some question about just how stealthy.

(c) DF-21D

           "SECRETARY GATES:  Well, I don’t want to talk about hypothetical military situations.  I would say that – if I understood the first question correctly about whether the anti-ship missiles are operational at this point – is that the question?

           "MR. MORRELL:  Yes.

           "SECRETARY GATES:  I think that the development has proceeded fairly – I think they’re fairly far along, but whether it’s actually reached IOC or not, I just don’t know.

My comment:
(a) IOC: Initial Operating Capability
(b) Two news reports based on this interview, neither of which is worth reading:
(i) 裴新, 盖茨：美国采取行动抗衡中国军力发展. VOA Chinese, Jan. 9, 2011.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110108-US-ASIA-GATES-113145974.html
("另外，美国太平洋司令说，中国新型反舰弹道导弹已经投入现役，而盖茨却拒绝附合他的观点")

I simply disagree with wording "投入现役." That is not what Admiral Willard said (he used the word "operational").

* A related report does not say much, except the title.
盖茨防长访华似遇“下马威.” VOA Chinese, Jan. 9, 2011.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110109_Gates_China_Trip-113159289.html

(ii) John Pomfret, Defense Secretary Gates: U.S. underestimated parts of China's military modernization. Washington Post, Jan. 9, 2011.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/09/AR2011010901068.html

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