The Washington Times is reporting that US intelligence agencies are on alert for unexpected Chinese military activities this weekend.
While there is no hint about the possible nature of such activities, they could be timed to coincide with the visit of White House National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon to Beijing.
According to the Washington Times, they could be part of the Chinese response to the US$5.8 billion arms package for Taiwan that was announced by the US last month.
Senior Washington-based US intelligence sources approached by the Taipei Times refused to discuss the issue, describing it as “too sensitive,” but they did not deny the report.
The sources said that Chinese military activity was “always a possibility,” but refused to speculate on what form it might take or just how likely it was.
As previously reported by the Taipei Times, the US is expecting to hear new protests about US arms sales to Taiwan during Donilon’s visit.
The Washington Times said that the administration of US President Barack Obama was “braced for a tough Chinese reaction.”
“The US intelligence community so far is unable to assess authoritatively just what China will do,” it said.
The newspaper said that so far Beijing has postponed the visit of Admiral Robert Willard, the commander of US forces in the Pacific, to China and blocked a visit by a US Army band.
“Recent comments by Chinese Gen. Luo Yuan [羅援], Beijing’s high-profile military hawk, has provided what defense officials say are hints of ominous things to come,” the Washington Times said.
“Intelligence analysts were left trying to discern Gen. Luo’s meaning and whether the comments signal that China’s military plans a high-profile response,” the newspaper added.
Without warning, China conducted its first test flight of a new J-20 stealth jet during US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ visit to Beijing in January.
“China in the past used missile tests to send political signals to its main superpower rival, so US intelligence agencies are on alert for any unexpected military activities during Donilon’s visit to China which begins this weekend,” the Washington Times said.
According to the newspaper, the US military is “ready for any provocation.”
A US Navy carrier strike group led by the USS George Washington is on patrol near the South China Sea and the assault ship USS Essex, with Marines on board, is in the Philippines Sea.
Source: Taipei Times - 2011/10/22
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