[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 135 (Friday, August 11, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12342-S12343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        THE PRC'S MISSILE TESTS

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, as the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
East Asian and Pacific Affairs, I am dismayed to report to my 
colleagues this morning that the People's Republic of China has 
announced that it will conduct a new series of guided missile tests in 
the East China Sea between August 15 and 25. What dismays me about the 
announcement is that the tests--staged by the People's Liberation 
Army--will be the second series in less than a month to be conducted 
just off the coast of southeastern Zhejiang Province, and that the 
southern perimeter of the test area is only 90 miles north of Taiwan.
  The PRC conducted similar tests of six air-to-air missiles from July 
21 to 26 in an area only 60 kilometers north of Taiwan's Pengchiayu 
Island. The missiles test-fired consisted mainly of Dongfeng-31 
intercontinental ballistic missiles and M-class short-range tactical 
missiles. At the same time, the PLA mobilized forces in coastal Fujian 
Province and moved a number of Jian-8 aircraft to the coast. It is 
likely that this new round of tests and exercises will be similar.
  These tests clearly have a political purpose, and are meant as a 
warning to Taiwan to cease its efforts at expanding its international 
recognition. Although the PRC's Foreign Ministry, through its spokesman 
Shen Guofeng, has repeatedly denied any such purpose, I would remind 
them of one of their own sayings: ``Listen to what a person says, but 
watch what he does.'' These are the actions which call into serious 
question in my mind the validity of Mr. Shen's statement. The tests are 
being conducted within as close a proximity of Taiwanese territory as 
possible. While similar tests are a usual part of the annual training 
exercises of the Chinese 2d Artillery Corps, these are the only times 
in many years that the tests have been announced publicly. The tests 
follow closely on the heels of the private visit of President Lee Tang-
hui to Cornell University, and amid a flurry of mainland Chinese 
invective denouncing the visit and President Lee. In conjunction with 
the tests, Taiwan intelligence reported that the PRC was planning on 
conducting a joint sea-air military exercise codenamed ``Jiu-wu-qi'' 
and that on July 16 the PRC Air Force stationed a number of F-7 or F-8 
aircraft at airports located within 250 nautical miles of Taiwan--a 
highly unusual and provocative move.
  The PLA is clearly the principal force pushing for the tests. At a 
time when the jockeying for position in the PRC's transitional post-
Deng Government continues, taking what can be perceived as a soft 
stance toward either the United States or Taiwan is considered by many 
to be the equivalent of political suicide. When the Party and military 
hierarchy were assured by the Foreign Ministry that the United States 
would never allow President Lee 

[[Page S 12343]]
to visit, only to have the visa approved a few days later, it caused a 
serious ``we-told-you-so'' backlash from the hardline conservative PLA 
leadership. In order to maintain credibility with the military, and 
continue to enjoy their support, the political hierarchy has decided to 
react strongly--one would almost say overreact--to President Lee's 
visit and other perceived threats.
  Mr. President, although the Taiwan Government and people have shown 
remarkable restraint in calmly facing these latest antagonisms, I am 
sure that a continuation of the mainland's provocations cannot go 
unanswered for long. This is especially true in light of statements 
such as a recent pronouncement by Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian, 
reported by the Chinese official news agency Xinhua on July 31, that 
the PLA will not undertake to give up the use of force in settling the 
Taiwan issue. Certainly, as the perceived threat to Taiwan increases, 
so too will their reaction. The PRC's tests are clearly behind an 
August 2 statement by Lt. General Ju Kai-sheng, President of Taiwan's 
Army Artillery Training School, that Taiwan is ready to establish anti-
missile systems to beef up its defensive capabilities. Toward that end, 
Taiwan has struck a deal with the Massachusetts-based Raytheon Corp. to 
purchase approximately $796 million worth of Patriot missiles.
  If the Beijing Government continues in this antagonistic posture, it 
will only end up shooting itself in the foot. I would remind the 
Beijing Government that pursuant to the three joint communiques and the 
Taiwan Relations Act, the United States can supply defensive military 
technology to Taiwan. While we have not been predisposed over the last 
few years to exercise that right, continuing threatening military 
displays aimed at Taiwan will, I am sure, have an effect on that 
posture that the PRC will likely not appreciate.


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