Chinese-made weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan

Chinese-made weapons are being used in Iraq and Afghanistan, and possibly provided by Iran. (Financial Times via Drudge)

Richard Lawless, departing senior Pentagon official for Asia, on Friday said Washington had flagged the issue with Beijing. In recent months, the US has become increasingly alarmed that Chinese armour-piercing ammunition has been used by the Taliban in Afghanistan and insurgents in Iraq.

A senior US official recently told the FT that Iran appeared to be providing the Chinese-made weapons. He said Washington had no evidence that Beijing was complicit, but stressed that the US would like China to “do a better job of policing these sales”. Mr Lawless said the question of origin was less important than who was facilitating the transfer.

The US is worried about North Korea’s missile program, Pakistan's nukes getting into terrorist hands, Iranians killing Americans in Iraq, Iranian weapons, Chinese weapons in Iraq and now China's nuclear program.

Mr Lawless also said it was important for China to hold talks with the US about its nuclear forces. A recent Pentagon report concluded Beijing was developing a more survivable nuclear force, including submarine-launched missiles, and mobile land-based missiles. [snip]

“There is a great shortfall in our understanding of China’s intentions,” said Mr Lawless, referring to the overall Chinese military build-up. “When you don’t know why they are doing it, it is pretty damn threatening . . . they leave us no choice but to assume the worst.” (FT)

Also of interest, Japan has asked for extensive data on the F-22 fighter jet [snip] which under current law cannot be exported.

Mr Lawless said the Pentagon had offered Japan only basic data, which would not require a change in US law. (FT)

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Comments

[Uberkoen]

Yes, I am in Pakistan which is why I was so confident in my assessment on the country. I will not deny the fact that we have a lot of terrorists and radical muslims in the country but there is no way that they are strong enough to take over our nuclear weapons nor are they going to rule over the country