Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 2.djvu/861

 PUBLIC LAW 105-85—NOV. 18, 1997 111 STAT. 1941 could be used as a pretext by a hostile power for armed aggression within the region, and the existence of that possibility might hinder such a deployment. (18) Proposals to reduce the forward presence of the United States in the East Asia region or subordinate security interests to United States domestic budgetary concerns can erode the perception of the commitment of the United States to its alliances and interests in the region. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—I t is the sense of Congress that the United States should maintain at least approximately 100,000 United States military personnel in the East Asia and Pacific region until such time as there is a peaceful and permanent resolution to the major security and political conflicts in the region. SEC. 1226. REPORT ON FUTURE MILITARY CAPABILITIES AND STRATEGY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. (a) REPORT.— The Secretary of Defense shall prepare a report, in both classified and unclassified form, on the pattern of military modernization of the People's Republic of China. The report shall address the probable course of military-technological development in the People's Liberation Army and the development of Chinese security strategy and military strategy, and of military organizations and operational concepts, through 2015. (b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.— The report shall include analy- ses and forecasts of the following: (1) The goals of Chinese security strategy and military strategy. (2) Trends in Chinese strategy regarding the political goals of the People's Republic of China in the Asia-Pacific region and its political and military presence in other regions of the world, including Central Asia, Southwest Asia, Europe, and Latin America. (3) Developments in Chinese military doctrine, focusing on (but not limited to) efforts to exploit an emerging Revolution in Military Affairs or to conduct preemptive strikes. (4) Efforts by the People's Republic of China to enhance its capabilities in the area of nuclear weapons development. (5) Efforts by the People's Republic of China to develop long-range air-to-air or air defense missiles that would provide the capability to target special support aircraft such as Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft, or other command and control, intelligence, airborne early warning, or electronic warfare aircraft. (6) Efforts by the People's Republic of China to develop a capability to conduct "information warfare" at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of war. (7) Development by the People's Republic of China of capabilities in the area of electronic warfare. (8) Efforts by the People's Republic of China to develop a capability to establish control of space or to deny access and use of military and commercial space systems in times of crisis or war, including programs to place weapons in space or to develop earth-based weapons capable of attacking spacebased systems. (9) Trends that would lead the People's Republic of China toward the development of advanced intelligence, surveillance.

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