The Other Side
RICHARD C. BARNARD, Editor in Chief
The defense press in Washington has been abuzz in recent weeks about
the Pentagon’s latest report on China’s continued arms buildup.
It began in the 1980s and gathered speed a decade later after the People’s
Liberation Army (PLA) saw how quickly the Western military destroyed
Iraqi forces in Operation Desert Storm.
For China, the lesson of that conflict was painful and clear: In a
modern war, the PLA would be vulnerable. China revved up its arms buying,
much of it detailed in page after page of the Pentagon report. Many
of China’s new arms are arrayed near the shores of the Taiwan
Strait, within easy striking distance of Taiwan.
But the report is virtually silent on one of the most intriguing elements
of the fast-changing security situation in the Asia-Pacific. As China
bolsters its forces, Taiwan — long a stalwart on defense readiness
— appears to be doing an about-face that has diminished its preparedness
and attracted strident criticism from long-time friends in the United
States. Special Correspondent Julian Crocker covers this other side
of the story, beginning on page 10.
The Joint Staff is evaluating sea basing, the concept devised by the
Navy and Marine Corps to bring fundamental change to the way U.S. forces
project power ashore. Assistant Editor David W. Munns reports (p. 14)
that sea basing has been recast “as a multiservice concept ...
rather than a transformational scheme solely for the Navy and Marine
Corps.”
Also in this issue is a fascinating story by Managing Editor Richard
R. Burgess (p. 30) about a new era in electronic navigation based, in
part, on three-dimensional hydrographic electronic depictions for navigation
already in use by some Navy vessels.
Our “Interview” this month is with Vice Adm. Vivien Crea,
chief of the Coast Guard’s Atlantic area, who tells us about the
operational impact of the service’s aging fleet. Adm. Crea also
provides a few choice words about the idea of placing limits on the
role of women in the military.
Does anybody in the Navy want a dream job? Check in with Senior Chief
Jeff Priest, our guest columnist for “In My Own Words,”
(p. 72), who can’t hold onto his post forever. He’s program
manager of Navy motorsports. Translation: Priest spends much of his
time with the Navy-sponsored NASCAR team. One of his favorite things
is meeting the sailors that come to the races each week, and getting
them into the pits with NASCAR celebrities. Priest said, “I want
to make sure they’re having a good time.” Tell me, Lord,
where do I apply?
We are eager to get your feedback. Contact me at rbarnard@navyleague.org
or by mail at Seapower, 2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3308.
