9 January 2002
According to the Washington Times a new National Intelligence Council report states that China is converting its silo-based ICBM arsenal to mobile platforms, and may improve its strategic capabilities by developing multiple-warhead technology. The report also projects that the Chinese arsenal will grow from its currently estimated 20 warheads to about 75-100 warheads. The report also goes on to say that China may have abandoned the long-range Dong Feng-41 program in favor of further upgrading the range of its new Dong Feng-31 ICBM.
--Bill Gertz, "Report Upgrades China's Threat as a Nuclear Power, Intelligence Council Predicts Deployment of Multiple Warheads," The Washington Times, 11 January 2002, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>; Bill Gertz, "Intelligence Report Sees China Greatly Increasing Missile Force; Also Cites Long-Range Arms of North Korea, Iran, Iraq," The Washington Times, 10 January 2002, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

21 February 2002
During an official visit to Beijing, President Bush pushes for a stronger Chinese commitment against missile proliferation, but no conclusion is reached. US officials had been pressuring China to formulate strict domestic export control laws to limit the sales of missiles and dual use missile components, as well and chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons technology to countries like Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea. The issue was not resolved because of a dispute over the grandfathering of Chinese contracts, and the refusal of the US to allow American companies to launch satellites with Chinese rockets.
--Jim VandeHei and Charles Hutzler, "Bush's China Visit Shows Antiterror Campaign is Tough Sell," The Wall Street Journal, 22 February 2002, in ProQuest, <www.proquest.com>; "David Rennie, "Bush Asks China to Curb Missile Sales: US President Thanks Jiang For Help in War on Terrorism as Leaders Hold Strained Meeting: Unsatisfactory Answers," National Post (Canada), 22 February 2002, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

20 May 2002
According to a Washington Times report, the US government sanctions Chinese companies including Norinco, Chinese Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation, for the proliferation of cruise missile technology to Iran, in violation of the 2000 Iran Nonproliferation Act. The technology may be related to Iran's new ground-launched anti-ship cruise missile program that is based on the Chinese Silkworm. The two-year sanctions would bar US companies from business dealings with the sanctioned Chinese entities.
--Bill Gertz, "Exporting Weapons Draw US Sanctions; China, Europe Firms Sell to Iran," The Washington Times, 20 May 2002, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>; Alex Wagner, "Washington Levies Sanctions for WMD-Related Transfers to Iran," Arms Control Today, June 2002, 32.5, p.31, in ProQuest, <www.proquest.com>.

25 June 2002
According to Western and Russian sources, China and Russia are in negotiations for a transfer of eight new Russian submarines, worth a reported $1.6 billion. The Project 636 Kilo-class submarines would come equipped with the SS-N-27 Klub (Sizzler) long-range anti-ship cruise missile system, and would be part of a larger $4 billion arms acquisition package including additional Sovremnny-class destroyers capable of firing SS-N-22 Moskit (Sunburn) supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles. These acquisitions, which may take place over the next 4-5 years, could vastly improve China's ability to blockade Taiwan and threaten US warships.
--John Pomfret, "China to Buy 8 More Russian Submarines; $1.6 Billion Deal Would Aid a Blockade of Taiwan, Challenge US Power in Region," The Washington Post, 25 June, 2002, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

12 July 2002
The Pentagon releases a report which says that China is upgrading the range of its missiles, and has deployed all of its 350 short-range missiles along the Taiwan Strait. The reports discloses that all 20 CSS-4 liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) will be replaced by longer-range CSS-4 Mod 2s, and that China will start deploying the new solid-fueled DF-31 ICBM mid-decade along with new submarine-launched ICBMs. The report also declares that, apart from Taiwan, the coastal buildup also poses a threat to Japan and the Philippines. Secretary of State Colin Powell, however, states that he does not see the reported Chinese military buildup as a cause for concern.
--Bill Gertz, "Chinese Buildup Targets Taiwan; Pentagon Reports on Nuclear Threat," The Washington Times, 13 July 2002, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>; Vernon Loeb, "China Buildup Said to Target Taiwan, US; Pentagon Says Beijing's Military Spending Increases Options for Missile Attacks," The Washington Post, 13 July, 2003, in ProQuest, <www.proquest.com>.

25 August 2002
PRC Premier Zhu Rongji signs into effect a new 24 article list of missile export control regulations entitled the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Export Control of Missile and Missile-related technology. The list comes after prolonged pressure on Beijing from the US to curb proliferation to countries like Iran and Pakistan. The regulations, which use the original Missile Technology Control Regime standard limiting exports of missiles with 500 kg payloads and 300 kg ranges, will also address dual-use technologies and components as well through a yet-unpublished control list specifying problematic items and technologies. The new measures come at a time when Chinese leaders are hoping to improve Sino-US relations, especially before a presidential summit set to take place in October.
--James Kyunge, "China Lists Missile Technology Export Rules; Weapons Licences Triumph For Washington In Moves to Prevent Supply of Military Technologies to 'Axis Of Evil'," Financial Times, 26 August 2002, in ProQuest, <www.proquest.com>; Meng Yan, "Rules Released on Missile Exports," China Daily, 26 August 2002, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>; Rose Gordon, "China Issues Missile Export Controls," Arms Control Today, September 2002, in ProQuest, <www.proquest.com>.

20 November 2002
According to US intelligence officials, China test-fires a new supersonic anti-ship cruise missile. The missile, called the Ying Ji-83 (C-803), has a range of about 250 km, much farther than US officials had anticipated.
--Bill Gertz, "Chinese Missile Has Twice the Range US Anticipated," The Washington Times, 20 November, 2002, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>; Michael Fiszer, Jerzy Gruszczynski, "China Tests New Anti-Ship Cruise Missile," Journal of Electronic Defense, January 2003, in ProQuest, <www.proquest.com>.

2 January 2003
US Intelligence officials disclose that the Bush Administration has asked Israel to stop the sale of anti-radar Harpy UAVs to China, citing concerns about the growing threat to Taiwan. The transfers were made sometime in 2002, but due to US concerns, Israel has agreed to cancel all remaining contracts for exports of arms and other security equipment to China.
--Bill Gertz, "Israel Asked to Stop Arms Sales to China; US Seeks to Curb Threat To Taiwan," The Washington Times, 3 January 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

27 January 2003
Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha expresses his concern over Indian intelligence reports about continuing Chinese assistance in the Pakistani missile program. The reports describe Chinese missile technology proliferation occurring via third parties like North Korea, which Sinha stated may affect the future of Sino-Indian relations.
--Edward Luce, "Claims of China-Pakistan Nuclear Links Trouble India; New Delhi Voices Concern Over Intelligence Reports That Beijing Continues To Supply Technology," Financial Times, 28 January, 2003, in ProQuest, <www.proquest.com>.

7 February 2003
According to a report in Japan's Daily Yomiuri, China successfully tests a medium-range Dong Feng-21 ballistic missile with Multiple Independently-Targeted Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. The test is the first successful demonstration of Chinese MIRV capability, and is thought to have been developed as a response to the further US development of a ballistic missile defense system in East Asia.
--Hiroyuki Sugiyama, "China Successfully Tests Multi-Warhead Missiles," The Daily Yomiuri, 8 February 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

5 March 2003
Boeing Co. and Hughes Electronic Corp., two companies accused of illegal transfers of US space launch technology to China in the mid-1990s, settle their cases by paying the US government a $32 million settlement. The US State Department had pursued the case because of its contention that such transfers could help contribute to the Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile program. In addition to the settlement, the companies agreed to hire a special export controls compliance officer.
--Renae Merle, "Hughes, Boeing Settle With US," The Washington Post, 6 March 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

9 May 2003
According to officials in the Bush Administration, sanctions are being levied against North China Industries Corp. (Norinco), one of China's biggest military-industry conglomerates. Norinco has been accused of selling to Iran specialty steel which could be used for the production of missiles. The two-year sanctions would prohibit any Norinco transactions with US entities, at a reported cost of "hundreds of millions of dollars."
--Bill Gertz, "Chinese Firm Hit With US Sanctions; Company Sold Missile Steel to Iran," The Washington Times, 23 May 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>; Michael Dobbs and Glen Kessler, "US Penalizes Chinese Firm Over Alleged Missile Aid to Iran," The Washington Post, 23 May 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

4 July 2003
The Bush Administration imposes sanctions on 6 Chinese entities including China Northern Industries Corp. (Norinco) and China Precision Machinery Import/Export Corp., for a variety of transfers to Iran involving sensitive WMD and missile technology. The materials transferred were not specified, but were in violation of the 2000 Iran Nonproliferation Act. These sanctions come at a time when US leaders are in talks with senior Chinese diplomats regarding the North Korean nuclear program.
--Bill Gertz, "US Sets Sanctions For Iran Arms Sales; Chinese, North Korean Firms Targeted," 4 July 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>; Davis E. Sanger, "US Penalizes 6 Asian Firms For Helping Iran Arm Itself," The New York Times, 4 July 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

30 July 2003
According to the US Department of Defense's annual report to Congress on the Military Power of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is not only targeting its coastal stockpile of deployed short-range missiles at Taiwan, but also at US forces in Okinawa. The report estimates China's coastal stockpile of missiles at around 450, and says that it continues to grow at a rate of about 75 per year. It also states that China is in the process of configuring medium-range missiles targeting Okinawa that could be deployed further inland. The report concludes that one goal of the buildup was to "complicate United States intervention in a Taiwan Strait conflict."
--Bill Gertz, "Pentagon Says China Refitting Missiles to Hit Okinawa; Beijing Also Reportedly Expanding Its Arsenal For Targeting Taiwan," The Washington Times, 31 July, 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>, Thom Shanker, "US Says China is Stepping Up Short-Range Missile Production," The New York Times, 31 July, 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

18 September 2003
The Bush Administration imposes a new set of sanctions of Chinese export firms for transfers of missile technology, according to State Department officials. The new sanctions, reportedly the harshest to date, will also target the Chinese government by prohibiting any kind of missile-related technology transfers to China, including US satellites being launched on Chinese rockets. Additionally, the sanctions would ban all Chinese imports from China Northern Industries Corp. (Norinco) among other kinds of imports, and would represent lost sales of billions of dollars, according to US officials.
--Bill Gertz, "US Tags China With Stiff Penalties," The Washington Times, 19 September, 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>; Wade Boese, "US Imposes More Proliferation Sanctions," Arms Control Today, October 2003, in ProQuest, <www.proquest.com>.

26 November 2003
Gao Zhan, most notably a Chinese human-rights activist, pleads guilty to charges that she illegally sold sensitive US missile technology to the Chinese government in a business transaction. She faces up to 13 years in prison for the US government-controlled Intel 486 DX military microprocessor sales to a Chinese government-controlled defense firm specializing in radar design. However, John Frankenstein, a Chinese defense specialist, argues that these chips are already obsolete compared to the current Chinese defense industry standard, and would be of no significant use to the Chinese military.
--David Rennie, "I Gave US Missile Secrets to China, Says Human Rights Activist," The Daily Telegraph, 27 November 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>; Spencer S. Hsu, "Scholar Says US Unharmed; Gao Defends Human Rights Efforts, Appeals For Sympathy," The Washington Post, 28 November 2003, in Lexis-Nexis, <www.lexisnexis.com>.

	Updated June 2008