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A30 world news
Diabierna 3 December 2021
US defense chief slams China’s drive for hypersonic weapons
(AP) — America’s defense program “is increasingly de-
chief rebuked China on stabilizing for regional se- The United States stations
Thursday, vowing to con- curity.” Austin said the allies about 28,500 soldiers in
front its potential military remain committed to a dip- South Korea to deter poten-
threats in Asia and warn- lomatic approach to North tial aggression from North
ing that its pursuit of hy- Korea. Korea. During Thursday’s
personic weapons intend- meeting, Austin highlighted
ed to evade U.S. missile Suh said the two agreed on a U.S. commitment to main-
defenses “increases ten- a document updating joint tain the current level of U.S.
sions in the region.” contingency plans in the forces, according to a joint
event of a war on the pen- statement.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd insula to reflect changes in
Austin’s stern comments af- although China insisted it Chiefs of Staff, said the Unit- North Korean threats and The alliance, forged dur-
ter annual security talks with was testing a reusable space ed States is also working on other conditions, but didn’t ing the 1950-53 Korean War,
South Korea, a top U.S. ally, vehicle, not a missile. hypersonic weapons. But elaborate on the document’s was tested in recent years
are a window into one of the there is worry in Washing- details. as then-President Donald
Biden administration’s top “We have concerns about the ton that it is lagging behind Trump threatened to pull
foreign policy worries: How military capabilities that the China and Russia in pursuing North Korea’s nuclear arse- U.S. troops out of South Ko-
should Washington and its PRC continues to pursue, these types of weapons. Rus- nal is believed to have grown rea if Seoul did not drastically
partners contain a Chinese and the pursuit of those capa- sia said Monday its navy suc- significantly in recent years. increase its financial support
military that is strengthening bilities increases tensions in cessfully tested a prospective for them. Trump also repeat-
— both in sheer firepower the region,” Austin said about hypersonic cruise missile. After a series of high-profile edly complained of the cost
and in confidence — as it the hypersonic weapons test, missile and nuclear tests of regular military drills be-
pursues an end of American using the abbreviation for the Hypersonic weapons, which in 2016-17, North Korea tween Washington and Seoul.
dominance in Asia? People’s Republic of China, fly at speeds in excess of claimed to have the abil-
the country’s official name. Mach 5, or five times the ity to launch nuclear strikes Such concerns have eased
China sees much of Asia as speed of sound, could pose on the American homeland. since President Joe Biden
its natural sphere of influ- “We’ll continue to maintain crucial challenges to missile According to a 2018 South took office in January. But the
ence. But many in the region the capabilities to defend and defense systems because of Korean estimate, North Ko- alliance still faces challenges
warn of a pattern of Chinese deter against a range of po- their speed and maneuver- rea has built up to 60 nuclear such as Seoul’s historical
interference, accompanied by tential threats from the PRC ability. But some experts ar- weapons. disputes with Japan, another
moves to acquire the weap- to ourselves and to our al- gue that hypersonic weapons key U.S. regional ally, and its
ons needed to dominate its lies,” he said. would add little to America’s Despite severe economic hesitation to join U.S.-led
rivals. Austin’s comments ability to deter war and worry hardships related to the pan- initiatives targeting China, its
were directed at China’s July The Pentagon released on that they could trigger a new, demic, North Korea has con- biggest trading partner.
test of a hypersonic weapon Monday the results of a glob- destabilizing arms race. tinuously rebuffed U.S. of-
capable of partially orbiting al posture review that calls fers to resume disarmament Austin and Suh pledged to
Earth before reentering the for additional cooperation Austin also addressed anoth- talks, saying Washington continue trilateral coop-
atmosphere and gliding on a with allies to deter “potential er major U.S. worry: North must first abandon its hostil- eration involving Japan. But
maneuverable path to its tar- Chinese military aggression Korea. ity. The Biden administration they didn’t elaborate on how
get. and threats from North Ko- maintains that international South Korea and Japan could
rea.” He said that he agreed with sanctions on North Korea overcome tensions stemming
Experts say the weapons sys- South Korean Defense Min- will stay in place until the largely from Tokyo’s 1910-45
tem is clearly designed to Last month, Gen. Mark Mil- ister Suh Wook that the country takes concrete steps colonization of the Korean
evade U.S. missile defenses, ley, chairman of the Joint North’s growing weapons toward denuclearization. Peninsula.
Despite migrant deaths, Iraqi Kurds still seek out smugglers
the smuggler who arranged seeking to move to the West. where Zana would deposit
for his brother’s journey. “I Although northern Iraq is money.
know him, I know his fam- more prosperous than the
ily here, I have all their phone rest of the conflict-scarred That night, Zana spoke to his
numbers,” he said. country, growing unemploy- brother by phone just before
ment and frustration over midnight. He asked about
In Ranya, a town of about corruption is forcing many to the weather, the boat and the
400,000 in Iraq’s Kurdish- consider the risky journey to others with him.
run region, the plight of the Europe.
migrants seems to be a topic “The boat is not good,” he
that everyone knows some- About 28,000 Iraqis left for recalls that Twana replied, ex-
thing about. Europe in 2021, with about plaining it was too small, and
7,000 from the Raparin dis- there were 33 people waiting
Those who want to get out trict that includes Ranya and to cross — too many for the
ask local travel agents to con- the nearby town of Qaladze, vessel.
nect them with smugglers in said Baker Ali, head of a lo-
Turkey and elsewhere. Those cal association of refugees re- They spoke again at 2:05
(AP) — Shoes pile up out- their fear that 18-year old who have returned from turning from Europe. a.m. on Nov. 24. In a four
side the Mamand home in Twana Mamand may have failed attempts hang around minute call, Twana laughed
northern Iraq from rela- drowned along with at least the main park, eager to try Twana had tried and failed and joked, telling his older
tives and friends who have 26 others when their flimsy again. At the police station, five times to cross the Eng- brother they would be dock-
streamed inside to offer boat sank near the French officers say they can’t stop lish Channel from Calais be- ing in an hour’s time. Zana
solace as they anxiously coast last week. They had the smugglers. fore he boarded a small boat was tired, and asked his sister,
await news of the family’s been bound for Britain with on the evening of Nov. 23. Kala, who lives in the U.K.,
young son, who was lost at hopes of starting new lives. Many victims of the English to stay online.
sea somewhere between Channel tragedy are believed The routine was the same:
France and Britain. Zana Mamand, 33, wiped to be Iraqi Kurds, who seem Ahead of each attempted In his last message, Twana
away tears and vowed to take to make up the majority of crossing, smugglers would said the engine wasn’t work-
Most are afraid to articulate revenge against the family of Middle Eastern migrants select a travel office in Ranya ing.