By Han Xudong, professor at the Strategy Teaching and Research Office with the National Defense University PLA China

The United States bi-monthly magazine The National Interest posted an article, "Get Ready, Russia and China: American Missile Defense Is Going 'Star Wars'," which said Washington is engineering a next-generation ground-based interceptor capable of destroying multiple approaching enemy targets with a single-kill vehicle.

The new system, along with the Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Configuration, showed that the US is upgrading its international missile defense capabilities.

Given that Beijing and Moscow are enjoying rising international influence and military strength, Washington seeks to restrain the two countries in order to consolidate unity and a hegemonic position among its allies.

Although it has already gotten the "Patriot" and Aegis BMD configurations, the US is researching and developing new technology to knock multiple enemy targets from space, which ensures a "seamless" global missile defense system covering lower, middle, upper and outer space.

The system would strengthen its sense of national security among US allies, consolidating partnerships while curbing a disunity tendency, which could motivate more countries to join its camp.

Washington is promoting the Third US Offset Strategy, intended for undercutting the growing national strength of countries, including Russia and China by utilizing American advantages and maintaining its hegemonic position of the US in the world.

The resolution to develop new technology of multi-object kill vehicles based on ground-based interceptor aims at weakening the enemy's assault capabilities. The US wants to use this research plan to lead Russian and China to the road of competing with it.

Moreover, the US holds the upper hand at the moment, while Russia and China seem to be in a passive replying position. Once they lose control of dealing with the challenge, Washington will get its way.

Russia and China have realized the importance of improving their missile defense capability. Russia in particular, is keen not only on defense, but also attack-mode as in its recent display of an offensive missile with 15 warheads at a time.

The US' development of new technology is a sound countermeasure towards Russia's constantly improving missile attack abilities and a significant manifestation in the contest with Russia.

The new system developed by the US can intercept missiles, and knock coming targets from air and space. Once it succeeded, it would get the strategic control and initiative and effectively impair a missile attack ability of Russia and other countries.

Judging from the content and strategic purposes, the invention of a multi-object kill vehicle is one of the important measures included in the Third US Offset Strategy.

Apparently, the US is sure to have conducted more similar research to get the strategic commanding heights and maintain a steady dominant role with its own preponderance.

Han Xudong, professor at the Strategy Teaching and Research Office with the National Defense University PLA China

( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

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