JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: A classified U.S. intelligence report was sent to President Clinton on Wednesday. It contained an ominous warning about a U.S. military defense proposal. CNN's national security correspondent David Ensor is in Washington now with details -- David.</s>DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Joie, the secret report to the president from the intelligence community warns that China is likely to accelerate its deployment of nuclear-tipped missiles pointed at the United States if Washington goes ahead with plans to build a limited national missile defense shield. The reason: China only has 18 to 20 long-range nuclear missiles now, U.S. officials say, and the missile defense the Clinton administration is considering is designed to knock out up to 25 incoming missiles, thus neutralizing the Chinese force. So, the 100-page report says the Chinese would likely build more missiles and warheads, possibly as many of 200 nuclear warheads, by the year 2015. U.S. officials stress that the national missile defense would be designed to stopped missiles launched by states of concern like North Korea, Iran or Iraq, not to neutralize the Chinese or Russian strategic forces. This report warns the president, though, that the unintended consequence could be a Chinese military buildup. There are some analysts too, Judy, who argue -- Joie, excuse me -- who argue that a Chinese buildup could fuel an Asian nuclear arms' race, since India might respond to China, and then of course, Pakistan might respond to India.</s>CHEN: David Ensor reporting to us from Washington.
Report Warns U.S. Missile Defense Shield Could Instigate Chinese Nuclear Buildup