THE REGULAR WINTER NATO COUNCIL MEETING IN PARIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HEAD AND ANALYSIS BY THE UNITED STATES DEFENCE SECRETARY, MR. ROBERT MCNAMARA, OF THE MILITARY STRENGTH AND POLICIES OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. MR. MCNAMARA WAS BRIEFING DEFENCE MINISTERS OF THE 15-NATION ALLIANCE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT THE CONFERENCE.

MR. MCNAMARA SAID CHINA COULD HAVE INTER-CONTINENTAL ROCKETS IN 10 YEARS TIME, AND MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILES BY 1967. HE ALSO CLAIMED CHINA NOW POSSESSED A BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE WHICH COULD BE EQUIPPED WITH ROCKETS IN 1967 OR 1968.

MR. MCNAMARA PLEDGED THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD NOT DRAIN OFF MAJOR COMBAT UNITS FROM EUROPE TO SOUTH-EAST ASIA BECAUSE OF THE VIETNAM WAR. HE PRESSED FOR AN URGENT INCREASE IN NATO'S MOBILE "FIRE BRIGADE" FORCE -- ALLIED COMMAND EUROPE -- TO PUT IT ON A PERMANENT FOOTING.

THE DEFENCE SECRETARY SAID THAT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THE CHINESE COULD PRODUCE ENOUGH FISSIONABLE MATERIAL TO CONDUCT A MODEST NUCLEAR TEST PROGRAMME, AND PERHAPS PRODUCE EVEN A SMALL NUMBER OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THE NATO MINISTERS TODAY ALSO DISCUSSED A PLAN PUT BY THEIR MILITARY CHIEFS TO BOOST THE TOTAL STRENGTH OF THE ALLIANCE ARMED FORCES. THE PRESENT FIGURES ARE TOP SECRET.