Geo-Strategic Trend - 217. page

On May 10, 2012, amid the heightened tensions between China and the Philippines over what is known as the Scarborough Shoal in English and Huangyan island in Chinese in the southeastern region of the disputed waters, People’s Liberation Army Daily, the official voice of Chinese military, published a commentary titled, “Never Expect to Take Away Half an Inch of China’s Territory.”

The article said, “We never tolerate any unreasonable embarrassment with blind patience, not to mention that the issue matters for China’s territorial integrity, national dignity, and even social stability.

“For anyone who tries to snatch the sovereignty over Huangyan Island, not only will the Chinese government not agree; the Chinese people will not agree; and the Chinese army will not agree.

“For anyone, regardless of what tricks he plays, what backing he has, or what accomplice he ropes in, never expect to take away half an inch of China’s territory.”

Source: PLA Daily, May 10, 2012
http://www.chinamil.com.cn/jfjbmap/content/2012-05/10/content_4839.htm

On May 4, 2012, Major General Luo Yuan, the Deputy Secretary of the Chinese Society of Military Science, appeared on the program, “Let’s Talk about News,” which is hosted by ChinaNews.com. On the program, Luo proclaimed, “The Philippines have fired the first shot on the strategic level in terms of the Huangyan Island incident. China has been very polite and reasonable on the issue so far before resorting to force. However, military means are necessary and indispensable as a last resort.”

Luo added, “If the Philippines view China’s restraint and patience as a sign of weakness, a war will eventually break out.”

Source: Xinhua, May 4, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-05/04/c_123079551.htm

During his recent visit to Russia, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met separately with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the Russian president-elect, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, in Moscow. According to the China News Service report, the originally scheduled 1 hour and 45 minutes meetings were extended to nearly three hours. Talks involved increased mutual support on issues concerning core interests, close strategic cooperation in international affairs, and cooperation on major bilateral strategic projects.

Chinese and Russian enterprises signed 26 cooperation agreements on projects amounting to US$15.2 billion. They involved infrastructure, energy, electrical and mechanical equipment, high-tech, finance, and other sectors. As progress in cooperation in energy projects, China and Russia signed energy contracts valued at US$6 billion. They involve the fields of oil and gas, electricity, coal, new energy, energy equipment and energy savings.

Source: China News Service, April 30, 2012
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/04-30/3856877.shtml

China Review News (CRN) recently published a commentary on the relationship between China and Russia. The commentary expressed the belief that, although China has had previous issues with Russia, China’s best strategic choice for now is to partner with Russia. The author suggested that, as two neighboring major “BRICS” countries, the two countries’ economies complement each other. Also, the distribution of the two countries’ natural resources are in the same situation. At the same time, both countries are against the “unipolar world” model that the United States is trying to build. Instead, the partnership is the best choice to promote a “multipolar” international environment. However, the commentary suggested that China should maintain control of the initiative and ensure that the partnership benefits China’s needs and its future development.

Source: China Review News, March 28, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/5/5/6/102055614.html?coluid=169&kindid=0&docid=102055614&mdate=0328091807

The International Herald Leader, a subsidiary of Xinhua News, recently published a commentary on China’s position on its right to the sea. The commentary mentioned that, in the past two months, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially explained China’s position on the East China Sea and the South China Sea. The author said that China is taking steps to clarify its understanding of its rights to the nearby seas. This is to prevent any ambiguity in expressions, which might result in a strategic misjudgment. China’s traditional position was “putting aside disputes with joint development.” It seems the old fashioned position introduced uncertainty and openings that could be exploited. The commentary expressed the belief that China needs a peaceful international environment in which to grow. However, “a certain country” might find a few military conflicts between China and its neighbors to be just right. At least it would be much better (for that "certain country") than having to negotiate with China once China’s GDP surpasses US$10 trillion.

Source: Xinhua, March 12, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2012-03/12/c_131454815.htm

According to Kyodonews of Japan, on March 16, 2010, ships from Chinese Marine Surveillance Corps. entered the Japanese area of the Diaoyu Islands (which Japan calls the Senkaku Islands). The Japanese Coast Guard followed with warning signals. The Chinese ships left the area 25 minutes later.

Xinhua reported about the same incident and stated that on March 16, Marine Surveillance Corps. ships No. 50 and 66 entered into the Diaoyu Islands (or Senkaku Islands) region to conduct routine surveillance where they encountered the Japan Coast Guard. According to the Xinhua report, they said, “We immediately called for their attention, displayed our identity, inquired about the situation and declared our position.” Xinhua said that they received no response from the Japan Coast Guard which just simply followed after them.

China’s State Oceanic Administration claimed that the routine surveillance was consistent with China’s position on the ownership of the islands and the nearby region. Chinese Marine Surveillance Corps. is an entity that operates under the supervision of State Oceanic Administration.

There have been continuous conflicts between China and Japan over the ownership of Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands. In September 2010, the Japanese Coast Guard hit a Chinese fishing boat in the region and arrested the boat captain.

[Ed. Media reported in 2010 that the Chinese fishing boat collided with Japanese vessels, after which the Japanese detained the Chinese captain.]  
Source:
Voice of America, March 16, 2012
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20120316-JAPAN-ISLANDS-DISPUTE-142901005.html
Xinhua, March 16, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2012-03/16/c_122840287.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2012-03/16/c_122840354.htm
New York Times, September 10, 2010
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/look-out-for-the-diaoyu-islands/

Global Times recently reported, based on news from the French newspaper the Tribune, that China has decided to cancel its plan to purchase 10 Airbus A380 super-jumbo jetliners and 35 Airbus A330 airplanes. Louis Gallois, Chief Executive of the European Aeronautic Defence & Space Company (EADS), confirmed the cancellation. EADS is the parent company of Airbus. Gallois explained that the decision was based on China’s position of opposing the EU Carbon Tax. He complained that this cancellation was a major setback for Airbus’ business. Airbus already made a request that the European Union cancel the tax. Twenty-six out of the 36 members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are against this tax, including China, the United States, and Russia. It is also damaging for Airbus because, according to a report by Bloomberg, Boeing’s commercial aircraft group is hoping to sell 200 737-MAX and a “certain number” of 747-8S airplanes to China this year.

Source: Global Times, March 9, 2012
http://firefox.huanqiu.com/mil/Exclusive/2012-03/2509889.html

Xinhua posted an article that was originally published by People’s Daily (overseas edition), discussing the U.S. and Israel’s positions on Iran’s nuclear issue. The article focused on the February 29, 2012, meeting between U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The article said, “As Iran’s nuclear issue was becoming more and more pressing, Israel continued to claim, at difference strategic points, that it would launch a military attack against Iran. Recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran’s nuclear development program has made new progress. This news worried Israel. In particular, the U.S. and E.U.’s economic sanctions against Iran’s development of nuclear weapons has seemed not to have had any effect. Israel is becoming even more anxious. "

“Regarding Israel’s continuous claim that its military will strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, the U.S. has been warning Israel to hold back. The U.S. appears to believe that it is not yet the right time to take military action against Iran. The U.S. prefers to wait for the economic sanctions to run their course, or  not to take action until Iran’s Middle East ally (Syria’s Assad) gets into trouble.”

“On Iran’s nuclear issue, both the U.S. and Israel have the same goal—to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons. Israel is anxiously trying to take action, whereas the U.S. warns it to hold back. This “mutual cooperation” of both sides looks quite interesting.”

Source: Xinhua, March 5, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-03/03/c_111596862.htm