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China-Pakistan Military Exercise Base Found Expanding

Well-known Chinese news site Sina (NASDQ: SINA) recently reported that, according to a number of Indian media sources, the strategic Pakistani Air Force Base (PAF) Bholari has gone through several rounds of upgrades. The PAF Bholari is located in Sindh Province, northeast of Karachi, Pakistan. It is located near the India-Pakistan border. Satellite images show numerous instances of new construction on that base. In December 2020, Pakistan and China had a joint air force exercise. The Pakistan Air Force chief said that joint exercises played a very important role in improving the combat capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force. Some of the recent base upgrades appeared to include supporting bases and the Combat Command Building. PAF Bholari was put into service in December 2017 and it is one of Pakistan’s most modernized military bases. PAF Bholari is positioned to support ground forces, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and some of the Pakistan Navy operations. China also has helped Pakistan jointly develop the JF-17 fighter jets.

Source: Sina, February 2, 2021
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/zhengming/2021-02-02/doc-ikftpnny3441102.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Ships Enter Senkakus for Two Days Since New Law Allows Use of Arms

On February 7, the Japanese Coast Guard announced that two Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered the Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands at about 3:50 am. The ships turned towards a Japanese fishing boat, about 22 kilometers south of Taisho Island, and made an attempt to approach. Since China’s new law, effective starting this month, allows its coast guard to use military force in waters the country claims, the Chinese government ships have sailed into the Japanese territorial waters near the Senkakus for two consecutive days.

According to the Japanese Coast Guard, the Japanese fishing boat had five people onboard, and Japanese patrol boats were deployed to ensure its safety. Japan’s Coast Guard also issued a warning and demanded the Chinese Coast Guard vessels leave their territorial waters. The two ships left one after another around 9:10 am and sailed to the contiguous area outside the territorial waters.

It is the fifth day this year that a Chinese official ship entered Japanese territorial waters near the Senkakus. Two additional Chinese Coast Guard vessels were sailing in the contiguous area outside the territorial waters, one sporting a cannon-like weapon. The vicinity of the Senkakus, including the contiguous area, has seen Chinese official ships for nine consecutive days.

China’s new coast guard law has stoked concern in Japan, with some in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party urging bolstered measures in the area such as joint military exercises between the Self-Defense Force and the U.S. military near the Senkakus.

The islets sit in the rich fishing waters of the East China Sea and are believed to be home to vast mineral and gas deposits.

The new law allows the Chinese Coast Guard to take “all necessary measures,” including the use of weapons, against foreign organizations or individuals that violate Chinese sovereignty or China’s jurisdiction.

Source: Kyodo News, February 7, 2021
https://china.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/0c5805c975b6.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

RFI Chinese: Number of HK Residents Moving to Taiwan Sets New Record

Radio France Internationale (RFI) Chinese Edition recently reported that the Taiwanese authorities announced that, in 2020, around 11,000 Hong Kong residents were granted permission to stay in Taiwan. With the background of the Mainland pushing the new Hong Kong National Security Law, this new number doubled the 2019 total and set a record high. In the meantime, 1,576 Hong Kong residents received Taiwan’s permanent resident status. The previous record was set in 2014, with 7,506 Hong Kong residents allowed to stay in Taiwan. At that time, the “umbrella Movement” was taking place in Hong Kong, which was a massive movement against Mainland communist rule. To support the freedom movements in Hong Kong, the Taiwanese government established a special office to handle immigration requests from Hong Kong. The Office is considering easing the restrictions on work permissions for young Hong Kong college graduates and other Hong Kong residents with special skills. However, the Taiwanese authorities are also on high alert to keep Mainland spies from penetrating Taiwan via the immigration process.

Source: RFI Chinese, February 3, 2021
https://bit.ly/3cP7xiq

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Global Times: The UK and Japan 2+2 Meeting Expressed Concern about China Seas

The Chinese government backed newspaper Global Times recently reported that the Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers of Great Britain and Japan met online. They issued a joint announcement after the meeting expressing “serious concerns” about the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. The ministers also said they are against any intent to change the status quo. They reemphasized the importance of maintaining freedom both of navigation and of flying over the South China Sea, and urged all parties to exercise restraint. Britain, as an outsider, has been raising its voice on the issue of the East and South China seas. Last December, the British Navy announced that it would send the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier to the South China Sea. The Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson said that countries from far far away coming to the South China Sea to show military muscle is the true militarization of the South China Sea and that the Chinese military will take necessary measures to resolutely defend China’s sovereignty.

Source: Global Times, February 4, 2021
https://world.huanqiu.com/article/41n77fLOxuB

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

Ukraine Issues Sanctions against Chinese Companies

According to the Ukraine’s official website, on January 29, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of the Ukraine (NSDC) to sanction the Chinese legal persons and individuals that invested in the Ukrainian aerospace company Motor Sich. The sanctions will take effect immediately.

Four Chinese companies — Skyrizon Aircraft Holdings Co., Ltd, Hong Kong Skyrizon Holdings Co., Ltd, Beijing Skyrizon Aviation Industry Investment Co., Ltd, Beijing Xinwei Technology Group Co., Ltd. — along with a Chinese citizen, Wang Jing, born on December 24, 1972, had restrictive measures imposed on them for a period of three years.

The sanctions on Wang also include freezing his assets and temporarily restricting the use, trade and disposal of his property. The order partially or completely suspended his assets from being transported across Ukrainian territory. Wang’s visa status is revoked, and there is a ban on his entering Ukrainian territory.

Skyrizon Aircraft is the company (legal person) that invested in Motor Sich.

At the end of last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) added China’s Skyrizon Aircraft to a Military End-User (MEU) List over its ability to develop military products including aircraft engines. The list includes 58 Chinese and 45 Russian companies.

Source: Sputnik News, January 29, 2021
http://big5.sputniknews.cn/china/202101291032991427/

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Lianhe Zaobao: China’s Hong Kong Liaison Office Gets Massive Reorganization

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that news is breaking on an up-coming major reorganization of The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG). The LOCPG was established in 2000 as the replacement of the Xinhua News Agency (HK office). It was widely recognized as the unofficial representative of the Mainland government in Hong Kong. Anonymous insiders said this new reorganization does not intend to reduce the headcount. Instead, the plan is to overhaul the “ways of doing things” completely. The future LOCPG will no longer “just do PR work and cut the ribbons for grand openings.” Instead, more resources will be devoted to Hong Kong’s day-to-day operations like how to improve the local economy. The large-scale reorganization is expected to replace half of the current 480 LOCPG staff with new people, most of whom “barely understand the local dialect (Cantonese).”

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, January 28, 2021
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20210128-1119964

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Global Times: India Permanently Banned 59 Chinese Apps

Global Times recently reported, based on Reuters and several Indian media reports, that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India officially announced the permanent ban of 59 Chinese apps, including massively popular apps like TikTok, Baidu, WeChat and UC Browser. The Indian authorities expressed dissatisfaction after they received the compliance plans from Chinese app vendors, especially in the areas of data collection and consumer privacy protection. This dissatisfaction is what triggered the permanent ban. Since June of last year, the Indian government has taken “unprecedented” actions on 267 Chinese apps over several rounds, citing national security concerns. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the latest development expressing “serious concern.” China also accused India of violating market economy principles and WTO rules. The Chinese Embassy in India also showed a strong position against India’s action taken in the name of national security. After the news broke, some Chinese vendors like TikTok announced their Indian lay-off plans.

Source: Global Times, January 26, 2021
https://world.huanqiu.com/article/41faKzHUmX6

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Information/Technology

Military: China Tested the Biden Administration’s Position on Taiwan

On January 23, China sent 13 warplanes into Taiwan’s southwestern air defense zone. China’s planes included eight nuclear-capable bombers, four fighter jets and an anti-submarine patrol aircraft. In response, Taiwan’s air force warned away the Chinese aircraft and deployed missiles to monitor them.

After the incident and on the same day, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command dispatched an aircraft carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt into the South China Sea to promote “freedom of the seas” in the waterway.

Also on the same day, the U.S. State Department released a statement confirming its support for Taiwan. The statement asserted,

“The United States notes with concern the pattern of ongoing PRC attempts to intimidate its neighbors, including Taiwan. We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives.

We will stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values in the Indo-Pacific region — and that includes deepening our ties with democratic Taiwan. The United States will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people on Taiwan. The United States maintains its longstanding commitments as outlined in the Three Communiqués, the Taiwan Relations Act, and the Six Assurances. We will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability. Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region.”

However, on the next day, Beijing sent another 15 aircraft to break into Taiwan’s airspace.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy Framework that the Trump administration declassified stated the following:

“Objective: Deter China from using military force against the United States and U.S. allies or partners, and develop the capabilities and concepts to defeat Chinese actions across the spectrum of conflict.”

One action toward this objective is: “Devise and implement a defense strategy capable of, but not limited to: (1) denying China sustained air and sea dominance inside the “first island chain” in a conflict; (2) defending the first-island-chain nations, including Taiwan; and (3) dominating all domains outside the first island-chain.”

Sources:
1. New York Post, January 23, 2021.
https://nypost.com/2021/01/23/china-sends-warplanes-into-taiwans-airspace-report/
2. State Department, January 23, 2021.
https://www.state.gov/prc-military-pressure-against-taiwan-threatens-regional-peace-and-stability/
3. New York Post, January 25, 2021.
https://nypost.com/2021/01/25/china-sends-warplanes-into-taiwan-airspace-for-2nd-straight-day/

 

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