After January 30, when the U.S. Navy sent the USS "Curtis Wilbur" missile destroyer into the area that is within 12 nautical miles of China’s Paracel islands, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang responded that the U.S. action was to exercise Maritime hegemony and asked the U.S. to stop such acts as early as possible. The Chinese Communist mouthpiece Global Times, a subsidiary of People’s Daily published a report critical of the fact that some countries are adding fuel to the flames by publicly supporting the “Freedom of Navigation Operation” (FONOP) of the United States. The article named Japan and Australia in particular.
Defense/Military - 39. page
The PLA Conducted Large Scale Landing Exercises along the Southeast Coast
Chinese Military Experts Reveal the Secret of Deterrence Strategy in Cyberspace
Yuan Yi, a military expert from the Chinese PLA Military Academy of Sciences, published an article discussing the strategy of cyberspace deterrence.
Ministry of National Defense’s Spokesperson on CMC Administrative Organ Reshuffle
China has continued its military reform. On January 11, Xi Jinping met the new leaders of the Central Military Commission’s (CMC’s) 15 administrative organs.
After the adjustment, the former four headquarters/departments of the CMC, namely the General Staff Headquarters (GSH), the General Political Department (GPD), the General Logistics Department (GLD), and the General Armaments Department (GAD), were replaced by 15 functional sections including seven departments (offices), three commissions, and five directly affiliated bodies.
The 15 functional sections are: CMC General Office, CMC Joint Staff Department, CMC Political Work Department, CMC Logistic Support Department, CMC Equipment Development Department, CMC Training Management Department, CMC National Defense Mobilization Department, CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, CMC Political and Legal Affairs Commission, CMC Science and Technology Commission, CMC Strategic Planning Office, CMC Reform and Formation Office, CMC International Military Cooperation Office, CMC Audit Office, and CMC General Affairs Administration.
Wu Qian, a spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense held a news conferences and answered many questions on the CMC changes. The whole English translation of the Question and Answers is available at: http://english.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/china-military-news/2016-01/12/content_6854444.htm.
Source: Xinhua, January 11, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-01/11/c_1117739984.htm
Huanqiu: China May Have Cut Five Ground Force Army Groups
On January 2, 2016, Huanqiu published an article on China’s military reform; it was based on an article from China’s military newspaper People’s Liberation Army Daily. According to the article, China may have reduced 5 of its ground force army groups, going from the previous 18 army groups to 13 army groups. The 5 removed army groups were from the Shenyang Military Region, the Beijing Military Region, the Jinan Military Region and the Chengdu Military Region.
China’s president Xi Jinping had announced on September 3, 2015, that 300,000 troops would be cut. The demilitarization of 300,000 troops mainly targeted the downsizing of land force armies, reducing non-combat institutions and personnel, as well as military official positions.
“China’s military reform has triggered massive reshuffles, the influence of which is ‘unprecedented’ in terms of its depth, breadth, and the range of interests affected. Some media call it ‘a system remodeling.’"
Sources: Huanqiu and People’s Daily, January 2, 2016
http://www.huanqiuzhiyin.com/hqjj/2016/01022182.html
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0102/c172467-28003660.html
People’s Daily: China Confirmed Building a Second Aircraft Carrier
Military Expert: China Will Not Fire the First Shot and Won’t Give a Second Chance to the Opponent
Recently, U.S. Department of Defense officials said that, within this year, the U.S. will not send any warships to the South China Sea that will navigate within 12 sea miles of China’s artificial reefs. Also, an anonymous official said that the next voyage will be in January of next year. Chinese military expert Cao Weidong, in an interview with the CCTV "Today’s Focus" program, said that the U.S. military action of cruising the South China Sea is just for show. China has always insisted on an active defense policy. China will not fire the first shot, but will never give [the U.S.] a second chance either.
PLA Daily Calls for Unity on the Reduction in Military Force
During a military parade in early October, Xi Jinping announced a reduction in military force of 300,000 military personnel. People’s Liberation Army Daily recently published a commentary on that reduction.