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China Puzzled by Australia’s Public Support for U.S. South China Sea Navigation

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. 

On February 1, Global Times interviewed Chinese maritime scholar Liu Feng. During the interview, Liu said that Japan’s position of supporting the United States is not surprising. It is mainly due to its interests and strategic needs. However, the latest Australian statement on the issue was [surprising] and worthy of special attention. Liu Feng expressed the belief that following the United States to interfere with the South China Sea issue should not be Australia’s intention. He observed that, if Australia disregards China’s interests, it is likely to bring substantial harm to Sino-Australian relations. 
Liu Feng said that the Sino-U.S. competition in the South China Sea is entering a new phase. Military provocation is becoming America’s customary option. [We] cannot rule out that the United States will choose a new target area for continued provocation in the future. The United States’ reckless acts in the South China Sea have significantly increased the possibility of an incident of Sino-U.S. friction at sea. 

Source: People’s Daily, February 2, 2016 
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0202/c1011-28103543.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

The PLA Conducted Large Scale Landing Exercises along the Southeast Coast

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that the 31st Group Army of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), headquartered in Xiamen, Fujian Province, conducted large scale landing exercises with live ammunition. The exercises were reported on Mainland national TV four days after Taiwan’s presidential election. The 31st Group Army mobilized long-range rockets, howitzers troops, amphibious tanks and helicopter landing forces. One of the primary missions of the 31st Group Army is clearly defined as “reuniting China by landing onto the main island of Taiwan.” The Group Army was deployed as elite troops in the closest front line in the Taiwan Strait. The latest exercises were conducted as a joint operation under the conditions of information age warfare. A variety of new combat forces were integrated into the combat coordination system.
Source: Sina, January 21, 2016
http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/china/2016-01-21/doc-ifxnrahr8636130.shtml
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

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. 

The author stated, “As human society’s dependence on cyberspace is deepening, cyberspace is becoming the ‘second living space’ of human beings and the ‘fifth-dimensional battle space’ of military confrontation. Surrounding the controlling power over cyberspace, countries throughout the world are competing fiercely. Competition in cyberspace has reached a level equivalent to survival involving a country’s fate and the success of its military struggles.” 
Regarding how to develop cyberattack deterrence, the author emphasized long-term preparation. The article said, “‘Rome was not built in a day.’ The successful implementation of cyberspace deterrence requires a combination of peace and war. It is [important] to have detailed preparation on an ongoing basis. First, we must conduct a comprehensive and thorough network reconnaissance, gradually find out the basic situation of the enemy’s network, draw a topology map, and find out all the vulnerabilities of both the software and hardware systems of the enemy. Second we must to carry out a large number of effective strategic presets. Using hacking tools, we must secretly penetrate into the enemy’s various networks, leaving the back door [open], set the stepping stones, and plant logic bombs and Trojans, so as to leave breakthrough points for launching future cyberattacks. Third, to minimize losses, we must have prepared cyber defenses in case of the enemy’s revenge.” 
Talking about the strategy for cyberspace deterrence, the author summed it up as "show but not declare; declare but not show." "‘Show but not declare’ is, by utilizing the fact that it is difficult to track the location of cyberattacks, to launch cyberattacks on specific targets but not announce one’s own identity. By doing so, it shows one’s ability but, at the same time, the enemy can only speculate as to the source of the attack and cannot come up with evidence. "Declare but not show" is to publicize or ‘inadvertently’ disclose one’s own research or advanced network warfare equipment such models, performance, and features, while deliberately exaggerating their operational effectiveness. Thus the enemy will be unable to figure out our true strength and this will produce a deterrent effect. Cyber warfare operations are difficult to trace and it is difficult to find evidence. Therefore, the initiator can choose to admit, totally deny, or put the blame on civil hackers.” 

Source: People’s Daily, January 6, 2016 
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0106/c1011-28020408.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

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

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

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

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

People’s Daily: China Confirmed Building a Second Aircraft Carrier

People’s Daily recently reported that the Chinese Defense Ministry confirmed in a press conference that China is currently designing and constructing a second aircraft carrier. China’s first aircraft carrier is a modified and modernized Russian aircraft carrier. This second one will be a completely China-made carrier. The spokesperson for the Defense Ministry emphasized that the decision to build a second aircraft carrier does not conflict with China’s peaceful foreign policies and defensive military policies. The main construction site of the new carrier is located in the city of Dalian. The ship’s displacement level is at 50,000 tons. The design sports a conventional power system and the primary airplane model will be the domestically made J-15. Fixed-wing aircraft will utilize a ski-jump ramp for take-off. The new aircraft carrier design absorbed many lessons learned from the first one and it will incorporate many new adjustments and improvements. The Defense Ministry is committed to providing more information once it is available. 
Source: People’s Daily, December 31, 2015
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2015/1231/c1011-28001245.html
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

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. 

Talking about why the United States would postpone its patrol in the South China Sea, Cao expressed that, in principle, military operations should be kept confidential. On the contrary, the U.S. deliberately uses the media to hype its warships patrolling the South China Sea, which is clearly contrary to the law of military operations in the true sense. We can say that the U.S. military action is just to show off. 
Cao pointed out that China’s attitude toward the U.S. is very clear. When a U.S. warship went to the South China Sea in October, China clearly told the U.S. that if it came close, we would verify, track and monitor. If it took further provocative and threatening actions, we would give warnings and an eviction. If there were violations or offensive actions, we would fire back. 

Source: People’s Daily, December 19, 2015 
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2015/1219/c1011-27948665.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

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. 

According to the commentary, “Whether one’s unit is merged with another or one is demoted, whether one gets to stay or is retired, officers and soldiers will inevitably have their own thoughts and may become unstable.” The commentary called for those who will lose their positions to “jump out of the box of self-interest.”  
The commentary also stated that, in response to the “noises” made during the reduction in force, particularly the responses from those with ulterior motives, officers and soldiers must maintain their "ideological and political convictions." This requires that the high-level authorities and senior cadres lead by example. 
A posting on the People’s Daily blog said that Xi Jinping made a comment in an internal document about the status of the reduction in military force. “Those who express different opinions about the reduction prior to November 24 will be deemed to be making suggestions, while those who do so after that date will be considered obstacles and “must be firmly eradicated.” 
Sources: 
People’s Liberation Army Daily reprinted by People’s Daily, December 8, 2015 http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/8198/395517/ 
People’s Daily Blog, December 8, 2015 
http://t.people.com.cn/9430141/137179244 
http://military.people.com.cn/n/2015/1208/c1011-27898687.html
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military