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People’s Daily: Expert’s Explanation of “Land-based Aircraft Carrier”

People’s Daily published an article in which military experts explained China’s "land-based aircraft carrier."

A Google satellite picture showed a large land-based construction in the shape of an aircraft carrier and other construction in the shape of a warship in a location in central China. The "land-based aircraft carrier" is about 300 meters long and 80 meters wide. A plane that looks like a J-15 fighter aircraft was also visible on the carrier’s deck. The warship next to it is thought to be the upper decks of China’s 055 Destroyer.

In an interview with the CCTV, military expert Li Li stated that this "land-based aircraft carrier" should be China’s land-based aircraft carrier training center. With the model of large warships next to it, it indicated that China’s training also includes system integration with multiple ships.

Li Li also said that China’s aircraft carrier may use both the catapult style and sky-jump style for planes to take off.

Source: People’s Daily Online, January 23, 2015
http://military.people.com.cn/n/2015/0123/c1011-26439359.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Chinese Military Expert Proposes to Train Navy and Air Force Double-Category Military Officers

Li Dapeng, an associate professor at the Naval University of Engineering (Wuhan, China), published an article on China Youth Daily, which was then republished on the websites of People’s Daily and Xinhua, proposing to train Navy and Air Force double-category military officers in order to counter the U.S. "Air Sea Battle." Below is an excerpt from the article: 

"The “U.S. ‘Air Sea Battle’ concept was formed to deal with new political, economic, and technological situations. … The United States declared that the ‘Air Sea Battle’ is not directed against a specific opponent. However, the U.S. Strategic and Budgetary Assessments Center released a report called, ‘Why is there an air Sea Battle?’ The report said, ‘With the proliferation of advanced military technology and military use by other countries, particularly when it is being applied to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the Iranian army, the ability of the U.S. military to enter the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf regions is being challenged.’" 
“Therefore, the purpose of the ‘Air Sea Battle’ concept is to ensure that the U.S. will be able to execute its military power in certain areas in the face of China and Iran’s military challenges.” 

“In recent years, the United States has continued to increase its investment in the Asia-Pacific strategy. Through joint military exercises, optimizing the systems of overseas military bases, troop redeployment, and strengthening strategic channel control, the U.S. has formed a strategic encirclement of China and has been preparing for the implementation of the ‘Air Sea Battle’ against China.”

“The U.S. military has been considering the training of military officers who fall within the ‘double military categories’ of both the navy and the air force. … Currently, the ‘Air Sea Battle’ has already transformed from the strategic planning phase into the implementation phase. Whether it is for responding to the ‘Air Sea Battle,’ or to adapt to the requirements of the development trend of the war, we should actively plan to train Navy and Air Force ‘double military categories’ personnel.” 

“To this end, we should, on the basis of an in-depth study of the ‘Air Sea Battle,’ implement the transition mechanism of naval and air force institutions and personnel training programs.” 

“Facing the current situation, we should boldly act to build more efficient and capable combat forces, train naval and air force double-category personnel, and accelerate and deepen the revolution in military affairs so as to take the driver’s seat in the possible future ‘Air Sea Battle,’ and win the war.” 
Source: China Youth Daily, August 22, 2014 
http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2014-08/22/nw.D110000zgqnb_20140822_3-09.htm http://military.people.com.cn/n/2014/0822/c1011-25515926.html 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2014-08/22/c_126904004.htm?prolongation=1

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

The Unspoken Rules for Buying and Selling Official Military Positions in China

On January 17, 2015, udn.com published an article on corruption in China’s People’s Liberation Army. On January 15, 2015, a "Deep Throat" or secret informant in the PLA exposed that, when Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong served as vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission, buying and selling official positions in the military had been unspoken rules across the whole PLA. A commander level position sold for US$1.6 million and a division level position sold for US$160,000. All other army positions were for sale and had specific price tags. The whole army was demoralized. Everyone was busy engaging in relationships and giving out gifts or money to their superiors. According to an open letter to Xi Jinping, the Chairman of the Central Military, "Democratic Evaluation" really referred to the unspoken rules of bribes and bribery implemented in the army.

Source: udn.com, January 17, 2015
http://udn.com/news/story/7331/647629

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

PLA Military Training Includes Political Education and Following the Party’s Commands

On January 7, 2015, Xinhua reported that, as approved by Xi Jinping, the People’s Liberation Army issued a guideline on the 2015 political education campaign for the new generation of the revolutionary military. 

The guideline required further study of Xi Jinping’s speeches on strengthening and improving political education in the military, implementing the rule of law, deepening military reform, and fighting against corruption, among other things. The guideline called for enhanced trust and loyalty in the Party’s Central Committee and in President Xi. 
The 2015 campaign will center on four topics: political beliefs in the Party and following the commands of the Party; the military capability to win a war; bravery and sacrifice; and good character. The four-topic training is to be completed in the first six months of 2015. 

Source: Xinhua, January 7, 2015 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-01/07/c_1113915170.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Japan’s Triple Motives in Attacking Chinese Military Exercises

Zhang Junshe (张军社), a researcher at the Institute of Military Studies of the Chinese Navy, published a commentary article in People’s Daily (overseas edition), arguing about China’s right to conduct military activities in the waters of the Western Pacific Ocean. Below are some quotes from the article:

“Since December 4, the Chinese Navy has been organizing ships and planned activities in the waters of the Western Pacific Ocean so as to conduct remote sea drills following its annual training plan.” 
“To the Chinese navy’s normal training activities, the Japanese side has appeared very uncomfortable and reacted inappropriately. Since the 4th [of December], the Japanese side has repeatedly sent ships and planes to follow, monitor, and harass China’s warships. Japan also issued several statements, such as the so-called ‘given the fact that China’s military planes entered Japanese airspace, the Japanese Air Self Defense Force dispatched fighter planes in an emergency,’ … hyping the information about the ‘China threat.’" 
“Japan is very clear about the legality, legitimacy, and necessity of the Chinese Navy’s far sea exercises in the Western Pacific waters. The reason that Japan insists on harassing and smearing the Chinese Navy’s warships activity has to do with its selfish purposes. 
“One is the Cold War mentality, attempting to block the Chinese navy within the boundary of the so-called ‘first island chain.’ Second, it is trying to break through the restrictions of its ‘peace constitution,’ lift the ban on its right to a collective self-defense, and look for excuses to develop offensive combat forces. Third, it is trying to consolidate the Japan-U.S. alliance, using the United States to contain China’s military development.” 
The article concluded, “The Chinese Navy will continue to conduct far sea drills in the Western Pacific waters in the future. The Japanese government had better get accustomed to this reality.” 

Source: People’s Daily, December 30, 2014 
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2014/1230/c1002-26297069.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Xinhua: Cyber Warfare Is Comparable to a Nuclear Strike

The military section of Xinhua published an article discussing the importance of cyber warfare in the future battlefield among countries. A partial translation follows: 

“Cyber warfare is a devastatingly destructive form of combat. It is related to the country’s safety and its survival. The enormous power of cyber warfare is similar to that of a nuclear strike. It can bring the entire network to a standstill, delivering a heavy blow to the central nervous system of the entire society.” 

“Military experts point out that cyberspace has risen to a level parallel to the sea, land, air, and space; it has become the ‘fifth field.’ The ability to control cyberspace has become an important part of a nation’s military power. Analysts have pointed out that, in the future, the ‘fifth field’ will become each country’s main battlefield.” 

“According to a knowledgeable expert, cyber warfare is like ‘Pandora’s box.’ One should treat a cyber war with the same vigilance as a nuclear war.” 

“Since 1991 when the U.S. used cyber warfare successfully in the Gulf War, the U.S. has never cooled down its enthusiasm for cyber warfare. From the time when the U.S. military developed the ‘Schutte’ system in order to achieve a high degree of integration of electronic warfare, cyber warfare, direct destruction, and many other means of attack, to the use of the ‘Stuxnet’ virus to sabotage Iran’s nuclear research program, the U.S. has held a ‘Cyber Storm’ exercise every two years, in order to test the U.S.’s network security and emergency response capabilities and to establish the world’s first ‘Network Warfare Command." The U.S. is moving farther and farther along on the road of cyber warfare preparations.” 
Source: Xinhua, December 9, 2014 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2014-12/09/c_127288009.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Huanqiu: How Large Should China’s Nuclear Arsenal Be in Order to Protect Its National Security?

On November 29, 2014, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an article titled, “How Large Should china’s Nuclear Arsenal Be in Order to Protect Its National Security?” According to Huanqiu, this is a question that concerns Chinese netizens because other countries tend to speculate about ‘the quality and quantity’ of China’s nuclear weapons. On November 19, 2014, the U.S. Congresses’ US-China Economic and Security Review Commission stated in its 2014 Annual Congressional Report, “In 2013, the Pentagon estimated that Beijing’s nuclear arsenal was comprised of roughly 50 to 75 nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that could reach the U.S. Within the next 15 years, China will likely have an arsenal of over 100 ICBMs.”

In an interview, a Chinese national security expert, who did not want to release his name, told the Huanqiu reporter, “To ensure its national security in the future, China should not have a smaller nuclear arsenal or should have a little larger nuclear arsenal than the countries that have a medium size nuclear arsenal (for example, Britain, France and Russia).”

Sources: Huanqiu, November 29, 2014
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2014-11/5221131.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Russian Media: China is Taking Advantage of Russia’s Reliance on China

Huanqiu reported that, according to a Russian media (New World website), Russia is enabling China to arm to the teeth. During the recent Russian defense minister’s visit to China several arms sales transactions took place. The visit completed the process of making China a Russian strategic military partner and provided China access to Russian level one important military technology. China now has received small quantities of advanced Russian military products for further research and development. These products are subject to export control in Russia. Many of the advanced munitions that China is interested in purchasing have been developed in recent years and can fundamentally change the balance of power around China, including in part of Russia. Even during the Sino-Russia honeymoon time under Stalin, the trust between the two countries was not as close as the level today. 

Huanqiu further reported that according to the Russian media, Russia felt obliged to offer the technology because it has become trapped due to its long-term reliance on China. “In fact, the Eastern friend of Russia is taking advantage of a geopolitical pattern that is unfavorable to Russia and has been engaged in soft diplomatic blackmail.” 
Source: Huanqiu, November 25, 2014 
http://mil.huanqiu.com/observation/2014-11/5213970.html
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military