On December 27, 2012, China’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that China is developing a large military transport aircraft to improve its military’s air transportation. Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said, "Research and development are proceeding as planned."
Source: Huanqiu, December 27, 2012
http://mil.huanqiu.com/observation/2012-12/3425508.html
Luo Yuan, Rear Admiral from the Chinese Academy of Military Science and Secretary-General of the China Strategic Culture Promotion Association, published an article in Xinhua in which he called for the establishment of a National Coast Guard that would counter the actions of countries that are in conflict with China in the East and South China Seas.
Naval expert Li Jie was invited to be a guest expert at the People’s Daily Military Forum. At the Forum, Li discussed the Chinese PLA’s development of submarines. Li Jie said, “The functionality and performance of China’s self-designed submarines are close to those made by the United States, Russia, Germany, and Japan. Only the propelling plant, noise, and some other factors still have some minor gaps as compared with the advanced countries.”
According to Huanqiu, on the morning of December 13, 2012, a Chinese maritime surveillance airplane entered into the territorial air space of the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku Islands in Japan). “This was another significant step forward this year to reinforce the safeguarding of our sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. … The Japanese air force responded with eight F-15 fighters and an Early Warning and Control aircraft (AWACS) to intercept the Chinese aircraft." The Huanqiu article stated that Japan no longer has actual control of the Senkaku Islands and that the dispute has now entered a new stage.
Source: Huanqiu, December 14, 2012
http://mil.huanqiu.com/paper/2012-12/3379857.html
Huanqiu reported that, according to the website of a Russian think tank, China is now a leading world exporter of certain munitions. Based on the 2004 to 2011 statistics of the Russian think tank, China ranks 10th in the world and 1st in Asia in arms exports. With a total value of $8.73 billion, China’s arms exports surpass that of all other Asian Pacific countries combined. It exports 51.65% of the total value of all arms in the Asian Pacific region.
Source: Huanqiu, December 11, 2012
http://mil.huanqiu.com/observation/2012-12/3366012.html
From December 8 to 10, 2012, Chinese Communist Party leader and military head Xi Jinping conducted an inspection tour of the Guangzhou military base. While addressing the local military leaders, Xi emphasized that “the greatest dream of the Chinese nation in modern times is the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The dream is a dream of a powerful nation. To the army, it is also the dream of a strong army.” Xi further stressed that to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, (we) must adhere to unifying the efforts to empower the nation by empowering the army; (we must) strive to develop a strong national defense and a strong military.
On November 27, 2012, in a guest session on People Daily‘s "Empower the Nation Forum," military expert Li Jie exchanged comments with Chinese netizens online. The topic was "China’s aircraft carrier’s first successful carrier landings.” Li Jie touted the significance of the successful delivery of the aircraft carrier and its carrier aircraft to the military, as well as the successful landings on the aircraft carrier. Li said that it had the same strategic significance as the success of "two bombs and one satellite" (the atomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb, and a man-made satellite).
At the 9th Airshow held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation displayed a variety of missile systems, including the FB-6A, an air defense system claimed to be similar to the U.S. Avenger Air Defense System, but with better missile defense capability.
According to Zong Wenbo, Vice Dean of the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the missile used on the FB-6A has better air defense capability than the Stinger Missile used on the Avenger Air Defense System. Its price is reasonable and suitable for large volume export. The system has been used in military exercises and can provide air defense capability for the field army.
Source: China Review News, November 17, 2012
http://www.zhgpl.com/crn-webapp/doc/docDetailCreate.jsp?coluid=4&kindid=16&docid=102306077&mdate=1117112223