Defense/Military - 59. page

A commentary jointly issued on March 28, 2012, by the People’s Liberation Army General Political Department and China’s National Defense University called for the highly centralized unity of military personnel and stressed having the utmost discipline. It stated that maintaining the Party’s highly centralized unity is critical to the enhancement of the cohesive combat effectiveness of the military. Regardless of the changes and new challenges ahead, the military must be under the absolute leadership of the Party and “firmly follow the orders of the Party’s Central Committee, the Central Military Committee, and President Hu under all circumstances.” If the military is not politically correct, “it will likely lose direction amidst complex and confusing political struggles. … For every Party member, following the Party’s discipline is a political requirement; the most important requirement is to be in compliance with political discipline.”

Source: People’s Liberation Army Daily reprinted by People’s Daily, March 27, 2012 http://theory.people.com.cn/BIG5/49150/17497817.html

China’s Ministry of Commerce recently published a piece on its official website quoting the Chinese Embassy in Russia, which revealed that negotiations between China and Russia on the purchase of 48 Su-35 fighter jets are close to being finalized. The contract will total US$4 billion. This is China’s largest single international military procurement contract in a decade. There is one key issue that still remains unresolved in the negotiations: intellectual property protection. The Russians are requiring a legally binding guarantee to ensure that China will not illegally copy Russian technology and use it to eat into Russia’s share of the international military aircraft market.

Source: Ministry of Commerce, March 10, 2012
http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/i/jyjl/m/201203/20120308007354.html

On March 4, 2012, the Nanyang Post published an article titled “The PLA Proposes Placing the Coast Guard on the South China Sea.” In the article, Tian Fuzhou, a PLA civilian-level cadre and a member of the CPPCC (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), expressed the belief that the South China Sea problems need to be solved by Armed Marine Guards (the Coast Guard). Tian said in a media interview that the key to solving the South China Sea problem is to establish China’s national prestige by using armed marine guards on the sea, similar to the armed police, rather than the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (the PLA).   

Source: Nanyang Post, March 4, 2012
http://news.nanyangpost.com/2012/03/tian-fuzhou.html

A Study Times report published on February 27, 2012, stated that China’s self-developed Beidou Satellite System offers China strong military capabilities. What Beidou includes:

1. Offers global positioning capabilities to the military.
2. Provides communication services. It can integrate with the telecom system, the computer system, and the surveillance monitoring system to form a joint combat command system.
3. Provides precision-guidance to ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, ground missiles, guided bombs, and other precision strike weapons, to improve their hit ratio.
4. Accurately locates the position of long-range weapons and evaluates their attack effectiveness.
5. Provides navigation and positioning to special operations forces to improve the individual soldier’s combat capability and mobility.

Source: Study Times, February 27, 2012
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2012/02/27/07/07_32.htm

China Review News (CRN) recently republished a Xinhua report that the General Armament Department of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced and distributed to all branches of the army the new Technical Quality Issue Handling Rules for Army Equipment and Weaponry in Active Duty. The Rules for the first time clearly defined the governance structure and responsibilities of various army units for quality assurance. Technical support is now a requirement. Issue tracking and response documentation are also standardized. Periodical reporting requirements and levels of problems are defined too. In 2011, pilot programs for the implementation of the Rules were run in the Beijing and Lanzhou Military Regions and improvements were seen, as a result.

Source: China Review News, February 22, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/1/7/8/102017899.html?coluid=4&kindid=18&docid=102017899&mdate=0222083351

China Review News (CRN) recently republished a report originally from People’s Liberation Army Daily (PLA Daily) that a mixed civilian and military weapons research, development, and manufacturing system had been established. As of mid-February, more than one hundred civilian enterprises passed the military qualification screening and became eligible to use civilian technologies for weapons development. One example is a civilian robot model that, after some modifications, is now being used for military purposes (such as nuclear reconnaissance). In the past few years, the army has established a system of regulations for managing civilian procurements. In some cases, the cost savings reached 50% and civilian technologies provided significant help in dealing with today’s diversified military missions.

Source: China Review News, February 19, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/1/5/1/102015109.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=102015109&mdate=0219094107

China News Net recently reported that the China Aerospace Science and Technology Group, which is considered the "cradle" for Chinese missile and spacecraft products is planning a large number of activities. Multiple strategic and tactical missile weapons tests have been scheduled for this year. Also in the plan are 21 rockets with 30 satellites that will be sent into space. They will include one remote-sensing satellite exported to Venezuela, as well as four communications satellites for Nigeria, Bolivia and Belarus. The plan also puts in place a new research and manufacturing administrative structure, which includes a maturity evaluation model, a certification process for production lines, and an integrated safeguard system for weapon types and model management.

Source: China News Net, January 19, 2012
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/01-17/3612130.shtml

According to a China Review News report on January 15, 2012, Guo Boxiong, the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Peoples Republic of China, recently emphasized the Party’s absolute leadership over the army. He made this point in a speech he delivered in Beijing, where he gave a New Years greeting to a group of PLA army officials, soldiers, retired senior military officials, staff, and their family members.

He said, “This year (2012) is a year of great significance in the development of our Party and country. It is also a crucial year for the modernization of the armed forces and military combat readiness. We must maintain the army’s high concentration, security and stability. Be politically firm, and mentally stable. … Adhere to the correct direction, strictly follow discipline, maintain security and stability, maintain unity, and create a good environment for a victorious opening of the Party’s 18th National Congress. … Unswervingly uphold the fundamental principle and system of the Party’s absolute leadership over the army. At any time and under any circumstances, resolutely obey the Chinese Communist Party Central Military Commission and Chairman Hu Jintao.”

Source: China Review News, January 15, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1019/8/0/7/101980783.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=101980783&mdate=0115160518