Defense/Military - 62. page

The International Herald Leader under Xinhua News interviewed Major General Luo Yuan, who is also Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Military Science Research Society, which is part of the Academy of Military Sciences of the People’s Liberation Army. In the interview, Luo declared that China is absolutely not afraid of war. “Some neighboring countries are still occupying and eroding our territory, our territorial waters and islands, and interfering with the peaceful rise of China. … China’s military loves peace but is absolutely not afraid of war. … When good will is misunderstood to be cowardice, [we] should take action as appropriate and dare to use and be good at using the sword. Otherwise, if the ‘tiger’ does not make a move, it will be taken as a ‘sick cat. … We do not wage a war when we are not prepared or not sure we will win or it does not pay to fight the war. When we fight, we will hurt you and overcome you.” 　

Source: International Herald Leader, January 9, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2012-01/09/c_131344415.htm

On January 10, 2012, China Review News reprinted an article from Xinhua about China’s military preparedness. The article includes commentaries from Luo Yuan, the Vice Secretary-General of the China Military Science Research Association and from Ted Carpenter, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute in the United States.

Luo Yuan believes that the purpose of the U.S. returning to the Asia-Pacific area is to curb and contain China’s rise. He said that China must learn how to “dance with the wolf,” and while in the process of modernizing China’s defenses, be cooperative and defensive at the same time. “We do not fight a battle unprepared, an uncertain battle, or a battle not worthwhile. If we fight a battle, we will hurt you badly and beat you down convincingly.” Ted Carpenter believes that China’s military modernization is logical; but he suggested that China not release any irritating statements so as to avoid unfavorable responses from the U.S.

Source: China Review News, January 10, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1019/7/3/1/101973190.html?coluid=6&kindid=27&docid=101973190&mdate=0110125009

Zhang Chunxian, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Party Secretary of Xinjiang and the First Secretary of the Xinjiang Military Region requested that the Xinjiang military “defend the highest national interest” and “safeguard national security, the border, ethnic group unity, and social stability.” “Facing the complicated anti-separatist struggle, the military stationed in Xinjiang must continue to develop its quick response capability, to be able to ‘ensure success when fighting against terrorists, to ensure peace when maintaining stability, to ensure effective results when handling conflicts, and to ensure safety when patrolling.’”

Source:  China Review News, January 8, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1019/7/0/3/101970384.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=101970384&mdate=0108120046

The International Herald Leader, a newspaper under the Xinhua News Agency, published an article that suggests setting up three lines of navy supply bases in the Northern Indian Ocean, the Western Indian Ocean, and the Southern Indian Ocean. Currently, China is considering the Seychelles Foreign Minister’s invitation to the Chinese military forces. According to the article, China needs to establish overseas strategic support stations for adding ship fuel, re-supply of necessities, staff break time, repairs of equipment, and weapons.

The article suggested that Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar can be the core support bases in the North Indian Ocean supply line; Djibouti, Yemen, Oman, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique can be the core support bases in the West Indian Ocean supply line; and Seychelles and Madagascar can be the core support bases in the South Indian Ocean supply line.

Source: International Herald Leader, December 23, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-12/23/c_131321310.htm

According to China News Service, on December 27, China’s second generation of the Beidou satellite navigation system became operational with coverage of China and its neighboring regions. The Beidou system, currently operating as a free trial, offers positioning accuracy to within 25 m (82 ft). Plans include improving accuracy to within 10 m (33ft) next year, at which time six more satellites will be put into orbit and the system will offer services to customers in the Asia-Pacific region. The global system should be finished by 2020 and consist of 35 satellites.

The report said the Beidou system has a very significant military value. With its completion, the PLA will rid itself of its reliance on the U.S. GPS (Global Positioning System). China’s military strength will be greatly enhanced. The report claims that Beidou even outperforms the GPS in certain military functions. For example, Beidou’s short message capability allows the “group call” function that enables accurate commands and coordination. The military commanders can use the Beidou system to control the position of troops at any time and pass relevant orders.

Jin Yinan, a director at China’s National Defense University, said that letting the Beidou system be put into use as early as possible will play a huge role in enhancing national security. It is more significant than manned space flight and the Chang’e lunar exploration program.

Source: China News Service, December 28, 2011
http://www.chinanews.com/hb/2011/12-28/3564478.shtml

Legal Evening News reported that, within a period of one month, the People’s Liberation Army established four new departments. According to the military experts that Legal Evening News interviewed, the move is indicative of further military reform and transformation. On November 22, the PLA established the Strategic Planning Department; on December 12, it established the Research Center for Non-war Military Operations under the Academy of Military Sciences; on December 20, the Research Center for National Policy under the Academy of Military Sciences; and on December 21, the Military Training Department under the PLA’s General Staff Department.

With respect to the two above-mentioned research centers that are under the Academy of Military Sciences, the one on Non-war Military Operations will provide decision-making advisories to the Party’s military leaders, engage in fundamental research on non-war military operations, and establish the related theoretical system. The one for National Policy will participate in the draft of national white papers and prepare annual strategic assessments of the national security environment.

In July 2011, the largest military academy reform in recent years took place when 27 military institutes were consolidated into 14.

Source: Legal Evening News reprinted by Xinhua, December 23, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-12/23/c_122471008.htm

Global Times recently published a summary of a speech delivered by General Peng Guangqian, the Deputy Secretary of the National Security Policies Committee. In his speech, Peng identified three key global strategic events that have had a major impact on the international political landscape: (1) the global financial crisis; (2) the historic Middle East political “earthquake”; and (3) the U.S. moving its global strategic focal point to East Asia. According to Peng, the new U.S. strategy includes six elements: (1) China as the primary war target; (2) Japan and Australia as the key strategic allies; (3) Western Pacific based military bases; (4) the Western value system; (5) the U.S. dominated economic containment system; and (6) foreign policies aimed at separating China from its neighboring countries. In his speech, Peng expressed the worry that traitors in China might work with the U.S. to overturn the government.

Source: Global Times, December 16, 2011
http://mil.huanqiu.com/Observation/2011-12/2289744.html

Xinhua reported that the Chinese Navy is speeding up its transformation in preparation for a future war. On December 6, 2011, Chinese President Hu Jintao met the delegate attending the 11th Naval CCP Congress and stressed speeding up the transformation of the Navy, expanding the Navy’s preparation for military actions, and promoting the modernization of the Chinese Navy. The article pointed out that “for a big country like China, it’s very unlikely to have a war in the air or on the land in its own territory. If China will ever encounter an exterior military conflict, the mostly likely place for it to happen will be on the sea surrounding China, in the Asian-Pacific region.”

The article further emphasized that [China] is confident it will win a regional war on the sea. Over the last decade, the Chinese Navy has been improving its comprehensive power in various ways. Each step of its development has been aimed at a very clear target, that is, to win a future regional war on the sea.

Source: Xinhua, December 19, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-12/19/c_131308460.htm