Defense/Military - 66. page

China Review News (CRN) recently reported on an interview with a Chinese naval military expert regarding the hot topic of China’s first aircraft carrier. The report revealed that the first Chinese aircraft carrier, which is just a refit of the long-retired Ukrainian aircraft carrier “Varyag,” arrived in China in 2002. However the Chinese top leadership did not make up their minds on China’s aircraft carrier strategy until 2004. There was a two year delay due to the decision making process. There were reports suggesting the “Varyag” is just a training carrier, but the expert disagreed, “The first aircraft carrier is indeed a combat warship, although it is not very capable.” The expert expressed the wish that China would have at least three aircraft carriers. The report also covered various technical topics regarding an aircraft carrier. The Chinese expert used U.S. aircraft carriers to make all of his comparisons. Chen Bingde, head of Chinese Army’s General Staff Department (the PLA’s Joint Chiefs of Staff) suggested that Chinese aircraft carrier technology is 20 years behind the U.S.

Source: China Review News, June 25, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/crn-webapp/doc/docDetailCreate.jsp?coluid=4&kindid=18&docid=101744878&mdate=0625105159

PLA Daily (People’s Liberation Army Daily) recently reported that the Chinese Army’s General Staff Department made an important organizational change. Authorized by Chairman Hu Jintao and the Central Military Commission, the Communications Unit of the General Staff Department (GSD) has now become the Information Technology Unit. The establishment of the new unit is seen as a symbol of enhancing centralized information technology improvements. Chen Bingde, head of the GSD, (equivalent to the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff), attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Chen suggested that the new unit is not a simple name change; it is a strategic move with global, fundamental, and comprehensive impact.

Source: PLA Daily, June 30, 2011
http://www.chinamil.com.cn/jfjbmap/content/2011-07/01/content_61382.htm

An article in People’s Daily’s overseas edition defends China’s development of an online blue army. The article said, “With today’s rapid development of information technology, we need to effectively defend our country’s network information security. To achieve that goal, an excellent online blue army is required.” 

Xu Caihou, a Politburo member and vice chairman of Central Military Committee (CMC), recently toured the military institutions in China’s southeast provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui. Navy Commander Wu Shenli and Air Force Commander Xu Qiliang accompanied him. In his speech, Xu stressed that all military institutions must follow the Party’s strategic ideas and intensify their ideological work. Xu emphasized that “the quality of political thought is the core and soul of one’s personal quality. … [One] must firmly solidify the political foundation of holding the [Communist] banner, listening to the Party, and fulfilling [one’s] responsibility. … [One] must strictly follow the political discipline, … enhance Internet control, and prevent the spread of wrong political views.” [1] 

A June 20, 2011 article in Study Times, the newspaper published by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Party School, acknowledged the role of the military in domestic stability while defending China’s growing defense budget. “In the process of its development, China faces not only a situation where developed countries lead in areas of the economy, technology, and military, and also in external strategic prevention and containment, as well as in interference and sabotage by separatist and hostile forces; China also faces, in addition, the challenge of maintaining social stability and fighting against secession.” 

According to People’s Daily on June 20, 2011, the China Beidou (Big Dipper) Satellite Navigation System will complete its comprehensive testing in October 2011, and will have the capacity to provide "preliminary" services to most parts of China. Next year, the navigation system may provide services to the Asia Pacific region.

China has sent eight Beidou navigation satellites into orbit, said Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation System management office. China will launch 3 – 4 network satellites this year to provide preliminary positioning, navigation, and time services in and around China. Next year it will launch 5 – 6 network satellites to provide services to the Asia and Pacific region.

Source: People’s Daily, June 20, 2011
http://hn.people.com.cn/GB/208663/14946299.html

To guard against divulging military secrets, the PLA’s General Staff Department and the General Political Department recently issued a joint notice strictly prohibiting military personnel from online dating. The notice also delineates the guidelines for soldiers’ using the Internet to search for marriage prospects or new jobs, as well as using personal blogs or websites. The PLA’s "Domestic Affairs" and "Regulations on the Prevention of Crime" also have strict regulations on military personnel’s participating in various online activities such as reunions with friends from their hometowns, or meetings with alumni or comrades-in-arms. The notice said, “All units must have a thorough understanding of the hidden dangers and threats from online dating and take it as a task to ensure military security and execute (such tasks) with a sense of political responsibility.”

Source: china.com.cn, May 31, 2011
http://www.china.com.cn/policy/txt/2011-05/31/content_22675745.htm

The Central Military Commission (CMC), headed by the chief of the Chinese Communist Party, Hu Jintao, recently issued “Several Provisions of the Code of Ethics for Military CCP Members and Leading Cadres,” demanding conscientious implementation across the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police. “Several Provisions,” which is a follow-up regulation for the “Several Principles of the Code of Ethics for Military CCP Members and Leading Cadres” circulated in January 2010. It lists 70 "unacceptable practices" in 11 different categories, stipulating specific responsibilities for various CCP positions in the military. The CMC asks all levels of military CCP committees to regard the fight against corruption an “urgent and realistic task and long-term strategic goal.”

Source: Xinhua, May 31, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-05/31/c_121479904.htm