Defense/Military - 75. page

Jiang Luming, a Chinese military expert, states that China must promote military and civilian integration in the light of the economic globalization and information warfare, but it should blaze its own path. “It is totally unrealistic,” said Jiang, to follow the recommendations of western military economists that China should acquire its military capabilities from the international arms market, instead of building its own. According to Jiang, China should study certain major national and military constraints, such as the fact that China has no military allies to rely on, has been under a long term high tech embargo, and is still relatively weak in technological foundation. Jiang serves as a professor at the Economic Research Center of the National Defense University.

Source: Xinhua, May 5, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-05/05/content_13468672.htm

China News Agency recently reported that Xiong Guangkai, former General and Army Deputy Chief of the General Staff, commented on China’s security situation. Xiong believes the overall positive security status remains unchanged, but the nation still faces many risks that require the army to remain alert. The “Grand Security Vision” is needed.

Xiong summarized three areas of “traditional risks”: (1) regional wars happen frequently; (2) international military competition intensifies around a core of new age military reforms; (3) nuclear proliferation and control are very much alive. However the Grand Security Vision includes six non-traditional risks: (1) the international financial crisis changes the development model; (2) anti-terrorism needs more attention; (3) information security stands out as a crucial risk; (4) energy safety is becoming a challenge; (5) food supply reliability is increasingly problematic; (6) climate change and public health issues are on the rise.

Source: China News Agency, April 29, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2010/04-29/2253225.shtml

China’s navy has nine access paths to go to the ocean, but only three or four paths on the east side of China, between Japan and Taiwan, can be used frequently and do not require notification to other countries, the International Herald Leader reported. The U.S. and Japan have beefed up their military and surveillance capabilities to closely monitor and contain China’s navy. The report quoted an anonymous Navy official’s suggestion: China should use these ocean access channels more frequently and familiarize itself with the environment, build large surface ships to cover submarines to go to the ocean during wartime, and improve its capability to control these key access paths.

The report is a comment on the Japanese media’s heavy coverage of ten of China’s navy ships, including two submarines appearing in international waters between Okinawa and Miyako Island on April 10.

Source: International Herald Leader, April 26, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-04/26/content_13424980.htm

On April 19, 2009, www.cntheory.com, which is directly under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee Party School, published an article titled, “China cannot be without an aircraft carrier forever.”

According to the article, Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said to a visiting Japanese Defense Minister in 2009, "Among the big nations only China does not have an aircraft carrier. China cannot be without an aircraft carrier forever."

The article argues that, for international strategic considerations, China must have an aircraft carrier. To maintain domestic prosperity, it must first maintain its strength overseas. Aircraft carriers are needed not only for the protection of territorial waters and coastal resources, but also for the maintenance of overseas interests and dealing with the potential threats from international hostile forces.

Source: www.cntheory.com, April 19, 2010
http://www.cntheory.com/news/XXSBRDGZ/2010/412/1041210346FD5B4169K6AH6KD06F81.html

According to People’s Daily on April 3, 2010, “Russian Al Yilmaz – Aetna’s president said that its factory has delivered 15 sets of the new S-300 missile systems to China with a contract valued at more than 2.25 billion U.S. dollars.”

The People’s Daily article reported that “The S-300 missile (NATO code-named Sam -20) covers a range of more than 150 km with a maximum flying speed at over 2 kilometers per second. … Based on information from the West, it can shoot down cruise missiles and aircraft.” The article pointed out that “the West is worried that the latest export-oriented S-300 missiles may also have “anti-stealth” capability.”

Source: People’s Daily, April 3, 2010
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/172467/11291762.html

On April 7, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), China’s flagship organization authorized by the government to provide satellite in-orbit delivery (IOD) services, commercial launch services and aerospace technology applications invited customers from countries including the United States, France, Germany,  the Philippines, and Hong Kong to the city of Xichang (which has a spaceport located about 64 km to the northwest) to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of China’s international space launch services. 

After receiving Hu Jintao’s approval, the Central Military Committee recently published an order “The Opinion on Strengthening Military Information Security Protection Under the New Situation.” The order outlines the following areas:
1) Strengthen the leadership for the information security protection and clarify each organization’s role and responsibilities, to establish an integrated and connected information security management system.
2) Improve the information security work mechanism and standardize procedures for security management, network security, and electromagnetic safety.
3) Establish an information security team.
4) Improve information security protection technology and methods.
5) Strengthen the management of information security protection, including management of human resources, information, network, critical weaponry equipments, and containers, sites, and activities that are related to security information

Source: Xinhua, April 6, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-04/06/content_13306916.htm

Xinhua recently published an article suggesting that the military’s strategic delivery capability is an important measure for national military capacity. The current Chinese strategic delivery is lacking theoretical studies, capacity building, reserve forces and a traffic mobilization mechanism. Chinese command methods are far behind the US Global Transportation Network. Strategic delivery requires integration among land, air and sea, as well as integration between national military and civilian systems. The article suggested that China should (1) establish an overall command system, (2) take full advantage of China’s railway system, and (3) enhance the “Military Representative System” along transportation lines.

Source: Xinhua, March 11, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-03/11/content_13145879.htm