Defense/Military - 79. page

Towards the end of the year, Chinese military forces will implement a new system for over 800,000 non-commissioned officers. This is another major policy reform for non-commissioned officers following the 1999 reform. According to the General Staff Department of the People’s Liberation Army, the reform is based on four considerations: retention of officers for information warfare, institutionalization of lessons learned, solutions for current conflicts and problems brought by various changes, and adjustments necessary to meet the needs for reform of the country and its military forces.
 
Source: China News Service, November 4, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/11-04/1946769.shtml

During an interview with a Xinhua reporter, Xu Qiliang, China’s Air Force Commander, claimed that the arms race and arms development have taken on a new challenge, as it now includes control of space. Xu stated that whoever controls space will control the ground, ocean, and the electromagnetic field, achieving a strategic advantage. The Air Force should keep on track of the overall goal, including building IT capabilities and being ahead in information warfare. The impetus should continue on strategic requirements, covering air and space and focusing both on offense and defense. The thrust must include improvement of reconnaissance capabilities and early detection, warning, air strikes, defense against air strikes, and strategic delivery capabilities. Military capabilities must face continued refinement and the military must realize the transition from mechanization to information as early as possible.

Source: Xinhua, November 1, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-11/01/content_12364603.htm

As part of the East China Sea Fleet, Submarine 330 is the first of a new generation of Chinese developed submarines. The primary features of this “new concept power” submarine include low noise level, long submerge time, advanced power systems and cutting edge weapons systems. During a recent trial trip in the northern seas under extreme low temperature conditions, the crew collected a large amount of data on the atmospheric variation patterns of the new cabin, the maneuver margin of the new power system and the physiological tolerance of the crew. The new submarine fleet is introducing new tactics focusing on concealment, breaking through a destroyer fleet, and combating air anti-submarine forces.

Source: Ministry of National Defense, October 23, 2009
http://news.mod.gov.cn/forces/2009-10/23/content_4097218.htm 

To establish China’s naval strategic offshore support points has become increasingly important, says Xinhua. "Whether for anti-piracy, anti-terrorist attacks, or strategic deterrence, reliable anchors overseas are indispensable. Even for aircraft carrier groups, and their replenishment of supplies and crew, these support points are indispensable." "From a strategic perspective, in the past year, the convoy operations in Somalia and the Gulf of Aden were merely the Chinese navy’s ‘ocean display,’ and were far from a real offshore presence. China has a long way to go to build strategically secured offshore channels."

Source: Xinhua, October 27, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-10/27/content_12336839.htm

The Global Times published a set of photos, claiming them to show China’s aircraft carriers that are presently under construction. The location is said to be the new District of China Ship Design Institute in Wuhan City, Hubei Province.

Source: Global Times, October 14, 2009
http://mil.huanqiu.com/photo/newpic/2009-10/603861.html

Xinhua reported on October 21 that "Vanguard – 2009A," a joint fire military maneuver of ground and air forces, entered the combat deployment phase on October 21, 2009. Hu Xiubin, the chief director of the exercise and an army Major General from the Jinan Military Region, introduced precise operations in combat.

1. Precise Reconnaissance: Obtain complete intelligence information using the means of satellite reconnaissance, aerial photography, unmanned aerial vehicles, battlefield television and close-up observation on the ground.
2. Precise Command: Quantify and calculate groupings of combat forces, actions of teams, consumption of ammunition, amount of damage and injuries.
3. Precise Strike: Use precision-guided weapons, and ammunition.
4. Precise Assessment: Use technological means to do combat calculations and simulations.
5. Precise Support: Make scientific predictions on ammunition consumption, fuel supplements, transportation needs, casualties and equipment damage.

Source: Xinhua, October 21, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-10/21/content_12290433.htm

According to China News Net, on October 20, 2009, a joint fire military maneuver of ground and air forces called "Vanguard – 2009A" will be carried out on a tactical training base in the Jinan Military Command. Over 150 foreign military students from more than 70 countries and some military observers from the United Kingdom, Israel, Turkey, and other countries, will be on site watching. Hu Xiubin, the chief director of the exercise and an army Major General for the Jinan Military Region, said that the characteristics highlighted in this maneuver will be “Joint Operations” and “Precise Operations” in combat, which reflect the ideas of joint operations and winnings using the conditions of information technologies.

Eleven military branches from both the army and air forces, armed with over 50 kinds of equipment, will participate in the military maneuver.

Source: China News Net, October 20, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/10-20/1921318.shtml

On October 13, 2009, Sichuan News Network published an article about the international concerns caused by the PLA Navy’s plan to build 10,000-ton destroyers. The displacement of the new destroyers will be over 10,000 tons and they will be equipped with a variety of anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft missiles. The main focus of building the new destroyers will be on the development of mobility, stealth and oceangoing combat capability. They will be able to provide protection for all future Chinese aircraft carriers.

The United States is increasingly concerned that China is building aircraft carriers. However, the real threat to the U.S. is the anti-ship missiles that China is developing. These missiles are based on the existing medium-range missiles, with the goal to attack U.S. aircraft carriers.

Source: Sichuan News Network, October 13, 2009
http://china.newssc.org/system/2009/10/13/012368458.shtml