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Defense/Military - 80. page

China Economy: Satellite Agreement Signed between China and Pakistan

The governments of China and Pakistan signed an agreement based on a framework of China providing loans with favorable terms to support Pakistan’s satellite projects. The loans are limited to no more than RMB 1.35 billion and the projects will be implemented by a joint effort between the two countries. A covered communications satellite will be launched in August 2011 with an expected life cycle of 15 years. The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui said that the Chinese government will continue to support Pakistan’s economic and technological development.

Source: China Economy Net, September 18, 2009.
http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/200909/18/t20090918_20048492.shtml

Retired Military Officers Are Convinced to Stay in Xinjiang

All of the 483 military officers in the Xinjiang Military Area Command who are due for retirement decided to find jobs and stay in Xinjiang despite the July 5 incident.  All of them were from the other parts of China and entitled to return to their hometowns. Ever since the incident in Xinjiang, the Xinjiang Military Area Command has taken measures to “ease the concerns of those officers who are due for retirement so as to enable them to firm up their decisions to make a career and home in Xinjiang.” The Xinjiang Military started the replacement work one month earlier than usual and organized workshops and forums to “educate and direct” those officers in their decision making process.

Source: Global Times, August 28, 2009
http://mil.huanqiu.com/china/2009-08/560942.html

Chinese Military Denying Internet Buzz on Military Reform

The People’s Liberation Army denied that there would be a major military reform. The PLA official interviewed by the State’s Global Times stated that while deepening military reform is inevitable, the discussions on the Internet and text messages about the military reform are untrue.

Source: Global Times, August 22, 2009
http://china.huanqiu.com/roll/2009-08/554815.html

Chinese Economy: Campus Satellite System to Play Major Role in Military Exercise

In the current “Stride-2009” military exercise, China’s Campus Satellite Navigation and Positioning System will play an important role, reported Chinese Economy. In past exercises, there were quite a few incidents of information leakage due to communicating via non-secure methods, such as mobile phone or maritime satellite. The Campus system has resolved the communication security issue to a certain extent. Besides sending instant messages, it will also be used for time servicing and positioning.

The PLA’s general departments also set specific requirements on the electronic-magnetic environment and application of testing of new equipments. A set of self-developed new arms, such as the psychological operation team’s loud-voice broadcasting vehicle, will be tested in the field.

Source: Chinese Economy, August 11, 2009
http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/200908/11/t20090811_19754267.shtml

China Launched its Largest-ever Military Exercise

China’s military launched its largest ever tactical military exercise, involving 50,000 heavily-armored troops in a long-distance deployment spanning thousands of kilometers, Xinhua said. The live-fire exercise, named “Stride-2009,” involves an army division each from the Shenyang, Lanzhou, Jinan and Guangzhou regional military commands and will last from August through September. The army divisions and their air units will be deployed by civilian rail and air transport to unfamiliar areas. The exercise will be recorded and rated using an “Army Exercise Assessment System.” Also participating in the exercise are special operation forces, Army’s air fighters, electronic countermeasure companies, photo-reconnaissance units, UAV Groups, short-wave interference stations, all armed with new equipment.

Source: Xinhua, August 10, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-08/10/content_11858323.htm

South China Sea Neighbors and U.S. Collaborate to Provoke China

People’s Daily Online reported that recently Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippine and other countries deliberately provoked a sovereignty dispute with China, triggering tension in the South China Sea. “This year, Vietnam has constantly claimed the sovereignty of Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands.” “On July 2nd, Kuala Lumpur Security Review, one of the Malaysian media, published an article stating that the ‘Spratly Interest Group’ has been formed by the Southeast Asia countries to be against China.” People’s Daily also criticized the United States and Australia for intending to join the group and form a ‘CARAT Group.’” (CARAT, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, is a series of bilateral exercises held annually by the United States and six Southeast Asian countries: the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei — Ed.).

Source: People’s Daily Online, Aug 4, 2009
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/1077/52987/9782167.html

International Herald: China’s J-10 Fighter Goes to South China Sea

Around August 1, the PLA Daily reported that the Air Force in the Guangzhou Military Command conducted a J-10 fighter aerial refueling. The International Herald explained that J-10 is the most advanced fighter jet in China. Its flying range is 3,400 km and effective air combat radius is 700 km. As the islands and water in the South China Sea that China and ASEAN countries dispute are over 1,000 km from China’s mainland, the aerial refueling resolved the J-10’s flying limitation.

The International Herald further commented that this is a milestone for China’s Air Force to go beyond land-based defense, an announcement that China will expand its control of the air and sea, and a demonstration of China’s joint combat capability between the Air Force and the Navy as the J-10 is taking on what is traditionally the Naval Air Force’s responsibility.

Source: International Herald, August 3, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-08/03/content_11815461.htm

HK Mirror: Chinese Military Reorganization

The HK monthly magazine Mirror reported recently that the Chinese military is planning a reorganization to divide China into four strategic regions instead of the current seven military zones. Each strategic region will be controlled by a “mini” central military committee that consists of a joint central command and the secretaries of the provincial committees of the Party in the region. The reform plan iincludes changes in some military ranks. Senior Colonel will be replaced by Brigadier General, and the number of generals will increase.

Source: HK Mirror, July 2009.
http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/chn/chnoverseamedia/cna/20090729/0316519118.html