Skip to content

Defense/Military - 53. page

Ministry of National Defense’s Spokesperson on CMC Administrative Organ Reshuffle

China has continued its military reform. On January 11, Xi Jinping met the new leaders of the Central Military Commission’s (CMC’s) 15 administrative organs.

After the adjustment, the former four headquarters/departments of the CMC, namely the General Staff Headquarters (GSH), the General Political Department (GPD), the General Logistics Department (GLD), and the General Armaments Department (GAD), were replaced by 15 functional sections including seven departments (offices), three commissions, and five directly affiliated bodies.

The 15 functional sections are: CMC General Office, CMC Joint Staff Department, CMC Political Work Department, CMC Logistic Support Department, CMC Equipment Development Department, CMC Training Management Department, CMC National Defense Mobilization Department, CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, CMC Political and Legal Affairs Commission, CMC Science and Technology Commission, CMC Strategic Planning Office, CMC Reform and Formation Office, CMC International Military Cooperation Office, CMC Audit Office, and CMC General Affairs Administration.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense held a news conferences and answered many questions on the CMC changes. The whole English translation of the Question and Answers is available at: http://english.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/china-military-news/2016-01/12/content_6854444.htm.

Source: Xinhua, January 11, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-01/11/c_1117739984.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Huanqiu: China May Have Cut Five Ground Force Army Groups

On January 2, 2016, Huanqiu published an article on China’s military reform; it was based on an article from China’s military newspaper People’s Liberation Army Daily. According to the article, China may have reduced 5 of its ground force army groups, going from the previous 18 army groups to 13 army groups. The 5 removed army groups were from the Shenyang Military Region, the Beijing Military Region, the Jinan Military Region and the Chengdu Military Region.

China’s president Xi Jinping had announced on September 3, 2015, that 300,000 troops would be cut. The demilitarization of 300,000 troops mainly targeted the downsizing of land force armies, reducing non-combat institutions and personnel, as well as military official positions. 

 “China’s military reform has triggered massive reshuffles, the influence of which is ‘unprecedented’ in terms of its depth, breadth, and the range of interests affected. Some media call it ‘a system remodeling.’"

Sources: Huanqiu and People’s Daily, January 2, 2016
http://www.huanqiuzhiyin.com/hqjj/2016/01022182.html  
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0102/c172467-28003660.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

People’s Daily: China Confirmed Building a Second Aircraft Carrier

People’s Daily recently reported that the Chinese Defense Ministry confirmed in a press conference that China is currently designing and constructing a second aircraft carrier. China’s first aircraft carrier is a modified and modernized Russian aircraft carrier. This second one will be a completely China-made carrier. The spokesperson for the Defense Ministry emphasized that the decision to build a second aircraft carrier does not conflict with China’s peaceful foreign policies and defensive military policies. The main construction site of the new carrier is located in the city of Dalian. The ship’s displacement level is at 50,000 tons. The design sports a conventional power system and the primary airplane model will be the domestically made J-15. Fixed-wing aircraft will utilize a ski-jump ramp for take-off. The new aircraft carrier design absorbed many lessons learned from the first one and it will incorporate many new adjustments and improvements. The Defense Ministry is committed to providing more information once it is available. 
Source: People’s Daily, December 31, 2015
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Military Expert: China Will Not Fire the First Shot and Won’t Give a Second Chance to the Opponent

Recently, U.S. Department of Defense officials said that, within this year, the U.S. will not send any warships to the South China Sea that will navigate within 12 sea miles of China’s artificial reefs. Also, an anonymous official said that the next voyage will be in January of next year. Chinese military expert Cao Weidong, in an interview with the CCTV "Today’s Focus" program, said that the U.S. military action of cruising the South China Sea is just for show. China has always insisted on an active defense policy. China will not fire the first shot, but will never give [the U.S.] a second chance either. 

Talking about why the United States would postpone its patrol in the South China Sea, Cao expressed that, in principle, military operations should be kept confidential. On the contrary, the U.S. deliberately uses the media to hype its warships patrolling the South China Sea, which is clearly contrary to the law of military operations in the true sense. We can say that the U.S. military action is just to show off. 
Cao pointed out that China’s attitude toward the U.S. is very clear. When a U.S. warship went to the South China Sea in October, China clearly told the U.S. that if it came close, we would verify, track and monitor. If it took further provocative and threatening actions, we would give warnings and an eviction. If there were violations or offensive actions, we would fire back. 

Source: People’s Daily, December 19, 2015 

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

PLA Daily Calls for Unity on the Reduction in Military Force

During a military parade in early October, Xi Jinping announced a reduction in military force of 300,000 military personnel. People’s Liberation Army Daily recently published a commentary on that reduction. 

According to the commentary, “Whether one’s unit is merged with another or one is demoted, whether one gets to stay or is retired, officers and soldiers will inevitably have their own thoughts and may become unstable.” The commentary called for those who will lose their positions to “jump out of the box of self-interest.”  
The commentary also stated that, in response to the “noises” made during the reduction in force, particularly the responses from those with ulterior motives, officers and soldiers must maintain their "ideological and political convictions." This requires that the high-level authorities and senior cadres lead by example. 
A posting on the People’s Daily blog said that Xi Jinping made a comment in an internal document about the status of the reduction in military force. “Those who express different opinions about the reduction prior to November 24 will be deemed to be making suggestions, while those who do so after that date will be considered obstacles and “must be firmly eradicated.” 
Sources: 
People’s Liberation Army Daily reprinted by People’s Daily, December 8, 2015 http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/8198/395517/ 
People’s Daily Blog, December 8, 2015 
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

People’s Daily: Japan Plans to Deploy U.S. Anti-Missile “Sade” System to Contain China

According to Japan’s Kyodo News report, for the first time, Japan’s defense ministry made it clear that the Japanese Self-Defense Force will consider the introduction of the U.S. anti-missile system "Sade." 

Chinese military expert Liang Fang said that the Japanese, in order to show their importance to the United States, will work very closely with the United States in its Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy. If Japan deploys the "Sade" system, the U.S. will substantially advance its anti-missile system and push them to the periphery of China. It will not only increase the cost of China’s security and defense, but also weaken China’s offensive capability, having the effect of containing China and keeping it from "going out." 

Military expert Yin Zhuo pointed out that the U.S.-Japan joint operations has had the first island chain blockade as an important goal. If the U.S. nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier battle groups were to conduct a joint blockade, coupled with information technology tools, it might have some effect. In such a situation, "China should keep some combat forces outside the [first] island chain, such as nuclear submarines and large-scale surface ships. Once the war breaks out, China can coordinate its actions inside and outside the island chain and launch a joint campaign to break the blockaded island chain." 
Liang Fang agreed with Yin Zhuo, "China must not be limited to breaking the blockade of the US and Japan from within the first island chain." The reason why the Chinese Navy proposes to "go out" is because China needs not only to have the capability of integrated offshore operations, but also to have the far sea counter capability outside of the first island chain. 
Source: People’s Daily, December 4, 2015 

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Xinhua: Armed Forces Declared Across-the-Board Support for Military Reform

Xinhua recently reported that all major branches of the Chinese military expressed firm support of the military system reform addressed in President Xi Jinping’s recent speech. The key units that officially declared their positions are: The General Staff, General Political Department, General Logistics Department, General Armament Department, as well as the Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou, and Chengdu Military Regions, plus the Navy, the Air Force, the Second Artillery, the Military Science & Defense University, the National Defense University, and the Armed Police Force. In a statement that the General Departments released, it was mentioned that the reform goal was to ensure President Xi’s “firm control of the top military leadership and commanding power.” This is the first time such language has been used to describe the military reform. 
Source: Xinhua, November 27, 2015
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Eleven Chinese Military Aircraft Approached Ryukyu

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that the Japanese Defense Ministry revealed on November 27, that eleven Chinese military aircraft flew across the East China Sea over the high seas towards the island of Ryukyu. The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force responded with sending emergency flights. According to the details reported by Japanese news agencies such as Yomiuri Shimbun, the Chinese aircraft included an H6 Bomber and a TU154 reconnaissance aircraft. The Chinese airplanes later returned back to China. It is very rare for as many as eleven Chinese military aircraft to approach Japan. The Japanese Defense Ministry is still analyzing the intent of the Chinese Air Force. The last time any Chinese military aircraft approached Ryukyu was in July of this year. 
Source: Sina, November 27, 2015
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military