Some offical information regarding the PLA reserve

First unit of reserve troops of PLA

english.chinamil.com.cn 2008-11-21

　　The first division of the reserve troops of the PLA was established in Jinzhou of Liaoning Province in March 1982.

　 　Twenty-six years have elapsed since then, and what changes has this division undergone over all these years? Curious to find the answer, the reporters drove all the way to the hinterland of the Liaoxi mountainous areas in late fall. Instead of wasting time, the reporters rolled straight to the training field of a logistic support brigade of the reserve force. The brigade is the former infantry division of the reserve troops of Jinzhou.

　　In the training field, the brigade was holding a comprehensive support exercise in complicated electromagnetic environment, involving more than 1,000 officers and men of the reserve troops. Cui Yanfa, commander of the brigade, said, "We set more than 40 subjects in five categories in the exercise. All of them are carried out in complicated electromagnetic environment. As the first unit of reserve troops, we should be more enterprising to blaze new trails of information-based training for the reserve troops."

　 　The Spring Festival of 1982 was hardly over when the reserve infantry division was quickly forged in accordance with the arrangement of the Central Military Commission and the general headquarters/departments of the PLA, with a group of officers in active service as the backbones, and the officers transferred to civilian work and the demobilized soldiers as the main body, thanks to the close cooperation of the military and the local authorities. On March 20 the same year, the Shenyang Military Area Command held a flag-presenting ceremony for the reserve infantry division.

　　By the end of 1998, the division was entrusted by the Central Military Commission with the experimental task of turning itself into a logistic support brigade of the reserve force.

　　By Xue Qingbo, Leng Dong and An Puzhong

　　(Nov 21, PLA Daily) Editor: Dong Zhaohui

But Mom, I want to be a private!

PLAN's South Sea Fleet conducted an anti-terrorism drill at high sea on Nov 17 with a rescue attempt against a hijacked “Cargo ship”

11月16日，南海舰队某猎潜艇大队与驱逐舰、导护艇、特种部队等兄弟单位，在海上进行联合反恐演练，部队协同作战与维稳处突能力得到锤炼和提高。


图为特战队员机降被劫持“货轮”的情景。 中国军网发 管伟华摄 （责任编辑：孙礼）
(Photo of a SpOps team descending on a "hijacked cargo ship")




And in two totally unrelated news:



Hong Kong cargo ship hijacked off Yemen coast
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20081118/tap-somalia-hongkong-china-piracy-unrest-900e8df.html

HONG KONG (AFP) — A Hong Kong-registered cargo ship was hijacked on Tuesday by pirates off the coast of Yemen and was believed to be heading for Somalia, government and military officials said.

The cargo ship Delight was carrying 25 crew members and 36,000 tonnes of wheat when it was attacked on Tuesday afternoon in the Gulf of Aden as it headed for the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua said, quoting the China Maritime Search and Rescue Centre.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong government said none of the crew was from Hong Kong, but did not give details of their nationalities.

"Our Marine Department knows that none of the crew onboard is from Hong Kong. We are following the matter up," he said, adding that he did not have any information about the exact location of the hijacking.

Xinhua said the crew were not mainland Chinese.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in the Gulf confirmed the hijacking.

"We have very little details," Lieutenant Nathan Christensen told AFP in Dubai, adding that the ship was operated by the "Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines."

Asked whether the Delight was now heading toward Somalia, Christensen said: "We didn't have the specific location but we think this is the case."

The Hong Kong government's spokesman said that Donald Tsang, the territory's chief executive, had been informed of the situation while on a visit to London for talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He said Tsang had been asked about the hijacking by reporters during a question and answer session.

"I just heard about this," the spokesman quoted Tsang as saying. "I want to find out more about this. This could be a serious matter for us. We will deal with it."

The hijacking comes after a Saudi super-tanker carrying two million barrels of oil was seized over the weekend by Somali pirates.

The Sirius Star, the size of three football fields and three times the weight of a US aircraft carrier, is the largest ship ever seized by pirates and the hijacking was the furthest out to sea that Somali bandits struck.

This year, Somali pirates have attacked 90 ships, more than double the number in 2007, according to the International Maritime Bureau. Pirates are still holding 16 ships and more than 250 sailors.




China pledges to work for freedom of fishermen held by pirates
www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-15 00:34:23 Print

BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's government on Friday pledged to make every effort to ensure the safe release of the crew of a Chinese fishing boat seized by Somali pirates off east Africa.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it was still assessing the situation and trying to obtain more information on the vessel, which was overrun late on Thursday.

The ministry would work with organizations abroad to ensure the safe release of the crew, according to the statement.

The vessel, owned by Tianjin Ocean Fishing Company, was hijacked by pirates armed with grenade launchers and automatic weapons off the coast of Kenya and was being held off the southern Somali port city of Kismanyu, according to reports on Friday.

The 24 crew comprised 16 Chinese, one Japanese, three Filipinos and four Vietnamese, according to China's Ministry of Transport.

A Somali pirate leader reportedly said all the crew members were "fine".

Eurocopter Receives the First Airframe Structure for the EC175 Prototype from Chinese Harbin Aviation Industry Co.

(Source: American Eurocopter; issued November 17, 2008)

On 15th November, Harbin Aviation Industry Co. (HAIG) successfully delivered the first EC175 airframe structure to Eurocopter at its factory in Harbin/China in the presence of representatives from both companies. This is the 3rd key milestone for the development of this multi-role medium-twin class 16-passenger helicopter.

The EC175/Z15 is a 50:50 joint programme between Eurocopter and HAIG, a subsidiary of the Chinese helicopter manufacturer AVICOPTER. The cooperation contract was signed on 5th December 2005 with the completion of the Preliminary Design Review in 2006 followed by the Critical Design Review in 2007

After the delivery of this airframe structure from Harbin, the assembly of the first EC175 prototype will start in Marignane with its maiden flight will take place by the end of 2009. The EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) type certification for this helicopter is expected for 2011 with CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) certification for this aircraft, called “Z15” in China, in 2012.

Eurocopter and HAIG are very satisfied with the progress of the development program which is consistent with the initial schedule. Both parties also insisted on the excellent spirit between the teams since the very beginning of the cooperation.

The delivery of the first EC175 helicopter is expected to start in 2012 with the objective to sell approximately 800 helicopters over 20 years worldwide. A big step towards this target was taken at the unveiling of the helicopter at Heli-Expo 2008 in Houston this February where Eurocopter signed intentions to buy with 13 different customers for a total of 111 units in 3 days.

Showcased for the first time at Zhuhai Airshow in early November in China, a letter of intent for 5 Z15 helicopters was also signed between HAIG and Longken General Aviation Cooperation – a domestic general-purpose aviation company.

These significant orders illustrate the fact that the EC175/Z15 perfectly complements the current Eurocopter and AVICOPTER product range and meets the market needs – primarily offshore passenger transport but also missions such as Search and Rescue, Emergency Medical Services as well as business and commercial aviation.

The EC175/Z15 program – the summit of a long history of cooperation with China

Eurocopter has had a lengthy experience of partnership in China – a good example would be the development, industrialisation and serial production of the EC120 B in 1992. All the structures for these aircraft (equipped with the fuel system, canopy, right and small door and engine cowlings) are manufactured by HAIG in Harbin. To date, more than 600 Colibris have been delivered throughout the world.

The EC175/Z15 development programme brought this cooperation to a new level – that of a 50:50 workshare. With a common goal, teams from both entities worked together in perfect harmony and coordination, be it in the beginning in the joint design office based in Marignane (where there were as many as 70 Chinese engineers at one time) or today where the teams are back in their respective organisations.

First batch of test pilots in PLA Air Force graduated

First batch of test pilots in PLA Air Force graduated

english.chinamil.com.cn 2008-11-11

　　On November 10, Wei Hongwei and other seven test pilots completed their specialized training, and will soon leave to perform test flight missions for China's new generation of aircraft, which indicates that the PLA Air Force has basically built up a test pilot candidate selection mechanism and specialized training system with the Chinese characteristics.

　　According to sources, this batch of test pilot cadets was selected from among outstanding young pilots with considerable flight experience. After receiving two years of training on aviation theory, test flight piloting skills and aviation English, they have successfully turned themselves into qualified test pilots, and will be awarded master's degree in aircraft design engineering by the Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU).

　　In the past, most Chinese test pilots were selected directly from among outstanding pilots of aviation units of the PLA Air Force.

　　In recent years, by drawing on advanced concept and useful practices from international test pilot trainings, the PLA Air Force has basically built up a lasting test pilot specialized training mechanism.

　　The training missions are carried out jointly by the PLA Air Force and China Aviation Industry Corporation. During the training, Li Zhonghua and other top-notch Chinese test pilots are flight instructors while the NPU undertakes theoretical teaching on aviation theory, and the Aviation Medical Research Institute is responsible for aviation medical training.

　　By Shang Xiaohua and Tan Jie

　　(Nov 11, PLA Daily) Editor: Dong Zhaohui

Nov 13, 2008
Warship to make Viet port call
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_301984.html

HANOI - A CHINESE warship will next week make a port call in central Vietnam as part of efforts to boost military ties between the communist nations, a government spokesman in Hanoi said on Thursday.

News of the Nov 18-22 visit follows a meeting between both countries' premiers in Beijing last month at which both sides, despite a history of distrust and conflict, pledged closer bilateral cooperation.

'This visit will help promote the friendship and cooperation between the two ministries of defence,' said foreign ministry spokesman Le Dung.

Mr Dung said that the ship's commanders would meet leaders of the central city of Danang as well as Vietnamese senior naval and army officials, while the ship's crew would play a football match while on shore.

China and Vietnam are communist allies but have a history of animosity and fought their most recent border war in 1979. Last year a Chinese naval ship reportedly fired at a Vietnamese fishing vessel in disputed waters.

Both are among countries laying claim to the Spratly islands in the South China Sea, believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves, and both claim sovereignty over the Paracel islands, which are occupied by China.

At their Oct meeting, premiers Wen Jiabao of China and Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam agreed on a series of steps, including collaboration on oil exploration and information exchanges by the two armed forces.

Vietnam expert Carl Thayer said the Chinese port call next week would be the first to Vietnam since Nov 2001 when the People's Liberation Army's guided missile frigate Yulin docked in Ho Chi Minh City.

'It's highly significant because of the reported build-up of tension last year in the South China Sea and the attempts this year by the party chiefs and prime ministers to prevent incidents in the South China Sea from damaging bilateral relations,' said Mr Thayer of the Australian Defence Force Academy.

'They have had four our five joint naval patrols in the Gulf of Tonkin, and this is a continuation of steps to build trust between the two navies.'

The visit comes one month after guided missile destroyer USS Mustin docked at Danang in the latest of a series of American port calls designed to boost relations between the former enemies. -- AFP

China increases troops on North Korea border

China increases troops on North Korea border
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/96b55558-b111-11dd-8915-0000779fd18c.html
By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington and Song Jung-a in Seoul

Published: November 13 2008 00:25 | Last updated: November 13 2008 00:25

The Chinese military has boosted troop numbers along the border with North Korea since September amid mounting concerns about the health of Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, according to US officials.

Beijing has declined to discuss contingency plans with Washington, but the US officials said the Peoples’ Liberation Army has stationed more soldiers on the border to prepare for any possible influx of refugees due to instability, or regime change, in North Korea.


US and South Korean intelligence agencies believe Mr Kim suffered a stroke in August that has left him paralysed on his left side, possibly severely enough to prevent him from walking. While the US believes Mr Kim remains in control for now, there are growing concerns about how long he can hold on to power if paralysed.

One official cautioned that the increase in Chinese troops was not “dramatic”, but he said China was also constructing more fences and installations at key border outposts. Wang Baodong, the Chinese embassy spokesman in Washington, said he was unaware of any increased deployments.

Speculation about the North Korean leader’s health has mounted since September when he failed to appear at a key military parade to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the repressive communist state. In an attempt to downplay concerns, state-run media released photos of Mr Kim visiting soldiers, but the CIA believes most of the images were either taken before the stroke, or have been altered with software.

US officials believe, however, that one recent photograph of Mr Kim – purportedly watching a football match from the stands of a stadium – appears authentic. But they say the fact that Mr Kim is sitting, with his left arm dangling, reinforces the conclusion that he is paralysed and having difficulty walking. The US believes North Korea would release video footage of Mr Kim to eliminate speculation about his health if that were possible.

The increased Chinese military presence and concerns about the health of the Stalinist leader come as international efforts to convince Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme run into obstacles that threaten to derail what President George W. Bush hoped would be a foreign-policy success.

In a ominous sign for the six-party talks, North Korea on Wednesday said international inspectors would not be allowed to take samples from its nuclear complex at Yongbyon. It added that it had slowed down the disablement of its nuclear reactor.

Mr Bush last month removed North Korea from the US terrorism list after Pyongyang agreed to allow inspectors into the country to verify a nuclear declaration it made earlier this year. Critics had previously warned that the vague language of the agreement would allow North Korea to escape from the commitment.

While the US previously insisted that North Korea had agreed to allow inspectors to take samples – to determine how much plutonium has been processed for nuclear weapons – Pyongyang on Wednesday rejected calls for sampling, saying the move would breach its sovereignty.

The dispute has complicated efforts by the six-party members – which include Japan, China, South Korea and China – from convening a meeting to finalise the details of the verification mechanism. One senior US official said North Korea was resisting efforts to have verification system formalised in a six-party document.

“The issue is not sampling, the issue is how to express it in a document that doesn’t involve their loss of face,” said a second senior official.

“The more serious problems going on in the six party talks have nothing to do with [sampling] but rather the continued bad North/South relations and the lack of a diplomatic process with the Japanese,” added the official. “Probably, there are also leadership problems in North Korea that are having an impact on decision making there.”

Japan opposed the US decision to remove North Korea from the terrorism list because it believed the move would reduce pressure on Pyongyang to resolve a dispute about Japanese citizens abducted over several decades by North Korean spies.

Washington has urged North Korea to fulfil a pledge to reopen an investigation into the abductees. But one Japanese source said there had been no progress on the issue, saying the “ball is in [Pyongyang’s] court”.

In another sign of deteriorating relations with North Korea, Pyongyang on Wednesday announced it would close its heavily fortified land border with South Korea from December. Tensions between the North and South have increased under President Lee Myung-bak, who pledged to take a tougher stance on North Korea than his predecessors and to link aid to progress in denuclearisation efforts.

One US official said North Korea was becoming increasingly bellicose towards South Korea because the decision by Seoul to cut off food aid was starting to impact the North Korean military, a key constituency for Mr Kim.

Two weeks ago, Pyongyang threatened to reduce the South to “debris” if Seoul did not stop anti-communist groups from launching pamphlets by balloon over the border. The leaflets contain statements about the health of Mr Kim, which North Korea cannot rebut because of the leader’s illness.

“The South Korean puppet authorities should never forget that the present inter-Korean relations are at the crucial crossroads of existence and total severance,” the North Korean news agency said in a statement.

Kim Ho-nyeon, spokesman for Seoul’s Unification Ministry, called the move “regrettable”, saying it would have a negative impact on efforts to improve inter-Korean relations. He urged the North to come back to the negotiating table to discuss implementing previous inter-Korean agreements from a “realistic” perspective.

A move by the South’s National Human Rights Commission this week to form a special committee on human rights in the North likely raised Pyongyang’s hackles after years of southern downplaying of reports of atrocities.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008

PLAN hospital ships

Going back to the topic of PLAN hospital ships, there is always STUFT (Ships Taken Up From Trade) that is something most PLA analysts ignored. 865 is twice the size of the new 866 but I am sure it is no where near the capabilities as the newly commissioned 865. However, it surely can perform as a backup.

China Repackages Aerospace Industry
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/CHINA11068.xml&headline=China%20Repackages%20Aerospace%20Industry
Nov 6, 2008
Bradley Perrett/Beijing perrett@aviationweek.com


Sweeping reforms to the Chinese aerospace sector will present the global industry with a team of focused competitors with specialties ranging from engines to fighters to aircraft equipment.

The country has cast aside the fuzzy structure under which Avic 1 and Avic 2 each loosely managed a range of plants that did not often cooperate closely with each other. Instead, the Avics have been merged into a single company called Avic and, most importantly, the factories and research institutes have been bundled up into subsidiaries with much narrower businesses.

Managers now face the challenge of making it work. Like executives dealing with mergers anywhere, they must overcome local fiefdoms and jealousies to get disparate plants to work together as integrated businesses.

Further reforms can be expected, but probably none as radical as the one now being put in place. More than likely, the long-term future structure of the Chinese aircraft industry is now being settled.

"Our objectives are competitiveness and efficiency," says a senior Avic executive. "The key tools for achieving that are specialization and commercialization."

There are now six focused companies that foreign manufacturers are likely to compete with for much of this century.

The first is the Transport Aircraft Co., whose main assets are the civil factories at Xi'an, Chengdu and Shenyang. The original Avic subsidiaries in those cities have been dismantled to create the new company, with their military plants assigned separately. Importantly, this unit is not responsible for the ARJ21 and future large jetliner projects, except as a supplier. That's crucial because it cannot be tied exclusively to the ARJ21's builder, Comac. Transport Aircraft needs to compete for work with Airbus, Boeing and other foreign aircraft makers.

"Transport Aircraft" is only a preliminary, functional tag for the company. Like most of the other new business units, it will be rebranded later, officials say. For some units, described below, no official English name is available.

The second is the Defense Division, which so far remains a direct part of Avic, not a subsidiary company. Its assets include combat aircraft manufacturers Chengdu and Shenyang, stripped of their civil plants, along with Xi'an military assets that have been peeled away from Transport Aircraft. The Hongdu military business is also included.

The third is Avicopter, which brings together the country's rotary-wing plants, notably those at Harbin, Changhe and Jingdezhen.

The fourth is Aviation Engine Industry Corp. Ltd, which combines propulsion plants and research centers at Liming, Xi'an, Chengdu and Zhuzhou, as well as the Gas Turbine Establishment at Jiangyou.

The fifth is General Aviation Co., now the owner of facilities at Guizhou and Shijiazhuang. The company is looking at building a business jet of about the size of a Challenger 850.

And the sixth is Aviation Systems Co., China's answer to Rockwell Collins, Thales, Honeywell and Goodrich. About 40 factories and research institutes have been combined to form the company, including major facilities at Shanghai, Xi'an and Nanjing.

The reorganization also places a host of miscellaneous units and research institutes directly under Avic, which will retain a central but probably diminishing role in the industry. One former subsidiary has already become largely independent: Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, the future challenger to Airbus and Boeing that now calls itself Comac.

Avic executives say that their detached relationship with Comac is an example of how the six new units will eventually be cast off, depending on how quickly they can improve their efficiency.

A principle of the restructuring is that existing programs stay where they are, even if they don't fit with the specialization of the new company. For example, Harbin Aircraft, a helicopter maker, also builds general aviation aircraft, which it has taken into Avicopter.

ARJ21 artist's concept: LMS

What is the biggest surprise at Zhuhai?

It has to be Z-10 and ADK-10 ATGM. While we know for sometime what they look like, but it is good to see them in such an official event

2nd of the four Pakistan's F22P class FFG launched.

As a bonus, a recent photos of FFG251

A bad day for F-7, J-7's export version.

Their (F7s) missile systems failed to ‘lock on with the enemy aircraft

Interceptors’ missile ‘lock on’ failure jolts SLAF
Kelanitissa loses capacity to generate 275 mega watts
by Shamindra Ferdinando


http://www.island.lk/2008/10/30/news3.html

Tuesday’s failure to shoot down a single LTTE aircraft despite timely detection by radar has jolted the SLAF into investigating its limitations amidst evidence that the enemy has acquired a capability to neutralise the threat of a heat seeking missile attack.

An authoritative source said that Chinese F7s launched from Katunayake air base had failed to zero-in-on the enemy aircraft. "Their (F7s) missile systems failed to ‘lock on with the enemy aircraft," the source said. This would necessitate an overall review of the SLAF’s strategy, the source said. The military asserted that the LTTE could try to exploit the situation.

The initial detection had been made north-east of Mannar at 10.18 p.m. by 2D radar installed by the Government of India at the SLAF base at Vavuniya.

Thaladdi had come under attack within minutes after the detection, the source said.

Both the Indian radar and a Chinese 3D radar station located in the Western Province had detected the enemy aircraft but interceptors failed to carry out a successful missile strike. 2D radar provides direction and the distance of a target whereas the Chinese radar provides even the altitude of a target.

Last September, a heat seeking missile fired by an interceptor brought down one of the two LTTE aircraft returning to their base after attacking Vavuniya air base. Although the LTTE denied the SLAF claim, a senior military official pointed out that the LTTE had deployed only one aircraft to carry out Tuesday’s operation. Each previous raid directed at military and economic targets had involved two aircraft, the official said. "May be they are now left with one aircraft," he speculated. But the possibility of their having additional aircraft couldn’t be ruled out, he said.

The SLAF said that after dropping two bombs on Thaladdi base, the aircraft had veered westwards towards the sea and flew southwards before moving back towards land at a point near estuary of the Kelani River. The SLAF said that the aircraft had taken almost the same route back to its base in the Vanni. Under anti-aircraft fire, the LTTE plane had dropped two bombs over the Kelanitissa power facility.

The damage caused to two power stations, combined cycle power plant and diesel powered Fiat GT 7 installed within the Kelanitissa complex would cause a severe deficit in the country’s electricity demand.

Although Power Minister John Seneviratne and his Deputy Mahindananda Aluthgamage played down the issue, The Island learns that the GT 7 had been severely damaged. After inspecting the damaged facility, Seneviratne said that it would take about six months restore GT 7.

Addressing a hurriedly arranged press conference at Kelanitissa, the minister expressed confidence that the CEB would be able to meet any shortfall of supply through other means. Kelanitssa workers told The Island that both stations had been switched off pending investigations. They said that the GT 7 generated 110 mega watts while the combined cycle power plant generated 165 mega watts. Altogether, they generated 275 mega watts out of 530 mega watts produced by Kelanitissa facility.

They said the severe damage caused to the combined cycle power plant would deny the country the capacity to generate 55 mega watts almost free of charge. Of this particular plant, 110 mega watts were generated by using naphtha and 55 mega watts produced as a byproduct, they said. "This would be heavy burden on the taxpayer," a senior employee told The Island.

The SLAF is responsible for a series of highly successful air strikes against the LTTE since August 2006. The LTTE fighting capability has been greatly reduced to SLAF action directed against a range of targets.

Four more Mi-26 to China

Putin, Wen Sign Off on Oil Pipeline

http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/600/42/372000.htm



29 October 2008By Anatoly Medetsky / Staff WriterPrime Minister Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed to build an oil pipeline to China and signed off on a raft of other agreements Tuesday.

The leaders also discussed ways to jointly counter the global financial crisis, just three weeks before leaders from Russia, China and other countries gather for an emergency summit in Washington to grapple with the same problem.

"It's hard to find another country in the world that is our partner with such a wide range of interaction," Putin said after the talks.

The filling of the new pipeline remained a question however, as Rosneft and Transneft will have to continue talks with China's state-owned CNPC and Chinese banks for another four weeks. The companies have until Nov. 25 to sign the final long-term oil supply deal that would give the Russian companies access to large Chinese loans, said Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, who oversees energy policy.

"All aspects of cooperation have been discussed in the course of negotiations with the Chinese side, including the financial ones," Sechin said, Interfax reported. "We don't have any disagreements."

The Russian companies could take out export-backed loans from Chinese banks to finance their investment, Sechin said.

"The amount of the credit will be defined depending on the cost of the projects that the companies will implement. It is considerable," Sechin said.

Rosneft spokesman Nikolai Manvelov said the company would not comment on ongoing talks. Transneft spokesman Mikhail Barkov was busy and unavailable for comment Tuesday afternoon, his secretary said.

Transneft, the national oil pipeline monopoly that would carry the oil, signed an agreement with CNPC that sets the principles of constructing and operating the oil pipeline to China. It would begin at Skovorodino, some 70 kilometers from the Chinese border, and would be an offshoot of the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline that Russia is building to supply Asian markets.

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Putin, denied that Russia and China were supposed to clinch the oil-for-loans deal Tuesday. "The issue is still being worked on," he said. "There was no goal to make this decision on any concrete date."

Industry sources said Monday that Russia and China would sign the deal Tuesday, Reuters reported. Under the deal, Rosneft would commit to shipping 300 million tons of oil over the next 20 years, 4 percent of China's current annual demand. Chinese banks would lend Rosneft and Transneft a total of $20 billion to $25 billion, at a time when the liquidity crunch is making borrowing harder. If the loan were agreed, Russia's state-run oil major Rosneft would get three-fifths of the funds, while state pipeline monopoly Transneft would obtain the other two-fifths.

Rosneft and CNPC apparently have yet to settle all of their points of contention, mainly the price, said Valery Nesterov, an energy analyst at Troika Dialog. Under the current supply deal that expires in 2010, Rosneft loses $5 to $7 per barrel when oil prices are high, he said. Rosneft now sends the oil by rail.

In other areas of possible cooperation, Russia and China should join forces to fight the global crisis and reform the global financial order, Wen said.

Speaking after his talks with Putin, Wen said the two had discussed an "opportunity to jointly counter a financial and economic crisis and strengthen our financial cooperation." "I think this all will be useful for the stabilization of our national economy, stabilization at the capital markets," he said in comments released by Putin's office.

Putin for his part urged China to jettison the dollar in favor of national currencies in bilateral trade.

Speaking at the Russia-China economic forum in Moscow, he said the world economy based on the dollar is "experiencing big problems," adding that both countries needed to move to "wider use of national currencies."

Putin has blamed the United States for its "irresponsibility" in letting the global crisis happen and sought to build support for the ruble in the past.

Russian and Chinese leaders are scheduled to participate in a summit in Washington on Nov. 15 that will discuss measures to stem the crisis and overhaul the world financial architecture.

In other deals, Rosatom agreed to build two more nuclear power reactors at the Tianwan Power Plant with China's State Nuclear Industry Corporation.

Russian arms maker Oboronprom and China's AVICopter signed a memorandum to jointly develop a civilian heavy helicopter. "We've had the blueprints, and they have the money," said Ilya Yakushev, a spokesman for Oboronprom, referring to China. China wants to develop and produce the helicopter, whose weight will be around 30 tons, on its own territory, said Russian Helicopters, Oboronprom's helicopter manufacturing subsidiary.

China is ready to finance the project, said the company, adding that any details were up for negotiation. The Mi-46 helicopter currently being developed in Russia could provide the basis for the new aircraft, the company said in a statement.

Russian Helicopters also signed a framework agreement to sell four older, Mi-26 heavy helicopters to China, the world's largest helicopter importer, the company said.

Anatoly Chubais, director of the State Nanotechnology Corporation, and Cao Jianlin, China's deputy science and technology minister, signed an agreement to create a strategic partnership on nanotechnologies between the two countries. Russia and China will jointly research nanotechnology and produce nano-based products in an industrial park in Suzhou, China, and later in Russia, the Russian company said in a statement.

Also at the forum, Mechel, the country's biggest coking coal producer, signed a memorandum of intent with China's state-run metals firm Minmetals aiming at establishing a long-term partnership on building and restructuring Mechel facilities, Mechel said in a statement.

Banking deals include an agreement between Gazprombank and the Export-Import Bank of China, and a framework agreement between Vneshekonombank, or VEB, and China Development Bank to jointly finance investment projects. Under the deal, Gazprombank would receive a $300 million credit line from the Export-Import Bank of China to finance Russian imports from China. VEB and China Development Bank will finance projects in energy, aviation, shipbuilding and transportation as well as eco-friendly projects, among others, the Russian bank said.

Russian Railways, which plans to cut spending next year and seek about $6 billion in loans, has asked China to join efforts to develop rail links from the Pacific Ocean to Europe, company president Vladimir Yakunin said. He said China had reacted positively to an offer to join the company's venture with Deutsche Bahn to carry out the project.

Official: Taiwan plans military contact with China

Official: Taiwan plans military contact with China
The Associated Press
Published: October 29, 2008



TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan is considering the first-ever contacts between its military and the People's Liberation Army of mainland China but has set no timetable for such meetings, a senior Taiwanese defense official said Wednesday.

Defense ministry spokeswoman Lisa Chi's comments were a step further in Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's efforts to improve long-strained ties with rival China, as Taiwan readies the red carpet for the arrival of a senior Chinese envoy next week.

Chi told The Associated Press that the ministry would start with bilateral contacts between retired and junior military officers first, and "then move on to high-level meetings between senior officials."

"No timetable has been set for the military exchange," Chi said. "It will come after the government holds discussions on economic and political issues with China."

TV news reports showed Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min telling local reporters on Tuesday that meetings between senior officials from the two sides would help reduce misunderstandings and the possibility of either side resorting to force.


President Ma Ying-jeou said earlier this year that he wants to push for discussions with China on economic issues first, and then proceed to tackle thorny diplomatic and security issues.

He said eventually he wants to sign a formal peace treaty with Beijing, though without specifying what it might contain.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing continues to claim the island as part of its territory, and threatens to attack if Taiwan moves to formalize its independence.

Since Ma took office on May 20, he has made efforts to overturn his predecessor's fierce anti-China platform and seek better ties with the mainland.

Within a month of his inauguration, he sent a delegation to Beijing to resume bilateral talks after a hiatus of almost ten years. Through the talks, Ma was able to facilitate the beginning of regular weekend charter flights across the 100-mile-(160-kilometer-)wide Taiwan Strait, and secure an increasing number of mainland tourists to visit.

Ma will also see the arrival of Chairman Chen Yunlin of China's semiofficial Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, the most senior Chinese envoy yet to visit the island since the 1949 split, next week.

Chen will be holding talks with his Taiwanese counterpart Chiang Pin-kung, head of the Straits Exchange Foundation. Taiwanese officials have said the talks will focus only on economic issues including the expansion of weekend charter flights to weekday service.

Okey, here is a short report on Vanguard-2008 in Englisn

Note to PLA's PR Department, STOP using words like "peace-loving" to describe a military ex, believe me, it will backfire and became a joke in no time.



China's military exercise Vanguard-2008 concludes
www.chinaview.cn 2008-10-28 21:43:54

ZHENGZHOU, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A military exercise code-named "Vanguard-2008" that partly opened to foreign students studying at China's military academies concluded in the central Henan Province on Tuesday, winning applause from the foreign observers.

The week-long exercise was performed by a 2,200-strong armored brigade from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Jinan Military Area Command, whose armaments are said to be among the best in the PLA land forces.

Armed with equipment including armored cars, armed helicopters and transport helicopters, the brigade fought fictitious "Blue Army" targets on a mountainous island with live ammunition.

The brigade fired at nearly 70 targets with more than 7,000 rounds of various ammunitions during the exercise, according to brigade commander Zhang Jianfeng.

"We can see from the military exercise the commanders not only have the idea of a plan, but also they can implement the designs, "said Frouarl Loic Roger Horst, a French colonel who studies at China's University of National Defense.

"China is an important force for peace-keeping in the world. The exercise shows that we can cooperate more. We can deploy more people on the peace-keeping operation together," he added.

Army Major Siew Ha Chean from Malaysia, the only female in the 179-member foreign student group, said she was impressed by the use of combined armies of different services during the exercise, "that is the something very new to me because it's my first time to see it on the spot."

Maj Zahid Hamid Kiani, group captain of Pakistani air force, said with the exercise partly open to foreigners, China has sent a signal of peace-loving to the rest of the world.

The 179 foreigners, from 67 countries, are mostly first year students at the Beijing-based University of National Defense and the Nanjing Army Command College in eastern Jiangsu Province.

It is the largest group of foreign military students to observe a military exercise of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

The annual drill is divided into four stages -- change of combat readiness, long-distance maneuvers, strategy planning, and combat. It is designed to test the capacity of the brigade on carrying out joint action with different arms of services in mountainous areas.




Here are some CCTV captures.

Someone should translate today's PLAdaily OpEd into English,

"Reflections on the Chinese Army’s Transformation and Reform"
by Lt General (Ret) Li Jijun of Academy of Military Science.

In 1997 as part of faculty exchange program, Lieutenant General Li Jijun addressed United States War College with a speech titled “Traditional Military Thinking and the Defenses Strategy of China”

You can find that speech here.
http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB82.pdf
with the following Introduction from 1997:

Lieutenant General Li Jijun is the Vice President of the
Chinese People's Liberation Army's Academy of Military Science.
The Academy is the principal military institution for developing
military doctrine and strategic theory in the People's Republic
of China. Established in 1958 on the northwestern side of
Beijing, the Academy has a mostly military staff of about 500
full-time researchers, engineers, and specialists, some of whom
are scholars of national repute and tutors of doctoral
candidates.
The Academy is more than a national defense university. It
conducts research on national defense issues, armed forces
development, and military operations. It organizes, plans, and
coordinates academic endeavors throughout the People's Liberation
Army (PLA) and maintains a broad range of contacts with all PLA
units. In addition to performing theoretical analyses and
academic study, the Academy deploys senior faculty teams to
augment operational headquarters during times of conflict.
Moreover, the Academy performs consultant functions for China's
Central Military Commission and the General Departments of the
PLA.


The OpEd:

中国陆军变革与转型的发轫
http://www.chinamil.com.cn/site1/xwpdxw/2008-10/26/content_1521756.htm

军事科学院　李际均
2008-10-26 06:42:36 来源：解放军报第3版

【 字号：大 中 小 】 【 我要打印 】 【 我要纠错 】
【 Email推荐： 】

人物小传：李际均，黑龙江哈尔滨人，1934年5月出生，1950年12月入伍。曾任军司令部侦察参谋、军事科学院学术调研室主任、北京军区陆军师长、军长、机械化集团军军长、中央军委办公厅主任、军事科学院副院长等职。现为中国孙子兵法研究会名誉会长、中国国际战略学会高级顾问、中国政策研究会国家安全政策委员会高级顾问、中国国际问题研究和交流基金会顾问、国防大学兼职教授、北京大学兼职教授。著有《论战略》、《军事战略思维》、《军事理论与战争实践》等专著。

20世纪70年代末以后，伴随中国改革开放的发展，国防建设和军队建设实行了战略性的转变。当时作为陆军转型的基本内容，是从骡马化步兵向摩托化步兵再向机械化陆军的转变。我有幸亲历了这个进程。

1985年1月，我从北京军区的一个骡马化的步兵师师长职位调任某军军长。临上任前，军区秦基伟司令员把我叫到他的办公室，对我说：“你去的这个军是一支有光荣历史、号称‘万岁军’的部队，是全军组建集团军的试点单位。你去的主要任务就是完成机械化集团军的试点工作，不仅是编制调整，还有一系列的工作要做，诸如内部工作程序的建立、新装备的熟悉掌握，特别是由高级战术兵团上升为战役军团的作战指导等问题，都要很好解决。军委杨尚昆副主席指示，组建集团军是我军过去没有搞过的，试点工作只能搞好不能搞坏,只准成功，不许失败。”当我起身告辞时，秦司令员握着我的手，嘱咐说：“你参加过抗美援朝战争，是战争年代成长的最后一批干部，要把我军优良作风和战斗力传承下去！”秦司令员与部属谈话就像下达作战命令一样，威严而简短，铿锵而明确，使人不由得产生一种不容犹疑的使命感与责任感。

如何完成机械化集团军试点工作？1985年初我在集团军常委会上提出完成集团军试点工作总体思路的建议，大体内容是：机械化集团军是个新事物，单凭直觉经验无法形成对各个组成部分和总体作战能力的认识，只有对构成集团军作战能力诸要素进行定量与定性分析和论证，才能提出符合实际的任务目标，并在此基础上研究战法。通过论证研究，可以加强合成意识，重视兵种建设和使用；可以优化武器装备结构，为改进现行编制装备提供科学依据，同时还能有效地提高指挥员和机关的军事素质。具体工作大致划分三个阶段：一是调整扩编、接收装备，进行基础训练，可以称作是“硬件建设”阶段；二是进行机械化集团军作战能力论证和作战行动研究，可以称作是“软件建设”阶段；三是进行机械化集团军进攻战役实兵检验性演习，可以称作是综合验收阶段。整个试点工作形成三个互相联系、互为前提，并且一环扣一环的系统工程。这个方案的提出，得益于我过去在军事科学院从事军事科研工作的经历。试点工作方案在高天正政委主持的军党委常委会上获得一致通过。


从编制到训练的变革

按照上级命令，我们这个军从1983年初到1985年10月先后进行三次整编，第一次是按照上级颁发的“ 摩托化步兵军暂行编制”进行整编。第二次是按照上级颁发的“陆军合成集团军编制试点方案”进行整编。最后一次基本定型是1985年7至10月，根据中央军委对全军精减整编的部署和北京军区的命令，实行“机械化集团军试验编制”，并重新任命集团军领导成员。这次整编，我集团军是军区的先行单位，任务很重，扩编与缩编、撤销与新建、调入与调出、改建与转隶的单位，多达数百个。1985年11月1日正式执行机械化集团军新编制。军委、总部和军区对集团军试点工作非常重视，杨尚昆副主席、余秋里主任、张爱萍部长、秦基伟司令员都曾亲临部队视察指导。

在军事训练方面，着重抓几个转变：从战术训练为主转变到以战役训练为主；从步兵训练为主转变为专业技术训练为主；从单一兵种训练为主，转变为合成训练为主。在训练中，我们强调从难从严。

有两件事给我留下很深的印象：一个是为了打好基础，发扬优良传统作风，摩托化师进行步兵连战术考核中，把全师连长、指导员编成一个干部连队，与各团抽出的参加考核的建制连队一起拉到太行山区的狼牙山下，进行远程奔袭演练。他们在炎热干旱的气候条件下，发扬当年在朝鲜战场向三所里、龙源里穿插作战，创造“万岁军”业绩的精神，连续三昼夜不停顿地进行多课目演练。那天我到东道庄检查训练情况时，看到指战员们衣服上都是白霜，连枪背带和手枪套都是白花花的，那是汗水反复浸透又晒干留下的汗碱。师参谋长谷密山同志告诉我，这个干部连队到宿营地后，90多个人当场喝下的和灌水壶的开水竟用了七大锅！

另一件是，我们还把全集团军的团长集中进行考核，包括按照地图堆制作战地域沙盘、判断情况、定下决心、标绘作战决心图、口述战斗命令、情况处置等等。团长们大汗淋漓、各显神通。有的双手标图；有的定下决心、口述战斗命令，一气呵成，滴水不漏。

　　集团军怎样作战？

1985年3月，集团军召开了试点论证工作会议，研究部署集团军作战能力论证和进攻战役行动研究的总体规划，确定论证主要课题、标准和分工。军、师、团各级军事主官担任论证组长。进行集团军作战能力论证和战役行动研究是一件庞大而复杂的工作，既要有总体论证，又要有集团军和各种类型的师旅、各兵种作战能力的论证，以及各种战斗保障、技术保障与后勤保障能力的论证等。要求以作战方案为背景，立足于最复杂最困难的情况，在广泛总结、研究以往作战经验和本集团军各种演习的实验数据的基础上，运用多种方法（包括兰彻斯特方程、指数法、实践经验和专家评估等），进行多种情况、多种方案的研究论证，提出机械化集团军各组成部分及总体作战能力的初步结论，并在此基础上研究作战行动的特点。试点论证工作持续整整一年。最紧张阶段，我每天只睡4个小时，白天抓部队工作，夜里修改下面送来的论证材料，为了怕睡过头，我把铁哑铃当枕头，睡4个小时就硌醒了。

开始时，大家不知道如何搞。于是我们就运用抓典型带动一般的做法。先组织数学水平较高的炮兵指挥部的参谋们进行集团军在各种情况下的炮兵支援能力的论证。首先分析战役发起阶段和纵深作战阶段不同时节的目标数量、性质与分布；然后计算需要和可能的火力密度，包括地面炮兵一次齐射和一分钟齐射的弹丸重量和压制面积，高射炮兵的掩护空域面积以及所需弹药消耗。经过我反复修改后，作为样板下发各论证单位借鉴。

我们坚持论证与试验相结合，用论证促进训练，用训练丰富论证。为了取得可靠数据，我们利用一些专项演习，如机械化步兵团反空降演习，通信拉动演习，工程兵演习等。特别是组织高炮、高射机枪、100滑膛炮与美、法、德三国武装直升机进行对抗演习（这项演习是总参装备部指导进行的）。所有这些演习，都专门布置实验题目，获取经验数据，为改进战法和论证工作提供实践依据。

1985年夏天，机械化师开赴内蒙驻训期间，集团军专门下达了试验项目，从铁路输送、开进、集结、展开到交战，共完成100多个战术、技术试验课题。当年 11月下旬，为检验新配备的重型机械化桥的性能和部队训练水平，并取得试验数据，集团军组织工兵团在房山青龙头水库进行重型机械化桥架设演习。当时有总部工程兵部的领导、工程师，还有几十位回国集训的我国驻外武官前来参观。那天天气阴沉，风很大，测试水温接近零度，操作难度相当大。当架设到第三节钢桥时，我发现已经竖起来还没放下的桥架底部提前脱钩。我立刻对站在身边的团参谋长杨义成说：“不对，出事故了！”只见失去重心的巨大钢桥架连同50吨重的架桥车和车上7名操作工兵瞬间翻入几米深的水底。参观台上有人喊：“工兵操作失误！”我摆一下手说：“现在不是分清责任的时候！”就跑到水边组织救人。所幸落水战士全都安全上岸。刚从冰冷水里爬上来的战士对我说：“军长，我们操作没有问题，请批准我们接着干！”我说：“好样的！”他们不顾寒冷疲劳，一直把桥架到对岸。参观人员热烈鼓掌，并说：“你们军的战士真了不起！”后来查明的确不是战士操作问题，而是设备电路出的问题，研制生产部门承担责任并据此作了改进。

1986年4月，我军召开了集团军试点论证工作总结会议。北京军区秦基伟司令员、杨白冰政委到会，对这项工作给予了充分的肯定，会后将我们完成的五大本共约150万字的机械化集团军作战能力论证和作战行动研究成果转发全区部队。试点论证的收获是多方面的。一是使各级指挥员、机关部门领导开阔了视野，拓宽了知识面，积累了大量数据，方便了工作，对作战的客观物质基础和作战运用做到心中有数，为随后进行的战役演习打下了军事学术基础。二是对机械化集团军试验编制装备存在的问题、今后的发展设想、战役行动应抓住的关键问题，向上级提出了有根据的建议。特别是通过论证工作，为集团军培养造就了一批人才，各级机关树立了科学严谨工作作风，其成效是非常明显的。


10年以后，我率领军事科学院代表团到美国访问，美国陆军训练与条令司令部副参谋长斯凯尔斯将军向我介绍了他们建立的数字化模拟系统，然后让我提问。我根据过去搞过作战能力论证的经验向他们提出问题。

我问：“你们这套系统运用的数学模型是怎样对战斗力进行量化和计算的？”不出所料，斯凯尔斯将军答复说：“我们是用兰彻斯特方程。”

于是我又问：“兰彻斯特方程是不考虑人的因素的。你们在评估过程中是否有主观的、人工给定的成分？”

斯凯尔斯：“是的。按照这个方程，一般来说，胜利属于武器杀伤力强的一方，这可能就是这一方程式的缺陷。现在我们在训练中对这一评估方法有所改变，实行随机导演。”

这说明我们的论证方法是科学的。我们除了用兰彻斯特方程之外，还采用指数法、经验数据、实验结果和专家评估等方法加以综合考虑。但我们的数据特别是实战数据不如他们完备。

　　实兵对抗演习

1986年6至8月，在北京军区首长和机关直接领导下，在内蒙朱日和地区进行机械化集团军实兵检验性大演习，以验收机械化集团军试点成果。

这次演习有4个明显的特点。一是投入现代化装备多，当时几乎所有的我军陆军最新装备都用上了。二是实兵对抗并进行部分实弹射击演习，由于组织工作严密，没有发生意外伤亡事件。三是节约经费，讲求实效。由于这次演习事先没有下拨专项经费，而这样大规模的演习，按正常训练经费是难以完成的，我们只能从本集团军内部调剂，以保证演习的最低需求。四是活导活演，贴近实战。

演习中有一些故事值得一提。具体领导演习导演部工作的是北京军区周衣兵副司令员，他是一位战争实践经验丰富的老将军。他执导演习从来不拘一格，往往“出奇招、设难题”，随机导演成分大，指挥要求高。有一次，我们机关的一位处长，在招待军区派来的“调理员”之后，凑到我耳根说：“军长，我把他的调理计划摸到一点眉目啦！”我说：“我不听！我们按自己的真实水平，根据实际情况作出判断、定下决心。”后来的实践证明，这个想法是对的。周副司令并不按计划出牌。例如部队进入疏散隐蔽地域后，“方面军”要我们上报防空雷达配置图。我心里明白，这是导演部要派侦察飞机选择利用我雷达盲区进入。通信处长请示，是否按真实配置情况上报。我答复：当然按现在真实情况报告，但他们没有规定不准调整部署，20分钟后调整雷达配置地域，在原来的盲区部署两部雷达，同时上报。果然，刚调整并上报完毕，防空指挥部就报告发现一架“敌机”向我隐蔽地域飞来。我命令高炮部队“跟踪哑射”，并向方面军报告。方面军马上指示不准射击，说军区首长在飞机上。据说，经过空中侦察，我集团军大量人员装备没有暴露任何目标。周副司令员对此很满意。在后来的演习过程中，“蓝军”曾派直升机在我指挥所附近企图机降“捉俘虏”，但见到我们警戒分队包围上来，只得无功而返。

机械化师在长途开进中，方面军连续4次变更开进路线和输送方式，有的驾驶员48小时没合眼。张美远师长在装甲指挥车里，用沙哑的嗓子向军指挥所报告开进情况和处置决心，部队按时到达集结地域，展开进攻准备。

集团军机关开进到朱日和地区后，在1461高地开设指挥所，开始进行现地侦察，研究判断情况，定下进攻战役决心和完成作战部署。在这里，我签发了司作字第 28号文件，规定搭设集团军基本指挥所，建立包括集团军各指挥要素在内的指挥中心。司令部给工兵团下达命令：一天之内完成土工作业，第二天指挥所要进驻展开工作。工兵团梁团长用浓重的山西口音对我说：“军长，我保证完成任务，但你得先批给我点钱，我挖好坑还得买木料、苇席做被覆哩！”我说：“这是在打仗，我没有一分钱给你，你们不能想想别的办法吗？”看到工兵团长为难的样子，我说：“这样办，你挖好方坑，然后用已经淘汰的轻型钢桥做横梁，上面盖坦克蒙布。 ”听我这样一说，他的愁眉舒展了，但又说：“那也得用点钱买木桩把蒙布固定住啊！”我说：“你派兵上山搬大石头，把蒙布四周压住，这更符合实战要求。”这个问题就这样解决了。没想到在沙漠地挖好四方形大坑以后，周边就坍塌了下来。梁团长蹲在坑边，半小时没说话。有人提醒说，用抗洪剩下的草袋装沙子堆墙。集团军指挥中心就这样建起来了。

军区导演部有位王联络官，是位兢兢业业的细心人，在联络任务之外，常常不打招呼到我们指挥中心摸情况。特别是我们在研究作战方案的时候，由于是实兵对抗演习，很怕被“蓝军”事先掌握，所以不得不对王联络官“防着点”。有天半夜时分，我们正俯在地图上研究作战方案。接到哨兵报告，说王联络官来了，大家迅速沿交通壕分散隐蔽起来。参谋们把我拉到炮兵指挥部的帐篷里躲起来。王联络官转了一圈，喃喃自语：“奇怪，在外面还听到里面讲话，怎么一个人也没有了呢！”他走后，我们哈哈大笑，又回到作战室继续研究进攻方案。

在最后6昼夜的连续演习中，前3天我没有睡过觉。对我来说，这只是在抗美援朝战争和1955年参加辽东抗登陆大演习时经历过。所不同的是，那时我是下级军官，打个瞌睡没人注意。这次有用微波传输的摄像机24小时对着我，一举一动、每一个情况处置，都能被导演部和参观团看到。时间长了，眼睛被摄像机的灯光晃得很难受。还有阵地通话器把我每句话都实时传到司令部各部门。高技术是好，但也能折腾人。刘丕训参谋长对我说：“军长，现在部队进攻发展顺利，我替你顶一下，你下去休息一刻钟，有大情况招呼你。”我回到帐篷，口渴得很，看见桌上有半个西瓜，捧起就吃，总觉得舌头有点别扭，吐出来一看，原来我把爬在西瓜上的大硬壳虫也送到嘴里了。
大演习在夜间结束，天亮以后就进行阅兵。为了保护草场，所有坦克、装甲车、汽车、火炮必须沿一条道路返回和开进到阅兵场，副军长与军务参谋一起制定行进序列，落实到每一辆坦克、装甲车、火炮、汽车。天亮后，井然有序地排列完毕，接受总参和军区首长检阅。在整个演习和阅兵中，充分显示我集团军官兵的优良军事素质和顽强的战斗作风。前来指导演习的总参军训部郭正元副部长评价说：“演习全过程，反映了集团军和师指挥员有较好的素质，战役意识也很强，特别是在一些较大的情况判断和处置上，更能充分地反映出这一点。”总参办公厅康成仁处长说，演习“反映出军师主官及部队素质，都比我们原来想象的要好。如果我军指挥员都能达到这样的指挥水平，我军的建设将会大大地跨进一步”。

一个国家只有强大才能赢得尊严

1986年底，我参加军委扩大会议期间，当时的国防部长张爱萍将军派人把他亲笔写的条幅送给我，那上面写的是：“勇于改革，善于创新，面向未来，建设新军。”我知道，组建机械化集团军是他担任军委副秘书长兼国防部长时提出的建议并具体组织落实的。他一直关心这项工作，墨宝上的话是对我们集团军完成试点任务的肯定,也代表老一辈革命家对我们年轻一代军人的嘱托与期望。1988年3月，我在军委办公厅陪同军委杨尚昆副主席观看八一电影制片厂摄制的《机械化集团军进攻战役演习》纪录片，杨副主席对我说：“演习很成功。本来我是要去阅兵的，但对面国家的领导人那时去了远东并看望部队，为避免增加对抗气氛，我才改变计划。军委专门发了贺电，你们收到了吗？”我说：“收到了，我们向全体指战员宣读了，部队很受鼓舞。”他还问了机械化集团军存在的问题和改进意见，我都据实作了汇报。

内蒙朱日和地区大演习，是新中国成立以来动用坦克和装甲车辆最多的一次实兵实弹对抗检验性演习。在国际上都有影响。我们演习时，对面的外国军队也同时进行以我集团军为假想敌的对抗演习。他们与我们是同一时间发起进攻，同一时间二梯队投入交战，同一时间结束战役演习和检阅部队。如果双方对进的话，要不了几个小时就碰面了。世事沧桑，冷战结束后，我随中国军事代表团出国访问，遇到当年在我们对面演习的一位将军。我们有一段对话——

他说：“我没到过中国，但我在望远镜里看到过。1986年我是团长，你们有个集团军在对面进行大演习，我们也在这边搞对抗演习。”

我告诉他，我就是当年在他们对面中国境内指挥演习的集团军军长。

他说：“都过去了，现在干杯吧!”

我说：“为了友谊。”

从枪炮瞄准到用酒杯“瞄准”，历史翻过了严峻的一页。一个国家只有强大和统一才能赢得和平与尊严。

中国北部的战云消散了，但来自其他方向对我国安全的威胁仍然存在。我已经退休了，寄希望于新一代军人牢记党、国家和人民的期望与嘱托，不断提高保卫国家安全的能力。能战方能言和，有备才能无患。要枕戈待旦、秣马厉兵，迎接新的挑战。

Zhuhai Air show news

中国航空工业集团公司防务事业部研发部部长王文飞强调，此次珠海航展展示是的中国航空工业的先进水平，L15、歼十、枭龙都将参展，这是一次大比拼、大比武，不能有丝毫差错

珠海航展L15每天将进行一至两个架次飞行表演，歼十、枭龙都将参展

10月13日，L15高级教练机成品工作会在洪都集团公司举行。中国航空工业集团公司防务事业部研发部部长王文飞、科研生产部部长周国仪、洪都集团总经理谢根华和101厂、103厂、105厂等十余家配套厂、所单位的代表参加了会议。
在会上，谢根华指出，猎鹰（L15）03架高教机目前已飞了30多个架次，即将参加2008珠海航展。在珠海航展上每天都将进行一至两个架次的飞行表演，如此大密度飞行对猎鹰L15是一个考验。希望各成附厂家通力合作，做好猎鹰L15飞机的备件保障工作，确保猎鹰L15在珠海航展上飞得精彩、飞得漂亮。
王文飞强调，此次珠海航展展示是的中国航空工业的先进水平，歼十、枭龙都将参展，这是一次大比拼、大比武，不能有丝毫差错。各承制厂一定要高度重视，严格按照技术质量归零的要求，强化故障管理，制定应急处置方案，做好备件的后勤保障工作。
猎鹰高教机总设计师张弘介绍了猎鹰（L15）03架目前的技术状态以及在珠海航展上的日程安排，强调了任务的紧迫性和成品质量的重要性。
随后，洪都集团分机电航电、电器仪表两个小组与各成品承制厂所进行技术协调，并签订协调单。（曾萱 肖卫华）



http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3784685&c=AIR&s=TOP
China Prepares for Zhuhai Air Show
By wendell minnick
Published: 23 Oct 11:56 EDT (15:56 GMT)
Print Print | Print Email

Taipei - China is preparing for its 7th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition for Nov. 4-9 in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, in southern China.

The government-sponsored show features exhibitors from 35 countries, including: 20 French companies - the Safran Group, Snecma and Thales; 40 Russian companies - Irkut, Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi Aviation; three from the United Kingdom - Rolls Royce; five Ukrainian companies - Antonov; and 24 U.S. companies - Boeing, GE Aviation, Rockwell Collins, Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky and United Technologies.
Related Topics


More than 100 Chinese defense and aerospace companies, including government organizations, are scheduled to exhibit. The exhibition center has been renovated, which consisted of "rebuilding and decorations, including renovating all three exhibition halls, the press center, chalets and the comprehensive village," said a press release.

Show officials are expecting more than 200,000 public visitors, compared with 180,000 in 2006. The increase is due to the planned attendance of three Chinese astronauts, along with one or more of the re-entry vehicles.

China conducted its first space walk in September. It was the third manned space mission in five years. China has a stated goal of putting a space station in orbit and conducting a manned mission to the moon by 2020.

This year, China is expected to finally display the J-10 "Vigorous Dragon" fighter. Show officials promised in 2006 to display the aircraft, but the fighter never appeared. With a delta-canard configuration, the J-10 is a single-engine, multirole fighter built by the Chengdu Aircraft Corp.

It has been the subject of much speculation since its first test flight in 1998. The Chinese media finally acknowledged its existence in 2006, despite years of reporting in the international press. Based on the Israeli-designed Lavi fighter, it is considered a competitor to Lockheed Martin's F-16 on the international arms market and a model for its stealth fighter program.

Reportedly, Chengdu is working on a J-13 stealth fighter based on the J-10, and the Shenyang Aircraft Corp. is working on the J-12 stealth fighter based on a different design.

Show officials would give no details on what military aircraft would be on display, but the 2006 show included 52 commercial and military aircraft, including the Hongdu L-15 Advanced Trainer, along with 10 different UAVs, including the Tianyi (Sky Wing) and Soar Dragon UAVs.

There were also new conceptual models on display, including the stealthy Anjian (Dark Sword) unmanned combat aerial vehicle. This year, helicopter deals are expected in both the commercial and military market.

"China has become the fastest-growing market in the world" for helicopters, said a show press release, with 1,600 new helicopters to be procured by China by 2010. "Currently, there are only 400 helicopters in use in China's public service, such as police, rescue and fire control, far from being enough," said a press release.

The recent earthquake in Sichuan Province demonstrated a strong need for more helicopters.

Ecuador Looks to Buy Arms in China

Beijing, Oct 14 (Prensa Latina) Ecuadorian Defense Minister Marcelo Delgado announced his presence in China responds to the interest of his government to open their doors to other markets for the supply of their armed forces.

Delgado is now visiting Beijing to closely know the military industry of the Asian nation and the possibility of evaluating transportation materials and other equipment necessary for the modernization of Ecuador Army.

In interview with China Defense Minister Liang Guanglie, both agreed Ecuador is to evaluate some of these equipment to determine they are the ones needed for the conditions of Ecuador.

Ecuadorian Minister recalled US and Israel have traditionally been the suppliers of armaments for Ecuador.

After visiting Beijing, the delegation will go to Nanking, where there is a company producer of radars, as well as places of military interest in Hangzhou and Shanghai.

ef gdb jhb

PL-43
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={E3485A93-B392-41E7-8E3B-3FBB3C740FEA})&language=EN

ref: speaking of target ships

Target island for the North Sea Fleet.

ref: Chinese naval squadron calls at Vladivostok Tuesday

They arrived.

Chinese naval squadron calls at Vladivostok Tuesday

14.10.2008, 05.26


VLADIVOSTOK, October 14 (Itar-Tass) - A squadron of combatant ships of the naval forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, called here on Tuesday for a visit. The squadron consists of the destroyer "Tai Zhou" and the guided missile frigate "Ma Anshan".

An officer in the information and public relations service of Russia's Pacific Feet (PF) has told Itar-Tass that the naval squadron's four-day visit is made under the flag of Vice-Admiral Xu Hungmeng, Commander of the PLA's East Sea (Sea of Japan) Fleet, who arrived in the main city of the Primorsky Territory for this purpose earlier in the day.

"The present meeting between Russian and Chinese navy men pursues the main aim: to promote a further development of naval cooperation between the navies of our two countries," the PF information service officer pointed out.

The programme for the visit is traditional: the PF Command and the PT administration chief will receive Chinese seamen. The programme also envisages bus tours, basketball competitions, and a number of official functions and informal get-togethers of the seamen of the two countries. Hosts on the Russian side are the large anti-submarine ships Admiral Panteleyev and Admiral Tributs.

This is a fifth call at Vladivostok by a Chinese naval squadron. Last time naval ships of the PLA and PF Marines participated in large-scale bilateral anti-terrorist exercises "Peace Mission-2005" that took place in the area of the Liaodong Peninsula.
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13169248&PageNum=0

A follow up on my Type 529 post

Type 529
perhasp previous remrcs premature.
Strange gun installation (!) Perhaps no true gun at all but watercanon for riotdispersal (greenpeace?) or firefighting. Anyone has any pics with uncovered guns???


Here is two screen capture of Type529 in service with Guangzhou MR, looks like twin 14.5mm/25mm AAA

"Sharpening-2008" exercise stretched to cover tactics

english.chinamil.com.cn 2008-09-18

　　During the on-going force-on-force exercise coded "Sharpening-2008", the multi-service and multi-arm joint trainings were stretched from the strategic level to the tactical level. In the past, multi-service and multi-arm joint trainings were all confined to the strategic level, it was very rare for joint trainings at brigade and regiment levels to cover tactical contents.

　　Deputy director of the on-going exercise Xu Min is of the view that the multi-service and multi-arm joint training implies the transition from the research-centric stage to the normal test-oriented stage.

　　Besides, the multi-service and multi-arm joint training is becoming more and more demanding for the commanders in terms of all-round quality. In previous ground battles, the command elements included only intelligence reconnaissance, command and control, and fire strike. Today, the commanders should know how to command airborne troops, Air Force aviations and Army aviations in joint operations. More command elements require commanders better to have command capabilities accordingly.

　　It is learnt that after receiving the task of conducting this trans-regional force-on-force maneuver exercise, a mechanized infantry brigade of the Jinan Military Area Command added the contents of joint training to all levels from individual soldiers to the commanders of detachments and the leading bodies of the brigade, but with special emphasis on different subjects. For example, individual soldiers would focus on "target identification and guidance", "air-landing essentials" and "the operation of digitalized equipment for individual soldiers", the commanders of detachments would focus on the operation of communication equipment such as satellite navigation and positioning equipment and the command information system, while the leading bodies of the brigade would stress on the disposition of various services and arms in the operation, the basic theories in join operation and the use of sea chart and aviation map.

　　By Fei Shiting and Yang Xihe

　　(Sept 18, PLA Daily) Editor: Chen Jie

HQ-9 Contests For Turkey's AD Requirement

BBC Monitoring International Reports

August 11, 2008 Monday



TURKISH OFFICIAL DETAILS DEFENCE PROCUREMENT PLANS



Text of report by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia



[Article by Mustafa Seven: "Defence Industry Under Secretary Bayar on Air Defence Projects" -AA headline]



Ankara 10 Aug 08 (AA) -Defence Industry Under Secretary Murad Bayar said that four serious candidates had been found for the procurement of a long-range, high-altitude air defence system and that talks with these four countries were under way.



Bayar replied to the AA journalist's questions about the air defence systems that Turkey is planning to purchase.



Underscoring that there were four serious contenders for the long-range, high-altitude air defence system, Bayar said these were the United States , Russia , China and Israel .



Bayar also emphasized that they were about to begin serious development projects in the field of air defence systems. He added that half the requirement for mobile air defence systems would be met directly through tenders while the rest would be met by domestic, home-grown production.



Eight Anti-Missile Systems



Turkey is preparing to establish a comprehensive air defence umbrella to counter surrounding missile threats.



The Long-Range Regional Air Defence and Missile Defence System Project is designed to provide Turkey with regional air and missile defence against all air threats.



The project will see four batteries purchased in the first package for the Air Force with four more batteries being purchased at a later date making eight missile defence batteries in all.



Candidates



Emphasizing that talks were underway with four countries including Russia for a long-range, high-altitude air defence system, Bayar said that the s-300 [NATO designation SA-10 Grumble and SA-20 Gargoyle for the extended range version] was currently in production but that this production line was going to be upgraded to the s-400 [NATO SA-21 Growler] and that Turkey was interested in the s-400.



The missiles manufactured by the United States , Russia , China and Israel are the main choices for air defence systems. However, experts agree that Russia and the United States are the main competitors in this field.



Following a bad showing in the Iraq War the United States Patriot system has been upgraded and is now effective against tactical missiles and non-missile aerial vehicles.



The Chinese seem to be experts in the area of medium altitude air defence systems.



Russia is particularly boastful of its long-range, high-altitude systems the s-300 and s-400.



Russia also says it can carry out joint production of these missiles.



Israel manufactures the Arrow system.



The four contenders for the project are Russia 's Rusoboronexport [Russian Defence Export Company] s-400, the Patriot Pac III MEADS, the Israeli Arrow and the Chinese HQ-9.



Turkish firms are expected to contribute with the production of certain sub-systems.



Two of the long-range air defence systems, which are planned to go active in 2010, are expected to be deployed in Ankara and Istanbul while the other two should be deployed according to threat assessments.



Turkey 's requirement for a long-range anti-air and anti-missile system first emerged during the United States operations against Iraq in 1991 and 2003. During those operations NATO mobilized its own assets and deployed Patriots to Turkey . Patriot systems provided security against Iraq 's Scud missiles.



Turkey first met the Patriot system during the 1991 Gulf War. Patriots were successfully used against Iraqi Scuds by both Israel and Saudi Arabia . The air defence radars used by the land-based Patriot system can detect a target up to 100 km [ 62 miles] away destroying it within 15-20 seconds. Patriots have a range of 70 km [ 45 miles].



Patriot Alternatives s-300 s-400 Arrow-2



There are two alternatives to Patriot. The first is the Russian-built s-300 system. Turkey first heard of the s-300 when the Greek Cypriots purchased it for deployment in southern Cyprus in 1997. The s-300 system has a range of 150 km [ 90 miles], can reach an altitude of 27 km and can lock onto a target and fire within 8-10 seconds.



The third option is the Israeli Arrow-2. Produced with US help the Arrow-2 has a range of 100 km and can reach an altitude of 50 km.



Defence sources say that Russia has developed the s-400 after thes-300, and that this system outperforms both the Patriot and the Arrow. The same sources say that Russia is not currently offering the s-400 for sale but add that the s-400 may be purchased during talks for the s-300. The s-400 is known as a 5th generation air defence system. Its performance is double that of the s-300 with a range of 400 km. The s-300 can fire six missiles simultaneously while the s-400 can fire 12. They can hit targets travelling at 2,800 meters a second.



Low-Altitude, Medium Range Systems



Evaluations of bids for low-altitude, medium-range air defence systems are underway.



Defence Industry Under Secretary Bayar said that the next phase for the purchase of ready-to-go low-and medium-altitude air defence systems would be calling for bids.



No High Altitude Systems In TSK Inventory



There is currently no system in the TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] inventory for long-range missile and air defence. Turkey still uses the Rapier and pedestal-mounted Stinger for short-range defence and the modernized I-HAWK for medium range defence.



How The System Works



High-altitude, long-range air defence systems are aimed at destroying long-range missile threats before they enter Turkey 's air space.



During the operation of high-altitude air-defence systems once it has been determined that enemy missiles are headed for Turkey the air defence systems and their associated batteries are alerted, also with satellite help.



Air defence systems are able to stop enemy missiles some 50-300 km away.



Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara , in Turkish 0704 gmt 10 Aug 08



BBC Monitoring

The most detailed report on PLA’s brigade-ization and Battalion battle group reform from PLAdaily, someone should translate this…..

军旅营体制带来了什么
http://www.chinamil.com.cn/site1/jbzsc/2008-09/08/content_1465561.htm
本报特约记者　胡伟　特约通讯员　黄建东　周林
2008-09-08 06:30:20 来源：解放军报第3版


　　视点提要　党的十七大报告指出，要适应世界军事发展新趋势和我国发展新要求，调整改革军队体制编制和政策制度，逐步形成一整套既有中国特色又符合现代军队建设规律的科学的组织模式、制度安排和运作方式。南京军区某集团军历经两次编制体制调整，逐步形成了军旅营的新编制体制。他们立足这一特点，充分发挥新编制体制优势，弥补作战训练短板，促进了战斗力的攀升。（武天敏）

世纪之交，南京军区某集团军连续实施了两次编制体制改革，所属步兵师先后整编成了摩步旅，集团军人员缩减了近2万人，指挥机构也逐步由军师团营“四级制”变成军旅营“三级制”。

　　编制体制调整后，部队的战斗力如何？带着这样的疑问，8月上旬，记者走进这个集团军，感受新体制给部队带来的新变化。

　　指挥结构趋向扁平化

师厉害？还是旅厉害？这可不是在下军棋。

　　今年6月，淮河流域连降大雨，该集团军担负淮河中下游抗洪抢险任务。山雨欲来，集团军准备拉动一些部队，进行模拟演练。

　　一天，集团军在没有预先号令的情况下，突然给某摩步旅和某装甲师同时下了一道命令：向淮河流域集结。时间就是生命，看谁拉动快，两个单位开始了一场比拼。

　　结果，新体制优势显现：摩步旅作战值班室接到命令后，马上向旅首长报告，然后直接通知到营连，清点人员、携带器材向集结点进发。相形之下，某装甲师作战值班员接到命令，向师首长报告后，再通知团作战值班室；团作战值班员重复上述程序，向团首长汇报后，才通知到营连，出动时间比摩步旅晚了10分钟。

有关专家指出：军旅营体制结构扁平、横宽纵浅，是诸多国家陆军建设发展的方向，这种体制适应现代战争的指挥方式，有利于部队的快速反应。事实上，这个集团军也多次从新体制中尝到“甜头”：今年年初，南方发生雨雪冰冻灾害，该集团军充分发挥军旅营体制精干、灵活、多能的体制优势，以最快时间将两个旅投送到一线，在关键时刻发挥了关键作用。

然而，该集团军领导坦言：“军旅营体制既有优势也有短板。”今年5月，他们组织实兵实装对抗演练。担任“红军”的某旅合成营充分发挥短平快的高效指挥优势，进攻如霹雳闪电。相形之下，担任“蓝军”的某团却因指令传递慢而节节败退。关键时刻，“红军”某旅一辆装甲车战损，阻挡了进攻通路。“红军”急忙呼唤保障队，却只来了一名修理士官。此时，“蓝军”乘机反扑，战场态势瞬间逆转，“蓝军”反败为胜。原来，装甲步战车发动机维修，至少需要三四个人配合，一名维修士官无论如何也难当战场抢修重任。对此，旅装备部长周智伟直“叫苦”：步兵师改旅后，旅编制装甲单位有几十个，却只有1名装甲助理员、2名修理工。兵种多了，保障难了。

　　对此，该集团军一位领导形象地打了一个比方：“就像一个人，减肥之后肯定是身体轻快了，能窜会跑了。但是脂肪的减少，也会有一些副作用。”

　　旅营地位作用“大变脸”

　　前不久，这个集团军专门召开了“发挥军旅营体制优势研讨会”。会上，大家畅所欲言：“军旅营体制确实显现出了指挥层次少、编制结构精干、合成要素增多、协同方式灵活、遂行多样化任务能力较强等优势，但同时也暴露出作战保障能力不强等问题。”

　　记者调查中，该集团军各级领导有一个共识：由“四级制”变成“三级制”，不是简单地减少了指挥层次，而是带来了“战、建、训、管、保”等方方面面的深层次变革。

　这些变革，恰恰是训练转变最迫切的呼声。对此，某摩步旅作训科科长刘遵伟感触颇深：师改旅前，集团军一个通知，机关只要当当“传声筒”，转换报头就发到团里；改旅后，旅机关直接面向部队，这就要求机关要根据各兵种营特点，做好具体的实施计划，工作量明显加大，对机关人员的素质和能力要求明显提高了。

的确，从师到旅、从团属营到旅属营，旅和营的地位作用都发生了巨大变化。某旅三营营长黄继勇说：以前是“上有团下有连，营这一级最清闲。”现在，情况完全不一样了。6月初，这个营进行合成营综合演练，营成为独立作战单元，他既要指挥步兵冲击，又要指挥防空袭，还要召唤炮兵火力……

　　“我俨然成了半个团长了！这正说明，推进军事训练转变，最根本、最紧要的是在提高官兵综合素质上狠下功夫。”黄营长感慨地说。

　　顺应形势扬长避短

调查中，记者发现，这个集团军经过几年探索实践，已经走出了“孰优孰劣”的争论，步入了又好又快发展的轨道。

比如，集团军乘编制体制改革有利时机，明显加快了信息化建设。随着“扁平结构”代替传统“树状结构”，该集团军加快一体化指挥平台建设，较快研究探索出了信息化条件下作战的指挥编成、流程和方式。对此，集团军领导深有感触：“如果不是编制体制改革，我们可能还要摸索更长的时间。”

同时，记者欣喜地发现，“师改旅”这个新生事物，正在由“双刃剑”变成“双受益”——

　　集成组训：师在学习旅。7月中旬，该集团军某装甲师首次采用合成组训模式，以装甲合成营为作战单元开展协同战术演练。此次演练，参演的各兵种分队高度融合，密切协同，攥成了“硬拳头”。该师领导告诉笔者，这种组训方式，就是借鉴了旅的优势，打破专业壁垒，优化内部结构，提高指挥效率，大幅提高了营的综合作战能力。

　　作战保障：旅在借鉴师。记者发现，该集团军的旅专业技能考核成为今年一大亮点。集团军对所属旅10多个兵种160余个专业考核内容进行了细化，考核全岗覆盖，全员参与，从主战兵种到保障单元，从关键岗位到一般岗位，包括“八大员”无一例外。这种考法，使一大批“多面手”脱颖而出，有效促进了旅保障力量自身建设。

　　据悉，编制体制调整后，该集团军所属部队，无论师旅，专业基础训练成绩每年都以3%左右的幅度提高；分队军官和士兵达到技术能手标准的比例，每年提高5%左右。

Russia, China resume talks on military transport planes
16:03 | 05/ 09/ 2008

Print version

GELENDZHIK (South Russia), September 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will continue negotiations on a contract to deliver 34 transport planes and four aerial tankers to China earlier frozen due to a disagreement over prices, Russia's state-run arms exporter said on Friday.

"We are returning to the contract and renegotiating the price of these planes," Mikhail Zavaliy, a Rosoboronexport official told reporters at an air show in the Krasnodar Region.

According to the 2005 contract between Rosoboronexport and China's Defense Ministry, worth $1.5 billion, Russia was supposed to deliver 34 Il-76 Candid medium-range military transport aircraft and four Il-78 Midas aerial refueling tankers.

The first deliveries under the contract were due to begin in 2007, but in 2006, Uzbekistan's Tashkent Chkalov Aircraft Association, the manufacturer of the aircraft, refused to sign a production contract with Rosoboronexport at the contract price.

As a result, the agreement was delayed, and Beijing suspended negotiations on this and several other military contracts with Russia.

Since then, the Tashkent-based company has become part of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, and the planes will now be assembled at an aircraft manufacturing plant in Ulyanovsk in central Russia, the official said.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080905/116575606.html

Take it for what it is, a starting point for debate, nothing more, nothing less.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/04/content_9771257.htm

China submits 2007 military expenditure report to UN
www.chinaview.cn 2008-09-04 17:57:49 Print

BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- China has reported its 2007 military expenditures to the United Nations (UN), the second time it has done so since it started participating in the UN Military Budget Transparency Mechanism last year.

The report provides more information than the previous submission, including basic data of the country's military spend for the latest fiscal year. It also explained the main purpose of the expenditures, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said here at a regular news briefing.

This demonstrated again that the Chinese government attached great importance to the issue of military transparency, and actively improved mutual trust with other countries in the military field, she added.

Since last year, China has participated in the UN Military Budget Transparency Mechanism and returned to the Conventional Weapons Registration System, two major mechanism of the UN concerning military transparency.

The UN Military Budget Transparency Mechanism came into being in 1980 when the UN General Assembly approved resolution 35/142 entitled "Reduction of Military Budgets." It introduced the UN system for standardized reporting of military expenditure.

Currently, more than 110 nations have joined the system.