China's National Defense Whitepaper published.

Enjoy, and looks like pundits have already pushed forward with their opinions.  (here) (here) (here)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-03/31/c_13806851.htm

BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Information Office of China's State Council on Thursday issued a white paper titled "China's National Defense in 2010". Following is the full text of the document:

China's National Defense in 2010

Information Office of the State Council

The People's Republic of China

March 2011, Beijing

Contents
Preface
I. The Security Situation
II. National Defense Policy
III Modernization of the People's Liberation Army
IV. Deployment of the Armed Forces
V. National Defense Mobilization and Reserve Force Building
VI. Military Legal System
VII. Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense
VIII. Defense Expenditure
IX. Military Confidence-Building
X. Arms Control and Disarmament

M20 is a Shanzhai-ed 山寨 Russian Iskandar SSM? you be the judge.

Photo credit goes to top81's 六千


Russian Iskandar 9K720 "SS-26 Stone" theater ballistic missile

Chinese M-20 "surface-to-surface guided-missile systems"

Photo, taken on Feb. 20, 2011, shows staff of the Aerospace Long-March International Trade Company of China introducing M20 surface-to-surface guided-missile systems to visitors in the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) 2011 and the first Navy Defense Exhibition were held in Abu Dhabi’s national exhibition center. The Chinese contingent was made up of 17 military trade enterprises and companies that attended this exhibition. (Source: Xinhua/An Jiang)

Photo of the day

If at first you don't succeed....parachuting is not for you.   Fail -- ZBD/ZLC2000 airborne infantry fighting vehicle.

Two different narratives -- PLA image at home and aboard.

It is striking to see the difference between the Chinese edition of the PLA Daily to that of the English one. The headline of the English edition features smiling nurses playing with locals -- a nice soft-power touch.  Flip to the Chinese edition, and the PLAN's hard power is shown with its Marines training the Tanzania military.  It seems even the PLA has to justify its military spending to the old-hundred-names at home.

From the English Edition.

"Soldiers of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Seventh Escort Task Force, sing with students at an elementary school in Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, March 28, 2011. Some officers and soldiers of PLA Navy Seventh Escort visited the school and donated materials including television, clothes, etc. to the school.(Xinhua/Fan Junwei)"

From the Chinese Edition:

Indonesia to produce C-802 at home

Indonesia and China agree on joint production of missiles
22 March 2011 
http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/03/indonesia-and-china-agree-on-joint-production-of-missiles/

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indonesia and China on Tuesday agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation, including the joint production of missiles, the Antara news agency reported.

Indonesian Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Chen Qiufa, head of the Chinese Technological and Industrial Development Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the technical cooperation in the defense sector.

The agreement includes the supplying of military equipments, transfer of technology of certain military equipment, joint-marketing, and training programs, according to Brig.Gen. Wayan Midhio, spokesman for the Defense Minsitry.

Indonesia and China also agreed on establishing a joint-missile production in the future through strategic weaponry industry. The Indonesian army currently uses Chinese made missiles.

The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) equipped some of its warships with the Chinese C-802 rockets. China is recognized worldwide for it successful development of military equipment.

The Asian giant has been able to develop a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) called Dong Feng 21 (DF-21), which is two-stage, solid-propellant, single-warhead system.

On Thursday, Indonesia announced that it plans to produce 1,000 R122 rockets to support its defense system through the Technology Assessment and Application Agency.

The project would be carried out from 2012 to 2014, time in which the Indonesian government also plans to develop a "remote pilot vehicle" and an "area vehicle" as well.

(Copyright 2011 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.)

Our previous blog entry

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Indonesia to equip navy with Chinese-made missiles

This is not news per se, as two sets of YJ-82 (C-802) were installed on two Indonesian PB-57 patrol boat back in March 2008 in a 11 USD million deal. According to the Indonesian navy, the cost of the C-802 is less than half of the French MM40 Exocet Block II.

RI warships to be equipped with Chinese-made missiles

http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1261395950/ri-warships-to-be-equipped-with-chinese-made-missiles

Monday, December 21, 2009 18:45 WIB | National | | Viewed 618 time(s)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Navy`s warships will be equipped with missiles made in China, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Agus Suhartono said here on Monday.

"We will continue to procure C-802 missiles from China after we tested the weapon with good results,` he said adding that the Indonesian Navy was also negotiating with China to obtain C-705 missiles that were more slender in shape.

"Both types of missile will be added to the armament of of the navy`s fast patrol boats and Van Speijk warships," Agus said.

He said the navy would increase the combat capabilities of its Van Speijk and fast patrol boats by integrating their armament systems with weaponry from China.

"We are still unable to make missiles domestically. But fortunately, state shipbuilding firm PT PAL already has the technology to integrate weapon systems imported from abroad with those already in place on our warships," he said.

The navy chief admitted with limited budget for his department, his officials would continue making a priority scale on the procurement of weaponry system.

"Our main priority now is security in sea border areas and the outer islands of Indonesia," he said adding that the navy would also replace some 27 of its warships with newer types and better combat capabilities.

Agus Suhartono had previously said Indonesia`s western waters were prone to various maritime crimes such as smuggling, human trafficking and poaching.

"The sea crimes are not the only problems we have in the western waters. In these areas we also have border problems with India, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia," the navy chief said.

He said that in order to maintain security in the area, the navy conducted routine patrols in the Indonesian western waters. It had maintained a joint patrols with its counterparts from India, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

As a result, the maritime crime rate in the western waters had dropped , particularly in the Malacca Strait. (*)

COPYRIGHT © 2009

Indonesia to equip navy with Chinese-made missiles
16:40, December 22, 2009

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90783/91321/6849377.html
Indonesia is going to equip its own navy's warships with missiles made in China so as to upgrade combat capabilities, Agus Suhartono, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral said Monday.

"We will continue to procure C-802 missiles from China after we test the weapon with good results,” he said adding that the Indonesian Navy was also negotiating with China to obtain C-705 missiles that were more slender in shape.

"Both types of missile will be added to the armament of the navy’s fast patrol boats and Van Speijk warships," Agus said.

"We are still unable to make missiles domestically. But fortunately, state shipbuilding firm PT PAL already has the technology to integrate weapon systems imported from abroad with those already in place on our warships," he said.

Indonesian navy will continue making it a priority to procure weaponry systems, despite the limited military budget.

"Our main priority now is security in sea border areas and the outer islands of Indonesia," Agus said. "Crimes at Sea are not the only problems we have in the western waters. In these areas we also have border disputes with India, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia."

By People's Daily Online

C-802 equipped PB-57

C-705

Final installment of D-30KP-2 delivered to China

The following is a Google translated news from (here), the same in Chinese (here).   Thus far there are two known use of D-30KP-2 by the "Chinese customer" they are the H-6K "God of War" bomber program and the KJ-2000 Mainring AWAC fleet.  Since the existing KL-2000 fleet does not require 55 new engines, it is likely that more H-6K will be manufactured in due course.

NPO "Saturn", 25 March 2011

http://www.aviatablo.ru/node/37485/
March 23 fifth installment of D-30KP-2 production of JSC "NPO Saturn" put the Chinese customer. This is the final party of 11 engines, the contract between Rosoboronexport and the China People's Republic, which entered into force in April 2009, to supply 55 engines for the period until 2012.
Delivery of the final installment of D-30KP-2 is scheduled before the end of March this year. Contract also provides technical support from the manufacturer within the warranty period.

The previous four parties of D-30KP-2 were delivered by the Russian side, respectively, in November 2009, March, May and October 2010.During the acceptance of work members of the Chinese delegation and a representative of the PRC Embassy in Moscow, Zheng Kai noted with satisfaction the early and qualitative performance of OAO "Saturn" contractual obligations.

According to the commercial director of NPO Saturn, Sergei Popov, "for" Saturn ", which has longstanding friendly relations with Chinese customers, a great honor to successfully complete the work under this contract. We look forward to an early extension of the Russian-Chinese cooperation. In particular, the continued supply of engines to China, the D-30KP-2.

4th LH Regiment, 65th Group Army

According to today's CCTV, the 4th LH Regiment conducted a rapid re-basing exercise to islands off eastern China. What for, I wonder.

Air Mobile.

This series of photos confirms that two WZ551 APC can be airlifted with ease by an IL-76.   It will be interesting to see if the WZ551 can fit into a Y-9.

 

China extends reach in S.Asia with Nepal aid deal

Friends with benefits! With all the talk about 'soft power' there are still those who prefer cold-hard-cash.

China extends reach in S.Asia with Nepal aid deal
AFP
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110324/wl_asia_afp/nepalchinamilitaryaid
China extends reach in S.Asia with Nepal aid deal AFP – China's army chief General Chen Bingde (L) shakes hands with Nepalese Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal …
by Deepak Adhikari Deepak Adhikari – Thu Mar 24, 11:58 am ET

KATHMANDU (AFP) – China's army chief wrapped up a high level visit to Nepal on Thursday, signing a new aid deal with Kathmandu's military that further cements ties between the two neighbours.

General Chen Bingde, chief of the general staff of China's People?s Liberation Army, arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday for the first visit by a high-level Chinese military delegation in 10 years.

The 70-year-old signed two agreements with his Nepalese counterpart, General Chhatraman Singh Gurung, in which he announced 1.4 billion rupees (19 million dollars) worth of aid to the Nepalese army for infrastructure development.

Due to its strategic location, Nepal is often caught between Asia's two giants, India and China.

"The purpose of my visit is to strengthen friendship and cooperation between Nepal and China," Chen told reporters.

"This cooperation is not only conducive for our people but also for the world peace and the Asia Pacific region."

Chen, who led a 15-member delegation including the top security official from neighbouring Tibet, held talks with Nepal's President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime minister Jhalanath Khanal and Defence Minister Bishnu Paudel.

Analysts say while India has traditionally been the influential player in Nepal, China is making inroads in the Himalayan nation that is recovering after the end in 2006 of a decade-long civil war which killed 16,000 people.

"The Nepalese army is seen as the only strong state institution. This is why the Chinese are keen on investing in it," Sudheer Sharma, editor of Nepalese newspaper Kantipur told AFP.

"The former monarchy until its end in 2008 acted as an ally for the Chinese. With the monarchy gone, they are in a lookout for a trustworthy ally and Nepalese army could well be the one," he added.

China has also expanded its links with India's other neighbours, to the alarm of policymakers in New Delhi who see the moves as encroachment on their immediate sphere of influence in South Asia.

Beijing has historic ties with Pakistan, but has also begun building major infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Thursday marked the end of the official part of Chen's visit. He was due to leave Nepal on Friday after a sightseeing trip to the ancient city of Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu valley.

Photo of the day: Chinese Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT)

PLA's own "dragon wagon" undergoes a crash test. You must admit their QA process is very....random.

HEMTT of the US Army

Modular Joint Operations Training

In PLA terminology, a "composite training" (综合训练) is a training event involving two or more service arms.   The PLA seems to expand on this concept to include all service arms as defined in their "Outline of Military Training and Evaluation (OMTE)".  This new training is now known to be the "Modular Joint Operations Training" (模块化联合训练) as reported by the CCTV which includes information networks, joint logistics, single command and control systems of all service arms.

Yup, this new Modular Joint Operations Training pretty much involves everything including the kitchen sink and the Guangzhou MR just conducted one with the 124th Amphibious Mechanized Division serving as the lead element.