Tuesday, July 01, 2008

One of those "WTF" were they thinking.


Beijing SWAT team is trying to show off but end up making a complete fool out of themselves in the process.



Just look at this guy.

This type of 'software' training has been overlooked by many military experts, they seems to assume everything imported and new tactics will work 100% of the time without training. Those are not your-good-ole-politic-trainings, but real PME as they are training commanders, not political commissars. This is one more evident to support the argument that PLA is being transformed into a more professional military.

We shall see.





Guangzhou MAC accelerates cultivation of joint operational commanders

english.chinamil.com.cn 2008-06-30

  In mid-June, a batch of excellent commanders from the Guangzhou Military Area Command (MAC) graduated from a cross-training course run by the Air Force Command College were assigned to new posts. In recent years, the Guangzhou Military Area Command has accelerated the training of joint operational commanders and a batch of high-quality commanders of a new type have swiftly come into prominence.

  In the past three years, the Guangzhou Military Area Command arranged 22 leaders of division-level or above working in the organs and field troops commanders at regiment level or above to swap their positions, and 74 division-and-regiment-level officers to function in acting capacity at each other's posts, and 1,900-odd military and political officers in grassroots units to exchange their posts. At present, members of corps/division leading groups and brigade/regiment commanding officers in Guangzhou Military Area Command, nearly 50% of them have the experiences of holding positions or acting positions in corps headquarters or above, among the department and division leaders in the military area command and group armies, those with experiences of assuming positions in field regiment or above take up a considerable proportion. At the same time, a batch of officers with technological background have taken up commanding posts, indicating that commanders, which have both commanding skill and technological expertise, have come to the fore.

  It is learned that the Guangzhou Military Area Command held 100-odd joint military training in the form of cross-specialty drills, army-navy coordination drills and land-air confrontation drills, and actively carried out integrated training of intelligence reconnaissance, command and control and fire strike, and joint training in combat grouping, so as to provide a new platform for commanders to build up their capabilities of working out overall combat plans, estimating combat situations and handling situation in emergencies.

  In recent years, 85.4% of troops commanders from the Guangzhou Military Area Command, who participated in the commander's training course, the training course for commanders at division/regiment level, and the course for postgraduates in the National Defense University, have been promoted to higher positions. In addition, the command has placed excellent young officers with higher academic degrees, good joint operation and command capability, and strong pioneering spirit onto important posts to temper them. Meanwhile, excellent officers chosen as grooming targets will be boldly employed at various posts so as to ensure uninterrupted cultivation of officers.

  By Li Jianhua and Li Huamin

  (June 30, PLA Daily) Editor: Chen Jie

  
China's UN peacekeepers exceed 10,000 with latest Sudan deployment

english.chinamil.com.cn 2008-07-01

  BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) -- With a third group of Chinese peacekeepers sent to Sudan to replace their predecessors, China has sent more than 10,000 peacekeepers to participate in 18 UN peace-keeping missions.

  At the request of the United Nations and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, China decided to participate in a hybrid force of the United Nations and the African Union.

  China promised to send a 315-member engineering unit to Darfur. So far, the first group of 143 engineers has been dispatched to Darfur, where it is at work.

  "The remaining members of the engineering units to be sent to Darfur are now ready for departure and will be fully deployed by mid-July," the Monday edition of the PLA (People's Liberation Army) Daily quoted Wei Yanwei, vice director of the Peace-Keeping Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense, as saying.

  China joined the UN Special Committee on Peace-Keeping Operations in 1988 and sent five military observers to the UN Truce Organization in 1990. In 1992, 400 engineering troops were sent for peacekeeping work in Cambodia. And, to date, more than 10,000 Chinese peacekeepers have taken part in missions in such countries as Congo, Libya, Lebanon and Sudan.

  "China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, shoulders an important responsibility in missions related to global peace and security, and China's active participation in UN peace-keeping activities reflects its stance to support the world body and its decisions," said Wei.

  "Besides fulfilling peace-keeping tasks assigned by the United Nations, Chinese peacekeepers help local people to improve their living standards," Wei added.

  The peacekeepers have built or repaired more than 200 bridges and 7,500 kilometers of roads and treated nearly 50,000 patients, official statistics show.

  "Chinese peacekeepers not only fulfill their obligations for peacekeeping missions, but also convey Chinese people's friendship and love of peace to the local people in destination countries," he said.

Friday, June 27, 2008



The luck guy survived,

This is what happens when you are not careful near the Sino-Vietnam boarder…………. looks like the last mine sweep missed at least one.




龙州工地挖掘机压响地雷 施工司机被炸飞出驾驶室

2008-6-22 14:58:53

6月21日下午,一男子驾驶挖掘机在龙州县水口镇一工地施工时,不幸压着地雷,双腿被炸伤。目前,伤者正在龙州县人民医院治疗,所幸生命无虞。

一目击男子在电话中告诉记者,当天下午3时许,他正在家里煮饭,突然听到一声巨响,立即循声跑去查看。只见附近的一个工地上,警方人员刚刚赶到,一辆挖掘机受损比较严重,其中一条履带已被炸飞,驾驶室玻璃被震碎,机手被炸飞出驾驶室,双腿被炸伤。不久,救护车赶到现场,将伤者接走。

据该目击者介绍,该工地位于水口镇的一条河岸边,以前是用来作房产开发的,现在改作一个边贸互市点。当时,机手正驾驶挖掘机进行土地平整作业,不幸压着多年前就埋在地下的地雷而被炸伤。好在爆炸时周边没有其他作业人员,且爆炸点距房子较远,没有造成更大的损失。

一名目击者说,这个地雷是当年大扫雷的“漏网之鱼”,大扫雷以后,还是第一次听到有这样的事情。

记者拨打水口派出所的值班电话得知,当天下午该镇确有一男子被炸伤双腿,已被送往龙州县人民医院治疗。

当晚8时,记者从龙州县人民医院骨伤科获悉,伤者党某今年20岁,双腿被炸伤,其中右下肢粉碎性骨折,他从急诊科转来骨科时神志清醒,没有生命危险。晚8时,党某正在手术室接受手术。(刘飞锋)

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Welcome to China


2 Chinese air force training jets crash
6 hours ago

BEIJING (AP) — A state news agency says two Chinese air force jets crashed in a city suburb in Inner Mongolia after a midair collision.

Xinhua News Agency says the J-8 fighters collided during a training mission over the suburb of the regional capital Hohhot on Wednesday. It says both pilots ejected and parachuted to safety, suffering only minor injuries.

Xinhua says both planes crashed in inhabited areas, but gave no word on casualties. It says the planes were attached to the northern Shenyang Military District.

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Better late than never.

Folks:

J.L Shuford, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy President, Naval War College, wrote a fine introduction about US Naval War college’s China Maritime Studies Institute in the current issue of Naval War College Review (Spring 2008 Volume 61, Number 2)

"Navy leadership understood this well and saw the requirement for objective research on China’s rise that would be insulated from the various policy agendas driving the debates about China in Washington. With this concern in mind, the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) was established in October 2006 at the College.The objective was not to create another China institute—of which many fine examples exist in academia—but rather to create a China maritime studies institute.The intention was to give this new institute the focus required to succeed and thereby fill an emerging gap."



For those who wish to know more about this young but very important organization, manned with some of the finest minds in the business and produced an impressive array of works recently, go check the full introduction at the following link
http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/review/documents/NWCRSP08.pdf



While you are there, go check out "No Oil for the Lamps of China?" on page 79 also


No Oil for the Lamps of China?

Gabriel B. Collins and William S. Murray
Chinese naval and strategic planners fear, and their Western counterparts seem to believe, that a maritime blockade could interrupt or significantly impede China’s energy supplies in a limited war. But probably it could not, and thinking it could is dangerous for everyone.
Destroyer docks on friendship mission

Source: Xinhua | 2008-6-25 |


A JAPANESE Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer arrived in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province yesterday to start a five-day visit to China.

The destroyer, Sazanami, carrying 240 Japanese officers, is the first Japanese warship to visit China since World War II. The voyage is a return visit as the Chinese missile destroyer Shenzhen docked in Japan last year.

A welcoming ceremony was held for the Sazanami's arrival in Zhanjiang, along with a transfer ceremony of quake aid from the Japanese Defense Ministry and Self Defense Forces, which was carried on the destroyer.

The materials, including food, blankets, hygiene masks, disinfectants and other items, will be unloaded today and then travel to the quake zone by train.

"The visit is a sign of the friendly ties between the Chinese people and the Japanese people," said Lieutenant General Su Shiliang, commander of China's South Sea Fleet.

Su expressed gratitude to Japan for providing aid and assistance after the May 12 earthquake and for relief materials shipped to the quake zone.

The Sazanami's visit will promote exchanges between the two defense departments, help build mutual trust, and enhance the development of the China-Japan strategic, mutually beneficial relationship, Su said.

Major-General Shinichi Tokumaru of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force said he believed that the visit would help consolidate the friendly ties between the two countries.






Japan Naval Ship Arrives in China Amid Warmer Ties (Update1)

By Dune Lawrence and Toko Sekiguchi

June 24 (Bloomberg) -- A Japanese destroyer arrived in the southern Chinese port of Zhanjiang today to deliver earthquake-relief supplies, the first visit to China by a naval ship from Japan since World War II.

The ``Sazanami'' arrived in the Guangdong province port city for a planned five-day docking, Akio Takahashi of Japan's Defense Ministry said today. The 240-crew ship will host Chinese military officers and the Japanese sailors will play soccer and basketball games with their counterparts. The visit follows a Chinese navy missile destroyer's to Japan last year.

The military exchange comes amid improving ties between Asia's two largest economies after both agreed to try to set aside diplomatic controversies over Japan's occupation of parts of China in the 1930s and 1940s.

``This is a breakthrough that we've been looking for for a long time,'' said Phil Deans, a professor at Temple University in Tokyo specializing in Japan-China relations. ``These naval exchanges are really a way of trying to reassure the governments of both sides and reassure the people that they don't need to be worried about each other.''

Hu Jintao became the first Chinese president to visit Japan in a decade in May and last week the two countries reached an accord on joint gas exploration in the East China Sea, ending a four-year dispute. The deal is a breakthrough for Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who has worked to improve relations that soured under former Premier Junichiro Koizumi.

Fukuda's Promise

Relations between China and Japan have warmed since 2006, when Fukuda's predecessor, Shinzo Abe, replaced Koizumi. Koizumi inflamed long-standing Chinese anger over Japan's conduct before and during World War II with trips to Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine, where war criminals are among those memorialized.

Japan's military is a sensitive issue around Asia, where millions died at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army. Fukuda promised before becoming prime minister that he would not visit the war memorial, Yasukuni.

China's government has also worked to make the Chinese public's perception of Japan more positive. A Japanese rescue team was among the first foreign offers of rescue workers accepted by China after the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province that killed more than 69,000 people.

The Sazanami is delivering supplies including 300 blankets and 2,600 items of emergency food.

Still, Japan has signaled unease with China's surging military spending. Japan's parliament authorized the use of outer space for defense purposes last month, supporting increased spending on rockets and satellites after China shot down a weather satellite in a military test last year.

Japan's defense ministry criticized that missile test, saying it threatened ``satellites around the world, whether they are civilian or military,'' according to its annual East Asian Strategic Review, published in March.

Hu promised during his May 6-10 visit to Japan his nation won't spark an arms race with its neighbors or pose a military threat to ``any country.''

Saturday, June 21, 2008

First photos of C-802 in service with the Indonesian Navy




Indonesia and China have embarked on a joint production of various war machines in a bid to help the Southeast Asian country replace its aging warfare equipment and ease dependency on imports.

Indonesian Ambassador to China Maj. Gen. (ret) Sudrajat said Monday the long-term cooperation would cover production of military vehicles, tanks and missiles.

"What we have now is a project to produce missiles," Sudrajat told reporters.

"In this project, the Chinese defense industry will cooperate with BPPT to produce missile launchers and they will work together with PT Pindad to produce the missile's ammunition,"

Sudrajat was speaking after reporting to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the progress of Indonesia-China relations at the presidential office.

BPPT is the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology and Pindad is the Army's arms maker.

The joint production followed last year's signing of a defense cooperation agreement between the two countries on military training and arms production.

Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono held talks with Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan last month in Jakarta to discuss details of the agreement.

Sudradjat said under the joint production agreement, military equipment ordered from China would be produced at plants belonging to Pindad in Bandung or state shipbuilder PT PAL in Surabaya.

"In their procurement process, the Indonesian Army, Navy and Air Force have struck a deal with Chinese authorities to make some parts of the equipment in Indonesia and by Indonesian companies," Sudrajat said.

The president ordered the Indonesian Military to ground its aging equipment following a series of fatal accidents involving its war machines in the last few months.

Budget constraints have been blamed for the slow modernization of defense equipment in the country.

The 2008 state budget raised defense spending to Rp 36.4 trillion ($3.8 billion), but most of the money will be spent on military personnel's welfare.

The government said it was also reluctant to embark on credit export facilities offered by some Western countries for fear of criticism around further accumulation of fresh foreign debts.

Chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission I on security, defense and foreign affairs Theo Sambuaga hailed the start of joint Indonesia-China production of military equipment.

He said the move was a solution to Indonesia's budgetary limitation to replace aging warfare equipment.

"Gradually, we should replace our aging defense equipment," Theo said.

"As we have budget constraints, we should be able to buy them from local companies and only embark on foreign purchases if we really can't produce them.

"That's why joint production is the best option to empower our defense industry," he said.


Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta


http://www.indonesia.go.id/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7521&Itemid=701


Saturday, June 14, 2008

Here is a list of the 39 civilian helicopters that took part in the earthquake rescue

Compiled by songfg

参加抗震救灾的民用直升机机号大全(39架)

B-7007 欧直EC135 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7008 欧直EC155 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7119 欧直EC155 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7101 直九 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7102 直九 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7103 直九 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7106 直九 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司(交通部东海第二救助飞行队)

B-7958 超美洲豹AS332L2 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7959 超美洲豹AS332L2 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7960 超美洲豹AS332L2 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7961 超美洲豹AS332L2 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7962 超美洲豹AS332L2 中信海洋直升机股份有限公司

B-7315 S76C+ 东方通用航空公司

B-7319 S76C+ 东方通用航空公司

B-7856 171 东方通用航空公司

B-7857 171 东方通用航空公司

B-7858 171 东方通用航空公司

B-7859 171 东方通用航空公司

B-7109 直九 中国飞龙专业航空公司

B-7110 直九 中国飞龙专业航空公司

B-7427 小松鼠B2 中国飞龙专业航空公司

B-7802 26 中国飞龙专业航空公司

B-7303 S76A 南方航空公司珠海直升机公司(交通部南海第一救助飞行队)

B-7304 S76A 南方航空公司珠海直升机公司

B-7305 S76C+ 南方航空公司珠海直升机公司

B-7307 S76C+ 南方航空公司珠海直升机公司

B-7115 直九 国家海洋局海监会

B-7206 S300C 湖北荆州同诚通用航空有限公司

B-7219 S300C 湖北荆州同诚通用航空有限公司

B-7210 S300C 上海和利通用航空有限公司

B-7212 S300C 上海和利通用航空有限公司

B-7744 贝尔206 中国民航飞行学院

B-7773 阿古斯特A119 苏华宇通用航空有限公司

B-7801 171 苏华宇通用航空有限公司

B-7828 8 新疆开元通用航空公司

B-7830 8 新疆开元通用航空公司

1S300C 北京泛亚通用航空公司

B-7125 超美洲豹EC225 交通部南海第一救助飞行队

B-7126 超美洲豹EC225 交通部东海第一救助飞行队

Thursday, June 12, 2008

China proposes disaster relief cooperation plan at 10+3 workshop

english.chinamil.com.cn 2008-06-12

  SHIJIAZHUANG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China has proposed a tentative plan of standard operating procedure (SOP) for cooperation on disaster relief by armed forces of the ASEAN plus China, Japan, the Republic of Korea ("10+3") at a workshop held in a north China city Thursday.

  The proposal drew great interest from the participants of other countries, while differences on the understanding of some issues still existed, according to the Field Army Commanding Academy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Shijiazhuang, sponsor of the workshop, which opened on Tuesday.

  Chen Shengwu, a colonel with the academy, said the making of the SOP was of great significance to strengthening the 10+3 disaster relief cooperation in the way of giving full play to the role of the armed forces in regional disaster relief.

  He said the SOP of international disaster relief by armed forces should be based on the SOP of the mission unit. This means the unit that carries out or is ready to carry out the tasks of international disaster relief.

  He said the SOP of mission units of 10+3 armed forces in international disaster relief should serve for the relief of massive natural disasters of various kinds.

  The SOP should set principles guiding the action of mission units. Assistance missions must observe humanitarianism, show respect of the host nation's sovereignty and have no string attached with.

  Mission units deployed in the disaster-hit areas should be submitted to the command of the disaster-hit country, and accept its coordination.

  Mission units personnel should wear uniforms of their own countries with identification that stands out, and not carry weapons. They should respect the local religion, custom and convention, and abide by the 10+3 regulations on disaster relief cooperation.

  The mission units should also strengthen contacts and coordination with the United Nations humanitarian organizations and other international assistance organizations, said Chen.

  He said each of the 10+3 countries should establish special liaison departments in charge of providing statistics of the ability and assets of mission unit of each country. The 10+3 countries should frequently exchange information on the capacity building and assets of each other's mission unit and report to the coordinating body.

  According to Chen, China attaches great importance to the making of international disaster relief SOP. As a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), China has jointly drafted out a set of principles guiding ARF disaster relief with Indonesia and joined in the amendment of the ARF Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief SOP (HADR SOP).

  China also paid close attention to the making of the ASEAN Standby Arrangements and Standard Operating Procedures (SASOP) and made efforts to promote the making of 10+3 SOP.

  According to Cui Yafeng, deputy head of the Shijiazhuang Academy who chaired the workshop, the foreign participants showed great interest on the proposal by the Chinese side. They also put forward some constructive ideas.

  He said differences, however, existed on the concept of mission units and some other aspects, so it was yet to reach consensus.

  The three-day workshop, held at a time when China and Myanmar were suffering from the massive quake and cyclone disasters respectively, had somehow promoted the 10+3 nations to speed up the pace of enhancing disaster relief cooperation.

  Qian Lihua, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chinese Defense Ministry, told reporters the number and ranking of officers attending this year's workshop both exceeded that of last year. He believed the workshop would help promote the role of 10+3 armed forces in domestic and regional disaster relief.

  Qian expressed his appreciation of foreign countries' assistance and donations to China for the quake disaster. The workshop also discussed on the coordinating mechanism for 10+3 disaster relief by armed forces, gathering constructive proposals by all sides.

  The participants also watched a field drill Wednesday by the Bethune Military Medical College in Shijiazhuang, a 70-year old college created by Dr. Norman Bethune. The devoted Canadian doctor worked in China during the second World War. The college also joined in the disaster relief in Sichuan Province.

Monday, June 09, 2008

New Transportation Regiments, 15th Airborne Corp



The long rumored two transportation regiments organic to the 15th Airborne Corp had been confirmed by the Earthquake. The sizes of those two regiments are still small and they still have to use both PLAAF 34th and 13th Transport Divisions in a foreseeable future. However, this is an important development in PLA’s offensive capabilities.

Y-8 regiment, 15th Airborne Corp (size unknown) serial number 66**

Helicopter Regiment, 15th Airborne Corp, 4 Z-8 and 4 Mi-171 confirmed, serial number 61**

Monday, June 02, 2008

Japanese warship to visit China

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-06/02/content_6729296.htm

(cri)
Updated: 2008-06-02 15:30

A Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force warship will visit China later this month as part of the mutual visits by the two navies. The missile destroyer, Takanami, will be the first Japanese warship making appearance in a Chinese harbor since the end of the World War II, said a report from the domestic newspaper, Global Times.

The paper, mainly dedicated to covering international affairs, reported the visit has nothing to do with the current relief operation in China's quake-hit Sichuan province.

The Chinese navy destroyer, Shenzhen, paid a four-day visit to Tokyo in November 2007 as part of the activities marking the 35th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties.

It's also the first visit by a Chinese warship to Japan since 1891.

China and Japan reached an agreement on the mutual visits of the two navies in October 2000, which was later put on hold due to the Yasukuni Shrine visits by then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

The two sides agreed to carry out the plan at a defense minister conference on August 30, 2007.

Friday, May 30, 2008

China-defense.com proudly recommends a new book “China’s Energy Strategy: The Impact on Beijing’s Maritime Policies” Edited by Garbiel B. Collins, Andrew S. Erickson, Lyle J. Goldstein, and William S. Murray. Joint publication of the China Maritime Studies Institute and the Naval Institute press.

It is safe to say that China’s energy policy is no longer a topic for the (highly paid) oil executives or (under paid) academics and military professionals; it has an impact every time you stop by your friendly neighborhood gas stations and fuel up that huge SUV of yours. Now, news about energy, climate changes and China's impact on the world filled news airwaves, some of those news are well produced, others are nothing but sensationalism to boost sales or one’s political agendas. However, there are complex issues such national military and energy strategies that short newspaper articles simply cannot cover and require a more in-depth reading. If you are looking for something that are in-depth and authored by authorities in the field, then this book is for you.

To quote Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, UNS (ret), former Commander, U.S. Pacific Command

“Comprehensive, diverse and essential for national security professionals…. A subject we must understand clearly for our Asia-Pacific future”

Sunday, May 25, 2008

some update on the Sino-Russian military relations.

http://www.kommersant.com/p895011/The_first_visit_of_President_Medvedev_to_China/


Representatives of the President’s Administration and the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) hope that the talks about direct supplies of Russia ’s Sukhoi Su-33 and Su-35 jets will be fostered. An official with the corresponding department confirmed that negotiations with China regarding Su-35 have been conducted for a long time. For all that, only one aircraft contract may be signed during the current visit – that on supplying four Kamov Ka-32 helicopters, which will be followed by two Kamov Ka-226 machines. Besides, according to a source with Rosoboronexport , China will start assembling Mil Mi-171 helicopters using Russian machine sets in 2008. The opening of Kamov and Mil service centers in China is also negotiated. At the same time, representatives of Rosoboronexport’s press-service said to Kommersant, “Director General of the FSUE Rosoboronexport Anatoly Isaykin will go to China , but you shouldn’t expect
signing concrete contracts.”




“They want to produce everything themselves – by either purchasing licenses or duplicating technology.”


May 23, 2008



Strategic Simulation

Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to China is likely to be challenging



Today starts Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to China , which is meant to prove Moscow ’s assertion that the People’s Republic of China is Russia ’s crucial geopolitical ally, and that they can challenge the West together. But Dmitry Medvedev will have to discuss problems in Beijing mainly. These include a drastic decrease in military and technical cooperation, the vague prospects of the energy alliance of Russia and China , and the Chinese government’s reluctance to back Moscow in its struggle against NATO expansion.

Friendship permit



China has been deliberately chosen as the second country of Russian President’s first foreign policy tour (the first destination was Kazakhstan ). Apart from the 4.2 km of mutual border, Moscow and Beijing have preached the same political principles in recent years. The key ones are aversion to the unipolar world headed by the USA , fight against color revolutions, and the beloved provision of Moscow and Beijing that local peculiarities are to be taken into account when developing democracy. During Mr Putin’s presidency Russia and China did much to defend this stance: They jointly supported Uzbekistan ’s President Islom Karimov after the revolution attempt in Andijon, objected to the imposing of tough sanctions against Iran , and defended Sudan and Myanmar in the UN Security Council.



It’s likely that Dmitry Medvedev intends to continue pursuing the same line on China . For example, it has become a kind of tradition to adopt joint declarations during summits of Russia and China . According to the President’s Aid Sergey Prihodko, another declaration is to be signed after the talks between Dmitry Medvedev and Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China . A high-ranking official with Russia ’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the draft has been almost coordinated, but there are still important details to be thrashed out during the negotiations.



The joint declarations of Moscow and Beijing usually feature issues of current importance. According to the information of Kommersant, this time Moscow is going to include the following problems in the document: the U.S. deployment of anti-missile defense systems, NATO’s approaching the border of Russia , and Kosovo. Officials with the Chinese Foreign Ministry told Kommersant that Moscow and Beijing have practically the same positions on several issues. For example, the Chinese government is concerned with Washington ’s AMD plans: Some of the elements can be deployed closely to Chinese borders – in Japan , or even Taiwan .



Nevertheless Moscow and Beijing have a different approach towards some other matters, for example the expansion of the UN Security Council. Both countries approve of the expansion, but Russia insists on the “limited extension” formula, whereas China promotes a broad expansion of the UNSC admitting LDCs. It’s no surprise – many potential members are loyal to Beijing . For Russia , the admission of a number of new members to the UNSC will only mean the elimination of its influence.



As to NATO’s expansion and the alliance’s plans concerning Georgia and Ukraine , the situation is the same. According to the information of Kommersant, the Russian party is going to include a strong condemnation of military and political alliances’ unjustified expansion in the final document, which will show NATO that a mighty partner supports Russia . But Beijing is not going to engage in a conflict with the alliance – it has sought to lift the embargo on military supplies from the EU to China , which was put 1989, so, Beijing needs to have friendly relations with NATO. This said, China is likely to suggest a milder wording.





A Farewell to Arms



Problems between Moscow and Beijing go beyond sheer diplomacy. Sergey Prihodko said that the Russian delegation is going to thrash out aircraft and naval technical equipment issues. Also, the intellectual property matter will be addressed. According to Mr Prihodko, the latter “is especially acute, because the agreement on legal regulation of this sphere has been violated.”



There are a lot of problems in military and technical cooperation between Russia and China . Konstantin Makienko, Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Expert, points out that the major problem lies in the drastic reduction in Chinese military orders. Besides, the Russia-China Committee for Military and Technical Cooperation hasn’t convened since 2006. China refers to the failed contract over its purchasing of 38 Ilyushin Il-76MD and Il 78MK strategic airlifters, as well as defects in the supplied naval equipment. “Actually if we had fixed everything, they would have made up another pretext,” an official with the corresponding government department told Kommersant. “They want to produce everything themselves – by either purchasing licenses or duplicating technology.” Because of this position talks on several aircraft supplies contracts have been stalled.



“As to military aircraft, we supply the Chinese party with spares only. Beijing has suspended purchasing finished machines from Russia ,” Alexey Fedorov, President of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, explained to Kommersant (Mr Fedorov accompanies Dmitry Medvedev during the current visit). “Political decisions may be taken in the course of the forthcoming negotiations. They will allow for concluding contracts on supplies of finished planes.”



Representatives of the President’s Administration and the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) hope that the talks about direct supplies of Russia ’s Sukhoi Su-33 and Su-35 jets will be fostered. An official with the corresponding department confirmed that negotiations with China regarding Su-35 have been conducted for a long time. For all that, only one aircraft contract may be signed during the current visit – that on supplying four Kamov Ka-32 helicopters, which will be followed by two Kamov Ka-226 machines. Besides, according to a source with Rosoboronexport , China will start assembling Mil Mi-171 helicopters using Russian machine sets in 2008. The opening of Kamov and Mil service centers in China is also negotiated. At the same time, representatives of Rosoboronexport’s press-service said to Kommersant, “Director General of the FSUE Rosoboronexport Anatoly Isaykin will go to China , but you shouldn’t expect
signing concrete contracts.”



According to the information of Kommersant, Dmitry Medvedev is planning to persuade Hu Jintao to hold another session of the Committee for Military and Technical Cooperation this fall. In his turn, Hu Jintao is expected to bring up the issue of purchasing surface-to-air missile systems whose characteristics exceed those of the S-300PMU-2 Favorit – the S-400 Triumf. Russian diplomats don’t rule it out that Dmitry Medvedev will approve of it, basing on the FSMTC estimation. The President will suggest that experts hold corresponding consultations, but only after the Committee for Military and Technical Cooperation finally convenes.





Energy contradictions



With this said, energy issues remain the most challenging ones. In the course of Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing in March 2006 Russia and China agreed to set up an unprecedented energy alliance: Russian and Chinese state corporations drafted big contracts on Russian energy carriers supplies to China . Then the construction of the Eastern Siberia–Pacific ocean pipeline followed, which will soon have a branching to China from Skovorodino. But in recent years the realization of many of these projects has bogged down in disputes between Russia ’s Rosneft and China ’s CNPC over the price.



“Rosneft calculated that it loses $40 on each ton supplied to China , rather than the West,” Mikhail Krutikhin, RusEnergy analyst says. “Sergey Bogdanchikov (Rosneft CEO – Kommersant) has already appealed to the government urging that it decide whether the price is negotiated or the contract is broken, with the Russian party paying a forfeit.” In this case talks about signing a contract on supplying 50 mln tons of oil from 2010 to 2015, which are held by Rosneft and the CNPC, will be jeopardized. The arguments of the Chinese counterparts boil down to the fact that the CNPC helped Rosneft buy the assets of YUKOS, so, the Russian company now owes the Chinese one.



As a result, constructing the Chinese branching of the Eastern Siberia–Pacific ocean pipeline has been jeopardized as well. Mikhail Barkov, Transneft Vice-President, doesn’t rule it out that Dmitry Medvedev and Hu Jintao will discuss the matter personally, but he adds that no representative of the company has gone to Beijing with the President. “We have accomplished project works on the Skovorodino–China’s border section,” Mikhail Barkov told Kommersant. “But it is the government that will decide on the future of the branching.” Mikhail Krutikhin presumes that the Russian government will have to take a decision in no time. “If the pipeline goes further to the Pacific ocean coast, the project will have to be altered urgently: the carrying capacity will need to be boosted, and terminal and oil ports projects will have to be changed,” Mr Krutikhin argues. It’s quite probable that Dmitry Medvedev will have to address these contradictive
issues, with Rosneft CEO Sergey Bogdanchikov accompanying him.



There is barely any hope to negotiate gas contracts. According to Gazprom representative Sergey Kupriyanov none of those on the board of the gas giant has set off for China with the President.



To conclude with, the current visit to China will be a real trial for Dmitry Medvedev. His reputation in the eyes of his Chinese partners will much depend on his ability to succeed in addressing the challenges. By the way, Moscow has already secured itself against a failure. According to the information of Kommersant, Vladimir Putin is going to pay a visit to China this fall. And if Dmitry Medvedev’s visit doesn’t turn out that fruitful, Russia ’s Prime Minister will have to address the issues on the Chinese front.



Alexander Gabuev, Alexandra Gritskova, Konstantin Lantratov

Friday, May 23, 2008

SPM-2 GAZ-233036

According to Chinese press, People's Armed Police is to import 100 copies of the GAZ-233036 4x4 armored security car. It is odd, considered China is exporting a similar type of vehicle to many third world nations. There is no western report on this sales so far.


首批“虎”式装甲汽车将于下月以整车的形式交付中方,而其余的将按照双方合同约定,由中方利用俄方提供的部件在本国进行组装。

  SPM-2 GAZ-233036型“虎”式警用特种装甲汽车由俄罗斯军事工业公司下属的阿尔扎马斯机器制造厂生产,既可用于在反恐行动中运送特警,也可执行国土防御任务和协助边防部队执勤。

  “虎”式装甲汽车的车体由厚度为5毫米、经过热处理的防弹装甲板制成,可有效抵御轻武器和爆炸装置的攻击。其车体两侧开有射击孔,可用于进行对外观测和射击,另外,车顶部也设置了两个舱盖。车舱内可容纳9人,根据不同的需要,还可安装无线电台和遥控爆炸装置阻断设备。

  该车装备一台功率为205马力的涡轮增压柴油发动机、机械式六级传动箱和轮胎压力自动调节系统。虽然自重达6吨,但其最高速度仍然超过了125千米/小时。(北斗)