China Military Watch - Jan 11, 2011

[svinayak]

Published on Mar 30, 2013
2013年，中国舰队南海演习， China Navy Fleet Exercise in China South Sea, March, 2013


Many advanced vessels participated this exercise.


052C Missile Destroyer (171 ship， 海口/ Haikou)

071 Amphibious Transport Dock （999 ship， 井冈山 / Jinggang Shan）

054A Frigate


This exercise will greatly enhance the collaboration between ships and air force.

[member_23370]

No reason for ADA/IAF or DRDO to relax.

[chaanakya]

@ahuja It reminded me of the story told by rancho in Three Idiots

[Don]

Progress slow in developing fighter jets

Where are the dlones now about supel duple J-20, 30s, 200s, 2000s. This is an article from the Horse's mouth. Let the game begin !!!

Sun Tzu "art of war" pyschological warfare, always make your enemy underestimates you.

[member_23370]

LoL true India succeeding beyond dreams. Chinese have underestimated A-5 so much they had to run to EU and USA for support.

Pity the Tsu-tyapa also has pakis convinced of the low quality chinese products.

[Don]

LoL true India succeeding beyond dreams. Chinese have underestimated A-5 so much they had to run to EU and USA for support.

Pity the Tsu-tyapa also has pakis convinced of the low quality chinese products.

If you underestimate your enemy you will get worse spanking then you did in 1965.

And when it comes to low quality product Indian are the worse in the world look at you Arjunk and LCA crap.

And when it comes to weapon purchases everybody is squezzing your balls first it was the Russians, then Israelis now the French. LOL

[NRao]

Progress slow in developing fighter jets

Hong Kong-based military commentator Ma Dingsheng said having the right materials for the alloy and the proper smelting technique were preconditions for manufacturing high-quality engines - for aircraft, tanks or warships.

"Beijing could spend hundreds of millions of dollars to buy the aircraft, dissect them and pore over the advanced engines inside and out before trying to copy their design," he said.

"But they are doomed to fail to overcome the predicament presented by the lack of the materials and techniques required to make them."

There is no estimation there. This is a real problem that everyone faces.

[member_23370]

LoL yes like the spanking Pakis got in 65 and 71 and chinese in 67'. Must be hard to forget getting whacked by Russia, India and Vietnam. .LoL loosing 1 mil troops to vietnam must have hurt H&D a lot.

[VinodTK]

Red Star Over the Indian Ocean?

Attack submarines from the Chinese navy are becoming increasingly active in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and could pose a “grave threat” to Indian interests there, a report by the Indian defense ministry said last week.

Using subsurface contact information reportedly shared by the U.S. military, the report, prepared by the Integrated Defence Staff, said that at least 22 contacts had been made in the IOR in the past year alone, with the latest incident occurring in February. As India is confident that only two navies in the region — the U.S. Navy and the Indian Navy — have the capabilities to engage in such activity, the Indian military concluded that the boats involved were very likely from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Indian media said the report proved that a fleet of Chinese nuclear submarines was making “frequent forays into the Indian Ocean.”

According to the report, titled Indian Navy: Perceived Threats to Subsurface Deterrent Capability and Preparedness, the “implicit focus” of the PLAN appeared to be undermining the Indian Navy’s ability “to control highly sensitive sea lines of communication” within the region. For the time being, however, China’s intent more likely was to determine the Indian Navy’s ability to detect undersea objects. The report added that the PLAN’s “extended patrols may fully overlap with the Indian Navy’s area of operation.”

The focus of such deployments, the report said, was the IOR, a sea area that spans from waters off the Horn of Africa to the Malacca Strait and the western shores of Australia.

According to India Today’s coverage of the report, one contact with a suspected Chinese submarine took place 90 km from Indian soil in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while six took place northwest of the Straits of Malacca, 13 south of Sri Lanka and two in the Arabian Sea. The submarines were believed to be from the South Sea Fleet based at Sanya on Hainan Island, off China’s southern coast.

In May 2012, China announced that it could deploy Type 094 nuclear submarines at Yulin Naval Base at Sanya as part of its long-term strategy in the South China Sea. The SSBN will eventually be outfitted with outfitted with the JL-2 Sea Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs).

The number of confirmed contacts mentioned in the report represented a marked increase from four year ago, when U.S. intelligence reportedly revealed that China’s fleet of more than 50 submarines had carried out 12 “extended patrols” outside its territorial waters in 2008, up from six the previous year. Reports thedid not indicate where the extended patrols were said to have taken place, though it can be assumed that some occurred near or within the IOR.

Such signs of increasing activity in the IOR have fostered fears — and those were reflected in the report — that the PLAN may have embarked on a project to “strangulate” India.
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[pankajs]

Red Star Over the Indian Ocean?

Attack submarines from the Chinese navy are becoming increasingly active in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and could pose a “grave threat” to Indian interests there, a report by the Indian defense ministry said last week.

Using subsurface contact information reportedly shared by the U.S. military, the report, prepared by the Integrated Defence Staff, said that at least 22 contacts had been made in the IOR in the past year alone, with the latest incident occurring in February. As India is confident that only two navies in the region — the U.S. Navy and the Indian Navy — have the capabilities to engage in such activity, the Indian military concluded that the boats involved were very likely from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Ah! the US reports suggests an uptick. Am not suggesting that the Chinese do not have the capability but US has time and again proven that its data are inherently political. Anyone remember the Iraq WMD claims.

True or not, I welcome the news for our leaders need constant reminders of the danger the nation faces for them to take any action at all. My only concern is that instead of working on a steady long term plan our leaders tend to favor ad hoc solutions resulting in expensive and non-optimal solutions.

This news apart, we need to beef up our submarine as well as anti-submarine arms. We need to saturate the IOR with active as well as passive sensors.

[vila]

Isnt it more cost/time effective to counter submarine threat by faster dedicated surface ASW platforms than by using submarines?

[member_23455]

Isn't it more cost/time effective to counter submarine threat by faster dedicated surface ASW platforms than by using submarines?

No...it typically needs a Fixed-wing ASW/submarine combo. Even now, the number one way in which subs get detected, believe it or not happens through the Mk. 1 eyeball i.e. visual sighting. Also, there is a reason why the US Carrier Strike Groups are escorted by 1/2 SSNs when they could so easily be sent out on their own lone wolf ops.

[Austin]

Chinese expressing concern in growth of submarine activity in South China Sea

The growth activity of submarines in the South China Sea [ Use Translator ]

A prominent Chinese military commentator, Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo told China Central Television that there is a need to strengthen the forces of the Chinese Navy anti-submarine warfare in the South China Sea in response to the growing activity here submarines foreign fleets.

According to Yin Zhuo, "the South China Sea is the site of an active nuclear submarines great powers at work here, American and Russian nuclear submarines." In addition, in the area of ​​non-nuclear submarines a number of countries, not adjacent to the South China Sea, "Maybe here sometimes went Japanese submarines. In addition, there were submarines of other countries, in particular the Australian submarine exploration repeatedly held here against us. "

Finally, the matter of concern is the development of submarine naval forces of the countries of Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Singapore. "Strengthening our anti-submarine forces in the South China Sea, the protection of large surface ships - is a lesson that we must learn fast," - said Yin Zhuo. According to him, over the shallow East China and the Yellow Sea, South China Sea with its depths of 1200 m yields a relatively favorable opportunities to practice tasks PLO.

It should be noted that in the past, Yin Zhuo directly expressed concern about the upcoming appearance in Vietnam powerful submarine forces of the six ordered a Russian submarine Project 636, as these boats, in his opinion, could be used to cover the most important routes of delivery of goods to China through Strait of Malacca.

[member_23370]

Japanese and Australian subs have been in SCS for a long time. Whats new about it? IN and Viet subs will simply add to the melee.

[pankajs]

cross-post
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Dragon in a Bathtub: Chinese Nuclear Submarines and the South China Sea

When attempting to explain this upsurge in Chinese pugnacity, analysts have pointed to the rising power's selective interpretation of the law of the sea and growing unwillingness to compromise over what it calls its “blue national soil”, particularly when confronted with an increasingly intransigent domestic populace. Others have pointed to the more immediately tangible benefits to be derived from the presence of numerous offshore oil and gas deposits within contested waters. Strangely enough, however, one of the principal explanations for China’s increased prickliness towards foreign military presence within its maritime backyard has yet to be clearly articulated.

Indeed, not only is the South China Sea one of the world’s busiest trade thoroughfares, it also happens to be the roaming pen of China’s emerging ballistic missile submarine fleet, which is stationed at Sanya, on the tropical Island of Hainan. The United States, with its array of advanced anti-submarine warfare assets and hydrographic research vessels deployed throughout the region, gives Beijing the unwelcome impression that Uncle Sam can’t stop peering into its nuclear nursery. When Chinese naval strategists discuss their maritime environs, the sentiment they convey is one of perpetual embattlement. Pointing to the US’s extended network of allies in the Indo-Pacific region, and to their own relative isolation, Chinese strategists fear that Beijing’s growing navy could be ensnared within the first island chain-a region which they describe as stretching from Japan all the way to the Indonesian archipelago. Applying this maritime siege mentality to naval planning; they fret that the US Navy could locate and neutralize their fledgling undersea deterrent in the very first phases of conflict, before it even manages to slip through the chinks of first island chain.

This concern helps explain China's growing intolerance to foreign military activities in the South China Sea.

In public, China's protests over foreign military activities are couched in territorial terms. In private, however, Chinese policymakers readily acknowledge the centrality of the nuclear dimension. Thus in the course of a discussion with a former Chinese official, I was told that “even though territorial issues are of importance, our major concern is the sanctity of our future sea-based deterrent.”

Unlike the Soviets, however, who could confine the movements of their boomers to the frigid, lonely waters of the Barents and Okhotsk seas, the Chinese have chosen to erect their nuclear submarine base smack-bang in the middle of one of the world’s busiest maritime highways.

Needless to say, this location is hardly ideal. When it comes to picking strategic real-estate in their near seas, the Chinese have but a limited roster of options. After all, their maritime backyard is girded by a sturdy palisade of states which increasingly view China’s meteoric rise, and attendant truculence at sea, with a mixture of alarm and dismay. Like a dragon caught floundering in a bathtub, China’s naval ambitions are simply too broad and grandiose for its constricted maritime geography. This perceived lack of strategic depth provides a partial explanation to Beijing’s increased obduracy over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. In order to better protect its valuable subsurface assets, China aims to establish a ring of maritime watch towers or bastions around Hainan. Absolute control over the remote Spratly islands, in addition to the more proximate Paracels, would greatly facilitate this concentric defensive configuration.

[Austin]

Modernising our n-arsenal to enhance safety survivability: China

China is in the process of modernising its nuclear arsenal to increase the rate of its survivability in case of a first strike and has been working on increasing its penetration capacity as well as safety features, a senior PLA General has said in a candid admission on the status of it strategic weapons.

China has also tried to allay fears that the large underground facilities that have been created by it in recent years that first came to light in 2009 and have raised global concern are only aimed at protecting its nuclear weapons from a first strike.

"China is modernising its strategic arsenal to enhance penetration, increase survivability and enhance safety," Major General Yao Yunzhu, director of Center on China-American Defense Relations, Academy of Military Science, said in a discussion on deterrence and disarmament at the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference here on Monday.

Yunzhu, considered to be a leading voice from the Chinese strategic community, has said Beijing has been focusing primarily in the past few years to keep its nuclear arsenal safe, as it fears that there is a possibility of a strike to disarm it.

Facing several questions on the purpose and intent of the large tunnel network that has emerged as a contentious point in recent years, Yao described as "laughable" the speculation that it may be hiding a large quantity of nuclear strike weapons.

"China has a no first use policy and its arsenal should fulfil three criteria — small, second strike capability and the ability to deter.Survivability is key to this," Yao said, without directly responding to questions on the actual size of its nuclear weapons stockpile.

The General, however, contended that China has kept its nuclear weapons arsenal small and at a consistent level for several years, downplaying comments that there could be a dramatic increase in the size of the capabilities which necessitated the underground facilities.

"China does not seek to be a military superpower. (hence) Its nuke arsenal has remained small and consistent," she said.

However, the General hinted that China may need to reconsider its strategic policy if additional ballistic missile defence systems are deployed in East Asia by the US, driving the point that introduction of such systems could have a negative impact on disarmament.

[Austin]

Chances of India, China war 'very, very little', says NSA Shivshankar Menon

The chances of India and China going to a war are "very very little" as 8,000 years of statecraft is good enough to take care of that problem, National Security Advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menon said here today.

"I think very very very little. I assume 8,000 years of statecraft is good enough to take care of that problem," he said while replying to a question at a security conference organised by the ASPEN Institute here.

Menon was asked what are the chances of India and China going to war in another 30 years.

Referring to the recently-started maritime security dialogue between India and China, Menon said this indicates the growing understanding between them.

Asked whether India is alarmed by Chinese naval power, Menon said: "Let me tell you, we started a maritime security dialogue with China last year. I think that is the answer."

The NSA also said all the nations in Western Pacific have an interest in keeping the sea lanes open and accessible to trade.

"From Suez to Western Pacific, China, India and Japan, we all have an interest in contributing and making sure that the sea lanes remain open," he said.

Addressing the gathering on the issue of growing concerns over security, he said all the nations are faced with the challenge of growing security expectations but declining ability to meet them.

"We are in the age of heightened expectations... Previous generation took the security for granted. Today, we even expect government to fix weather... You have rising expectations and much broader definition of security (but) the ability of traditional provider of security i.e. state, to meet this is declining," he said.

Menon underlined that even climate change is now considered as an important aspect of international peace and security.

"A few years ago, a resolution was introduced (in the UN) saying that climate change is the threat to international peace and security. It is and it will change our security calculus. But whether the Security Council could do anything about it, I have my doubts," he said.

He advocated new partnerships between nations and governments to address the rising concerns of security.

"I think the only way of answering this and ensuring this is finding new partnerships between countries, between governments and businesses and civil societies, otherwise there is no way we are going to be able to meet these challenges," Menon said.

He exhorted emerging economies to take lead in the process.

"To my mind the emerging economies need to take the lead in this because they are potentially the most affected by a resource constraint," he said.

[NRao]

The IA is still asking for a strike corps along the Chinese border? Statecraft !!!! The PLA does not know of that word.

[vivek_ahuja]

What is it with "Menon"s and "China"?

First we had Defense-Minister Krishna Menon spouting this peace crap with Beijing back in the late 1950s and early 60s until Beijing pulled that carpet from under his feet. Fifty years later we have this new Menon (also happens to be in an equally strong position of an NSA) also spewing garbage about Beijing wanting peace and prosperity for all. After all, their massive military buildup is for parades onlee you see.

Any combination of Menon, China and War almost always leads to disaster for this country.

[vivek_ahuja]

Oh! And Statecraft being the answer to China!

Does this ring any bells to anyone?

Hint: another pacifist PM like MMS also had a government with similar thoughts.

Note that at no point has Beijing said anything about them wanting peace in any hard/substantial terms other than the regular etiquette PR releases. But no! Our government will bend over backwards explaining to the world what peaceful chaps Beijing really is.

I am going to start referring to Beijing as Peking from now on, since everybody else in the government has already reverted back to the 1950s anyway.

-Vivek

[KrishnaK]

IMHO very little in common between the current administration and Chacha's. This is statecraft, CPC style. We openly gang up with the JMSDF and USN and talk about sending our navy to enforce open sea lanes too.

[member_22539]

What is it with "Menon"s and "China"?

First we had Defense-Minister Krishna Menon spouting this peace crap with Beijing back in the late 1950s and early 60s until Beijing pulled that carpet from under his feet. Fifty years later we have this new Menon (also happens to be in an equally strong position of an NSA) also spewing garbage about Beijing wanting peace and prosperity for all. After all, their massive military buildup is for parades onlee you see.

Any combination of Menon, China and War almost always leads to disaster for this country.

Hey, do you include men in that too? Jokes aside, it just happens that we have been an administrative caste from olden times and unfortunately congis have ruled India for the most time, so we our names come up inevitably as standard bearers of congis. If some nationalist party rules India for an extended period of time, I can assure you that we will be on the forefront of the nationalist agenda, with the most hawkish attitudes possible. It is our curse that a retard like Krishna Menon became the first infamous Menon nationally. What is more surprising is that this guy has been elected to the parliament AFTER the 1962 debacle ,that too not from his native. So, in the end we are all responsible for the birth of such vermin.

[shiv]

What is it with "Menon"s and "China"?

First we had Defense-Minister Krishna Menon spouting this peace crap with Beijing back in the late 1950s and early 60s until Beijing pulled that carpet from under his feet. Fifty years later we have this new Menon (also happens to be in an equally strong position of an NSA) also spewing garbage about Beijing wanting peace and prosperity for all. After all, their massive military buildup is for parades onlee you see.

Any combination of Menon, China and War almost always leads to disaster for this country.

Admiral Raja Menon?

Venu Menon, test pilot who died testing a prototype of the same Kiran that later performed in the Zhuhai air show as the Surya Kirans

Capt Satish Menon, VrC

Lt Cdr Sujith Menon

[vivek_ahuja]

What is it with "Menon"s and "China"?

First we had Defense-Minister Krishna Menon spouting this peace crap with Beijing back in the late 1950s and early 60s until Beijing pulled that carpet from under his feet. Fifty years later we have this new Menon (also happens to be in an equally strong position of an NSA) also spewing garbage about Beijing wanting peace and prosperity for all. After all, their massive military buildup is for parades onlee you see.

Any combination of Menon, China and War almost always leads to disaster for this country.

Admiral Raja Menon?

Venu Menon, test pilot who died testing a prototype of the same Kiran that later performed in the Zhuhai air show as the Surya Kirans

Capt Satish Menon, VrC

Lt Cdr Sujith Menon

Sigh.

Okay, I need to qualify I guess: I meant upper echelon politician "Menon"s and China.

Also, I feel I may as well point out that this is not a rant against "menon"s in general, but the above two in particular.

There. You happy now?

[vivek_ahuja]

Hey, do you include men in that too? Jokes aside, it just happens that we have been an administrative caste from olden times and unfortunately congis have ruled India for the most time, so we our names come up inevitably as standard bearers of congis. If some nationalist party rules India for an extended period of time, I can assure you that we will be on the forefront of the nationalist agenda, with the most hawkish attitudes possible. It is our curse that a retard like Krishna Menon became the first infamous Menon nationally. What is more surprising is that this guy has been elected to the parliament AFTER the 1962 debacle ,that too not from his native. So, in the end we are all responsible for the birth of such vermin.

Men accepted. No discrimination allowed.

Anyway. I want to nip this in the bud before my frustrated rant above gets taken too seriously as a rant against Menons in general. The focus was on the two Menons mentioned in the post. I thought that was obvious when I wrote it but I guess I was being far too cavalier.

In any case, apologies for any offense. I assure you none was intended.

[VinodTK]

India-China hold annual counter terrorism dialogue in Beijing

[JE Menon]

Kindly do not forget my favourite: VP Menon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._P._Menon

Sometimes known as "Vallabhai Patel" Menon ... He was the one who collected the "apples" (states) for Patel's bag... Very interesting character.

Of course, there is also Shashi Tharoor (also a Menon, who does not use his surname), Nirupama Rao...

So the bag is mixed...

[member_20292]

also tiger menon.....mixed bag like someone said.

[Sagar G]

^^^ That's Tiger Memon not Menon

[JE Menon]

And let's not forget Dawood and Yakub Menon!!! OK, enough with the OT

[hnair]

^^^ meh.... close enough for some...

(drone birathers must be getting confused and discussing this over weak tea)

[member_22539]

also tiger menon.....mixed bag like someone said.

That takes the cake

[hnair]

Tiger menon is the son of one Ravunni Menon, who had a nirodh-malfunction in the jungle during a powercut. Mixed bag with stripes, as some say.... <pressing "Escape Pod" button>

[JE Menon]

Ok boys, enough of the fun and games over this... Back to topic.

[VinodTK]

From China.org.cn: India's military strength on the rise

India has successfully test-fired an "Agni II" surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of one ton. The missile, equipped with solid fuel engines, has a range of 2,000 km. According to Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, the launch once again proved that India has a reliable deterrent. As one of the world's largest arms-importing countries, India's weapons and equipment replacement program have been designed in response to armed conflict with Pakistan and to contend with increasingly military powerful China. For Russia, the consolidation of India's military forces goes hand-in-hand with Russia's strategic interests.

As The Economist pointed out, the overall strength of the Indian armed forces is rapidly increasing. In the last five years, India had imported most arms in the world. For a long time, Russia has been India's main weapon supplier. According to a report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India purchased weapons and equipment worth a total of $ 17.3 billion from Russia from 2007 to 2011. Additionally, India is in negotiations with French Dassault to buy 126 Rafale fighters, worth a total amount of over 12 billion dollars.

In terms of army-size, the total strength of the Indian Army in Asia comes next to China's. India's defense budget has reached $ 46.8 billion. Experts predicted that by 2020, India's defense spending would catch up with the United Kingdom, France and Japan. In the construction of nuclear power, India has 80 or more nuclear weapons, and the number is likely to increase further. As to the country's power in terms of nuclear weapons, India's surface-to-surface missiles appear able to cover the whole territory of Pakistan and most parts of China.

New Delhi believes that instability in Pakistan and the world's second-largest economy China, are most likely to pose a threat to India's security. From a geopolitical point of view, China undoubtedly catches the Indian leaders' attention. As Indian Defense Minister Antony had declared in 2009, "India's major threat is not Pakistan, but China."
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[Austin]

On the Shanghai shipyard being completed three new destroyer project 052D



SHANGHAI, April 15. (ARMS-TASS). The composition of Navy People's Liberation Army (PLA) will soon include three new guided missile destroyer project 052D. On this day the newspaper reported, "Huanqiu Shibao".

She has published satellite images of the shipyard "Shanghai Shipbuilding Co", which is part of the State Shipbuilding Corporation, which depicts the case of three new destroyers. According to Chinese experts, ships almost finished and in a few months will be ready to go to sea for sea trials, according to ITAR-TASS.



Multipurpose missile destroyer 052D is a deep modernization of the well-proven ship project 052S (pictured). Its length is increased to 160 m, width - 18 m on board posted new vertical launch missile systems, a total of 64 modules. Also replaced the bow gun system to a more powerful 130 mm caliber with reduced visibility. The ship is equipped with air defense "Hongqi-9" also has cruise missiles "ship - the land of" anti-ship missiles and long range.

Destroyer 052D has a modern integrated fire control, and a new multi-function radar with active electronically scanned array (AESA MFRLS with).

According to experts, the project will be the last 052 upgrade to the family of third generation Chinese destroyers. According to media reports, now the country is working to create a fourth generation combat ship.

As reported earlier, the agency ARMS-TASS, destroyers project 052D are designed to provide air defense and antisubmarine naval forces, fighting the enemy surface forces, supporting the landing and perform other tasks. The ships are a development project destroyer Guangzhou 052B.

Architecture polubachnaya hull with extended forecastle. The housing has a large freeboard, monoblock superstructure, two masts and one pipe. The design incorporates a limited light alloys. On the ship, introduced elements of stealth technology providing "stealth". Provide protection from weapons of mass destruction.

[VinodTK]

Beijing puts the brakes on military car perks

[VinodTK]

China unveils 'structure of military units' in defence white paper

[Philip]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... ition.html

China lays bare its military might with an attack on US ambition
China has laid bare the scale of its rapidly expanding military might for the first time in a white paper that argued the American "pivot to Asia" was destabilising the region.

By Tom Phillips, Shanghai 16 Apr 2013

China's People's Liberation Army, or PLA, boasts some 850,000 officers spread across seven regional commands, according to the defence report which was issued on Tuesday.

Meanwhile the navy and air force have 235,000 and 398,000 officers respectively.

The PLA contingent is split between command centres in Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Lanzhou, and Jinan, the report says.

The white paper also alludes to China's powerful "Second Artillery Force". Described as "the country's core force for strategic deterrence", the force oversees China's nuclear arsenal and is tasked with "deterring other countries from using nuclear weapons against China".

The total number of service members listed was 1.48 million. In 2006, China said the military had a total of 2.3 million members. It was not clear if the new count represented a real reduction in numbers, or if the shortfall was made up by other ground force units that appeared to have been omitted from the count, including the Second Artillery Force.

State-run news agency Xinhua said the white paper represented the first time China had made public "the actual number of army, navy and air force servicemen".

China's "main missile lineup" was also being divulged for the first time, Xinhua added.

Last year, China said its annual defence budget – now the world's second largest – would grow to around £65bn.

Tuesday's report, which contained few specific details of China's military structure, was emphatic in describing what it said was the country's commitment to a doctrine of "peaceful development".

"China will never seek hegemony or behave in a hegemonic manner, nor will it engage in military expansion," it argued.

The report also attacked US President Barack Obama's so-called "pivot" towards the Asia-Pacific region, suggesting that his policy of boosting the American military footprint there was causing frictions.

"The US is adjusting its Asia-Pacific security strategy and the regional landscape is undergoing profound changes," China's white paper said.

"Frequently [this policy] makes the situation there more tense."

Beijing views the "pivot" – under which 60 percent of the US navy forces are set to be deployed to the region by 2020 - as an attempt to contain China's rise and block the country's development.

Speaking at the report's launch in Beijing, defense ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun hinted that America's increasing focus on the region was "not conducive to the upholding of peace and stability".

"We hope that the relevant parties would do more to enhance the mutual trust between countries in the region and contribute to peace and stability," Colonel Yang told reporters.

China's state-run media also carried opinion pieces that were critical of the US's growing role in Asia.

An editorial in the China Daily newspaper argued: "There remain doubts about whether the US will play a constructive role in the region."

It continued: "The US needs to ensure that its involvement in Asian affairs contributes to lasting peace and stability in the region. China does not oppose a bigger US role in the Asia-Pacific as long as it acts in a more constructive and responsible way and strives to respect the interests of all countries in the region."

"Throughout 2012, the China-US relationship soured not only in the military and security fields," Qian Liwei, an academic from the government-backed China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations think-tank, wrote in the same newspaper. "It will take time and patience to convince China that it isn't the target of the US's rebalancing."

On Tuesday, Xinhua described China's armed forces as a "staunch force upholding world peace and regional stability."

But the Chinese military would "readily respond to and resolutely deter any provocative action which undermines China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," it warned.

Xinhua praised the report as a sign of the military's growing "transparency". But Colonel Yang, the defence ministry spokesperson, admitted there was no such thing as "absolute military transparency".

[member_23370]

They are simply not capable of doing anything about the USN's presence. They will bitch and moan and stop at that.