China Military Watch

[Neerajsoman]

Assume a war scenario:20days intense conflict;2 PLA Group Armies@45,000 men each=90,000 men+support troops=150,000 men (AP Front). Logistics required@30kgs/soldier=150K*30*20 = 90,000tonnes. Now, the Tibet rail is expected to carry 2.1million tons freight in 2010. Using only this service, the PLA can stock for this war in a 2months times (actually lesser, I've assumed lesser tempo)

You're calculating using Marine Corp supplies during an island-hopping campaign in the tropics. The PLA, a traditional army, going over snow-covered, rugged terrain at altitude--just the amount of heating fuel to be carried will increase the load by 100% "per soldier." Then, you fail to take into account supplies for artillery, mechanized, armored forces, including fuel and support logistics required for DBC-ish combined action. If i pulled another number out of my ear, I would say your estimate is a good 300-400% off.

It says and I qoute:"Deep battle envisaged the breaking of the enemy forward defences, or tactical zones, for fresh uncommitted mobile operational reserves to exploit by breaking into the strategic depth of an enemy front. The goal of any deep operational was to inflict a decisive strategic defeat on the enemy and render the defence of their front more difficult or impossible". I can live this as a aim of a strategy

Thanks for the deeply patronizing definition. All that is saying is they break through the lines, and use fresh reserves to take advantage of breaches to undermine the enemy ranks beyond. Everyone before and after Attila the Hun used that, usually with light skirmishers. It's not exactly innovative, unless you have a pl specific to your adversary's forces and geographical location. Their WZC relies on specialized groups breaking through the Indian front. Great. That's what we've been dealing with in Kashmir for god only knows how long. We're raising additional mountain divisions for precisely this kind of thing, and transferring expertise from Kashmir as we partially demilitarize that theater.

The current Indian plans for re-militarization, intel efforts and infrastructure development along the border should quite sufficiently discourage the Chinese from pursuing the old-school WZC mode, as this relies massively on surprise and Indian unpreparedness. In fact, repelling the initial low-level attacks would be enough make the Chinese revert to default mode: massed attacks, which are difficult to sustain in the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau.

PS: My sources on Chinese strategy are mostly on JSTOR and journals with subscription access. Of course, one really doesn't even need those--the Chinese base their theoretical thinking on Sun Tzu almost word for word. Alas for them, their preparations are quite out of tune with The Art of War, because they discount the strength of experience on our side. It's too bad we've dispensed with the chapters of the Arthashastra relating to war in our own strategic studies syllabi.

[Kailash]

China's Stealth Bomber

[Hiten]

China’s Rising Profile in International Arms Sales

Conclusion

These arms sales and their scope indicate that China fully intends to become a permanent competitor with Russia and eventually with European and American firms in the international arms market. There does not seem to be a way to stop Beijing from indigenizing systems that it has received from Russia other than to curtail sales to it. Yet even if Russia stops selling China arms, an action that entails serious costs for Russia, it may be too late to stop Chinese firms from introducing their own competitive refinements and improvements to a host of weapon systems. Moreover, Chinese systems are attractive to countries based on price or in return for the political and economic support that China gives to their regimes (e.g. Sudan). Iran’s example also suggests what could happen to Russia if China supplants it in the arms market, namely a turn from Moscow to Beijing in Iran’s foreign policies. And the rivalry for the Turkish SAM (a project whose urgency grows with Iran’s rising missile capability) suggests that Russia in some cases may actually not even be competitive to customers relative to China. In other words, in this manifestation of China’s assertiveness in the international arena this is only the beginning of China’s rise in its arms sales policies, just as this is only the beginning of its self-assertion in financial system reform and other areas of international affairs.

[Lilo]

China's "Underground Great Wall" and Nuclear Deterrence

China Defense Daily (Zhongguo Guofang Bao), published a report that provided a rare glimpse into an underground tunnel that is being built by the Second Artillery Corps (SAC)—the PLA's strategic missile forces—in the mountainous regions of Hebei Province in northern China. The network of tunnels reportedly stretches for more than 3,107 miles

the main purpose of the underground tunnel is to provide the SAC with a credible second-strike capability. The building of an underground tunnel for this purpose is consistent with China's evolving nuclear doctrine from its traditional posture of "minimum deterrence" to a doctrine of "limited deterrence,"

According to a military analyst cited by Hong Kong-based Ta Kung Pao, "the outermost layer is 1,000 meters [3,280 feet] deep and covered with soil that does not include any artificial reinforcements" (Ta Kung Pao, December 11; Xinhua News Agency, December 14). Moreover, the Chinese reports described the tunnel system in terms of "hard and deeply buried targets" (HDBTs), which typically refers to facilities a few hundred feet deep in "underground installations." In the of case of strategic nuclear missiles, it would mean that all preparations can be completed underground, and the transportation of missiles, equipments and personnel through a network of underground corridors by rail cars or heavy-duty trailers to fixed launch sites can not be detected from observations on the ground

http://www.jamestown.org/programs/china ... c8d240f2cd

guess where musharraf got the idea and expertise for a paki second strike capability using tunnels?

[Philip]

...and Burma's alleged secret nuclear establishments unber construction...with Chinese assistance.

[Juggi G]

An Important Varyag Update

[VijayKumarSinha]

China floats idea of first overseas naval base

Such a base would provide a steady source of fresh food, along with facilities for communications, ship repair and recreation, Mr Yin added.

Beijing's leaders are sensitive to these concerns - and the first ships deployed in the Gulf spent more than four months at sea without docking.

So, they are capable of staying in sea for 4 months at least.

The US and France already have bases in the region.

Will we get any help from the U.S base against the Chinese base there, in case of war? Like allowing us to launch an air strike on their base?

[Rahul M]

So, they are capable of staying in sea for 4 months at least.

they had a tanker supporting one medium and one normal size frigate.

[Kartik]

J-10B clear pics from Keypubs forum. can notice the changes - different radome, indicating a different radar and the DSI intake in place of the earlier ones with splitter plate. earlier they had a large antenna on the nose, but its gone, indicatingn that they've progressed quite far in testing its radar. this thing is becoming a reality quite fast.

Keypub post link

[Cain Marko]

J-10B clear pics from Keypubs forum. can notice the changes - different radome, indicating a different radar and the DSI intake in place of the earlier ones with splitter plate. earlier they had a large antenna on the nose, but its gone, indicatingn that they've progressed quite far in testing its radar. this thing is becoming a reality quite fast.

Keypub post link

Add to that list the IRST and tinted canopy (RCS reduction?). Plus the WS-10 seems to have finally made its way to the J-11s. I dunno about quality, but they are fast in development, worst part is they are even faster in production. Once they get the engines, AESA, IRST right, expect the assembly lines to churn properly equipped fighters in droves!

I am betting they get their carrier up before or at the same time as the Gorky! May be even two. It seems the naval variant of the J-10 is just about ready!

CM.

[sumshyam]

India. China prepare for another joint military excercise
posting in full...!

India and China appeared to be working on a plan to hold another joint military exercise with the purpose to reducing areas of misunderstanding and ensuring harmony along the vast border areas. This is one of the indications available after two days of defense dialogue between the two countries held between Indian defense secretary Pradeep Kumar and Chinese officials.

Kumar and Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the People’s Liberation Army discussed the regional security situation and the ways to further develop relations between the two militaries and introduced the national defense policy to the other side. The holding of the dialogue, the second one since 2008, is in itself a significant step towards enhancing defense cooperation between the military of the two countries.

The Chinese ministry of national defense said the officials from the two countries “exchanged views on such issues as regional security situation and the relations between the two militaries and introduced the national defense policy to the other side”. The Indian side refused to discuss what was discussed at the meetings.

India is willing to work together with the Chinese side to strengthen mutual trust, increase consensus, expand the field for the reciprocal defense security cooperation between the two countries, the Chinese ministry quoted Pradeep Kumar as saying, New Delhi wants to promote stable development of the relations between the two countries and the two militaries, he said.

Ma Xiaotian said the two countries have reached consensuses on different issues through consultation and exchanges including visits of military delegations, joint training, personnel training and academic exchange in recent years.

He said defense security consultation can serve as a good platform for the two sides to expound concerns, enhance mutual trust and coordinate stand, and communicate and discuss the exchanges and co-operation between the two militaries as well as other important international and regional security issues.

[abhishek_sharma]

China: Interceptor Missile Tested

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/world ... China.html

China said that its military intercepted a missile in midflight on Monday in a test of new technology that comes amid heightened tensions over Taiwan. The official Xinhua News Agency reported that “ground-based midcourse missile interception technology” was tested in Chinese territory and had “achieved the expected objective.” China has complained recently about the sale of American weapons to Taiwan, including PAC-3 air defense missiles.

[pgbhat]

Bluffer's Guide: Chinese Naval Power

[Dmurphy]

Bluffer's Guide: Chinese Naval Power

Nice find PGB!

[Masaru]

China: Interceptor Missile Tested

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/world ... China.html

Supposedly this was the trigger for the public proclamation.

RoC plans to buy US frigates

Taiwan plans to buy eight second-hand Perry-class frigates from the United States despite improved ties with once-bitter foe China, a local newspaper reported Monday. The island hopes to arm them with a version of the advanced Aegis Combat System, which uses computers and radar to take out multiple targets, as well as sophisticated missile launch technology, the Taipei-based China Times said.

The deal would add to Taiwan's existing inventory, as it already has eight Perry-class frigates built on the island.
The China Times report came less than a week after the US Defense Department said it had approved the sale of Patriot missile equipment to Taiwan as part of a package passed by Congress more than a year ago.

[kshirin]

China plans for world's highest airport in Tibet

http://article.wn.com/view/2010/01/12/C ... n_Tibet_6/

Is this something new? I was looking at earlier pages of discussions on the infrastructure required for military planes based in Tibet, and wonder if anyone has some information/comments on this issue wrt the above item.

[Philip]

No bluffing here!

The Chinese Navy's Budding Overseas Presence
by Dean Cheng

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Asiaan ... wm2752.cfm

As 2009 drew to a close, a senior Chinese naval officer raised the idea that the People's Republic of China (PRC) might be interested in establishing a permanent base in the Gulf of Aden area in support of anti-piracy missions. Admiral Yin Zhuo, a senior researcher at the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Equipment Research Center, suggested that such a base would facilitate a sustained Chinese presence in the region as part of ongoing anti-piracy efforts.

A base in the Gulf of Aden area would constitute the first formal Chinese overseas military base. (China established ostensibly non-military overseas facilities in Namibia and Kiribati in the early 1990s as support for the manned Shenzhou space program.) It reflects China's growing overseas interests, as well as its expanding military capabilities, including a growing ability to operate far from its shores.

The Chinese Presence

As has occurred historically with other rising powers, the most concrete manifestation of expanding interests, resources, and military capabilities is an expanding navy. Over the past two decades, the PLAN has grown from a primarily coastal defense force to a green- and blue-water navy. Indeed, the current Chinese anti-piracy task force is in its fourth rotation, marking a full year of escort operations off Somalia.

For Beijing, the anti-piracy patrols are an opportunity not only to display Chinese military capabilities but also to fulfill the "New Historic Missions" of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) as outlined by Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. These new missions include securing Chinese interests overseas.

The decision to dispatch the PLAN is clearly an effort to engage in public diplomacy. Yin notes, for example, that the Chinese spent a great deal of time considering the size of the vessels that should be deployed, balancing sea-keeping and sustainability with the impression that larger combatants would generate.

Once on-station, Chinese naval vessels have escorted foreign as well as Chinese merchant ships, laying claim to credentials as a responsible international power. Moreover, as Admiral Yin has observed, their presence as part of the multilateral anti-piracy task force has also acclimated regional states to a Chinese naval presence. He also notes that the Chinese presence has led major naval powers such as France and the United States to view the Chinese as counterparts and allowed for informal interactions among the various naval contingents.

Establishing a Beachhead

At the same time, the active participation of the PLAN in the anti-piracy patrols has allowed Chinese naval officers to gain valuable experience. According to Admiral Yin, the establishment of a long-term Chinese naval base in the region is due largely to logistical considerations, including access to fresh food, secure communications, and the ability to rotate personnel.

Yin compares the Chinese experience unfavorably with that of his French and American counterparts. In a very real sense, then, the PLA is learning about the logistical demands of extended, distant operations without necessarily appearing to be a burgeoning naval power.

Similarly, the Chinese navy is expanding its experience base in littoral warfare. The PLAN has long focused on waging littoral combat in defense of Chinese shores. By deploying to Somalia, however, it is now engaging in expeditionary littoral warfare. This will likely provide important lessons not only in helping the PLAN to counter piracy elsewhere (e.g., the South China Sea) but also in how to wage littoral warfare more effectively against more advanced naval forces (e.g., the U.S. Navy).

PLAN Ahead

For the United States, the extended Chinese naval deployment in the Gulf of Aden, as well as discussion of the creation of a Chinese naval base in the region, should serve as a reminder that the U.S. Navy will encounter the PLAN more and more--and not solely in the Taiwan Straits, South China Sea, and other waters off China's coast. Given the global nature of China's economic interests, it is inevitable that the Chinese military will also have a more global presence. Nor is there anything that the United States can reasonably do to prevent this.

Rather than trying to forestall the inevitable, U.S. policymakers should recognize the Chinese competitive potential and stay ahead of the game even as the U.S. tries to manage China's emergence to its own advantage. This will entail three key initiatives.

1. More Adroit Diplomacy. While the Chinese are still finding their feet on the world stage as a major power, the United States has been the sole superpower for nearly two decades. This means that the U.S. possesses levers and longstanding relationships that the PRC cannot, at present, hope to match.

U.S. diplomacy needs to be reinvigorated through a "whole of government" approach that would better exploit these advantages and allow the U.S. to attract diverse support for international coalitions from other countries more effectively. In such a position, it should spearhead the development of anti-piracy measures, including a legal regime for dealing with captured pirates as well as both military and non-military measures that would reduce support for pirates in their home villages and tribal areas.

2. Smarter Interactions with the PLAN. The interview with Admiral Yin makes clear that the Chinese are hoping to learn more about extended operations through their interactions with foreign naval contingents. So long as the Chinese and Western naval forces maintain a presence in this area, such exchanges are inevitable.

Moreover, it would appear petulant, even reckless, for the United States to refuse to operate with their Chinese counterparts, especially when other Western navies are doing so. Under such circumstances, the United States should instead seek to influence the Chinese through these interactions.

At a minimum, there should be a consistent effort to foster the development of an operational code of conduct at sea so as to avoid repetitions of the USNS Impeccable, USNS Victorious, and USS John S. McCain incidents.[1] Some measures would include maintaining minimum safe operating distances and adherence to common international norms of maritime navigation. Moreover, dangerous Chinese behavior at sea elsewhere should lead to a curtailment of interactions in places such as the Gulf of Aden.

3. Maintaining the Qualitative Edge of the U.S. Navy. While the U.S. military is currently focusing on counterinsurgency, it is essential that it not lose sight of the importance of the ability to wage high-intensity conflict. The reality is that the Chinese, rather than deploying their substantial littoral combat forces (including dozens of small fast attack craft) to Somalia, have instead deployed their most advanced warships. The experience they are gaining, moreover, is applicable to the full spectrum of conflict, not just littoral warfare.

Given the range of missions that the U.S. Navy is responsible for addressing, sustaining research and development into high-end capabilities and training in traditional high-intensity warfare areas--as well as maintaining robust numbers of combatants--is essential.

The Influence of Sea Power upon the Future

For all the discussion of Chinese aircraft carriers and anti-ship ballistic missiles, the United States remains the predominant and preeminent naval power. That situation is unlikely to change so long as Washington is prepared to commit the requisite resources to sustain that capacity. Expanded encounters with the Chinese at sea can therefore serve as an opportunity to signal U.S. strength, resolve, and commitment--or declining capabilities and reduced will. The choice is as much Washington's as Beijing's.

Dean Cheng is Research Fellow in Chinese Political and Security Affairs in the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation.

[1]These incidents involved Chinese vessels maneuvering dangerously while in close proximity to U.S. Navy vessels that were operating within the Chinese exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The PRC claims that it can prohibit foreign naval vessels from operating within its EEZ. The United States, citing international law, does not recognize this claim.

[abhishek_sharma]

China Nearly Doubles Security Budget for Xinjiang

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/world ... jiang.html

This year, the regional government will spend $423 million on public security, up 88 percent over last year, China Daily reported, citing a budget proposal released Tuesday during an annual official conference.

The Chinese government also remains concerned about ethnic tensions in Tibetan areas of western China.

[Masaru]

China shuffles military and security leadership

Great insight into the inner workings of PRC politico-military machine.

China's president and commander-in-chief, Hu Jintao, has reshuffled the leadership of China's military and security forces to speed up rejuvenation and raise the efficiency and combat-readiness of the generals. The supremo also wants to ensure the officers' loyalty to the Hu, or Communist Youth League (CYL), faction, which is the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) dominant clique.

The quality of the top brass has assumed critical importance because, at a time of growing socio-political instability, the military forces are playing an increasing role in maintaining order and upholding the CCP's "perennial ruling party status".

Since the October 1 National Day military parade, dozens of senior appointments in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the quasi-military People's Armed Police (PAP) - both of which report to the Central Military Commission (CMC) headed by Hu - have been announced by the official media. Given the party's reliance on the PAP to crack down on "the three evil forces of separatism, terrorism and religious extremism" across the nation, high-level personnel changes at the PAP deserve special attention.

Both Wang and Hu Chunhua (who is not related to Hu Jintao) have impressed the president with their ability to "nip the destabilizing forces in the bud".

As in the case of the PAP, the CMC has rewarded PLA officers who boast solid academic and professional credentials, including long stints in renowned military institutes. Exceptionally qualified officers were given double promotions.

Several rising stars had distinguished themselves in unconventional campaigns, such as the reconstruction of Sichuan province after the devastating earthquake of May 2008. This reflected a just-issued CMC directive on the fact that the PLA must boost its capacity in mobilization and operations that are not related to military combat.

Given the fact that China has not been at war since 1979, large-scale maneuvers ranging from combating natural disasters to fighting pirates in international waters have given up-and-coming officers an ideal platform to prove their mettle.

From the perspective of factional politics, it is significant that Hu is speeding up personnel changes in the defense and security establishment in the run-up to the 18th Party Congress in 2012. A key goal of the CMC chairman is to dilute the stranglehold that "princelings" - the sons of party elders - have on a sizeable number of top slots in the PLA and the PAP.

After all, the so-called Gang of Princelings, which is headed by Vice President Xi Jinping, is deemed the clique that will give the most competition to the CYL faction in the coming decade or so. The strength of the Gang of Princelings is demonstrated by the fact that quite a few of the freshly elevated officers are the sons of illustrious party elders and generals. The CYL Faction, by contrast, is thinly represented, if at all, in the PLA and the PAP.

According to unpublicized decisions made at the 17th Party Congress of 2007, Vice President Xi, 56, the most senior-ranked among China's Fifth-Generation leaders, is slated to take over the post of party general secretary and state president from Hu at and soon after the 18th Party Congress. However, Xi's failure to be made a CMC vice chairman at the Fourth Central Committee Plenum last September has fed speculation that Hu will hang on to his CMC chairmanship beyond the 18th CCP Congress.


Apart from personally selecting the country's top PLA and PAP officers, Hu has effectively raised his prestige among the top brass by giving the forces double-digit annual budgetary boosts - as well as repeatedly raising the salaries and fringe benefits of military personnel. Last month, the CMC approved unprecedented four-fold and six-fold increases in insurance payouts to soldiers who died in the course of duty, and those honored as "martyrs" respectively.

[RayC]

China appoints ex-soldier as Tibet governor

China has chosen a former soldier as the new governor of Tibet after the previous one resigned unexpectedly.

The new governor, Padma Choling, is an ethnic Tibetan who served 17 years in China's army before joining the regional government, state media said.

The previous governor, Qiangba Puncog, was in office during deadly riots that shook Tibet in early 2008.

The most powerful official in Tibet remains local Communist Party boss Zhang Qingli.

He too is a former military man, suggesting China sees Tibet as an issue of military control, analysts say.

Tibet is a resource-rich, mountainous region strategically bordering India, Nepal, Pakistan and Burma.

The region is notionally autonomous but policy for the region is tightly controlled by the central government in Beijing.

Rapid development

Padma Choling, 58, became vice-governor of Tibet in 2003. His appointment to the governorship is part of a leadership shuffle that that has also seen his predecessor named head of the Regional People's Congress, Xinhua news agency said.

Tibet, like much of China, has seen rapid development in recent years, including the completion in 2006 of the world's longest high-altitude railway connecting the capital Lhasa with the rest of the country.

China says it ended serfdom in Tibet after its troops entered the territory in 1950 and has greatly lifted living standards for the population.

But increased migration of Han Chinese, the country's dominant ethnic group, has brought fears that Tibet's unique culture and way of life is being eroded.

Tensions exploded in March 2008 after protests led by Buddhist monks against China's rule turned violent and spread across Tibetan areas of China.

China says at least 19 people were killed by the rioters - but Tibetan exiles say that nearly 100 were killed by the Chinese security forces.
Tibet Governor

Hope this was not posted earlier.

[Mayuresh]

From Broadsword: (http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/)
The 47-page report, entitled, “A modern navy with Chinese characteristics”, is still posted on the website of the Federation of American Scientists, a policy advocacy body (http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/oni/pla-navy.pdf).

What is the probability that this report was deliberately put on the web rather than leaked? it does show the PLAN in a benign light, as a navy interested only in dominating the East Asia region and with the capability of defending its supply routes IF REQUIRED!

[Craig Alpert]

China denies hacking Indian Govt computers

China on Tuesday dismissed as "groundless" India's charge that Chinese hackers had attempted to break into sensitive Indian government computers, a week after American internet giant Google levelled a similar allegation against it.

"I can say that these accusations are groundless," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters when asked to comment on National Security Adviser M K Narayanan's reported comments that Chinese hackers may be involved in a December 15 attempt to penetrate Indian government computers, including that of his office.

"The Chinese government is firmly against hacking activities and will deal with relevant cases in accordance with the law," Ma said........

[suraj p]

What is the probability that this report was deliberately put on the web rather than leaked? it does show the PLAN in a benign light, as a navy interested only in dominating the East Asia region and with the capability of defending its supply routes IF REQUIRE

It looks like the report is bait! One rule that every one must remember : Smaug is very good at deception and hypnotism. You can never have friendship with Smaug.

Smaug - Dragon in JRR Tolkien's Hobbit.

[Craig Alpert]

China, India Not "Competitive Opponents": Chinese Premier

...
"Only if China and India achieve common development and prosperity could we have a real Asian century," Wen told Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma when he called on him.
...
China and India were not "competitive opponents" but "cooperative partners", Wen was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency amid reports of Chinese border incursions and attempts to hack sensitive government computers.
...
Sharma impressed on China to increase imports of IT and ITES to address the trade imbalance. India also asked for removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to Indian power plant equipment.

Sharma also asked China to do away with restrictions on import of basmati rice, fruits and vegetables. He sought rights for Indian TV channels and import of more Indian films by the Chinese.

Procedural bottlenecks, including time consuming licensing procedures being faced by Indian drugs and pharmaceuticals also came up for discussions at the JEG.

An India-China agreement on Expansion of Trade and Economic Cooperation between the two countries was signed, which provides for the Chinese side to import as much of its requirement of value added goods from India.

The Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming requested India to facilitate the work of Chinese companies in India.

FICCI and China Chambers of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronics (CCCME) also signed an MoU for cooperation between the two industry bodies.

[wrdos]

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/dis ... d=15271130

As China’s army flexes its muscles, a missile is intercepted in space

Anything you can do
Jan 14th 2010 | BEIJING
From The Economist print edition

AFTER startling the world three years ago with the blizzard of hazardous space debris scattered by a secretive test of an anti-satellite missile, China this week tried a more upfront approach. Instead of waiting for the Pentagon to tell the world, the official news agency, Xinhua, on January 11th tersely announced China’s successful test of a land-based missile-defence system. It was not, it said, directed at any other country.

For an army that rarely flaunts its technological achievements, this marked a cautious openness. But that will hardly reassure the Americans. The test apparently made China the only country after America to use a missile to destroy another in space. A Pentagon official confirmed that two missiles had been detected and that they had collided outside the earth’s atmosphere. The Pentagon was not informed in advance.

The timing of the test suggested it was intended as a show of strength following the Pentagon’s announcement four days earlier that it had cleared the long-expected sale of advanced Patriot missile-defence systems to Taiwan. China has been conducting on-and-off research into missile-defence systems since the 1960s. But the technology it appears now to be mastering could just as well be used for attacking satellites. This unsettles America, with an army that depends on space-based technologies.

China always reacts angrily to American arms sales to Taiwan, an island it considers its own. In this case it had reason to be somewhat relieved that the Americans did not agree to Taiwan’s request for F-16 fighter jets and Black Hawk helicopters. But the Chinese government is in a muscle-flexing mood, encouraged by a sense that America increasingly needs China’s help to solve its own, and the world’s, problems.

In the past China’s response has been limited to suspending military dialogue with America. The government is still anxious to avoid serious disruption to ties to a vital trading partner with military capabilities that still far outstrip China’s. But in the past few days the official press has published unusually open calls on the government to boycott American companies that sell arms to Taiwan, applauded by China’s notoriously nationalistic internet-users. Global Times, a Beijing newspaper, called for public discussion of possible retaliation. “Hold an open forum, and let the Chinese people have the last word,” it said. Such a prospect, though hardly likely, would be truly chilling for America.

[Mukesh.Kumar]

X-posting from "Nepal and Bhutan News and discussion". The Panda making new moves to cosy up to Nepal

China building new roads from Tibet to Nepal.


Engineers from China have begun creating a road through previously inaccessible mountains to try and connect Nepal to Tibet, and China beyond.

The aim is to modernise trade routes on a new Asian ''super highway''.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8477356.stm

[RayC]

Global Insights: Solving the Google Cyber Mystery
Richard Weitz 19 Jan

As soon as Google publicly announced on Jan. 12 that it would no longer self-censor its search engine results for Chinese users, observers debated why the company had taken such a surprising decision. Proposed explanations included recognition that Google's presence in China has not encouraged greater media freedoms, irritation at yet another massive hacking effort by Chinese-based computers, a lack of commercial success in the large but highly competitive Chinese market, and fears about undermining faith in the security of its emerging cloud-computing networks. Now evidence has arisen about why Google executives were so alarmed: The company experienced the nightmare of a double Trojan horse attack, with at least one of its local Chinese employees opening the company's firewalls to allow virtual Trojan horses to penetrate its internal network.

Yesterday, Reuters reported that Google suspected one or more of its Chinese-based employees of abetting last month's cyber attacks against the company. The malicious software (malware) used against Google was a Trojan horse program. Widespread on the Internet, these programs allow outside computers to gain access to an internal computer or network. What made this particular malware program, Hydraq, unusual was that it knew precisely what data to attack and where to find it. Although Google representatives declined to comment on their ongoing investigation or business operations, local Chinese media have reported that since the Jan. 12 announcement, Google has denied some of its Chinese employees access to the company's internal networks while transferring or putting on leave personnel in Google's China office......

China and Google

[anuraghchauhan]

If i am not wrong its chinese official policy to wage proxy war against it adversaries and these time they r waging cyber war

[Samay]

One question arises, if the chinese hackers could penetrate into the internal network of google, what effect will be there on its services worldwide ? Are they also attacking other search engine providers like yahoo and msn . ?

[Gagan]

X post from China Border Watch:

Our army way behind China’s: Indian general
The Indian armed forces have activated three airfields at Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyoma, about 220-250 km east of Leh since May 31, 2008. But only AN 32 transport planes can land there. “They have little operational value,” another senior army officer said.

Chinese military aircraft, however, can reach Shimla, Chandigarh and Leh within five minutes and New Delhi within 20 minutes of taking off from their forward base in Gar Gunsa, across the border, from Demchok in Tibet.

The airbase being talked about is the Kunshajiang airbase (also known as Gar Gunsa). This has a 5 Km runway and is located 75 Km from Demchock. This place is 150 kms from the J&K-Himachal-Tibet Trijunction where the chinese helicopters recently intruded. This is 125 Kms from the Uttranchal border.



This satellite picture is dated Oct 31, 2007 shows the runway in an advanced stage of construction.

[Singha]

such big runways and aprons indicate they intend a very rapid buildup using transport a/c when the day of the
dog dawns over chomo-lungma.

since we never initiate war pre-emptively , we cannot interdict these sites until after all they wanted in-theatre
is ready and starts shooting.

need to find similar sites in Ladakh capable of landing A300 and work on it.

[rohitvats]

^^^And we have had posters questioning the ability of PLA to sustain operation in the NE and Western LAC.

The PLA is very clear in their strategy...they know they are the ones who will fire the first shot in anger....so it is they who will decide the day and timing...they are not maintaining any large number of forward troops...only necessary for showing presence and patrolling...

As far as IA is considered, what it needs to ensure is the forward POL/Logistic dumps are in place and concentration areas sutiably prepared to accomodate the rapid induction of troops into the western sector. In case of western and central LAC (Ladakh-HP-Uttarakhand), IA is far better placed to rush in troops than the PLA. The distance from the plains is not that great and a sufficient road infra is in place to allow for induction of troops. 6th Mountain Division for example can rapidly move from Bareilly (peace time location) to Central LAC in Uttarakhand. Similarly, 39th Mountain Division HQ location is only 7hours drive from Kullu-Manali (and thence to HP-Tiber border across the Rohtang Pass).

Of course, the best thing to do is induct infantry/mountain divisions permanently along the LAC. Interestingly, 4th Mountain Division was till 70s responsible for the HP-Tibet border. If the planned raising of 7-11 Mountain/Infantry Divisions (source:posting on Orbat.com) actually takes place, IA is likely to do exactly that: induct troops permanently along the Western-Central LAC. The 7-11 number above includes the two raised for NE plus two planned for Northern Command. In terms of troops, I think we'll have plently. What we need is the infrastructure.

[Nihat]

Beijing unlocks doors for Indian Navy


India and China may eye each other suspiciously along the Line of Actual Control, but Beijing seems eager to unlock the doors to advance maritime cooperation.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) rolled out the red carpet for the current batch of officers attending the prestigious Naval Higher Command Course (NHCC) at the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja (Maharastra).

Perceived to be potential leaders in the Navy’s future hierarchy, the 29 officers were granted access to the PLAN headquarters in Beijing, the Naval Command College in Nanjing and the Shanghai naval base under the East Sea Command during the visit from Jan 15-19.

The PLAN, however, made sure that its indigenous aircraft carrier programme at the Shanghai naval base was kept off-limits for Indian officers. Sources said, “They accepted they were building a carrier but were hush-hush about the details.”

China plans to deploy aircraft carriers as it currently lacks robust blue-water power-projection capability to deploy forces far away from its shores. The Pentagon estimates that the PLAN may not have a domestically produced aircraft carrier before 2015, but China has begun training its future carrier pilots. It may begin operating Varyag — a Russian carrier bought in 1998 — as a training ship in around two years.

Navy sources said, “The PLAN tried to project an image different from popular western perception. But ... China is beginning to turn the corner in terms of modernising its navy.”

India is worried about China’s navy modernisation, particularly its presence in high seas surrounding the country.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/n ... 01810.aspx

[Craig Alpert]

China mulls setting up military base in Pakistan

BEIJING: China has signaled it wants to go the US way and set up military bases in overseas locations that would possibly include Pakistan. The obvious purpose would be to exert pressure on India as well as counter US influence in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
....
A military base in Pakistan will also help China keep a check on Muslim Uighur separatists fighting for an independent nation in its western region of Xingjian, which borders the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Beijing recently signed an agreement with the local government of NWFP in order to keep a close watch on the movement of Uighur ultras.
...
A Pakistani expert on China-Pakistan relationship has a different view on the subject. "The Americans had a base in the past and it caused a political stink. I don’t think it would be politically possible for the Pakistani government to openly allow China to set up a military base," he said while requesting anonymity. Pakistan might allow use of its military facilities without publicly announcing it, he said.

[suraj p]

China mulls setting up military base in Pakistan

Is this also such kind of news where a PLANavy VAdmiral said once to one of commanders of USNavy, that you take pacific and china will take Indian ocean.

Setting up a base in Pakistan will for sure propel India to take up the American Request to have a bigger role in Afghanistan (of course the stinky beard will send a cassette to Al jajera to advertise his frustration and unholy war) .

That is a very arrogant behavior and we have seen what happens to arrogant nations. Chinese are not special...

[sevoke]

The Chinese will continue to up the ante and see how much they can get away with. Its time for India to make its military presence felt in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Seychelles and Madagascar. GoI should go ahead and grant the Dalai Lama Indian citizenship and harass the Chinese about Tibet in all International fora. There is no point being nice to them--the meaner you are, more the respect; just like the average chinese guy on the street.

[chanakyaa]

GoI should go ahead and grant the Dalai Lama Indian citizenship and harass the Chinese about Tibet in all International fora.

I see. In addition to granting citizenship, why not also stop all R&D on military and instead develop a potent medicine that can keep DL immortal. Better yet, why not clone DL and create million more DLs, may be that will scare China...

There is no point being nice to them--the meaner you are, more the respect; just like the average chinese guy on the street.

You are watching too many bollywood movies...

On a serious note. At one point in the history, angles and nippons were building empire in there own way. Nippons were much meaner than the angles. Does this mean nippons got more respect? I doubt it.

[svinayak]

^^^And we have had posters questioning the ability of PLA to sustain operation in the NE and Western LAC.

The PLA is very clear in their strategy...they know they are the ones who will fire the first shot in anger....so it is they who will decide the day and timing...they are not maintaining any large number of forward troops...only necessary for showing presence and patrolling...

How long will it take to destroy this airfield and make sure that supply lines are never restored.

[Gagan]

The problem is not destroying an airfield. The point is that china would have already brought in men and supplies BEFORE hostilities break out and any move to destroy that airfield is done.

The entire objective is how fast can one mobilize, and what are the storage / logistics options available to one's fighting forces.

Because of a much much superior infrastructure at the borders, China has an edge.

[svinayak]

But still the job has to be done after the hostilities have started.