Category: military

(China Daily)17:02, March 28, 2019

Military expects exam will improve skills, increase combat readiness

More than 200 major generals of the Peoples Liberation Army Ground Force simultaneously took part in a recent examination held across the nation, marking the Ground Forces first large-scale test of its high-ranking commanders.

The examination was arranged by the Ground Force headquarters and was held earlier this month in seven locations – Beijing, Fuzhou, Nanning, Lanzhou, Jinan, Urumqi and Lhasa. The largest test site was at the Ground Force Academy of Armored Forces in Beijing with 52 examinees, according to a statement from the Ground Force.

Experts from PLA National Defense University and inspectors from the Ground Forces disciplinary committee supervised the examination.

Participants were mostly made up of major generals and some senior colonels – commanding officers from departments under the Ground Force headquarters, academies, schools, regional branches and training and test bases.

The examination was designed to check and hone the generals capabilities in organizing training and commanding their troops. The results will be taken into consideration when it comes to promotion or commendation, the statement said. It added that the Ground Force wanted to use this examination to strengthen the notion that commanding officers must take the lead in combat readiness training.

Lu Chuangang, assistant to the Ground Forces chief of staff, said the examinations content included theory, strategy and command skills. Participants were given different tasks in different areas, and were told to analyze their respective situations, determine goals, make plans for troop deployment and develop combat schedules, according to Zhou Bingyi, director of the operations bureau of the Ground Forces staff department.

Zhou said participants had already taken part in tests on firearm usage and physical strength hosted by their own units before the examination.

The capabilities of these commanding officers determine whether their troops will be well trained, Zhou said. We hope such examinations will help improve the competence of commanders and consequently boost the combat capabilities and preparedness of their units.

Xie Zenggang, commander of the 83rd Group Army who took the examination, was quoted by China National Radio as saying that it had broadened his horizons and enabled him to gain a higher strategic perspective that can be used in planning future operations.

It also reminded me of the necessity that as a commander, I not only need to take into consideration joint operations by various services in the PLA but also to think about joint campaigns with foreign militaries, he said.

In June, the Ground Force organized a test for commanders of its 13 group armies – its largest combat units. Since the start of this year, the Ground Force has conducted a wide range of examinations for almost all of its members to verify their professional knowledge and skills.

(CNTV)08:38, March 29, 2019

Chinas Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday that celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of Chinese Navy will be held in Qingdao, east Chinas Shandong Province, in late April.

The spokesperson of Chinas Ministry of National Defense. [Photo: CGTN]

The announcement was made at a monthly routine press conference.

So far, delegations from 60 countries and naval vessels from multiple countries have confirmed their attendance for the grand ceremony. High-level seminars, international fleet reviews and joint military-music events will be held as well.

(Xinhua)09:15, March 29, 2019

BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) — Over 60 countries have said they would send navy delegations to participate in a multinational navy event hosted by China in late April, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.

The event will be held in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao to commemorate the 70th founding anniversary of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, spokesperson Wu Qian said at a press conference.

It will include various activities, including high-level symposiums, an international fleet inspection, joint military music display, cultural and sports exchanges, among others, Wu said.

A number of countries will send navy vessels to take part in the international fleet inspection, he added.

April 23 is the 70th founding anniversary of the PLA Navy.

By ZhangZhihao (China Daily)09:20, March 29, 2019

More than 60 countries will send naval delegations to participate in the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy in late April, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.

The celebration will showcase the progress of the PLA Navy and its growing capability in safeguarding Chinas overseas interests as well as regional and world peace, an expert said.

The multinational naval event will take place in Qingdao, Shandong province, in late April, said ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian. April 23 is the 70th anniversary of the PLA Navys founding.

The naval event will include high-level dialogues, an international fleet review, military band performances, cultural and sports exchanges as well as other activities, Wu said. Some nations will send military ships to participate in the fleet review, though details are still in the works and will be announced at a later date, he added.

Senior Colonel Zhou Bo, director of the Center for Security Cooperation at the ministrys Office for International Military Cooperation, said that compared with other branches of the military, the PLA Navy plays a relatively larger role in protecting Chinas overseas interests and maintaining security in key sea lanes such as the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia.

The PLA Navy is at the forefront of proving that the Chinese military is an open, cooperative and competent force for peace, he said, adding that the PLA Navy has frequently participated in humanitarian rescue missions, naval escorts, joint exercises and exchanges in past years.

Through these non-war military operations, the Chinese Navy has also improved its capability and operability in distant waters, Zhou said. Many security issues around the world require global efforts, and as its capability improves, the PLA Navy can play a bigger part and contribute more to global maritime security.

When asked about the United States recent rhetoric about China threats and US military actions near the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, Wu said that Sino-US military relations are generally stable, but he asked the US to work with China to conduct practical cooperation, properly manage differences, and allow military-to-military relations to become stabilizing factors for bilateral ties.

On Sunday, the US sent the Navys guided-missile destroyer Curtis Wilbur and Coast Guards cutter Bertholf through the Taiwan Straits. On March 13, two US B-52H bombers flew near Chinese islands in the South China Sea for the second time this month.

Wu said China resolutely opposes the provocative actions by the US warplanes, and will continue to take necessary actions to safeguard national security. The facts have shown that the US is the one militarizing the South China Sea, he said.

Regarding the US militarys recent interactions with its Taiwan counterpart, Wu said China resolutely opposes any military interaction between the two sides, whether it involves arms sales to Taiwan or official military exchanges.

The Taiwan question is a domestic matter for China, and it is related to Chinas core interests and the feelings of the Chinese people. It cannot be interfered with by outside forces, Wu said, adding that the one-China policy is a recognized consensus in international relations, and the political basis for Sino-US relations.

Any attempt to undermine this principle is no different than trying to shake the foundation of Sino-US ties. This does not fit with the basic interests of either nation, and it is very dangerous, he said.

(China Military Online)14:13, March 30, 2019

RIYADH, March 29 (Xinhua) — Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud pledged to strengthen economic and military cooperation with China, to promote peace and stability in the region.

He made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe on Tuesday in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia and China have a long-lasting friendship and their strategic relationship is under continuous development, he said, adding that the two countries are important cooperative partners of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Saudi Arabia expects to increase bilateral economic cooperation and personnel exchanges, and deepen military collaboration, to jointly promote regional peace and stability, he said.

The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which aim at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud said that bilateral cooperation in all fields has yielded fruitful results, and Saudi Arabia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in politics, economy and security, during a meeting with Wei.

The crown prince expressed expectation for the two militaries to carry out more pragmatic cooperation and expand new areas, as military cooperation is an important cornerstone of the Saudi Arabia-China relationship.

Wei said that China attaches great importance to its relationship with Saudi Arabia and their relationship has become a model for state-to-state relations.

Under the leadership of the two states, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries has undergone in-depth development.

The Belt and Road Initiative and the Saudi Vision 2030 reform plan have a broad prospect and bilateral military ties have maintained a sound momentum of growth, Wei said.

China is willing to work with the Saudi military to implement the consensus of the leaders of the two countries, expand pragmatic cooperation, and promote bilateral military relations, Wei added.

Wei also held talks on Wednesday with Saudi Arabias Assistant Minister of Defense Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh.

By LiuXuanzun (Global Times)08:27, April 01, 2019

Su-57 fighter jet is worth studying, say military experts

Russia is reportedly eyeing exporting Su-57, its most advanced fighter jet, to China, an offer Chinese experts described as an indication of the close strategic relations between the two countries.

While Chinese analysts are becoming convinced of the Su-57s combat capabilities, some are skeptical whether the Russian warplane can integrate into the Chinese system since China has developed its own advanced J-20 fighter jet.

The Su-57E, an export version of the Su-57, is expected to receive export approval from Russian President Vladimir Putin in a few weeks, said Viktor Kladov, director of international cooperation and regional policy at Russias Rostec defense industrial holding company, at a media briefing at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia, Janes Defense Weekly reported Thursday.

Kladov named China as a potential customer. China has recently taken delivery of 24 Su-35 aircraft, and in the next two years [China] will make a decision to either procure additional Su-35s, build the Su-35 in China, or buy a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, which could be another opportunity for the Su-57E, he said.

Xu Guangyu, a senior consultant at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times on Sunday that it is possible that China could make the purchase, because China needs to study from other countries strengths whenever possible.

Kladovs remarks are also an indication of cooperation in high-end military technology under the framework of the two countries strategic cooperation, Xu said.

Described by Putin as the worlds best military plane on March 19, the Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter jet capable of both aerial combat and hitting ground and naval targets, Russias TASS news agency reported.

Wang Yongqing, chief designer of the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, wrote in the February 2019 issue of Aerospace Knowledge magazine that the Su-57 is designed to have strong supersonic cruise capability and super-maneuverability, and intentionally reduces stealth, a capability said to be crucial to a fifth-generation fighter, to a secondary priority.

While US warplanes stress stealth and beyond visual range attacks, the Su-57 can evade incoming long-range missiles through its super-maneuverability and engage enemies at close range, a situation where stealth is not so important as super-maneuverability, Wang said.

However, Aerospace Knowledges chief editor Wang Yanan said although he is convinced of the Su-57s capabilities, he is less keen to see China buy it because China has already developed its own fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-20.

China is perfecting its own fifth-generation technology as the J-20 is on the way to being mass produced, Wang told the Global Times on Sunday.

During this period, integrating another fighter jet into the fleet could bring challenges to the integration of the Chinese militarys weapons and equipment systems and disrupt development and training plans, Wang Yanan said.

He noted that a technical study is possible, using the Su-57 in the Chinese military is unlikely.

India could also be interested in buying the Su-57, Kladov said.

Unlike China, India does not have a fifth-generation fighter and will not be able to develop one anytime soon, so the Su-57 is an attractive warplane to India, Wang Yanan said.

The Su-57 could also become a strong market competitor to the Chinese FC-31 stealth fighter jet, Weihutang, a column affiliated with China Central Television (CCTV), reported on Friday, noting that the FC-31 and the US F-35 are the only two current fifth-generation fighter jets available on the international market.

(CNTV)15:37, April 01, 2019

The remains of 20 Chinese Peoples Volunteers soldiers return to China via a Chinese Air Force plane from Incheon Airport in South Korea, March 28, 2018. (Photo:CGTN)

South Korea will return more remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-1953 Korean War on Wednesday, the sixth such transfer since 2014.

On Monday, the remains of the soldiers, known as the Chinese Peoples Volunteers were encoffined.

Those soldiers remains will be buried at a martyrs cemetery in Shenyang, the capital of northeast Chinas Liaoning Province.

In the past five years, South Korea has transferred the remains of 589 Chinese volunteer soldiers killed in that war. The handover has been arranged before the Qingming Festival, or the Tomb-Sweeping Day, a traditional Chinese holiday for commemorating the departed, in early April.

(Xinhua)11:20, April 03, 2019

INCHEON, South Korea, April 3 (Xinhua) — South Korea on Wednesday returned 10 more remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-1953 Korean War.

The transfer ceremony was held at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of the capital Seoul, to hand over the remains of 10 Chinese volunteer soldiers killed in the war.

During the ceremony, South Korean troops handed over the coffins, covered by Chinas national flag, to Chinese soldiers who carried them into an airplane.

It marked the sixth hand-over ceremony. South Korea had transferred the remains of 589 Chinese volunteer soldiers killed in the Korean War, including 437 in 2014, 68 in 2015, 36 in 2016, 28 in 2017 and 20 in 2018 each.

China and South Korea have consulted every year on the hand-over of the Chinese soldiers remains found in South Korea. The transfer has been usually made days before Tomb-sweeping Day, the Chinese holiday for commemorating the dead, in early April.

The South Korean defense ministry said in a statement that the transfer ceremony was a part of efforts to heal the scar of the war and conveyed the message of peace to enhance regional peace and stability.

The ministry vowed to maintain cooperative relations with its Chinese counterpart and continue the transfer of the Chinese soldiers remains for the development of the bilateral relations.

The Chinese Peoples Volunteers (CPV) fought alongside the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) army in the Korean War against the South Korean army and the United States-led UN forces between 1950 and 1953.

By LiuXuanzun (Global Times)08:08, April 04, 2019

A Peoples Liberation Army scout operates a new type of hand-thrown drone. The drone is characterized by its new reconnaissance equipment and landing gear. Photo: China Central Television

The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has a new hand-thrown drone in its arsenal, and experts said the human-sized fixed-wing aircraft has enhanced imaging devices and will greatly boost basic combat units reconnaissance capability.

The drone is now in service at a brigade of the 83rd Group Army of the PLA, Weihutang, a column affiliated with China Central Television (CCTV), reported on Wednesday. The report did not reveal the designation of the drone.

Compared to previous hand-thrown drones used by the PLA, the new one is equipped with new reconnaissance equipment, which includes optical and infrared imaging devices, and a new skid landing gear, the report said.

The report did not provide details on the specification of the drone, but a military expert told the Global Times on Wednesday that it is likely capable of detecting targets at further range and provide imaging data at higher definition.

The drone might have a higher maximum take-off weight thanks to its aerodynamic design and more powerful motor, which allows it to carry more equipment, said the expert, who asked to remain anonymous.

Many major military powers already have hand-thrown drones in service, as this type of aircraft has played an important role on battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq in the past, the Weihutang report said.

One example is the US RQ-11鈥?You launch [a hand-thrown drone] with your hands, which would act as a catapult, so you dont need flat ground to make it fly as long as there are no obstacles above, the expert said, noting that data gathered in the sky could be sent back instantly.

Such drones are easy to carry and could be deployed by a small team when a small scale tactical reconnaissance is needed, so the team can grasp the real-time battlefield situation without much risk and without requesting deployment of a larger drone, which might not be available all the time, the expert said.

China has a wide variety of drones of different sizes, aerodynamic designs and functions, including the Wing Loong armed reconnaissance drone, the Cloud Shadow high-altitude drone as well as the CH-7 stealth combat drone, which is now in development.

By ZhaoLei (China Daily)16:04, April 04, 2019

Long-range fire-extinguishing guns help fight a fire in Qinyuan county, Shanxi province, on Monday. The guns use shells containing a fire-suppressing powder. [Photo provided To China Daily]

Fire departments across China are on high alert each spring, when forests are prone to erupt in flames.

At least eight forest fires have occurred since the start of this year, with the deadliest killing 30 people who were fighting it.

In an attempt to improve the efficiency of firefighting operations and reduce safety risks, fire departments have begun to adopt machines such as specially modified artillery guns and tanks.

According to China North Industries Group Corp, commonly known as Norinco, eight long-range fire-extinguishing guns designed and built by the company arrived in Guojiaping village in Changzhi, Shanxi province, on Sunday at the request of provincial authorities to help quench the fire that had raged on a nearby mountain for several days.

The guns were used on Monday to launch shells containing fire-extinguishing agents onto the hill. With their assistance, firefighters were able to put out the blaze by afternoon, the State-owned defense conglomerate said on Wednesday.

Information from Norinco says the gun has a firing range of 8 kilometers, and each of its shells can scatter dry extinguishing agents over about 20 square meters. The gun features high mobility and accuracy, and is suitable for suppressing big fires, it said.

This is not the first time Norinco, the countrys largest arms producer for land weapons, has entered the realm of firefighting. Before the gun, the company had developed and sold a series of firefighting tanks.

With the chassis and armor of a combat tank, the vehicles can protect crew members from fire, explosions and building collapses, and can cross half-meter-high obstacles or 2-meter-wide trenches. They have automatic spray devices and fireproof coatings that can keep scorching heat out of the vehicles interiors.

The tanks can get closer to the scene than a fire engine for search-and-rescue missions, Norinco said.

Using 520-horsepower diesel engines and equipped with hydraulic devices, the tanks can clear away obstacles weighing up to 15 metric tons. Their metal tracks allow them to operate on slopes, in rocky terrain and in the debris of collapsed buildings.

The water cannon on the vehicles can spray water up to 65 meters.

Experts said that injuries to firefighters are mainly caused by close contact with flames or explosions, or by buildings collapsing as they enter a scene that fire engines have difficulty accessing.

Russia and Germany have also transformed old tanks into firefighting vehicles.