Day: July 6, 2019

(Xinhua)08:14, May 27, 2019

KUNMING, May 26 (Xinhua) — Around 1,500 rifle bullets used by Japanese forces during WWII were found in southwest Chinas Yunnan Province, according to local authorities.

The bullets were dug up by Yang Huixian, a resident of Longling County under Baoshan City when he was working on his vegetable plot. After digging down more than 30 centimeters, I found the bullets, Yang said.

He subsequently handed over the ammunition to the local cultural relics management institute.

The 6.5-mm-caliber bullets were from the Type 38 Rifle of the Japanese forces during WWII, and the place where they were found used to be a battlefield, according to the Longling County Cultural Relics Management Institute.

Longling, located on the border of western Yunnan, was one of the main battlefields of the Anti-Japanese War in WWII.

Some ammunition from WWII had been found sporadically in Longling, and the number of ammunition was large this time, said Qiu Jiawei, director of the institute.

After testing, we found that the ammunition is basically intact, but invalid, Qiu said. We intend to put them on display in the Anti-Japanese War memorial hall to remind the general public to cherish peace.

The discovery of the ammunition provides important evidence for the study of the deployment of Japanese troops and their weapons during the battle in Longling, Qiu added.

(Xinhua)08:32, May 29, 2019

A new batch of Chinese peacekeepers joined the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) following the 17th Transfer of Authority (rotation) ceremony in Lebanons southern village Hinnieh near the port city of Tyre on Monday, May 27, 2019. [Photo: people.cn]

BEIRUT, May 28 (Xinhua) — A new batch of Chinese peacekeepers joined the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Monday following the 17th Transfer of Authority (rotation) ceremony in Lebanons southern village Hinnieh near the port city of Tyre.

Stefano Del Col, head of mission and force commander of the UNIFIL, oversaw the Transfer of Authority from Shi Honghui, commander of the 17th Chinese Peacekeeping Operation Force, to Gao Chaoning, commander of the 18th one.

Del Col appreciated the work performed by the Chinese troop at all levels and in all its functions. Your work contributes and adds to UNIFILs goal to support strong and capable Lebanese state institutions, which are at the root of sustainable peace.

Your work helps UNIFIL in achieving its mandate, within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1701, of improving safety and security, an essential prerequisite for peace, he said.

For his part, Gao vowed to follow the UN charter, coordinate with peacekeeping forces and fulfill the mission of preserving longstanding peace in the region.

We will be fully devoted to various tasks, fearless of difficulties and sacrifices, to make contributions to the lasting peace of south Lebanon, he said.

About 6,000 Chinese peacekeepers have completed their service in southern Lebanon since 2006, which is a critical force to implement the missions mandate.

(Global Times)10:25, May 29, 2019

US President Donald Trump concluded his four-day visit to Japan on Tuesday with an inspection of a helicopter destroyer, which is planned to be converted into an aircraft carrier, and Chinese experts said his move indicates his acquiescence of Japans military ambitions and may trigger a new arms race.

Accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump inspected the Kaga at the Maritime Self-Defense Force base in Yokosuka, the first time a US president has stepped aboard a Self-Defense Force ship, Japans Kyodo News reported.

Ni Feng, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of American Studies, told the Global Times that the inspection once again shows that Trump wants its allies to shoulder greater military responsibility and boost their defense budgets, which encourages Abes pursuit of military power.

Chinese analysts noted that the helicopter destroyer Trump inspected is controversial even in Japan, as the country is not allowed to possess weapons that could be used to attack other countries after its defeat in World War II.

Kaga, an Izumo-class helicopter destroyer, is expected to be refurbished and function as an aircraft carrier capable of carrying F-35B stealth fighters, NHK reported on Tuesday.

Trumps visit shows he is ignoring the fact that Japan has not reflected on the wartime history, or that Japans current quest to regain military strength raises concerns in the region, said Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing,

Despite being allies, the US used to limit Japans military development and did not allow it to have any kind of long-range delivery and strike capability, Yang said, noting that the Izumo-class ship would fall into this category.

This means Japan has the tacit endorsement of the US president to expand its military capabilities, Yang said.

The inspection could heighten tensions in the region, incite confrontation between major countries and may lead to an arms race, Ni said.

Echoing Ni, Yang stressed that if Japan were to once again become a major military power, neighboring countries and regions will definitely worry.

During his four-day visit, Trump announced Japans plan to buy 105 US-made F-35 fighter jets. He also discussed trade with Abe, noting the US trade deficit with Japan is large, but he hopes to announce a trade deal soon, media reported.

(Xinhua)10:32, May 30, 2019

WASHINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) — Turkey would face U.S. sanctions if it completes the delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, U.S. State Department warned on Wednesday.

Were willing to engage with the Turkish Government but our position remains the same that Turkey will face very real and very negative consequences if it completes the delivery of the S-400, State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said at a pressing briefing.

The consequences include suspension of procurement, industrial participation in the F-35 fighter jets program, and potential sanctions because of the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), she noted.

These are very serious, these are very real, and I think our position remains quite consistent on that, she added.

U.S. President Donald Trump on the same day spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on phone about the S-400 issue, the White House said in an earlier statement.

Turkish Presidencys Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter that during the phone call, Erdogan reiterated Turkeys offer to set up a joint working group to address U.S. concerns about Ankaras purchase of the S-400 air defense system.

The White House statement, however, made no mention of Erdogans working group proposal.

Washington and Ankara have been sparring for months over the latters purchase of the Russian-made S-400.

The United States argued that Russian missiles on Turkish territory could gain valuable intelligence on the technical systems of the U.S.-made stealth F-35 jets.

Turkey has insisted that it is not going to give up its 2.5-billion-U.S. dollar contract with Russia.

U.S. media CNBC reported last week that Washington had given Ankara just over two weeks to give up its S-400 deal with Russia or risk severe penalties and lose the possibility of buying U.S. F-35.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Monday dismissed reports that the United States had issued an ultimatum, adding the S-400 would arrive in following months.

(Global Times)10:49, May 30, 2019

The island of Taiwan is spending billions of dollars to upgrade fighter jets purchased from the US, yet they are still no match for the Chinese mainlands J-11s, mainland experts said, as the island conducted its first highway takeoff and landing drill with the F-16V at the annual Han Kuang military exercises on Tuesday.

The J-11 is not even the mainlands best fighter jet, analysts noted.

A US-made F-16V led other jets in taking off and landing on a highway in Changhua county in western Taiwan Tuesday morning as a highlight of the five-day Han Kuang live-fire exercises that started on Monday, Taipei-based The China Post reported on Wednesday.

Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen said the drill was challenging and demonstrated the defense capability and trustworthiness of Taiwans military, the report said.

However, Fu Qianshao, a mainland air defense expert, told the Global Times that although highway emergency takeoffs and landings could be helpful in combat, the drill is more of a temporary training rather than a regular operation.

It would be an exaggeration to consider such contingency training as a combat capability boost, Fu said.

The drill also marked the exercise debut of the first F-16 upgraded to the V configuration, featuring advanced radar and other combat capabilities, the Associated Press reported.

Taiwans air force is spending about $4.21 billion to upgrade 144 F-16A/Bs to the F-16V, and is trying to purchase new ones from the US, the AP report said.

The F-16V is a 3.5-generation (or 4.5 generation, according to another widely used classification) jet built by the US, and while its fire control and weapons systems are improved, their contributions to the overall combat capability are limited, Fu said.

Compared to the Chinese mainlands 3.5-generation lightweight fighter jets, the J-10B and J-10C, the F-16V holds no significant advantage, Fu said, noting it is no match to the mainlands J-11 heavy fighter jet series.

China has already commissioned its fourth-generation stealth fighter jet, the J-20, which is far more advanced than any third-generation ones and comparable to the US most advanced fighter jet, the F-22, military observers said.