- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 360
Yet another concession on the part of Pres. Ma and the Guomindang to show that they are committed to reunifcation. 
Chinese Military,Political and Social Superthread
- Thread starter nULL
- Start date
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 410
THAT... is the stupidest thing the Taiwanese government has ever done... and they've done MANY.
The quality of their soldiers have gone drastically down hill in the past 10yrs. With conscripted soldiers serving soft berths, and toned down the training standards. It's a sad day... really sad...
The quality of their soldiers have gone drastically down hill in the past 10yrs. With conscripted soldiers serving soft berths, and toned down the training standards. It's a sad day... really sad...
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 360
Another sign of the continuing relationship between Islamabad and Beijing.
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 360
Just an update on the PRC presence in the South China Sea:
in Chinese map Xisha Islands
http://english.gov.cn/2009-03/17/content_1261548.htm
China's largest fishery administration vessel, China Yuzheng 311, arrives in the Xisha Islands March 17, 2009. The vessel will patrol the South China Sea.(Xinhua Photo)
China's largest fishery administration vessel began patrolling the South China Sea Tuesday afternoon.
"China Yuzheng 311" will patrol the Xisha Islands such as Zhaoshu, Yongxing and the East Island to give Chinese fishermen in this area more powerful protection for their interests and safety, said Liu Guimao with the Administration of Fishery and Fishing Harbor Supervision for the South China Sea.
"Despite hot weather of nearly 30 degrees Celsius, the 311 crew was in good spirits and confident with their tasks," Liu told Xinhua.
"China Yuzheng 311" made a week-long voyage to the region from its home port in Guangzhou before arriving Tuesday noon. The vessel stopped at a naval base in Sanya in the southern Hainan Province last Thursday for supplies and set sail for the islands, which are about 180 nautical miles southeast of Hainan.
However, the vessel encountered a storm which delayed its arrival in the islands which was expected to be on Sunday, the vessel's captain, who preferred not to be named, told Xinhua.
With 112.68 meters in length, 15 meters in width, and a maximum displacement of 4,600 tonnes, the vessel is the largest of its kind in China.
Equipped with the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS), an advanced communication system initiated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), "China Yuzheng 311" can sail non-stop for 8,000 sea miles at a maximum speed of 22 knots. It was converted from a rescue vessel of Chinese navy
Wu Zhuang, director of the Administration of Fishery and Fishing Harbor Supervision for the South China Sea, said the vessel will escort Chinese ships around the islands where "fishing illegalities by neighboring countries are on the rise."
"China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands of the South China Sea and their adjacent waters," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Tuesday.
His comments came after he was asked to respond to accusations of China "flexing military might" by sending....
(...)
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 360
Two very interesting articles that gives outsiders better insight into how the 3 predominantly Sinophone nations of East Asia- China , Taiwan, and Singapore- plan their defence strategies.
- Reaction score
- 5,551
- Points
- 1,260
Recently some Chinese political scientists have examined the rise of several modern countries, specifically: Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United States. The scholars concluded that these nine nations shared a half dozen attributes that led to and sustained their relative success:
• Political Stability
• Military Strength
• Economic and Technological Success
• National Cohesiveness
• Cultural Creativity
• Magnetism
The last two, cultural creativity and “magnetism” combine to create what Joseph Nye has described as “soft power.”
Clearly not all of the countries examined had all of those attributes in great abundance but a couple, and only a couple - Britain and America, were able to possess and maintain all six for protracted periods.
Interestingly, the Chinese scholars identified military strength as a double edged sword – coupling it with an aggressive policy spelled defeat for Spain, France, Germany and Japan. Building it at the expense of other attributes led to the defeat of Russia while failing to build enough led to the demise of Portugal and the Netherlands.
The lesson some Chinese are drawing or, more specifically, want their fellows to draw is that China must amass and sustain all six attributes.
In many respects the first, political stability, may be the one which is most worrisome to Chinese leaders. Traditionally China is ruled or governed by those possessing the “mandate of heaven” - 天命 or Tiānmìng – which, unlike the European concept of the “divine right of kings” is highly conditional. The “mandate” is maintained only so long as the ruler/governor is wise and just – paralleling debates in ancient Greece about the nature of tyranny. While the Chinese “heaven” may, 2,500 years ago, have been a ‘place’ in the sky where gods lived it morphed over the millennia into a compound of all this spiritual and the whole universe. As the supreme “god” and, more importantly, source of all power and justice it is Tiān or 天 but it is also part of a “trinity” of three realms: heaven, earth and humanity.
(Parenthetically, the ruler of China is said to rule “all under heaven” or, for the Chinese, the whole of the civilized world. For many Chinese, educated, thoughtful Chinese, this translates into a “feeling” that China is “rightfully destined” to rule all of Asia and to lead the world. This is, subliminally, taught in most schools. In several visits I never missed the (usually decorative) map of the world centred on China, in bright red. The red faded away to pink or to other colours as one got father and father from China but the message, to hundreds of millions of school children, is that China is at the centre of a “red” world.)
Be that as it may, Chinese rulers/governors still need a “mandate” which the current crop believe is demonstrated by a peaceful, happy populace – evidenced by a lack of the sorts of popular revolts that were common over the past 2,000 years or so. But the Chinese leadership is poor at retail politics so it is unsure of its mandate – but afraid to adopt the sorts of democratic tools that make verifying the “mandate” so easy. Thus, even in the absence of open revolts, China is still not politically stable.
There are some tentative steps in the right direction: local elections that appear to be free and fair. The Chinese leadership hopes, I think, gradually to shift some decisions downwards from provincial and even national levels and, simultaneously, to allow – even encourage – free and open politics at local – village, town, district – level. It’s a gamble that may – or may not – pay off; it will be interesting to watch.
For now, China’s main weakness is in the political stability domain – at any given moment the government’s ‘control’ over China is impressive but the government lacks the most effective tools for determining the people’s wants and needs and for determining how ‘best’ to meet them: elected politicians who, of necessity, are in close contact with their constituents.
An observer1 has suggested that China is trying to follow a path to global power that minimizes the requirement to build and maintain overwhelming military force à la the USA. Ramo suggest that China is emphasizing its economic and technological prowess and its well earned and carefully guarded reputation for non-intervention/respect for national sovereignty as the mainstays of a push for increased global influence. Another observer2 suggests that America is poorly positioned, strategically, to respond to an asymmetrical Chinese “charm offensive” that aims to supplant American influence – especially throughout Asia.
The Chinese have a cultural propensity towards the ‘long’ view – in contrast to the Euro-American preference ‘immediate’ results. This is part of a broader, more general, Asian conservatism – the sort of thing that leads to long, long periods of “stable” government in Asia’s functioning democracies3 and that “permits” dictatorships (as in China) that “serve” the immediate, physical and security needs of the people. But it is also a product of China’s own cultural heritage. The risk, in analyzing China, is that one mistakes patience for inactivity or uncertainty.
The Chinese military/security superstructure is changing rapidly. The PLA has been “professionalized” and the defence budget continues to grow at an impressive rate. China is building a large, balanced, effective navy4 that I am guessing will include, by circa 2035 a half dozen or so modern carrier battle groups5 and at least three or four brigade sized amphibious task forces. I’m also guessing that the Chinese, 25 years from now, will have comparable and compatible land and air forces making them a major, global power.
I think that a wholly asymmetrical approach based on an overwhelming preponderance of economic and “soft” power cannot work. I also think the Chinese leadership share this view and that they will take steps to increase their “hard” (military) power – for use on the global stage – but not to anything like the levels currently held by the USA..
Thus, China is likely, over the next half century and beyond, to possess all six of the factors which some Chinese scholars have identified as critical for the development and maintenance of great power. Some of these factors – especially those related to “soft power” are likely be abundant and well exercised. China’s “hard power” is growing quickly but I share the belief that China will not attempt to match the US bomber for bomber and so on – rather they will focus on a global power projection capability centred on their own back yard: East Asia, the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. This should be sufficient to neutralize America in a strategic sense.
I think China will try to create a Sinosphere (汉字文化圈 – the idea is well enough established in China to have its own title) embracing, at least, Taiwan (with a status similar to that enjoyed by Hong Kong) Burma, Vietnam, Korea and Japan. This implies loosening (not breaking) the ties Japan and Korea have with the USA and strengthening their social, cultural and economic ties with China.
(Singapore’s status as a “neutral” safe haven for business is likely to render it “safe” from too much Chinese influence. It also serves as a useful economic “safety valve” for all of Asia, including Hong Kong. If Singapore didn’t exist the Chinese would have to invent it.)
China’s weakest link will be political stability. The current regime, the Hóng (紅 or Red) Dynasty for want of a better name, wants to strengthen political stability by taking very tentative steps towards local democracy and counting on innate Chinese conservatism to bestow a continuing mandate on those who govern honourably and virtuously but, above all effectively.
(CougarDaddy or others will correct me if I’ve used Hóng and 紅 incorrectly.)
My guess is that we, the American led West, will have difficulty countering a Chinese “charm offensive” based on a mix of sharing economic and technological achievements and adhering to strict non-interference in the internal affairs of other independent states – and demanding the same in return. The West has a long tradition – going back a few centuries – of taking rather than sharing (although many will argue, with considerable merit, that Britain gave much more – in social, legal and political philosophy – than it ever took in gold, goods and slaves) and of “interfering” wherever and whenever it wanted. There is nothing to choose between Christian missionaries, opium traders and George W Bush: all used overwhelming military force to impose their will on unwilling “victims.”
-------------------------
1. Joshua Cooper Ramo in The Beijing Consensus
2. Fareed Zakaria in The Post American World
3. E.g. The Liberal Democratic Party in Japan has been in power nearly continuously for over 50 years and the People’s Action Party in Singapore celebrates its 50th year in power in 2009.
4. See US Congressional Research Service Report RL33153 dated 19 Nov 08
5. Three or four probably reserved for home waters and two or three regularly deployed to the Indian Ocean region – including the East coast of Africa – and the Western and South Pacific.
• Political Stability
• Military Strength
• Economic and Technological Success
• National Cohesiveness
• Cultural Creativity
• Magnetism
The last two, cultural creativity and “magnetism” combine to create what Joseph Nye has described as “soft power.”
Clearly not all of the countries examined had all of those attributes in great abundance but a couple, and only a couple - Britain and America, were able to possess and maintain all six for protracted periods.
Interestingly, the Chinese scholars identified military strength as a double edged sword – coupling it with an aggressive policy spelled defeat for Spain, France, Germany and Japan. Building it at the expense of other attributes led to the defeat of Russia while failing to build enough led to the demise of Portugal and the Netherlands.
The lesson some Chinese are drawing or, more specifically, want their fellows to draw is that China must amass and sustain all six attributes.
In many respects the first, political stability, may be the one which is most worrisome to Chinese leaders. Traditionally China is ruled or governed by those possessing the “mandate of heaven” - 天命 or Tiānmìng – which, unlike the European concept of the “divine right of kings” is highly conditional. The “mandate” is maintained only so long as the ruler/governor is wise and just – paralleling debates in ancient Greece about the nature of tyranny. While the Chinese “heaven” may, 2,500 years ago, have been a ‘place’ in the sky where gods lived it morphed over the millennia into a compound of all this spiritual and the whole universe. As the supreme “god” and, more importantly, source of all power and justice it is Tiān or 天 but it is also part of a “trinity” of three realms: heaven, earth and humanity.
(Parenthetically, the ruler of China is said to rule “all under heaven” or, for the Chinese, the whole of the civilized world. For many Chinese, educated, thoughtful Chinese, this translates into a “feeling” that China is “rightfully destined” to rule all of Asia and to lead the world. This is, subliminally, taught in most schools. In several visits I never missed the (usually decorative) map of the world centred on China, in bright red. The red faded away to pink or to other colours as one got father and father from China but the message, to hundreds of millions of school children, is that China is at the centre of a “red” world.)
Be that as it may, Chinese rulers/governors still need a “mandate” which the current crop believe is demonstrated by a peaceful, happy populace – evidenced by a lack of the sorts of popular revolts that were common over the past 2,000 years or so. But the Chinese leadership is poor at retail politics so it is unsure of its mandate – but afraid to adopt the sorts of democratic tools that make verifying the “mandate” so easy. Thus, even in the absence of open revolts, China is still not politically stable.
There are some tentative steps in the right direction: local elections that appear to be free and fair. The Chinese leadership hopes, I think, gradually to shift some decisions downwards from provincial and even national levels and, simultaneously, to allow – even encourage – free and open politics at local – village, town, district – level. It’s a gamble that may – or may not – pay off; it will be interesting to watch.
For now, China’s main weakness is in the political stability domain – at any given moment the government’s ‘control’ over China is impressive but the government lacks the most effective tools for determining the people’s wants and needs and for determining how ‘best’ to meet them: elected politicians who, of necessity, are in close contact with their constituents.
An observer1 has suggested that China is trying to follow a path to global power that minimizes the requirement to build and maintain overwhelming military force à la the USA. Ramo suggest that China is emphasizing its economic and technological prowess and its well earned and carefully guarded reputation for non-intervention/respect for national sovereignty as the mainstays of a push for increased global influence. Another observer2 suggests that America is poorly positioned, strategically, to respond to an asymmetrical Chinese “charm offensive” that aims to supplant American influence – especially throughout Asia.
The Chinese have a cultural propensity towards the ‘long’ view – in contrast to the Euro-American preference ‘immediate’ results. This is part of a broader, more general, Asian conservatism – the sort of thing that leads to long, long periods of “stable” government in Asia’s functioning democracies3 and that “permits” dictatorships (as in China) that “serve” the immediate, physical and security needs of the people. But it is also a product of China’s own cultural heritage. The risk, in analyzing China, is that one mistakes patience for inactivity or uncertainty.
The Chinese military/security superstructure is changing rapidly. The PLA has been “professionalized” and the defence budget continues to grow at an impressive rate. China is building a large, balanced, effective navy4 that I am guessing will include, by circa 2035 a half dozen or so modern carrier battle groups5 and at least three or four brigade sized amphibious task forces. I’m also guessing that the Chinese, 25 years from now, will have comparable and compatible land and air forces making them a major, global power.
I think that a wholly asymmetrical approach based on an overwhelming preponderance of economic and “soft” power cannot work. I also think the Chinese leadership share this view and that they will take steps to increase their “hard” (military) power – for use on the global stage – but not to anything like the levels currently held by the USA..
Thus, China is likely, over the next half century and beyond, to possess all six of the factors which some Chinese scholars have identified as critical for the development and maintenance of great power. Some of these factors – especially those related to “soft power” are likely be abundant and well exercised. China’s “hard power” is growing quickly but I share the belief that China will not attempt to match the US bomber for bomber and so on – rather they will focus on a global power projection capability centred on their own back yard: East Asia, the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. This should be sufficient to neutralize America in a strategic sense.
I think China will try to create a Sinosphere (汉字文化圈 – the idea is well enough established in China to have its own title) embracing, at least, Taiwan (with a status similar to that enjoyed by Hong Kong) Burma, Vietnam, Korea and Japan. This implies loosening (not breaking) the ties Japan and Korea have with the USA and strengthening their social, cultural and economic ties with China.
(Singapore’s status as a “neutral” safe haven for business is likely to render it “safe” from too much Chinese influence. It also serves as a useful economic “safety valve” for all of Asia, including Hong Kong. If Singapore didn’t exist the Chinese would have to invent it.)
China’s weakest link will be political stability. The current regime, the Hóng (紅 or Red) Dynasty for want of a better name, wants to strengthen political stability by taking very tentative steps towards local democracy and counting on innate Chinese conservatism to bestow a continuing mandate on those who govern honourably and virtuously but, above all effectively.
(CougarDaddy or others will correct me if I’ve used Hóng and 紅 incorrectly.)
My guess is that we, the American led West, will have difficulty countering a Chinese “charm offensive” based on a mix of sharing economic and technological achievements and adhering to strict non-interference in the internal affairs of other independent states – and demanding the same in return. The West has a long tradition – going back a few centuries – of taking rather than sharing (although many will argue, with considerable merit, that Britain gave much more – in social, legal and political philosophy – than it ever took in gold, goods and slaves) and of “interfering” wherever and whenever it wanted. There is nothing to choose between Christian missionaries, opium traders and George W Bush: all used overwhelming military force to impose their will on unwilling “victims.”
-------------------------
1. Joshua Cooper Ramo in The Beijing Consensus
2. Fareed Zakaria in The Post American World
3. E.g. The Liberal Democratic Party in Japan has been in power nearly continuously for over 50 years and the People’s Action Party in Singapore celebrates its 50th year in power in 2009.
4. See US Congressional Research Service Report RL33153 dated 19 Nov 08
5. Three or four probably reserved for home waters and two or three regularly deployed to the Indian Ocean region – including the East coast of Africa – and the Western and South Pacific.
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 360
Mr. Campbell, I will go further than merely agreeing with you by saying that the Sinosphere already exists, and has existed since China began exacting tribute from neighbouring nations since the Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties, IIRC. How much of a cultural impact China has had on its neighbours cannot be denied, as demonstrated by the many residual influences of past interactions, such as the borrowed Chinese characters still in use by the Koreans and Japanese in their written languages, with the Japanese word for borrowed Chinese characters or Kanji/汉字 simply read as the word "Hanzi"/汉字 or Chinese characters in Mandarin.
Also, the Sinosphere does still exist today and its effect is all the more potent when you consider the "Hua Qiao/华侨" or the overseas Chinese who not only reside in many Southeast Asian countries, but also control two-thirds of the economy and 80% of the private sector in their adoptive countries. Their influence on their adoptive countries, which is disoproprotionate to their small numbers compared to the large native populations, definitely cannot be ignored. Consider that some have even used this wealth to participate in or at least influence the local politics; these powerhouse Chinese tycoon families, such as that led by Henry Sy or the Gokongwei family in the Philippines or comparable parallels in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Interestingly, a large number of these Hua Qiao within these countries are also either mainly Cantonese-speakers from Guangdong and Hong Kong, or are Fujianese or Hokien speakers from Fujian province.
------------------------------------
Continuing on about what you said about China's, or rather the CCP's, overwhelming need to maintain political stability, this point has already been emphasized a number of times on this thread. Still, the CCP is looking toward Singapore's model of government as one alternative by way it can ensure its continued survival, as demonstrated by Bei Da professor Dr. Pan Wei when he pitched and discussed the "Rule of Law Regime" to our class of foreign students in my one study abroad semester there (2003); he did mention that he was a consultant for the Chinese government in our class, which suggests that the CCP was strongly considering it. It would not be hard to see why the CCP would find such a the "Rule of Law Regime" attractive, since Singapore is not only arguably a predominantly Chinese society, but also because Singapore has effectively been a one-party system under Lee Kuan Yew's People Action Party (PAP).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Btw, if you are going to use the word "hong"(2nd tone) meaning red to signify part of "Red Dynasty" you might as well use two words or two characters. Thus the words "hong cao/ts'ao" (both pinyin here are in 2nd tone or rising) or 紅朝 is the way to say/write it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lastly, I am also curious about what you think about the Taiwan government recently ending military conscription, which many see as yet another concession by Ma Ying Jieou's Guomindang government to continue the conciliatory stance toward the mainland? Furthermore, what do you think of the above article comparing the defence strategies of the PRC, Taiwan and Singapore in relation or in comparison to each other?
Also, the Sinosphere does still exist today and its effect is all the more potent when you consider the "Hua Qiao/华侨" or the overseas Chinese who not only reside in many Southeast Asian countries, but also control two-thirds of the economy and 80% of the private sector in their adoptive countries. Their influence on their adoptive countries, which is disoproprotionate to their small numbers compared to the large native populations, definitely cannot be ignored. Consider that some have even used this wealth to participate in or at least influence the local politics; these powerhouse Chinese tycoon families, such as that led by Henry Sy or the Gokongwei family in the Philippines or comparable parallels in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Interestingly, a large number of these Hua Qiao within these countries are also either mainly Cantonese-speakers from Guangdong and Hong Kong, or are Fujianese or Hokien speakers from Fujian province.
------------------------------------
Continuing on about what you said about China's, or rather the CCP's, overwhelming need to maintain political stability, this point has already been emphasized a number of times on this thread. Still, the CCP is looking toward Singapore's model of government as one alternative by way it can ensure its continued survival, as demonstrated by Bei Da professor Dr. Pan Wei when he pitched and discussed the "Rule of Law Regime" to our class of foreign students in my one study abroad semester there (2003); he did mention that he was a consultant for the Chinese government in our class, which suggests that the CCP was strongly considering it. It would not be hard to see why the CCP would find such a the "Rule of Law Regime" attractive, since Singapore is not only arguably a predominantly Chinese society, but also because Singapore has effectively been a one-party system under Lee Kuan Yew's People Action Party (PAP).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Btw, if you are going to use the word "hong"(2nd tone) meaning red to signify part of "Red Dynasty" you might as well use two words or two characters. Thus the words "hong cao/ts'ao" (both pinyin here are in 2nd tone or rising) or 紅朝 is the way to say/write it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lastly, I am also curious about what you think about the Taiwan government recently ending military conscription, which many see as yet another concession by Ma Ying Jieou's Guomindang government to continue the conciliatory stance toward the mainland? Furthermore, what do you think of the above article comparing the defence strategies of the PRC, Taiwan and Singapore in relation or in comparison to each other?
- Reaction score
- 35
- Points
- 560
WRT Taiwan, I suspect they are following the global trend towards smaller forces based on long service professionals. Can they do this and be successful? Maybe. Given the island is targeted by 800 to over 1000 missiles, large standing forces might not be the best way to go, so a small, professional military with the ability to operate under difficult conditions and apply asymmetric force against potential enemies seems to be the smart way to go.
China has its own asymmetric forces to apply against the West:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7851925a-17a2-11de-8c9d-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1
China has its own asymmetric forces to apply against the West:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7851925a-17a2-11de-8c9d-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1
Yrys
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 11
- Points
- 430
China voices on financial crisis
China voices: ' I feel the pressure'
As China's growth rate continues to slow, there are fears that its economy could be
heading for a severe downturn.
The BBC spoke to a shipping employee in Shenzhen and a geologist's assistant outside
Lhasa to find out how the financial crisis had affected their lives.
WANG HAO, GEOLOGICAL ASSISTANT, MU COUNTY, TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION
Wang Hao
I work for a copper exploration company, a joint venture run by a British mining firm and
a Chinese mining bureau. I feel the economic pressure in this industry. Metal prices are
going down and I am worried that investors in Europe and the US will also reduce their
exploration activities in China.
What people think about the metal sector thousands of miles away affects my livelihood
here - even though I feel very removed from it. I work and live in an extremely rural
area. The scenery is beautiful, especially in the summertime. It's getting cold now and
the landscape is barren. We are planning to shut down the project temporarily because
it is simply too cold.
We look at areas with high grades of copper. A geologist can identify the grade of copper
from the appearance of outcrops on the land. But we are not a very big firm, our assets
are influenced by our investors.
China is an export-oriented country and manufacturing is big. The economic downturn could
have a big impact.
Food and commodity prices haven't changed hugely where I am because it is so rural here.
This is farming country and people here carry on with their lives. They eat the cattle and the
sheep they raise, they eat local vegetables. They seem quite self-sufficient. They have no idea
what is going on outside in the financial world, they have concerns such as the number of yaks
they can raise this year.
But when I go to the city, I hear people talking about the financial crisis. In Chengdu, I've heard
that real-estate companies are downsizing and house prices are getting lower.
We are getting very pessimistic; I think the government needs to introduce incentive policies and
co-operate with US and European governments. Otherwise, the economy in China could slump.
XIONG MING, SHIPPING EMPLOYEE, SHENZHEN
I've been working at the Dragongate Logistics shipping company for three years now.
We've seen dramatic changes to our export-related business here in Shenzhen since the global
financial downturn started. If you compare this year to last year, the volume of exports from
the port of Yatian has plunged.
Take our shipping company for example; this time last year, we were handling something like
100 to 200 containers a week, but this year, it has dropped by more than a half.
Export factories face a really depressing future. Unofficial estimates show that 20% of export
companies have closed down, the actual figure could be even higher.
Personally, my salary and those of my colleagues has been reduced by a quarter or more. This
time last year, I was earning between 10 and 20,000 RMB ($1,500 -$3,000) each month. Now I
don't even earn 10,000 RMB. Since the cost of living in Shezhen is relatively high, that affects
my life a lot.
Job-wise, the sense of crisis is constantly there because there is every chance that the company
will go under and you'll lose your job. You never know.
China voices: ' I feel the pressure'
As China's growth rate continues to slow, there are fears that its economy could be
heading for a severe downturn.
The BBC spoke to a shipping employee in Shenzhen and a geologist's assistant outside
Lhasa to find out how the financial crisis had affected their lives.
WANG HAO, GEOLOGICAL ASSISTANT, MU COUNTY, TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION
Wang Hao
I work for a copper exploration company, a joint venture run by a British mining firm and
a Chinese mining bureau. I feel the economic pressure in this industry. Metal prices are
going down and I am worried that investors in Europe and the US will also reduce their
exploration activities in China.
What people think about the metal sector thousands of miles away affects my livelihood
here - even though I feel very removed from it. I work and live in an extremely rural
area. The scenery is beautiful, especially in the summertime. It's getting cold now and
the landscape is barren. We are planning to shut down the project temporarily because
it is simply too cold.
We look at areas with high grades of copper. A geologist can identify the grade of copper
from the appearance of outcrops on the land. But we are not a very big firm, our assets
are influenced by our investors.
China is an export-oriented country and manufacturing is big. The economic downturn could
have a big impact.
Food and commodity prices haven't changed hugely where I am because it is so rural here.
This is farming country and people here carry on with their lives. They eat the cattle and the
sheep they raise, they eat local vegetables. They seem quite self-sufficient. They have no idea
what is going on outside in the financial world, they have concerns such as the number of yaks
they can raise this year.
But when I go to the city, I hear people talking about the financial crisis. In Chengdu, I've heard
that real-estate companies are downsizing and house prices are getting lower.
We are getting very pessimistic; I think the government needs to introduce incentive policies and
co-operate with US and European governments. Otherwise, the economy in China could slump.
XIONG MING, SHIPPING EMPLOYEE, SHENZHEN
I've been working at the Dragongate Logistics shipping company for three years now.
We've seen dramatic changes to our export-related business here in Shenzhen since the global
financial downturn started. If you compare this year to last year, the volume of exports from
the port of Yatian has plunged.
Take our shipping company for example; this time last year, we were handling something like
100 to 200 containers a week, but this year, it has dropped by more than a half.
Export factories face a really depressing future. Unofficial estimates show that 20% of export
companies have closed down, the actual figure could be even higher.
Personally, my salary and those of my colleagues has been reduced by a quarter or more. This
time last year, I was earning between 10 and 20,000 RMB ($1,500 -$3,000) each month. Now I
don't even earn 10,000 RMB. Since the cost of living in Shezhen is relatively high, that affects
my life a lot.
Job-wise, the sense of crisis is constantly there because there is every chance that the company
will go under and you'll lose your job. You never know.
Yrys
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 11
- Points
- 430
China Urges New Money Reserve to Replace Dollar
China suggests switch from dollar
China's central bank has called for a new global reserve currency run by the International Monetary
Fund to replace the US dollar. Central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan did not explicitly mention the
dollar, but said the crisis showed the dangers of relying on one currency.
With the world's largest currency reserves of $2tn, China is the biggest holder of dollar assets.
Its leaders have often complained about the dollar's volatility.
China has long been uneasy about relying on the dollar for trade and to store its reserves and
recently expressed concerns that Washington's efforts to rescue the US economy could erode
the value of the currency.
His speech was, unusually, published in both Chinese and English, signalling it was intended for
an international audience. "The outbreak of the crisis and its spillover to the entire world reflected
the inherent vulnerabilities and systemic risks in the existing international monetary system," said
Mr Zhou in an essay on the People's Bank of China website. Mr Zhou said the primacy of the US
currency in the financial system had led to increasingly frequent crises since the collapse in the
early 1970s of the system of fixed exchange rates.
On Tuesday, the dollar weakened against most major currencies following the announcement of
a US plan to buy up toxic debt.
'Light in tunnel'
Mr Zhou said the dollar could eventually be replaced as the world's main reserve currency by
the Special Drawing Right (SDR), which was created as a unit of account by the IMF in 1969.
"The role of the SDR has not been put into full play, due to limitations on its allocation and the
scope of its uses," he said. "However, it serves as the light in the tunnel for the reform of the
international monetary system."
The essay comes before the G20 summit in London on 2 April, at which reform of the international
financial system is top of the agenda.
"This confirms that China intends to play fully its role of global economic and political power
at the next G20 summit," said Sebastien Barbe, an analyst at French financial service firm
Calyon in Hong Kong.
CURRENCY RESERVES
- Foreign currency held by a government or a central bank
- Used to pay foreign debt obligations or influence exchange rates
- The dollar is viewed as the world's reserve currency as the vast
majority of reserves are held in the US currency
- Smaller amounts are held in euros, pounds and yen
China suggests switch from dollar
China's central bank has called for a new global reserve currency run by the International Monetary
Fund to replace the US dollar. Central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan did not explicitly mention the
dollar, but said the crisis showed the dangers of relying on one currency.
With the world's largest currency reserves of $2tn, China is the biggest holder of dollar assets.
Its leaders have often complained about the dollar's volatility.
China has long been uneasy about relying on the dollar for trade and to store its reserves and
recently expressed concerns that Washington's efforts to rescue the US economy could erode
the value of the currency.
His speech was, unusually, published in both Chinese and English, signalling it was intended for
an international audience. "The outbreak of the crisis and its spillover to the entire world reflected
the inherent vulnerabilities and systemic risks in the existing international monetary system," said
Mr Zhou in an essay on the People's Bank of China website. Mr Zhou said the primacy of the US
currency in the financial system had led to increasingly frequent crises since the collapse in the
early 1970s of the system of fixed exchange rates.
On Tuesday, the dollar weakened against most major currencies following the announcement of
a US plan to buy up toxic debt.
'Light in tunnel'
Mr Zhou said the dollar could eventually be replaced as the world's main reserve currency by
the Special Drawing Right (SDR), which was created as a unit of account by the IMF in 1969.
"The role of the SDR has not been put into full play, due to limitations on its allocation and the
scope of its uses," he said. "However, it serves as the light in the tunnel for the reform of the
international monetary system."
The essay comes before the G20 summit in London on 2 April, at which reform of the international
financial system is top of the agenda.
"This confirms that China intends to play fully its role of global economic and political power
at the next G20 summit," said Sebastien Barbe, an analyst at French financial service firm
Calyon in Hong Kong.
CURRENCY RESERVES
- Foreign currency held by a government or a central bank
- Used to pay foreign debt obligations or influence exchange rates
- The dollar is viewed as the world's reserve currency as the vast
majority of reserves are held in the US currency
- Smaller amounts are held in euros, pounds and yen
- Reaction score
- 5,551
- Points
- 1,260
CougarDaddy said:
Thank you, CougarDaddy, for the explanation of Red; I was afraid I was using it incorrectly because my language skills are very rudimentary.
I will stick to the term Red Dynasty, however, on the understanding that Red signifies prosperity in Chinese folk culture, and it is prosperity and its fruits (social order, etc) that the Chinese leadership is “selling” to the Chinese people.
While I acknowledge the long history of the Sinosphere, I think the modern Red Dynasty wants to bring it back in a newer form: one based on economic and cultural, even racial, interests. One might argue for something akin to the Greater Britain which, in 1897, the New York Times, described as being “so plainly destined to dominate the planet.”1. I’m sure the Chinese are not averse to the idea of leading a Greater China that would dominate the planet but I’m pretty certain that they want to dominate East Asia and the Western Pacific from - from the Arctic to the Banda Sea – and sooner rather than later. Before the middle of this century – less time than it took the USA from fantasizing about being part of “Greater Britain” to actually being the world’s leading power.
Thucydides has dealt with Taiwan’s military reforms better than I could have done. I think there is a time for conscripted forces for some countries. Perhaps Singapore gets it about right with a system that was designed, back in the mid ‘60s, by Israelis. But Singapore is a very small country in a very rough neighbourhood with a traditional distaste for formal alliances.
I think we, the American led West, need to accustom ourselves to the notion that America cannot and will not sustain itself as the only significant global power. China aspires to and, almost certainly, will reach such a status. India might grow to become a very important regional power – counterbalancing both China and the USA in South Asia and the India Ocean. Europe is very unlikely, in my opinion to ever achieve the sort of unity necessary to become, in any unified way, a global “great power.”
But the Chinese strategy will not, I’m guessing be to try to match America tank for tank and missile for missile. Rather, China will try to weaken America’s “soft power” even as it works very hard to enhance its own. The goal will be leave America as a huge, powerful, but essentially, friendless giant while China will be seen, even in Europe, as a less threatening, more “responsible” global power – one with which all can treat fairly and without fear. But, remember, as Joseph Nye himself pointed out, “soft power” is useful only when it is supported by respectable hard power – one magnifies the other but while hard power can be used on its own the same is not true for the “soft” variety – something Pink Lloyd Axworthy either forgot or, more likely never learned at Princeton.
But it is “soft power,” that magnetism and cultural creativity stuff, coupled with a burgeoning economy – assuming China can sustain that year after year and decade after decade, à la the USA in the several decades following the 2nd World War- and a consistently non-interventionist foreign policy, that will be China’s primary “weapon.”
-------------------------
See: Mead, Walter Russell - Special Providence, American Foreign Policy and How It Changed the World, Chap. 1, New York, 2001. The Greater Britain which the New York Times foresaw did, indeed, come to “dominate the planet” – but in the form of the USA with the Anglosphere and Western Europe in (often reluctant) tow.
- Reaction score
- 7,953
- Points
- 1,160
Jewish Han
Cohesion
Anti-Military
Little Englanders
Anti-Colonialism
Success of Hong Kong, Singapore, Calcutta as well as Pre-Victorian Britain, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.
Cougardaddy's description of the Han in SE Asia in some ways reminded me of descriptions of the Jews. "... the overseas Chinese who not only reside in many Southeast Asian countries, but also control two-thirds of the economy and 80% of the private sector in their adoptive countries. Their influence on their adoptive countries, which is disoproprotionate to their small numbers compared to the large native populations, definitely cannot be ignored. Consider that some have even used this wealth to participate in or at least influence the local politics; these powerhouse Chinese tycoon families, such as that led by Henry Sy or the Gokongwei family in the Philippines or comparable parallels in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand."
Judging from the reaction of locals in places like Burma and Indonesia perhaps the analogy is not so far-fetched. Both countries have experienced "anti-Han" pogroms. Often with suggestions of government support. And both Jews and Han have reason to be suspicious of the intentions of the rest of the world.
I wonder if the Chinese, in reviewing the histories of successful hegemonies will head down the trail of Colonialism or take the opposite route.
There are many that would argue that Britain's downfall came as a result of a change of direction taken around the time of the Opium Wars.
The "Improving" section of society, the Chartists or Manchester faction were determined that it was their duty to reform the benighted savage. Much to the chagrin of the Commercial establishment.
The Improving faction, who were in large part responsible for generating the unrest that resulted in the Indian Mutiny, and who were spurred on by that same rebellion, became the Victorian Imperialists.
In my view, the commercial establishment, derided as Little Englanders, found their outlets in Hong Kong, Singapore and Calcutta. They sought not to create a military empire but merely create a secure trading environment. The seas were their domain and the RN their arbiter.
Perhaps the Han could be convinced that they are better served NOT by trying to convince Tibetans, Burmans and Taiwanese that they are Lesser Han but instead rely on the internal cohesion that ties the Han just as it ties the Jews and used to tie the Scots. (Had to get that reference in there ;D ).
Britain would have been much better served if it had continued with its Pre-Victorian commercial empire. Other examples of successful commercial economies include Pre-Restoration Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden..... and it could be argued that similar strategies are working for those countries today.
Cohesion
Anti-Military
Little Englanders
Anti-Colonialism
Success of Hong Kong, Singapore, Calcutta as well as Pre-Victorian Britain, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.
Cougardaddy's description of the Han in SE Asia in some ways reminded me of descriptions of the Jews. "... the overseas Chinese who not only reside in many Southeast Asian countries, but also control two-thirds of the economy and 80% of the private sector in their adoptive countries. Their influence on their adoptive countries, which is disoproprotionate to their small numbers compared to the large native populations, definitely cannot be ignored. Consider that some have even used this wealth to participate in or at least influence the local politics; these powerhouse Chinese tycoon families, such as that led by Henry Sy or the Gokongwei family in the Philippines or comparable parallels in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand."
Judging from the reaction of locals in places like Burma and Indonesia perhaps the analogy is not so far-fetched. Both countries have experienced "anti-Han" pogroms. Often with suggestions of government support. And both Jews and Han have reason to be suspicious of the intentions of the rest of the world.
I wonder if the Chinese, in reviewing the histories of successful hegemonies will head down the trail of Colonialism or take the opposite route.
There are many that would argue that Britain's downfall came as a result of a change of direction taken around the time of the Opium Wars.
The "Improving" section of society, the Chartists or Manchester faction were determined that it was their duty to reform the benighted savage. Much to the chagrin of the Commercial establishment.
The Improving faction, who were in large part responsible for generating the unrest that resulted in the Indian Mutiny, and who were spurred on by that same rebellion, became the Victorian Imperialists.
In my view, the commercial establishment, derided as Little Englanders, found their outlets in Hong Kong, Singapore and Calcutta. They sought not to create a military empire but merely create a secure trading environment. The seas were their domain and the RN their arbiter.
Perhaps the Han could be convinced that they are better served NOT by trying to convince Tibetans, Burmans and Taiwanese that they are Lesser Han but instead rely on the internal cohesion that ties the Han just as it ties the Jews and used to tie the Scots. (Had to get that reference in there ;D ).
Britain would have been much better served if it had continued with its Pre-Victorian commercial empire. Other examples of successful commercial economies include Pre-Restoration Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden..... and it could be argued that similar strategies are working for those countries today.
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 360
tomahawk6 said:
Maybe the PAP and PLA will come in greater numbers?
From the AFP: Agence France-Presse - 3/25/2009 4:07 AM GMT
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 210
China's call for an artificial reserve currency is so ludicrous to be funny. The US Dollar is just that for several reasons - it's very liquid and convertable, and the Americans have a vested (very) interest in maintaining the value of the currency.
The Chinese are free to hold any currency they like, just like you are I could. The only major alternative is the Euro, but that is showing strains with various sections of Europe changing gears.
An artificial reserve currency, run presumably by the rocket surgeons at the UN, would have no one to be accountable to for it's security and convertability. The UN would quickly debase the currency by printing money and we would be using the UN paper to wipe our backsides.
There's another reason why the dollar is the world reserve currency - it's because everyone else holds it too. I'd be interested to see who would be running to cash their national currency in for the UN bills - it would probably be poor buggers from Rhodesia (did I write that?) I mean Zimbabwe. And then the UN holdings would again be worthless.... unless you want to go back to a gold standard. Then again, who does the UN steal the gold from?
The Chinese are free to hold any currency they like, just like you are I could. The only major alternative is the Euro, but that is showing strains with various sections of Europe changing gears.
An artificial reserve currency, run presumably by the rocket surgeons at the UN, would have no one to be accountable to for it's security and convertability. The UN would quickly debase the currency by printing money and we would be using the UN paper to wipe our backsides.
There's another reason why the dollar is the world reserve currency - it's because everyone else holds it too. I'd be interested to see who would be running to cash their national currency in for the UN bills - it would probably be poor buggers from Rhodesia (did I write that?) I mean Zimbabwe. And then the UN holdings would again be worthless.... unless you want to go back to a gold standard. Then again, who does the UN steal the gold from?
- Reaction score
- 64
- Points
- 530
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53642
China’s Military Capabilities Continue to Grow, Report Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2009 – Transformation of the Chinese military has gained speed, but U.S. officials would like to see China become more transparent about military and security affairs, according to a report to Congress released today. Video
The report, called “Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,” provides some new details, “but there are no new, major strategic insights revealed or capabilities revealed,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today.
In the report, officials said that Chinese transparency has improved over the past year, “but much remains to be learned about China’s national and military strategies, progress and trends in its military modernization, and the related implications for regional security and stability.”
China’s increased military ability stems from the nation’s emergence as an economic superpower. With 8 percent per year economic growth, the Chinese have been able to invest significant sums in military modernization.
Morrell said the United States continues to ask for “more dialogue and transparency in our dealings with the Chinese government and military, all in an effort to reduce suspicions on both sides.”
The Chinese still look at transparency as “a transaction to be negotiated.” U.S. officials would like the Chinese to see transparency as a responsibility that accompanies the accumulation of national power. Without this transparency, conclusions in the report are subject to best guesses by U.S. experts.
To begin, the Chinese need to be more transparent in budgeting, the report says. The People’s Liberation Army budget has more than doubled since 2000 -- from $27.9 billion to $60.1 billion. Officials believe the Chinese are underreporting the amount they spend on security. The real budget in 2008 is probably between $105 billion and $150 billion, they said.
Llimited transparency can be dangerous and lead to instability. Also, the Chinese reluctance creates uncertainty and increases the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation, U.S. officials say.
“The United States continues to work with our allies and friends in the region to monitor these developments and adjust our policies accordingly,” the report says.
Chinese military capabilities have increased tremendously. People’s Liberation Army officials have invested in the acquisition of advanced foreign weapons, and they have fueled hothouse growth in domestic defense industries. The Chinese military also has poured money into research and development. On top of this, there is a far-reaching organizational and doctrinal reform of the People’s Liberation Army.
“China’s ability to sustain military power at a distance remains limited, but its armed forces continue to develop and field disruptive military technologies, including those for anti-access/area-denial, as well as for nuclear, space and cyber warfare, that are changing regional military balances and that have implications beyond the Asia-Pacific region,” the report says.
China continues to put military pressure on Taiwan. “China’s armed forces are rapidly developing coercive capabilities for the purpose of deterring Taiwan’s pursuit of de jure independence,” the report says. More advanced missiles, more equipment and better-trained troops have deployed to the military regions opposite the island. The military balance in the region continues to shift in Beijing’s favor, the report says, and Taiwan no longer enjoys “air dominance” over the Taiwan Straits.
The capabilities the Chinese are putting in place “could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing’s terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict,” the report says.
Some of the Chinese capabilities have allowed the military to contribute to peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and counter-piracy. “However, some of these capabilities, as well as other, more disruptive ones, could allow China to project power to ensure access to resources or enforce claims to disputed territories,” the report says.
The Chinese assert that the People’s Liberation Army is purely defensive and aimed solely at protecting China’s security and interests. “Over the past several years, China has begun a new phase of military development by beginning to articulate roles and missions for the PLA that go beyond China’s immediate territorial interests,” the report says. But these statements have not cleared up international community questions about the purposes and objectives of the PLA’s evolving doctrine and capabilities.
China has modernized its intercontinental ballistic missile arsenal with the deployment of DF-31 and DF-31A missiles, the report says. They also are readying to launch a new class of ballistic missile submarines soon, it says.
The Chinese military has worked to develop anti-access and area-denial weapons, the report says. This capability goes beyond the nation’s borders. China has developed the capability to hold surface ships, including aircraft carriers, at risk. The weaponry includes quiet submarines, advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, wire-guided and wake-homing torpedoes, or anti-ship ballistic missiles. They are working to deny use of shore-based airfields, secure bastions and regional logistics hubs via conventional ballistic missiles with greater ranges and accuracy, and land-attack cruise missiles, the report says.
The Chinese also can project air power using new advanced aircraft, advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems, air surveillance systems and ship-borne air defenses, the report says. China’s space-based reconnaissance and positioning are leading to a precision-strike capability.
China still lags in developing an amphibious and airborne capability, airborne, air-to-air refueling, at-sea replenishment and joint integration, the report says.
China’s Military Capabilities Continue to Grow, Report Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2009 – Transformation of the Chinese military has gained speed, but U.S. officials would like to see China become more transparent about military and security affairs, according to a report to Congress released today. Video
The report, called “Military Power of the People’s Republic of China,” provides some new details, “but there are no new, major strategic insights revealed or capabilities revealed,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today.
In the report, officials said that Chinese transparency has improved over the past year, “but much remains to be learned about China’s national and military strategies, progress and trends in its military modernization, and the related implications for regional security and stability.”
China’s increased military ability stems from the nation’s emergence as an economic superpower. With 8 percent per year economic growth, the Chinese have been able to invest significant sums in military modernization.
Morrell said the United States continues to ask for “more dialogue and transparency in our dealings with the Chinese government and military, all in an effort to reduce suspicions on both sides.”
The Chinese still look at transparency as “a transaction to be negotiated.” U.S. officials would like the Chinese to see transparency as a responsibility that accompanies the accumulation of national power. Without this transparency, conclusions in the report are subject to best guesses by U.S. experts.
To begin, the Chinese need to be more transparent in budgeting, the report says. The People’s Liberation Army budget has more than doubled since 2000 -- from $27.9 billion to $60.1 billion. Officials believe the Chinese are underreporting the amount they spend on security. The real budget in 2008 is probably between $105 billion and $150 billion, they said.
Llimited transparency can be dangerous and lead to instability. Also, the Chinese reluctance creates uncertainty and increases the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation, U.S. officials say.
“The United States continues to work with our allies and friends in the region to monitor these developments and adjust our policies accordingly,” the report says.
Chinese military capabilities have increased tremendously. People’s Liberation Army officials have invested in the acquisition of advanced foreign weapons, and they have fueled hothouse growth in domestic defense industries. The Chinese military also has poured money into research and development. On top of this, there is a far-reaching organizational and doctrinal reform of the People’s Liberation Army.
“China’s ability to sustain military power at a distance remains limited, but its armed forces continue to develop and field disruptive military technologies, including those for anti-access/area-denial, as well as for nuclear, space and cyber warfare, that are changing regional military balances and that have implications beyond the Asia-Pacific region,” the report says.
China continues to put military pressure on Taiwan. “China’s armed forces are rapidly developing coercive capabilities for the purpose of deterring Taiwan’s pursuit of de jure independence,” the report says. More advanced missiles, more equipment and better-trained troops have deployed to the military regions opposite the island. The military balance in the region continues to shift in Beijing’s favor, the report says, and Taiwan no longer enjoys “air dominance” over the Taiwan Straits.
The capabilities the Chinese are putting in place “could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing’s terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict,” the report says.
Some of the Chinese capabilities have allowed the military to contribute to peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and counter-piracy. “However, some of these capabilities, as well as other, more disruptive ones, could allow China to project power to ensure access to resources or enforce claims to disputed territories,” the report says.
The Chinese assert that the People’s Liberation Army is purely defensive and aimed solely at protecting China’s security and interests. “Over the past several years, China has begun a new phase of military development by beginning to articulate roles and missions for the PLA that go beyond China’s immediate territorial interests,” the report says. But these statements have not cleared up international community questions about the purposes and objectives of the PLA’s evolving doctrine and capabilities.
China has modernized its intercontinental ballistic missile arsenal with the deployment of DF-31 and DF-31A missiles, the report says. They also are readying to launch a new class of ballistic missile submarines soon, it says.
The Chinese military has worked to develop anti-access and area-denial weapons, the report says. This capability goes beyond the nation’s borders. China has developed the capability to hold surface ships, including aircraft carriers, at risk. The weaponry includes quiet submarines, advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, wire-guided and wake-homing torpedoes, or anti-ship ballistic missiles. They are working to deny use of shore-based airfields, secure bastions and regional logistics hubs via conventional ballistic missiles with greater ranges and accuracy, and land-attack cruise missiles, the report says.
The Chinese also can project air power using new advanced aircraft, advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems, air surveillance systems and ship-borne air defenses, the report says. China’s space-based reconnaissance and positioning are leading to a precision-strike capability.
China still lags in developing an amphibious and airborne capability, airborne, air-to-air refueling, at-sea replenishment and joint integration, the report says.
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