CHINA'S FIRST AIRCRAFT CARRIER

China's aircraft carrier puts naval ambitions on show Published: 25 Jul 2014 at 10.48 | Online news: Asia Writer: AFP DALIAN (CHINA) - At a northern quayside China's first aircraft carrier dwarfs nearby vessels, its take-off ramp rising higher than the top deck of the cruise ship at the next berth, symbolising the country's naval ambitions. ... Beijing proclaims that China's rise is entirely peaceful and it has no interest in hegemony [imperialism], but analysts say its goal is to surpass the naval capability of Japan's Self-Defense Forces and ultimately rival the US Navy, masters of the Pacific. ... The 300-metre (1,000-foot) Liaoning -- a Soviet-era vessel Beijing bought from Ukraine -- was commissioned in September 2012, and officers have acknowledged that it is not yet ready for combat, with naval fighter pilots taking years to train. But it is only the first Chinese vessel of its type. Analysts say future carriers will be entirely Chinese-made and ultimately nuclear-powered, vastly extending their range. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is already the world's largest standing military, and when Chinese President Xi Jinping went on board the Liaoning last year he spoke of building "a powerful people's navy". Xi has made a point of visiting several military bases since taking office and has said that "being able to fight and win battles is the essence of strengthening the military". ... [British military publisher Jane's] In the medium to long term, they said, China will need "an expanding presence around the world" to secure its interests in resources, markets and shipping routes. "A widespread naval presence thus will be required." Earlier this year reports in state-run media ... saying a second vessel was already under construction in Dalian and two more were in the pipeline. The PLA clouds its activities in secrecy, and the military zones at the tip of the Lushunkou peninsula ... are forbidden to outsiders. ... China has long proclaimed itself as rising peacefully and insists that its military expansion is purely to defend itself. Washington has 10 aircraft carriers at its disposal, soon to rise to 11 when the USS Gerald R Ford enters service.

For its part Tokyo ... will soon have a helicopter carrier of its own, which could potentially be adapted to carry vertical take-off fighter jets. But in recent months Beijing has asserted itself ever more aggressively in maritime territorial disputes with Japan in the East China Sea and several southeast Asian nations in the South China Sea, raising fears of clashes. It has four ships taking part in the US-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) joint exercises off Hawaii, which analysts have touted as a step towards improving military ties, and visiting US Admiral Jonathan Greenert was given a tour of the Liaoning earlier this month.  But Beijing also sent a surveillance ship to spy on the RIMPAC drills, according to US reports citing the US Navy. China's "behaviour in its near seas and its territorial claims suggest that it is going to robustly defend its 'core interests'", said the Jane's specialists. "... you can say that China is closing the gap on Japan in most areas and outpacing it in others," they added. "The PLA has substantial offensive capabilities in the form of ballistic and cruise missiles, fast jets, bombers, amphibious forces, heavy armour, destroyers, frigates and so on, so the idea that it is armed just for self-defence doesn't really wash."  By 2030 China could have four or possibly five aircraft carriers in service, including the Liaoning, says Fisher, and could ultimately decide to build as many as 10. It will be the culmination of decades of ambition, he said, describing Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders' denunciations of the US and Soviet Union for their "imperialist" military capabilities in the 1950s and 60s as "a reflection of their intense envy". "Mao always wanted to have a superpower level of global influence but was also quite happy to condemn those who had it, when he did not," he said. "All of Mao's successors have worked to fulfil a dream of future Chinese strategic dominance." Source - Bangkok Post - here.

China has its first aircraft carrier.

US is about to launch its 11th.

Japan (who may now enter into conflicts abroad) will soon have a helicopter carrier.

Meanwhile, Thailand and Philippines have "jointly called for peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea" (here):

"Tensions spiked anew in the troubled waters when China placed an oil rig in waters it jointly claims with Vietnam, sparking a maritime standoff between the two neighbors and Vietnamese raids on Chinese-ran factories in Vietnam.

China’s expanding law enforcement jurisdiction and patrols encompassing nearly the whole of South China Sea have also alarmed the Philippines as it covers sections of its territorial waters, known locally as West Philippine Sea.

Adding to the tensions is China’s reclamation of at least two South China Sea reefs being claimed by the Philippines that were transformed into artificial islands."

"The Thai minister said his government is hoping for an early conclusion of the code of conduct as well as the full and effective implementation of a non-binding non-aggression document, called Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea or DOC.

The DOC was signed by China and the 10-member ASEAN in 2002. It calls on all claimants to exercise restraint and stop new occupation of territories in the South China Sea. However, the document lacks the power to sanction states that violate its provisions.

Sihasak [Acting Thai Foreign Minister] said ASEAN will hold a meeting with China in Thailand in October to try to move forward with the full and effective implementation of the DOC and push for the swift conclusion of a code of conduct in the South China Sea."

Sounds like everyone's nervous of China.

It's early days with the aircraft carrier, but I suppose if you were a small nation in the Pacific having "the world's largest standing military (China's People's Liberation Army) nearby, being a tad nervous or intimidated is understandable.

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NEWS SOURCE # 1 - AFP

Agence France-Presse (AFP) is an international news agency  headquartered in Paris. It is the oldest  news agency in the world and one of the largest. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet. AFP headquarters is in Paris ...

US NAVY PLAY DATE - JAPAN & INDIA

Another US navy play-date.

This time with India (accompanied by Japan).

Wall Street Journal Article [...] Japan, backed by the U.S., has launched a diplomatic offensive to draw other Asian countries into a more united front against China, which has been butting heads with its neighbors in the East China Sea and South China Sea. India, likewise, has accused Chinese troops of making repeated incursions into Indian-controlled parts of the Himalayas. The two countries fought a 1962 war over their Himalayan border. Indian officials have also grown concerned about China's presence in the Indian Ocean, which India sees as within its sphere of influence and which encompasses critical transit routes for shipments of Mideast oil to India as well as to China, Japan and the rest of East Asia. Beijing has bankrolled port construction in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and its navy has been more active in the region. China, for its part, has sought to improve economic relations with India. [...] As part of the U.S.'s strategic pivot to Asia, the U.S. has announced plans to shift a bulk of its naval assets to the region within the next decade and increase the number of military exercises it conducts. SOURCE - WSJ - here.

As usual, the US is in the midst of bickering and is making the most of the opportunities it affords.

Looks like there's some gang-gathering going on as well, and Japan's been deputised to form the Asian posse.

China's put up the cash for ports at Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which is impressive.

And the weird part:  US planning on shifting bulk naval assets to Asian region in next decade.

NORTH KOREAN ROCKETS - SAREX - JAPAN DROPS OVERSEAS COMBAT BAN

Japan, South Korea, U.S. begin search and rescue exercise Kyodo Jul 22, 2014 SEOUL – South Korea, the United States and Japan held two days of search and rescue drills south of the southern island of Jeju on Monday, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said. The exercise, known as SAREX, has been held once or twice a year.  Source - Japan Times - here.

Japan Times article also said that North Korea has been firing rockets and missiles into the sea, raising tensions in the area.

Finally, the article mentions abduction of Japanese citizens.

Current news story on the subject elsewhere:

Pyongyang abductee probe stirs speculation of early Japan poll Tue Jul 15, 2014 By Linda Sieg TOKYO (Reuters) - As Japan presses North Korea for information on the fate of Japanese citizens abducted decades ago, speculation is simmering that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could use a possible breakthrough on the emotive issue to call a snap election. History shows that securing the release of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea decades ago can deliver a hefty, if shortlived, boost to a premier's popularity. North Korea agreed in May to reopen an investigation into the fate of missing Japanese, including those snatched by its agents to train spies in the 1970s and 1980s, in return for Japan easing some economic sanctions on the reclusive state. [...] Support for his cabinet has slipped below 50 percent in several surveys since his July 1 decision to drop a ban that has kept the military from fighting abroad since Japan's defeat in World War Two. [...] SOURCE - Reuters Canada - here.

"SAREX is a search and rescue military exercise of the US military forces with other nations" - [pics here].

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COMMENT

Island of Jeju is island southwards of South Korea.

As a newbie, hard to say what the drills are for.

US, South Korea and Japan are probably working on the cooperation and skills building side of things; and maybe it's also a morale building exercise.

Imagine North Korea might be aware of the presence of the trio, so it could also be about making their presence known in the region.

Or it could just be drills.  LOL.

Funny how emotive issues help raise the stocks of politicians the world over.

What's disturbing is that Japan has DROPPED A BAN that has kept military from FIGHTING ABROAD.

That's big.

Wonder if there's anticipated conflict either in that region or in the South China Sea region.

Again, I've only just started watching this stuff, so I could be right off base speculating in that direction.

CHINA: Xi says confrontation between US and China would be disastrous for both countries

 ARTICLE: Online International News Network - here.

World

Xi says US-China confrontation would be 'disaster’

Dated: 2014-07-10
Beijing: Confrontation with the US would be a "disaster", Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday said as he called for mutual respect between the two nations. Mr Xi's comments came at an annual China-US dialogue held in Beijing.

Diplomats are expected to discuss China's currency, North Korea and tensions in the South China Sea. The US delegation is led by Secretary of State John Kerry, who in his opening remarks said that the US was not seeking to "contain" China. 

Mr Xi said the two countries' interests were now "more than ever interconnected", with much to gain from co-operation.

"China-US confrontation, to the two countries and the world, would definitely be a disaster," he said. "We should mutually respect and treat each other equally, and respect the other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and respect each other's choice on the path of development." 

Kerry, meanwhile, said the US did "not seek to contain China" and urged Beijing not to "interpret it as an overall strategy" when the US differed from China on certain issues.

US President Barack Obama also said in a statement that the US "welcomes the emergence of a stable, peaceful, and prosperous China".

"We remain determined to ensure that co-operation defines the overall relationship," he said. But US leaders have also called on China to do its part in maintaining stability in Asia.

Mr Kerry said the US welcomed a China that "contributes to the stability and development of the region and chooses to play a responsible role in world affairs".

The talks come with China locked in bitter disputes with several neighbours in the region, notably Vietnam and the Philippines, over claims in the South China Sea.

In turn, the US has stepped up joint military exercises with the Philippines and its military presence there, a move over which China has raised concerns. One of the latest exercises was conducted in the South China Sea near disputed waters two weeks ago.

Increased anti-Japan rhetoric has also come from China in recent weeks, following a decision by the Japanese cabinet to reinterpret the constitution, giving the Japanese military greater latitude to fight overseas.

Both countries claim a string of islands in the East China Sea and ties are severely strained over this issue.

The US and China have also had disagreements in recent months, particularly over cyber-attacks. In May, US authorities charged five Chinese military officers with hacking into American businesses.
Beijing has vigorously denied the charges, accusing the US of launching cyber-attacks against China.

END article
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COMMENT

In this blog poster's opinion, general coverage from various sources, of the US-China talks, comes across as friendlier than it would seem at first glance.

When the poster first read China's remark (yesterday in some other report) that confrontation between US and China would be disastrous for both countries, the poster took that to mean that China is squaring up to the US and that behind all the diplomacy there's a steeliness.

Bear in mind US is conducting military exercises in the disputed waters (much like it is in Russia's backyard, the Black Sea), so the poster takes this to be a flexing of muscles and an attempt at maybe intimidation of the opponent (although the Russians put it as the US-NATO (in their case) putting 'pressure' on).

China also reminds the US of the need to respect each other's sovereignty in equal relations etc.  Again, the poster took that as:  hey, respect China's sovereignty.

Perhaps as a new political watcher, I'm reading too much into these statements.

Kerry conveys that:

the US was not seeking to "contain" China. 

but what is actually happening, the Asia-Pacific alliances that are 'iron clad' and even the Philippine ally's assertion that the US is surrounding China (Fox News article), would indicate that perhaps the US wishes to do just that in the region.


As a novice political watcher, the poster perhaps reads too much into what's said and what's done.

Anyway, catch-ups in relation to US-China and Philippines are complete.

[cross-tagged to Ukraine, Russia, US-Nato]

US-PHILIPPINES - Obama's commitment to Asia-Pacific Allies is "iron clad"

FOX NEWS:

New military pact reflects cozier US-Philippine alliance amid jitters over China's rise

Published April 30, 2014

MANILA, Philippines –  A new defense pact that will allow thousands of U.S. troops to be temporarily based in Philippines for the first time in more than 20 years signals closer cooperation in the allies' hot-and-cold relationship that has been shaped over the decades by war, terrorism and now, jitters over China's rise.

The 10-year agreement, signed Monday as President Barack Obama arrived in Manila, was considered the centerpiece of his four-nation Asian trip, which Obama used to reassure allies like Japan and the Philippines of American military backing as they wrangle with China in increasingly tense territorial disputes.

Obama said the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement showed that Manila and Washington have emerged from a rough period in their alliance.
...
The pact will allow thousands of rotating batches of U.S. forces to gain temporary access to mutually chosen Philippine military camps, paving the way for the largest U.S. military deployment in the country since U.S. bases here were closed in 1992. It will also allow the United States to station fighter jets, ships and surveillance equipment in the Philippines on a limited basis.

China's growing military might and assertiveness in the region has helped bring the two nations closer together.

The Philippines has struggled to bolster its territorial defense amid disputes with China, including the Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground off the northwestern Philippines that Beijing took effective control of in 2012. Chinese coast guard ships last year surrounded another contested offshore territory, the Second Thomas Shoal, where Filipino marines are manning a rusty, grounded ship.

Obama said the defense agreement was not meant to counter China but to promote peace and stability in Asia amid a much-touted "pivot" by Washington to the Pacific. But he made it clear the U.S. would honor its commitment to defend Manila under a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
[Poster's emphasis/indentation]

"Let me be absolutely clear," Obama said at a Philippine army gymnasium Tuesday, standing in front of an assembly of American and Filipino soldiers in combat uniform. "Our commitment to defend the Philippines is ironclad."

...
Earlier in his trip, Obama also said the U.S. would obligated to defend Tokyo in any confrontation with Beijing over a cluster of disputed islands in the East China Sea, even as urged all sides to resolve the dispute peacefully.

Former Philippine national security adviser Roilo Golez said Manila wanted the larger U.S. presence to deter China.

[Philippine national security adviser Roilo Golez said:]

The U.S. "is surrounding China. It's very obvious even to the most elementary strategy student," he said. "If the U.S. is not there, then the Philippines would be helpless."

The countries have had a roller-coaster relationship going back more than a century — including several decades when the Philippines was a U.S. colony.

America's foray into the Philippines started when it defeated the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898, ending more than three centuries of Spanish colonization. But the Philippines was ceded shortly after to the United States and only gained independence in 1946, a colonization that was disrupted by the invasion and occupation of the Japanese imperial army.

After World War II, the U.S. maintained bases in the Philippines for nearly a half-century, but those were shuttered in 1992 amid rising nationalism, and military ties between the nations became virtually frozen.

Territorial disputes with China in the mid-1990s prompted Manila to reach out to Washington.

The Philippines discovered that Beijing has taken control of the Mischief Reef off its western coast and built hut-like structures over the submerged coral outcrops. In 1998, the U.S. and Philippines signed a treaty that allowed large military exercises to resume in the country.

The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks brought the U.S. and Philippine militaries closer, with Filipino officials allowing hundreds of American counterterrorism troops to train Filipino soldiers fighting al-Qaida-linked militants in the south.

Relations soured again in 2004 when the Philippines ordered an early withdrawal of its small peacekeeping contingent in Iraq to comply with the demand of Iraqi insurgents who threatened to behead a kidnapped Filipino worker. The decision angered U.S. officials....

...

FULL article @   http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/30/new-military-pact-reflects-cozier-us-philippine-alliance-amid-jitters-over/
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COMMENT

The part above:

"standing in front of an assembly of American and Filipino soldiers in combat uniform"

Poster took that to mean Obama was in 'combat uniform' (LOL)...but a check of online images would indicate that the soldiers were in uniform.  Hmmmm...not as dramatic as it seemed.  Reading the article, I thought Obama had gone totally gung-ho.  LOL.

Anyway, this is the article that UK censors appear not to want discussed on a message board, in relation to the current US-China talks and in relation to perhaps broader implications (ie what's going down with US-Russian relations).

That's the assumption the poster makes, as the poster is not privy to reasons for censorship of board posts.

While the US is presenting itself any ally aiming to "promote peace and stability in Asia" (much like US-NATO is in Europe (re Ukraine), the Manila national security dude doesn't mince his words (LOL)...says:  

The U.S. "is surrounding China. It's very obvious..."

For a new spectator of politics, it highly amusing to see how things are played out and what kind of spin the players put on their actions.  For veterans of political watching, it's probably not that notable.  LOL.