China Launches Second Unmanned Spacecraft ------------------------------------------------------------------------Chin a launched an unmanned spacecraft, "Shenzhou II", early Wednesday morning from Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center of Gansu Province, and ten minutes after blast-off, the spaceship entered its preset orbit. The successful launch at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province was China's second in a series of flights expected to lead to a first manned space flight. It marked a step forward in China's manned space program. Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a congratulatory message to hail the successful launch and convey his greetings to the scientists, cadres, workers, and People's Liberation Army servicemen involved in the manufacture and launch of the unmanned spacecraft. China conducted its first test flight of "Shenzhou" in 1999 at the Jiuquan launch site. And according to a plan, it will launch more unmanned spacecraft until a manned spaceship takes shape. "Shenzhou II" is composed of an orbital module, returning module and booster rockets. Compared with its predecessor, the new spacecraft has been improved in structure and technological qualities, whose functions are basically identical to a manned space aircraft. The spaceship, made solely by Chinese scientists and engineers, is expected to return in a few days. During the flight, experiments on space life sciences, space materials, space astronomy and physics will be conducted. The "Long March II F" carrier rocket that carries the spacecraft was a new powerful product made in China especially for the manned space program. Its overall structure, power system, control system and remote monitoring system has been improved to ensure reliability, and new trouble-shooting system and life-saving system have been added for better safety of the spacemen. This was the 65th launch of the "Long March" carrier rocket series, and its 23rd successful launch in a row since October 1996. The launch site was built solely by China, which was designed to launch both satellites and space aircraft. It is capable of a general assembly in a vertical way, vertical tests of the combined body of the space aircraft and booster rockets and vertical transportation of the combined body. The technology of long-distance monitoring and control of the launching is also used. The spacecraft was developed and manufactured mainly by the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and Shanghai Research Institute of Astronomical Technology. The carrier rocket was made by the China Research Institute of Carrier Rocket Technology under the Aerospace Corporation. Relevant departments of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Information Industry took part in the design, manufacture and test of the project. During the flight, under the command of the Beijing Aerospace Directing and Controlling Center, the Xi'an Satellite Monitoring Center of China and the surveying ships named "Yuanwang" stationed at high seas will trace, survey and control its operations. An official responsible for the launch said that the success of the "Shenzhou II" is "of great importance for China to comprehensively grasp the manned space technologies and make technological breakthroughs." "More unmanned test flights will be launched to pave the way for sending Chinese astronauts into space in the end," he said. **** Harming Both Others and Self This article, written by Huang Qing, is published in the column "International Forum" on Page 3 of People's Daily <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/GB/paper464/> , January 9. Full text follows: The recent exposure in newspapers of the fact about and serious consequences caused by lean uranium bombs used in large quantities by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization )NATO) led by the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> in Kosovo have shocked Europe and attracted world attention. Reports say that during the Kosovo War, the United States dropped a total of more than 31,000 lean uranium bombs on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 90 percent of which on Kosovo. Earlier, during the Bosnia and Herzegovina War, the United States released over 10,000 lean uranium bombs on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the consequences caused by the radiation pollution of such bombs have become increasingly clear, among the local residents and soldiers participating in the NATO military actions, the proportion of people contracted leukemia and cancer has increased sharply. European Union has announced that it would conduct an "informal investigation" of the radiation pollution possibly caused by NATO's use of lean uranium bombs in the Balkan region, the UN Environment Program is also organizing evaluation of the jeopardy caused by lean uranium bombs. Various social circles of Germany <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/Germany.html> demand prohibition against the use of this type of weapon. Several problems here deserve careful pondering: First, as the producer and user of lean uranium bombs, the United States has not uttered a single word about this and adopted a very bad attitude. It does not publish the truth about the use of lean uranium bombs, but instead threatens that it will not stop using this weapon. While it conducted armed intervention in the Balkan region, the United States shouted the slogan of "humanitarianism" thunderously. While on the question about radiation pollution that affects human lives, the United States keeps on saying "No". Its morally dual character and hypocrisy are as clear as daylight. Second, European media's concern over this matter is concentrated mainly on the fate of the soldiers participating in the "peace-keeping action" in the Balkan region, but in fact, the greatest victim of lean uranium bombs is the Balkan region, particularly the broad masses of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. "People are born equal", this should have been the universal norm of human rights in today's world, but in fact, the concern of Western media over "human rights" is shown in their allocation by an unequal and unfair method. Third, Why did the United States use the weapon that caused serious consequences in the Balkan region? The American themselves refuse to give explicit explanations. It seems there is no sufficient reason and necessity for using this weapon even when viewed from the logic of general military action. During the Kosovo War, some people censured the United States for regarding the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as "the site for arms sales" and the "test ground of weapons". Today, the disturbance triggered by the lean uranium bomb and the US attitude toward this are a crystal clear proof. NATO, which used the lean uranium bombs, has today also been contracted the "phobia of lean uranium bomb". With the exception of the United States, many other countries have begun conducting physical check of soldiers then in action. This seems to have confirmed one old saying, "Harming both others and self". At present, only the United States is still holding on firmly despite world censure, it categorically denies the potential jeopardy of lean uranium bomb to human body, European countries have expressed their dissatisfaction over this. In fact, there is also much talk about the harm done to the bodies of American soldiers, but the United States refuses to face, investigate and publish the truth. Perhaps the US attitude will confirm another proverb, "Harm set, harm get." **** Kenyan President Reiterates One-China Policy Kenya <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/kenya.html> n President Daniel arap Moi Tuesday reiterated that his country has always been adhering to the One China policy. Kenya and China have maintained friendly relations since Kenya's independence in 1963, Moi said while receiving credentials from Du Qiwen, China's new ambassador to the East African country. Kenya looks forward to close working relations with China on major international issues affecting mankind, Moi said. The Kenyan president recalled that the Chinese government has accorded Kenya a lot of assistance over the years, such as the construction of the Moi International Sports Complex, and a number of hospitals and roads. The two countries could explore more areas of cooperation, especially in the international forum, to ensure that mankind enjoys the fruits of freedom, Moi said. On his side, Du told Moi that he enjoys great respect of the Chinese people for his efforts in promoting Sino-Kenyan relations and upholding the One China policy. **** China Weighs Defense Needs in New Century Chinese strategists believe the challenge from hegemony and problems caused by splittism will be the main pressures on security that China will face in the new century. China's road to rejuvenation is by no means a smooth one, said Luo Yuan, director of Second Office of the Department of Strategic Studies of the Academy of Military Science of the People's Liberation Army. "Military allies, the arms race and nationalities splittism are still the threats to the security in the Asia-Pacific region," he said, noting the force behind the threat is the vicious expansion of hegemony. "Such growing power politics is poisoning the trend towards multipolarity, undermining the conditions necessary for establishing new political and economic orders, and breeding the potential danger of an arms race," he said. Luo's remarks were echoed by Peng Guangqian, a famous Chinese strategist and military analyst. While recognizing that factors that safeguard world peace are growing constantly, Peng pointed out that the world is still far from being multi-polarized as the former strategic balance was shattered by the ending of the Cold War. Just in the areas around China, about 300 military exercises take place every year, and most of them are directed against China. Peng said the Chinese Government firmly pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, restricted in input and moderate in scale. "It doesn't mean our defense is passive," said Peng, characterizing Chinese defense strategy as being designed to forestall a war from happening; to stop a war from accelerating; to prepare for a war if necessary and to win a war if involved. At the same time, after reviewing the high-level exchanges between China and the United States, experts indicated that bilateral relations will continue to be the most important element in diplomacy for both sides. The former US President George Bush paid a working visit to China in 1989 and sent his national security adviser Brent Scowcroft to Beijing. President Bill Clinton, his defense secretary, his secretary of state, his secretary of the treasury, and his secretary of commerce have all been to China. Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji also have made significant visits to the United States during the past three years. Undoubtedly, both sides have a strong wish to build a stronger and better Sino-US relationship in the future. **** Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Tiananmen Papers Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao commented Tuesday on the Tiananmen Papers that are reportedly to be published soon in the United States. He said that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government "had already made a correct conclusion about the political disturbances that took place in Beijing at the end of the Spring and the beginning of the Summer in 1989 and that the conclusion would not change." Zhu said that the practice over the past decade and more has proven that the prompt and decisive measures that the CPC and the Chinese government took at the time were "highly necessary to the stability and development of China." He said that the CPC Central Committee, with Jiang Zemin at the core, is united. He noted that any attempt to play up the matter again and disrupt China by the despicable means of fabricating materials and distorting facts will be futile. **** Jiang Zemin Urges Party Members and Leading Officials to Rely on People Jiang Zemin Inspects Beijing Enterprise ------------------------------------------------------------------------Pres ident Jiang Zemin, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has urged all Party members and leading officials to adhere to the mass line. "Whatever we do and whatever great causes we undertake, we Communists must work for the masses and rely on the masses," he said. The president made the remarks Monday in an inspection tour to a number of enterprises and households in Beijing, the national capital. He was accompanied by Vice Premier Li Lanqing, Alternate Member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Zeng Qinghong, Secretary of the Beijing Municipal CPC Committee Jia Qinglin and Beijing Mayor Liu Qi. During the tour, Jiang also urged Party members and leading officials to further strengthen their sense of responsibility and mission, have both an ambitious goal and a down-to-earth style of work, blaze new trails in their work, and greet the 80th anniversary of the CPC with outstanding achievements. The president asked Party committees and governments at various levels to care for the people, particularly the needy, on the eve of the Spring Festival, the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year that falls on January 24 this year. After hearing a report by Jia, the president said Beijing has witnessed sound progress in its reform and development, with fast growth in the economy and high-tech industry. Great changes have taken place in the national capital. During the tour, Jiang also visited living quarters of workers and expressed his concern about their living conditions. While talking to the family of retired railway worker Li Changjiu, Jiang expressed his respect to the Li's for their contribution to the railway industry. Jiang also paid a visit to the Legend Group, one of the largest computer companies in China, and heard a report from Lu Yongxiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on the development of the high-tech industry. In his talks with Lu, the president urged the academy to use its expertise to make a greater contribution to the development of the high-tech industry in China. In the new century, development remains the main theme for China's reform and development, Jiang said. Development calls for constant exploration of new ways of thinking, he noted. Beijing is strong in the fields of science and technology, personnel, intelligence and information, which form a solid foundation for the development of the high-tech industry, he said. The president also said that Beijing should make utmost efforts to protect local historic and cultural relics while modernizing the old part of the downtown area. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
