Extracts.
Whom, If Not China, Is US Aircraft Carriers' Moving onto South China Sea
Directed Against?
>From August 20 to 25, a group of US Constellation aircraft carriers paid a
port visit to Hong Kong. However, just three days before they arrived in
Hong Kong, the Constellation aircraft carriers held a one-day large-scale
joint military exercise in the South China Sea together with the Carl Vinson
which replaced them to go to cruise the Gulf region. Since the place and
time of the military manoeuvre were very sensitive, there were many
discussions about this. What subject-related exercise did they carry out in
the South China Sea? And what was the aim of the joint military exercise?
A "Pure Coincidence" of the Meeting of the Two Aircraft Carriers
The meeting of the two groups of aircraft carriers in the South China Sea
itself had attracted people's attention, the reasons are very simple, when
the groups combine, they form a very terrible military force. A spokesman
for the US Pacific Fleet said that the two groups of aircraft carriers had a
combined total of 14 water surface and underwater combat submarines, over
130 warship-carrying fighters of various types, more than 20 air force
fighters on the warship, as well as 15,000-plus officers and men.
In the words of the Americans, the meeting of the two groups of aircraft
carriers on the international waters of the South China Sea was "pure
coincidence", because the Carl Vinson which recently just steered off the
Port of Bremerton of the state of Washington and was prepared to hurry to
the West Pacific and the Middle East Region to carry out routine tasks for a
period of six months, while the Constellation had just completed the
half-year overseas deployment tasks and was ready to return to San Diego
port of the US proper for rest and reorganization, therefore the two groups
of aircraft carriers unexpectedly encountered on August 17 in the
international waters of the South China Sea and took this opportunity to
hold a one-day joint military exercise.
The Manoeuvre Aims to Cope with Anti-ship Missiles
Although the top US military officials kept the military exercise a secret,
the official websites of the commands of the 7th Fleet and the Pacific Fleet
of the US naval force, however, had both disclosed part of the content of
the excise.
How to deal with the low-altitude anti-ship missiles was the core content of
the military exercise, particularly the Russia-made Sunburn anti-ship
missiles used specially to attack aircraft carriers. In this core-subject
drill, two warship-loaded early warning planes on the aircraft carrier flew
together over the sky to search the inroad anti-ship missiles; how should
the warship-carrying F-14 fighter, the F/A-18 fighter attack plane, the
EA-6B electronic war attacker and the warship-carrying Sea Sparrow missiles
on the aircraft carrier, only when they carried out the exercise in light of
the warning of the early-warning plane before they could bring down those
anti-ship missiles that skim over the sea and fly at low altitude, while the
final life-saving talisman-the short-distance closely grouped firing system
of the aircraft carriers is to conduct ball firing.
The nature of high-tech war determines that modern war is definitely a
combined operation featuring the integration of many services, therefore,
this time the two groups of aircraft carriers and 20 US air force fighters
conducted joint drill; of course, other war vessels of the group of aircraft
carriers also conducted different subject training such as how to protect
aircraft carriers and underwater surprise attacks. The entire exercise was
centered around the Constellation aircraft carrier group to conduct exercise
in an air, water surface and under water, three-dimensional way.
"We Do Not Direct the Exercise at China"
The joint exercise carried out by US aircraft carriers is a military action
rarely seen in recent years. Observers of international issues, military
analysts and media have published many comments on the intentions and aims
of the exercise.
In releasing news on August 19 about the exercise, the official website of
the US 7th Fleet said that the meeting of the two major aircraft carriers
groups in the South China Sea demonstrated "the United States' determination
to maintain peace and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and safeguard
the right of free navigation", the aim of the exercise was to coordinate the
combined operational capabilities of the two major aircraft carriers.
On August 19, spokesman for the 7th Fleet indicated that the exercise was by
no means to transmit any information to China, the reason why the exercise
was carried out on the international waters of the South China Sea was only
because the two aircraft carrier groups passed by the South China Sea at the
same time; in the news released on August 20 by the official website of the
7th Fleet once again indicated that they absolutely had no intention to
direct the exercise held three days ago against China, furthermore, the
Constellation had arrived in Hong Kong on August 20 for a five-day port
visit there.
Whom Is It Directed Against, If Not China?
An AFP correspondent stationed in Hong Kong pointed out sharply that at the
time when the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) was launching
large-scale exercise aimed at crossing the sea and seizing the beach in
Fujian Province, drilling for storming and occupying islands and attacking
aircraft carriers with missiles, the massive military exercise conducted by
US aircraft carriers in the South China Sea was aimed obviously at
displaying their strength to China; the British independent military analyst
Beaver noted more bluntly, "the joint military drill by the two groups of
aircraft carriers on the South China Sea was by no means a coincidence.
While US armed forces were preparing for the exercise, they should have been
well aware that the Chinese People's Liberation Army was holding exercise in
Dongshan Island!" US military analysts were of the opinion that the move of
the US armed forces was to display their strength before China, indicating
that they were following closely the situation in the Taiwan Straits,
because prior reports said that 100,000 PLA troops were launching
large-scale exercise aimed at seizing beach and landing in Dongshan Island
of Fujian Province, since Dongshan Island is located in the Taiwan Straits,
plus the fact that it looks very much like Taiwan Island in topography, the
exercise was very close to an actual fight against Taiwan.
What is more meaningful is that often as long as US aircraft carriers got
close to the nearby waters of Taiwan Island, Taiwan media and the Taiwan
military invariably were just like clutching a blade of life-saving straw,
saying what US aircraft carriers would act. But this time they behaved quite
differently. The Taiwan military did not utter a single word about the
exercise, a high-ranking Taiwan general not wanting to be identified
indicated that although the time and place of the exercise were quite
sensitive, they had nothing to do with the military manoeuvre conducted by
the mainland on Dongshan Island. He also said that even if the US troops
really wanted to back up Taiwan, it would only be moving the "Eaglet"
stationed in Japan's Yokosuka Port throughout the year, and a garrison
relief of the Carl Vinson and the Constellation, aimed at stabilizing the
situation in the Gulf region, and had nothing to do with the situation in
the Taiwan Straits.
Can the PLA Sink the Aircraft Carriers?
As a matter of fact, whether or not the two aircraft carrier groups
spearheaded the PLA's military manoeuvre, the PLA has had quite a strong
deterrent force against aircraft carriers.
According to the latest reports of Hong Kong-based Wen Wai Pao, the Chinese
armed forces are entirely capable of keeping fixed and moving targets under
surveillance on the southeast coasts and nearby waters, they can discover,
trace and identify military vessels of medium type and above and keep
all-weather and all-time watch on large war vessels (mainly aircraft
carriers), so as to safeguard the unification of the country.
The PLA not only has the ability to gaze firmly at enemy aircraft carriers,
but also the ability to attack them. Reports from Hong Kong-based Sing Tao
Jih Pao say that aircraft carrier-headed troops, and combat groups composed
of nuclear-powered submarines, destroyers, minesweepers and anti-submarine
escort vessels had many times sailed near the Taiwan Straits when military
crisis occurred there to abet the Taiwan troops, thus making the PLA face a
big military threat. However, in the PLA's arsenal, there are already three
kinds of weapons capable of countering aircraft carriers, they are Modern
Missile warship, Lilo-Class nuclear-powered submarines and Dongfeng-15
nuclear missiles (of course, the PLA absolutely will not use nuclear weapons
unless there is no other alternative). Given this, the modern destroyer with
a displacement of 7,000 tons, which is equipped with eight Sunburn
warship-to-warship missiles and 44 sea-to-space missiles become a
life-taking weapons used to cope with an aircraft carrier group. The combat
unit made up of the "Modern" destroyer, the "Kilo" submarine, the Su-30
aircraft, and early-warning plane will become the weapons overcoming enemy
aircraft carrier groups, and is the PLA's conventional main-force unit
counter-attacking and ambushing enemy reinforcements. The PLA now has two
"Modern" destroyers and four "Kilo-Class" submarines. And it has planned to
import two war vessels of the similar type from Russia next year. By then,
the four fleets composed of these warships will become the strong opponents
of enemy aircraft carriers.
Commander: "I'm Only a Sailor"
On August 20, when the Constellation arrived in Hong Kong, Commander Major
Terrence Etnyre was interviewed by Hong Kong media.
When asked about what diplomatic information he was to transmit this time
when in shore in Hong Kong, he evaded the question, saying that the
questions should be answered by government or ambassador. He kept on
explaining, saying "I'm only a sailor." At the same time, he stressed that
being in shore in Hong Kong aimed mainly at maintenance and supplies, and
providing sailors with a chance for rest and consumption, so that they could
buy gifts for their wives and girl friends. When asked about Constellation
joining with the Carl Vinson in the military exercise on the South China
Sea, he explained that there were not many opportunities for the two
aircraft carrier groups in their best conditions to meet each other,
therefore, from the naval angle, they must make full use of such
opportunity. That they met and held manoeuvre last time was a matter several
years ago. With regard to the place of exercise, General Terrence Etnyre
said that was purely accidental. If the Constellation arrived one or two
days earlier, perhaps the two aircraft carriers would have met in the West
Pacific. Or if the Constellation met with the Carl Vinson three or four days
later, then the place for the exercise might be in the Indian Ocean.
****
China, US End Non-proliferation Talks with Both Silent on Outcome
China and the United States ended missile technology non-proliferation talks
in Beijing on Thursday with no more talks scheduled on Friday, a US official
said, adding the talks were "candid".
However, "we have not yet been fully satisfied in our discussions about
that", said State Department spokesman Philip Reeker.
"The talks have concluded," said John Berry, US Embassy spokesman, refusing
to comment on the atmosphere of the discussions,
US officials had originally said that Friday would be available to continue
the talks if necessary -- but Philip Reeker, the deputy spokesman, said no
new meetings were planned.
``We need to have more discussions on the subject,'' Reeker said in
reporting on talks held in Beijing.
``It will continue to be an important part of our bilateral dialogue with
China,'' he said.
China's Foreign Ministry also refused to elaborate on the discussion.
However, in a statement it issued earlier on Thursday, it urged the US to
"do away with the man-made obstacles" so that the mutually beneficial
co-operation between China and the United States can return to normal as
soon as possible.
US has accused Chinese entities of supplying missile technology to Pakistan,
which was labelled as groundless and rumors by the Chinese government.
The American delegation is led by acting Assistant Secretary of State Vann
Van Diepen. The talks were arranged during a visit by US Secretary of State
Colin Powell to Beijing last month.
It is the first such discussion to take place under the administration of US
President George W. Bush.
The talks are seen as an effort to solidify a bilateral "arrangement"
reached in November 2000, with the US seeking details of China's commitment
to place export controls on its missile and missile technology producing
companies.
As well as missile technology, the talks could also cover US arms sales to
Taiwan.
The US team is expected to return to Washington to assess how the issue can
be moved forward before Bush's visit.
****
Sino-Japan Trade Row Will Die Down: Chief Trade Negotiator
China's chief trade negotiator Long Yongtu hinted Wednesday the trade
disputes between Beijing and Japan can be resolved, but have to wait until
China has acquired the WTO membership.
Last April, the Japanese government began unilaterally to impose import
curbs on mushrooms, onions and rushes for tatami mats from China and China,
in return, slapped punitive tariffs on Japanese-made cars, mobile phones and
air conditioners.
Long believed that the trade disputes can be settled between the two
countries because both sides can find a solution within the framework of the
WTO when China becomes a WTO member.
China plans to join the WTO this year while some trade officials predict its
accession by early 2002 at the latest.
Long added that China and Japan could have a talk over the trade disputes at
an opportune moment, but did not breathe any specific time.
Days for WTO entry numbered
China is expected to achieve its 15-year-old quest to join the World Trade
Organization (WTO) when the body meets in November in Qatar, the top trade
negotiator said.
"The question regarding entry has been settled, and China will behave by
honouring all the rules within the WTO framework," said Long.
China's chances of entering the WTO grew stronger after successful bilateral
trade talks with the US and the European Union.
China has clinched deals with 37 members that asked for bilateral talks.
Only Mexico remains outstanding, but the Latin American nation said earlier
this summer that it supported China's bid.
Long said Chinese legal clauses that contradict or deviate from the WTO
framework are being scrapped or revised, while governmental officials and
the industrial community are being urged to learn global trade practices and
rules.
China's entrance into the WTO will open the gate for foreign firms already
covetous of the 1.3 billion-consumer potential here.
****
Premier Zhu Rongji Meets Russian Deputy PM
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji met Friday morning with Russian Deputy Prime
Minister V. I. Matviyenko.
Matviyenko is here as guest of Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing. They will
co-chair the Second Plenary Session of the China-Russia Cooperation
Committee on Education, Culture, Health and Sports.
****
China-Russia Cooperation Meeting Convened in Beijing
The second Plenary Session of the China-Russia Cooperation Committee on
Education, Culture, Health and Sports was convened Friday afternoon in
Beijing.
The meeting, co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing, who is the
committee's Chinese Chair, and Russian Deputy Prime Minister V. I.
Matviyenko, the committee's Russian Chair, reviewed the committee's work in
the past and made plans for the future.
During the meeting, Li thanked the Russian government and people as well as
Matviyenko for their efforts done for Beijing's successful bid to host the
2008 Olympic Games.
Noting that China and Russia boast vast potential for cooperation in various
fields, Li said China is delighted to see that the political, economic and
social basis for bilateral good- neighborly friendship and cooperation has
been built up steadily, bilateral cooperation and exchanges have developed
rapidly and mutual trust has been enhanced.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin, during his successful visit to Russia in
July, and Russian President Vladimir Putin worked out long-term plans on
Sino-Russian development prospects, exchanged in-depth views on the current
and imminent major regional and international issues, and reached
wide-ranging consensus, said Li.
The Sino-Russian good-neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation signed
by Jiang and Putin is a milestone in the development of bilateral relations.
The treaty, in the spirit of peace and aimed at bilateral friendship from
generation to generation and never targeting each other as enemies, has laid
a firm legal foundation for the two countries to be life-long good
neighbors, partners and friends, noted Li.
Li pointed out that the treaty, as a new milestone in the development of
Sino-Russian relations, will have a positive impact on the long-term
development of bilateral good-neighborly friendship and reciprocal
cooperation.
Li stressed that the committee will play a unique role in implementing the
treaty during the new historical period and under new conditions, and will
help promote the exchange of ideas and feelings between the two peoples as
well as mutual understanding and trust.
While the committee has four sub-committees, Li said that a new working
group on tourism cooperation was set up Friday, and the two governments are
set to expand their cooperation in other fields in the future.
Facts have proved that the committee's working system, in line with the
framework of regular meetings between prime ministers of the two countries,
plays an invaluable role in developing bilateral strategic cooperative
partnership and their overall cooperation in specific fields, stressed Li.
He said China is delighted to see that the committee has accomplished a lot
since its establishment and that the four sub- committees have held their
first meetings, mapped out their cooperative plans, carried out their plans
actively, and made remarkable achievements.
Agreeing with Li, Matviyenko said that the meeting, convened after the
signing of the treaty and ahead of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's upcoming
visit to Russia for the sixth regular meeting between Chinese and Russian
prime ministers, is of great significance.
The Russian side is satisfied with the committee's work, said Matviyenko,
adding that she is pleased at the establishment of the bilateral working
group on tourism cooperation which has been included in the committee's
working mechanism.
She voiced her hope that both sides will strengthen their cooperation,
gradually expand their cooperative channels and make concerted efforts for
the improvement of the committee's work.
In their plans for future work, Li and Matviyenko agreed that their focus
will be put more on creating favorable conditions for the establishment of
direct cooperative relations between institutions in specific fields.
They also discussed some specific projects for cooperation and reached
consensus.
After the meeting, Li and Matviyenko signed a summary of the meeting.
****
Jia Qinglin Meets Mongolian Guests
Jia Qinglin, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist
Party of China (CPC), met with a delegation from Ulan Bator, capital of
Mongolia, in Beijing August 24.
Jia said Beijing and Ulan Bator signed a memorandum on friendly exchanges in
Beijing Thursday and the memo will promote the friendly exchanges and
cooperation between the two capital cities.
The Mongolian guests arrived in Beijing to attend the opening ceremony and
other activities of the 21st Universiade that opened on August 22.
****
Cyprus to Host 14th Conference of Unified European Left
Cyprus will host the 14th conference of the Unified European Left (UEL), a
political group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, on
August 27- 28 in the southern coastal town of Larnaca.
The conference will be attended by parliament members from Cyprus, Greece,
Russia, Finland, Czech, France, Sweden, Ukraine and Moldavia.
Addressing the conference will be Cyprus' House President Demetris
Christofias, Chairman of the UEL Jaakko Laakso, Vice- chairman of the UEL
Doros Christodoulides, Chairman of the Russian Communist Party Gennady
Zyuganov and First Secretary of the Ukrainian Communist Party Petr
Simonenko.
The issue of Cyprus and its accession to the European Union will be on the
agenda of the conference.
The meeting will also discuss affairs related to European security and
social migration.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, on the last day of the conference,
party chairmen and heads of delegations will be received by Cyprus President
Glafcos Clerides.
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