Latest news with #ChineseNavy
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Chinese navy chief of staff and nuclear scientist expelled from top legislature
The Chinese navy's chief of staff and a top nuclear scientist have been stripped of their membership of the country's legislature. Vice Admiral Li Hanjun, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army Navy, and Liu Shipeng, deputy chief engineer of China National Nuclear Corporation, have been expelled from the National People's Congress. Li is the latest of a string of PLA generals and a handful of defence industry executives to have implicated in a sweeping crackdown in the military. More to follow ... Advertisement
AllAfrica
3 days ago
- Business
- AllAfrica
Why China's sitting on the Iran war sidelines
On a visit to Shanghai some years ago, I asked a leading Chinese strategist how Beijing would view a war between the US and Iran, which even back then seemed a high probability. I thought he would opine on how higher oil prices could threaten Chinese manufacturing. Instead, he shocked me by explaining that China would benefit from the US fighting yet another costly war in the Middle East, since that could mark the 'end of US global hegemony.' The Chinese have indeed always considered the Middle East as 'the graveyard of empires.' While hostilities have subsided for now, there remains a grim possibility that the Israel-Iran ceasefire could break down and the US will once again face pressure to come to Israel's defense. If China were to aid Iran, as it has Pakistan, with aircraft, missiles, and battle management technologies, that would mark a troubling escalation. But now, Beijing remains cautious about wielding its military power abroad. Still, China will likely reap geopolitical benefits if the US continues to be on an adversarial footing with Iran. The Chinese government condemned the American strike on Iran, saying, 'The actions of the US seriously violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East.' An editorial published on June 22 in the Chinese newspaper Global Times asserts that Washington's resort to force amounts to 'adding fuel to the fire of war and pushing the Iran-Israel conflict to a more uncontrollable situation.' It's fair to say the Chinese have been increasing their presence in the Middle East. A month ago, the Chinese Air Force arrived in Egypt for a military exercise, which featured joint aerial refueling for the first time. China's warships have been conducting regular visits to the region for about a decade and it's only a matter of time before one of its new aircraft carriers makes an appearance in these crowded waters. Back in March, there was even a trilateral naval exercise, now an annual occurrence, between warships from Russia, Iran, and China. On the other hand, these exercises were all rather small in scale and could not be described as threatening shows of force. Overall, Beijing has declined to militarize its foreign policy toward the Middle East. Even when Trump in mid-2019 essentially invited the Chinese Navy to patrol the Strait of Hormuz, Chinese strategists answered with an unequivocal refusal. Likewise, Beijing has declined to join any military actions against the Houthis over the last few years, preferring to negotiate with the Houthis to secure passage for its ships through the contested waterway. China puts diplomacy rather than military might at the forefront of its foreign policy. True, Beijing maintains a military base at Djibouti. Yet that facility is notably situated next to bases from other foreign countries, including the US, France, and Japan. It's hardly a launching pad for globe-spanning power projection or regional aggression. More to the point, China has notched a number of diplomatic achievements in the Middle East in recent years. Its star has been rising steadily among Arab states, helped along no doubt by its sympathy for the Palestinians. But it's also been actively fostering development in much quieter corners of the Middle East, such as in countries like Morocco and Oman that are gradually changing the region's complexion. Most strikingly, Beijing set off a veritable foreign policy earthquake in the Persian Gulf when it announced that it had successfully mediated an Iran-Saudi rapprochement in 2023. We cannot rule out that this situation could still take a turn for the worse, especially now that Washington has shown a willingness to take offensive action against Iran. There have been rumors of secret Chinese flights into Iran. Even before the war, it was reported that Beijing was shipping key components for ballistic missiles to Tehran. One can also easily imagine how Pakistan might serve as a conduit for Chinese military aid to Iran. Washington should take note and act cautiously under the present circumstances. But let's not lose track of the fundamentals here. The bottom line is that China does not have a military alliance with Iran. Remarkably, despite decades of great power jostling in the Middle East, Beijing has not sold a single major weapons system to Tehran since the early 1990s. That is an impressive show of restraint from Beijing and one Washington ought to reflect on as it one again resorts to the major use of force in the Middle East. We might also recall that in previous great power crises in this volatile region, our rivals have sometimes been much more willing to go to the brink. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, both the US and the Soviet Union put their nuclear forces on alert as the Kremlin considered direct military intervention. In this present crisis, Russia is thoroughly distracted by the war in Ukraine and no longer able to throw its weight around the Middle East. Likewise, China is not inclined to increase its military involvement, which should thankfully set some kind of upper limit to the dangers for escalation if hostilities resume. Perhaps Beijing is wise to 'sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.' Washington would do well to take note of Chinese restraint as the situation with Iran is likely to remain fraught for the foreseeable future. Lyle Goldstein is director of the Asia Program at Defense Priorities.
Yomiuri Shimbun
7 days ago
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
China's Aircraft Carriers Conduct over 1,000 Flight Operations Near Japan Since Late May
About 270 takeoff and landing operations of fighter jets based on the Chinese Navy's two aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, were conducted in the Pacific Ocean from Tuesday through Thursday, Japan's Defense Ministry said Friday. The number of flight operations by Chinese aircraft carriers in the waters near Japan since late May confirmed by the ministry was about 1,050 in total. The Liaoning passed between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island to the East China Sea. A Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer and other vessels conducted surveillance on the aircraft carriers. The ministry believes the Chinese Navy has been improving operational abilities of its aircraft carriers.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Raging China slams Britain after Royal Navy warship sails through Taiwan Strait in defiant message to Xi
CHINA has slammed the UK after a Royal Navy warship cruised through the Taiwan Strait in a defiant message to Xi Jinping. Beijing blasted HMS Spey's patrol through the passage, branding it a disruptive act of "intentional provocation" that "undermines peace and stability". 5 5 5 The British Royal Navy said the route was part of a long-planned deployment and in accordance with international law. The bold patrol was the first by a Brit naval vessel in four years. A Chinese navy spokesperson hit back at HMS Spey's route, and blasted the UK for "publicly hyping up" the journey. They added the UK's claims were "a distortion of legal principles and an attempt to mislead the public". And in a chilling threat, they said that Chinese troops would respond and "resolutely counter all threats and provocations" made by HMS Spey. Meanwhile, Taiwan praised the patrol as an act that safeguarded the freedom of navigation in the highly disputed strait. US warships regularly conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the strait. But the last time a British naval vessel made a journey like this was in 2021 when HMS Richmond was deployed from Japan to Vietnam. China, much like this time round, condemned the transit and sent troops to monitor the ship. HMS Spey is one of two British warships permanently on patrol in the Indo-Pacific region. China floods sea bases with nuke bombers, terrifying satellite pics show - as US warns Xi could SEIZE Taiwanese islands China slammed the route as a means of aggression amid the ongoing simmering tension between Taipei and Beijing. Taiwan insists it is an independent nation after splitting from mainland China amid civil war in 1949. But China claims Taiwan remains a part of its territory with which it must eventually be reunified - and has not ruled out the use of force to take the island and place it under Beijing's control. The island, which is roughly 100 miles from the coast of south-east China, sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders. Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan and held multiple large-scale exercises around the island, often described as preparations for a blockade or invasion. China also claims almost the entire disputed waterway in the South China Sea - through which more than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes. This is despite an international ruling that Beijing's assertion has no merit. In April, Xi Jinping launched a fresh round of army, navy and rocket force exercises encircling Taiwan. 5 5 Beijing described their concerning movements, which included 19 warships and 50 aircraft, as a "stern warning" and a "powerful deterrent against Taiwanese independence". And in May, satellite pictures showed that China had deployed its most dangerous nuke bombers to a tiny but vital island sea base. Aerial photos showed two hulking H-6 bombers on an airfield on Woody Island in the South China Sea, taken on May 19. Taiwan's economy is another factor in China's desperation to reclaim the land. If China takes the island, it could be freer to project power in the western Pacific and rival the US, thanks to much of the world's electronics being made in Taiwan. This would allow Beijing to have control over an industry that drives the global economy. China insists that its intentions are peaceful, but President Xi Jinping has also used threats towards the small island nation. In this years New Year's address, President Xi even said that the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. He has previously called the independence of Taiwan a futile effort and that annexation by Beijing is a "historical inevitability". It comes as a UK carrier strike group arrives in the Indo-Pacific region as part of Operation Highmast which is set to last several months. Keir Starmer said it was aimed at "sending a clear message of strength to our adversaries, and a message of unity and purpose to our allies". Total blockade, air blitz & island grab… Three ways China could seize Taiwan By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter WITH an overwhelming military force, advanced warfare techniques and a fragmenting West, Xi Jinping will likely feel more confident than ever to seize Taiwan, experts warn. And if China does decide to attack, it's feared it will go in with "full force" using three major military strategies that would wreak havoc on the island. Defence experts say it's the "perfect moment" for Xi's long-standing ambition to reunify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland - and it could launch an attack as soon as 2027. Professor Ashok Swain, a peace and security expert at Uppsala University in Sweden, says that China could look to attack Taiwan with full force. He said: "The global politics has changed dramatically in the last couple of months... the way Ukraine is being handled by the United States gives a certain comfort level to Xi. "It is the perfect moment for China to attack Taiwan if it plans to do so." Swain suggests they could invade through a devastating air blitz to disable Taiwan's defences as naval forces also encircle the island. This coordinated approach would aim to prevent Taiwan's forces from mounting an effective response and limit the time available for Western intervention, the expert argues. China could also seize all or some of the islands surrounding Taiwan's mainland to gauge a reaction from the West. Any response short of military support would embolden Xi to go further - like Putin annexing Crimea in 2014. The third attack route could be a total blockade. Military experts say China will start with an ever-tightening squeeze on Taiwan using naval blockades around the island - something very similar to the war drills Beijing has been conducting for years. An effective sea and air blockade would halt valuable exports and cut off help from the US and Japan. The island could be crippled financially, economically and operationally if Beijing extended military exercises for a longer period.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chinese navy drill near Japan sparks concern and protest
A Chinese naval drill near Japan has sparked concern from Tokyo, which in recent days lodged a protest with Beijing and made the rare decision to publicly disclose Chinese military movements. In the last few weeks China's two aircraft carriers, the Shandong and the Liaoning, have been conducting simultaneous drills in the Pacific, in an unprecedented move. Chinese fighter jets have done hundreds of landings and take-offs from the carriers. A few came close to Japanese surveillance planes, prompting Tokyo to convey its "serious concerns" to Beijing. China has said its activities are consistent with international law and accused Japan of conducting "dangerous moves". On Tuesday, the Japanese defence ministry released a map tracing the Chinese aircraft carriers' daily positions since 25 May. Japan does not usually disclose details of foreign militaries' movements. It shows both carriers coming close to Japanese islands, and at times sailing through Japan's exclusive economic zone. The exclusive economic zone is an area beyond a country's territorial waters where that country has exclusive rights to explore and exploit marine resources, but other countries are allowed freedom of navigation through it. The map also shows the Liaoning sailing past the "second island chain", a line of defence outlined in US foreign policy doctrine that connects Japan to Guam. This makes it the first Chinese aircraft carrier to do so , according to Japanese news outlets. Japan's defence ministry also said they had observed more than 500 landings and take-offs of Chinese fighter jets and helicopters during the drills. On 7 June, a Chinese fighter jet took off from the Shandong and followed a Japanese surveillance aircraft for about 40 minutes, according to Tokyo. The next day, a Chinese fighter jet flew close to a Japanese plane for twice that duration, and crossed in front of it. Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said last week that they relayed to Beijing their concern about these "abnormal approaches" which could have caused accidental collisions. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that their "activities in relevant waters and air space are consistent with international law and international practices", and that the two countries were communicating through existing channels. "Let me point out that it is the close-in reconnaissance of Japan's vessels and airplanes on China's normal military activities that has caused maritime and air security risks. China urges Japan to stop those dangerous moves," he said. As its two carriers continue to sail through the Pacific, China's military gave an update on Tuesday on its newest carrier, the Fujian. It said sea trials were on track and the carrier is expected to enter service later this year. The Fujian will be their first carrier that will employ electromagnetic catapults to launch their planes - a technology that currently only American aircraft carriers possess. The technology allows a carrier to launch a wider range of aircraft, and launch fighter jets much faster. China's fighter jets will also be able to take off with their full fuel and weapon loads from the Fujian, noted a Global Times report, and the carrier would enable a "significantly higher" number of sorties compared to its predecessors. This month's drill follows February's much-scrutinised naval exercise in the Tasman Sea that prompted concern from Australia and New Zealand. Canberra and Wellington had complained Beijing had given insufficient notice of the drill, and some commercial planes had to be diverted last minute. Australia's defence minister Richard Marles later acknowledged that the naval exercise was in accordance with international law, while at the same time urging China to be more transparent about the reasons for what he called an "extraordinary military build-up". China's latest moves come as the US promises to maintain its presence in the Indo-Pacific while balancing other commitments. Last month US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasised the US's solidarity with the region, saying the US would not be pushed out of Asia nor allow its allies to be intimidated. China in response accused the US of being the "biggest troublemaker" in Asia. But on Monday the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left the South China Sea. Multiple outlets have reported it is moving to the Middle East, as the war between Israel and Iran deepens.
