Dinesh Chandra

Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe paid a working visit to Nepal, being the highest ranking Chinese official to visit the plateau country after China's top leader visited Kathmandu in October 2019. When Wei met President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister and Minister for Defense KP Sharma Oli, they discussed economic cooperation amid the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and military exchanges. Wei noted that China firmly supports Nepal to safeguard its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will continue assisting Nepal's military development, contributing to regional peace and stability. Wei also discussed the international and regional situations and bilateral diplomatic and military relations with Nepal's Chief of Army Staff General Purna Chandra Thapa. The visit amid the ongoing pandemic offers an opportunity for the two countries to communicate face to face and signifies the friendly ties

Two J-10 fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command soar into the air in formation during a combat flight training mission on November 17, 2020. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wu Gaoming) A warplane of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday again approached the island of Taiwan, marking the 26th day the PLA has done so in 30 days in November, and surpassing the frequency record in October, media on the island reported on Monday. The move comes amid the rampant military interactions between Taiwan island and the US, and Chinese mainland military experts said Monday that the PLA sorties are likely no longer part of exercises announced back in September, but routine missions to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. A PLA warplane entered Taiwan's southwestern "airspace" on Monday noon, meaning the PLA has sent warplanes near Taiwan in 26 out of 30 days in November, surpassin

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attends a press conference in Canberra, Australia, June 26, 2020. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Monday rejected Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's demand for an apology from China over a tweet from Hua's colleague showing an Australian soldier murdering a child, saying that the Australian government should feel "ashamed" for murdering Afghan civilians. Observers said Morrison's move aims at diverting public attention from Australia's inhumanity in Afghanistan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian tweeted earlier on Monday a satirical cartoon featuring an Australian soldier murdering a child. Zhao commented: "Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts, & call for holding them accountable." According to a Monday report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Morrison is d

BEIJING, Dec 1-- According to the notice released by China's Lianyungang Maritime Safety Administration on November 29, live-fire drills are conducted in the south of Yellow Sea from November 30 to December 5, 2020. SOUTH YELLOW SEA, GUN FIRING 2300UTC TO 1000UTC DAILY FROM 29 NOV TO 05 DEC IN AREA BOUNDED BY THE LINES JOINING 34-45.948N 119-19.728E, 34-49.977N 119-18.947E, 34-52.688N 119-20.308E, 34-51.861N 119-23.816E, 34-48.533N 119-23.554E. ENTERING PROHIBITED. LIANYUNGANG MSA CHINA.   source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-12/01/content_9945162.htm

By Shao Longfei, Wei Yin and Wang Lishan BEIJING, Dec 1 -- The video seminar of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum will be held at Beijing Xiangshan Yihe Hotel from December 1 to 2, 2020. Themed on “Enhancing International Cooperation: Responding to New International Security Challenges”, this year’s seminar will feature four major topics: the new security situation in the Asia-Pacific, future-oriented global strategic stability, international cooperation in non-traditional security fields, and the trend of major-power relations. The seminar will set up offline venues in China and connect with foreign experts through the Internet to achieve offline and online linkage. Given the time difference, foreign experts and scholars of different regions are to be arranged for exchanges and discussions at different times. The sponsor has invited 32 well-known experts from 12 countries for this year’s forum, including Ezra Feivel Vogel, former Director of Harvard’s Fairbank Center for East Asian Rese

BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Xiangshan Forum plans to hold workshops on Dec. 1 and 2 in Beijing, the organizers said on Monday. With the theme "Enhancing International Cooperation: Responding to New International Security Challenges," the event consists of four panels: security situation in the Asia-Pacific, global strategic stability toward the future, international cooperation in non-traditional security, and trends of major power relations, they said. Experts and scholars from 12 countries, including the United States, Russia and India, are expected to attend. The workshops are being held despite the postponement of the full 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which was due to be held this year but was postponed because of COVID-19. The workshops will be run as a hybrid event, both online and offline, to accommodate the need to prevent and control COVID-19, according to the organizers. Initiated in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is a high-level security-and-d

BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee met on Monday to review regulations on the political work in the armed forces, the Party's united front work and safeguarding Party members' rights. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting. The political work is the lifeline of the people's armed forces, which can only be strengthened, not weakened, according to a statement issued after the meeting. The statement highlighted the role of amending regulations on political work in the armed forces, noting that it could strengthen the Party's leadership over the military political work and promote the full implementation of the strategy of enhancing the military's political loyalty in the new era. Such measures would help ensure the armed forces are always under the absolute Party leadership and always capable of effectively fulfilling designated missions in the new

BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed high expectations for the work of the People's Education Press (PEP) in school teaching materials compilation, research and publication, urging efforts to create high quality teaching materials. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed the importance of centering the publishing house's work on the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education, in his reply to a letter from some PEP retirees. Extending regards to all the PEP staff, Xi in the letter hailed the contributions made by the organization over the past 70 years to China's education cause through the compilation, research and publication of teaching materials for basic education and educational books. "Education is the foundation of national development in the long run," Xi said in the letter. He expressed his hope for the PEP to fo

Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari meets with the visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe in Katmandu on the afternoon of November 29, 2020. (Photo by Li Xiaowei) KATMANDU, Nov. 29 -- Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister and Minister for Defense K.P. Sharma Oli met with the visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe in Katmandu on November 29, 2020. Bhandari said that Nepal congratulated China on achieving victory in the fight against COVID-19 under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, and is deeply grateful to China for its firm support for Nepal's economic development and social stability. She expressed that the Nepal-China friendship goes back to ancient times, and Nepal actively participates in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to deepen mil-to-mil friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Oli noted that both sides have con

SANYA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a letter to congratulate on the successful completion of a 10,000-meter sea trial of the manned submersible Fendouzhe and its return to port. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended warm congratulations and sincere greetings to scientific researchers who are committed to the deep-sea equipment development and scientific studies. China's new deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe (Striver) completed a 10,909-meter sea trial on Nov. 10 and returned to the port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province on Saturday morning. Xi stressed that the development of manned submersible Fendouzhe and its sea trial represented China's comprehensive strength in the field of marine high technology.   source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-11/28/content_9943835.htm

Participants compete in the first simulated flight contest of teen aviation cadets hosted by PLA Navy. BEIJING, Nov.27 -- The PLA Navy Pilot Recruitment Office and the PLA Naval Aviation University recently co-hosted the first simulated flight contest of teen aviation cadets, with 39 members of 13 teams participating. The contest was divided into three parts, the CJ-6 trainer contest on visual flight rule (VFR), the Su-27 fighter race on ultra-low altitude flight skills, and the Su-33 fighter carrier landing and takeoff challenge. Naval elite pilots were invited to be the judges, who evaluated the participants’ spatial awareness, eye-hand coordination, reaction and judgment, operation accuracy, and other flight-related capabilities based on their flight simulators' operation to carry out such subjects as takeoff, landing, turning and racing. The contest was live-streamed on the internet. About 50,000 netizens watched the contest and participated in the PLA Navy’s interactions

By Yang Mingyue BEIJING, November 27 -- China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs (MVA) held a press briefing on Veterans Support Law on November 25 to introduce its schedules concerning the welfare of veterans, including their transfer, settlement, education and training, employment, favorable policies, and relevant certificates for preferential treatment. The Law of Veterans Support will come into effect on January 1, 2021. Regarding the implementation of relevant policies and regulations, Li Xiaohu, deputy director of MVA's Department of Policies and Regulations, mentioned that the publicity and implementation of the law will be enhanced. More efforts will be made to perfect the auxiliary regulations and policies, including those on the settlement, preferential treatment and compensation for retirees and their families, as well as other related documents, in a bid to build a more integrated system of veteran support. It is learned that the MVA will also promote the transformat

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the opening ceremony of the 17th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit via video on Nov. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)   BEIJING, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for cultivating a closer community with a shared future for China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Xi made the remarks via video when addressing the opening ceremony of the 17th China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit held in Nanning, capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Xi said seven years after he announced an initiative for China to work with ASEAN countries for a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and for a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, "the China-ASEAN relationship has grown into the most successful and vibrant model for cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and an exemplary effort in building a community with a shared future f

A jet takes off from the deck of the CNS Liaoning. [Photo/www.chinanews.com] The first flight students-turned-pilots for the People's Liberation Army Navy's aircraft carrier-based fighter jet force have gained initial operational capability, said a spokesman for the Defense Ministry. Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang said at a news conference on Thursday afternoon in Beijing that these young aviators, who are in their 20s, have recently carried out landing and takeoff operations on the CNS Liaoning and received certificates for daytime aircraft carrier operations. Compared with their predecessors, these pilots are the youngest to be certified, and they needed a shorter amount of time to master the sophisticated carrier-based pilot skills and obtain certificates, the spokesman said. Previously, all naval pilots in the carrier-based fighter force were selected from experienced aviators who had already served in either the PLA Air Force or the PLA Navy. These new pilots, however, w

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony was held on Thursday to commend the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). An order signed by Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, was read at the ceremony, and a certificate of first-class citation for merit was presented to the unit. Established in 1952, the PLA Guard of Honor has completed more than 4,800 missions.   source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-11/27/content_9943491.htm

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Central Military Commission has issued a circular honoring 10 military units and 23 individuals for their excellent performance in military training. With a focus on the systematic training, China has insisted on combat-oriented training and cultivated a large number of troops with the ability to fight under real combat conditions, according to the circular. The Chinese army should follow the example of these units and individuals, the circular said, stressing the strategic importance of military training and calling for efforts to improve the troops' training level and real combat capability.   source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-11/26/content_9943070.htm

BEIJING, Nov. 26 -- The Guidelines on Joint Operations(Trial) hold a leading, inclusive, and fundamental status as the top-level code of conduct in the combat doctrine system of the new era, and have been an integral part of the reform of military policies and systems, said Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday. Snr. Col. Ren made the remarks when introducing the Guidelines on Joint Operations (Trial) recently issued by the Central Military Commission. The promulgation of the guidelines is mainly due to the major changes taking place in various aspects. He expounded that China is facing new challenges in terms of national security, threatened by the growing hegemonism, power politics, unilateralism and rampant terrorist and separatist activities. With the accelerated development of weapons and equipment characterized by higher precision, intellectualization, stealth, and unmanned operation

BEIJING, Nov. 26 -- China firmly opposed the Cold War mentality and the zero-sum game of the US side, and urged the US to make more efforts to the world peace and development, said Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday. According to media reports, the Navy Secretary of the US Kenneth Braithwaite recently called for the establishment of a new numbered fleet to counter China's military ambition. Meanwhile, Commander of US Pacific Air Forces Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach named the Chinese Air Force a primary adversary in the Pacific region. Ren pointed out that it’s an old trick played by some people in the US. First, they create "enemies" and hype up "threats", and then they ask for money and resources at home and seek hegemony abroad. The old but sinister game is a typical manifestation of the Cold War mentality and the zero-sum game. It goes completely against the trend of

BEIJING, NOV.26 -- Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND), criticized a Japanese report for making groundless comments on China’s national defense and military modernizationat a regular MND press conference on November 26 when asked to comment on the so-called China Security Report 2021 released by Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS) in mid-November. "The report made groundless comments on China’s national defense and military modernization. Its relevant remarks are not objective, responsible or professional, and are totally untenable," said Ren. The spokesperson stressed that China is always committed to the path of peaceful development and firmly upholds the defense policy that’s defensive in nature and the military strategy of active defense. China’s acceleration of the modernization of its national defense and armed forces in response to the new military revolution in the world, and the evolution

BEIJING, Nov. 26 -- "Since the 8th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting, the situation in the China-India border areas has remained stable on the whole. China expects the Indian side to safeguard border peace and stability with sincere attitude and positive actions," said Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, when introducing the current China-India border situation at a regular press conference on Thursday. Snr. Col. Ren introduced that the Chinese and Indian militaries held the 8th round of Corps Commander Level Meeting on November 6. Following the meeting, China and India have maintained candid and in-depth communication and coordination to promote disengagement in areas along the Line of Actual Control in the western sector of China-India boundary. Both sides agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and ensure their frontline troops to exercise restrai

BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a message to Joe Biden to congratulate him on election as U.S. president. Promoting healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations not only serves the fundamental interests of the people in both countries, but also meets the common expectation of the international community, Xi said. Xi said he hopes that the two sides will uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage differences, advance the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. ties, and join hands with other countries and the international community to promote the noble cause of world peace and development. On the same day, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan sent a message to Kamala Harris to congratulate her on election as U.S. vice president.   source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-11/25/content_9942489.htm

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), delivers a speech at a CMC meeting on military training in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Gang)   BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday ordered the armed forces to strengthen training under real combat conditions and raise the capability of winning wars. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks at a CMC meeting on military training.   source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-11/25/content_9942448.htm

Chinese peacekeepers at work. Photo by Ding Wendong   BEIRUT, Nov.25 -- The 19th Chinese peacekeeping multi-function engineering contingent to Lebanon has formally taken over the task of maintaining the Blue Line security channels according to an order recently given by the command of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The contingent completed the prospecting and inspection of the Blue Line on the Lebanon-Israel border last month. “During the inspection, we found that the Blue Line security channels were blocked by dense vegetation, the wire mesh was rustic, and warning signs were lacking. There were serious security loopholes,” said Zheng Jianhui, mine clearance supervisor of the Chinese contingent. The maintenance involves clearing thorns and sundries, repairing the wire mesh, and erecting warning signs and construction marks. According to the request of UNIFIL command, Chinese peacekeepers need to repair and maintain nearly 100 landmarks and routes by early February next

Soldiers inhale oxygen.   By Sun Xingwei and Wu Duoqi BEIJING, Nov. 25 -- Four types of single-soldier devices for oxygen generation and supply have been distributed to border troops on plateaus for trial use, which indicated that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) had realized oxygen supply at all posts above the altitude of 3,000m, according to an officer from the Health Bureau of Logistic Support Department under China's Central Military Commission (CMC). With this, an oxygen supply system pillared by fixed oxygen generating package units and supplemented by small oxygen generators and cylinders has been basically established. Oxygen is extremely important to soldiers stationed on the plateau. To ensure sufficient and efficient oxygen supply for service members stationed in high-altitude regions, the CMC Logistic Support Department has been developing oxygen generation and supply facilities and devices for those troops stationed above 3,000m since 2013. In addit

By Wang Zhijun and He Kelin BEIJING, Nov. 25 -- The opening ceremony of the Regiment-level Command Training Course on Defense Mobilization was held at the College of Joint Operations of the Chinese PLA National Defence University (NDU) on November 15. This was the first training course of its kind that was hosted by a military academy. The training course was aimed to make the leading officers in the defense mobilization system more capable of performing their duties, according to Yao Hongxing, deputy dean of the College of Joint Operations. It is learnt that the training course has 45 trainees, all of whom are front-line commanding officers from provincial military commands (or garrison commands) and have worked on regiment-level positions for more than two years. The two-month-long training course will cultivate commanding officers with strategic thinking and joint operations capabilities, who are competent enough to be division-level leading officers in China’s defense mobilizati

BEIJING, Nov. 25 -- According to the notice released by China’s Lianyungang Maritime Safety Administration on November 24, live-fire drills will be conducted in the south of Yellow Sea from November 25 to 29, 2020. SOUTH YELLOW SEA，GUN FIRING 2300UTC TO 1000UTC DAILY FROM 24 TO 29 NOV IN AREA BOUNDED BY THE LINES JOINING 34-45.948N 119-19.728E,34-49.977N 119-18.947E,34-52.688N 119-20.308E,34-51.861N 119-23.816E AND 34-48.533N 119-23.554E. ENTERING PROHIBITED. LIANYUNGANGMSA CHINA.   source http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-11/25/content_9942277.htm

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Germany on COVID-19 vaccines and push for the vaccines to be fairly distributed as a global public good, especially for the benefit of developing countries. Xi made the remarks in a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Recalling that he and Merkel both attended the Group of 20 summit days ago, Xi noted that both sides advocate upholding multilateralism, boosting international cooperation, joining forces against the coronavirus disease, reinvigorating the world economy, and jointly tackling global challenges. Currently, with Europe and some other regions in the world facing the test of a second wave of the pandemic, it remains a top priority for all parties to work together to fight the epidemic, Xi stressed. Since the onset of the pandemic, he noted, China and Germany have kept communication in a flexible way, with practical

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged the country's working class and working people to strive for new and historic achievements in fully building a modern socialist country. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a gathering to honor model workers and exemplary individuals, stressing that China must closely rely on the working class to promote high-quality development. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Xi congratulated the awardees and greeted China's working class and working people who have made outstanding contributions to the country's reform and opening up and socialist modernization. Model workers are elites of the Chinese nation, role models for the people and heroes of the republic, Xi said, noting that the Party and the state have always attached great importance to giving play to the i

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged on Tuesday to work with his Ethiopian counterpart Sahle-Work Zewde to enhance China-Africa and the Belt and Road cooperation, so as to bring more benefits to both countries and peoples. Xi made the remarks in an exchange of congratulatory messages with Zewde on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. In his message, Xi said over the half a century since the establishment of China-Ethiopia diplomatic ties, traditional friendship of the two countries has been getting stronger. In recent years, with the building of the China-Ethiopia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the two countries have been deepening political mutual trust and achieving fruitful cooperative results in various fields, said Xi. The two sides have rendered mutual understanding and support to each other on issues of their core interests and major concerns, and have coordinated closely in int

A Long March-5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-5 spacecraft, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of southern island province of Hainan, Nov. 24, 2020. China on Tuesday launched a spacecraft to collect and return samples from the moon, the country's first attempt to retrieve samples from an extraterrestrial body. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) WENCHANG, Hainan, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China Tuesday launched a spacecraft to collect and return samples from the moon, the country's first attempt to retrieve samples from an extraterrestrial body. A Long March-5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-5 spacecraft, blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of southern island province of Hainan at 4:30 a.m. (Beijing Time). Chang'e-5 is one of the most complicated and challenging missions in China's aerospace history, as well as the world's first moon-sample mission for more than 40 years. The mission will help promote China's scienc