China has yet to acknowledge the incident involving the sinking of a submarine, which raises concerns about potential nuclear fuel leakage, writes Lt Col JS Sodhi (retd)…reports Asian Lite News
The Chinese military has been undergoing significant modernisation efforts since the late 1980s, a trend that has accelerated notably since Xi Jinping assumed leadership. This transformation is evident in China’s assertive behaviour in various disputed territories, such as the South China Sea and along its borders with India.
Additionally, China has established itself as a prominent supplier of arms to developing nations in the Global South, ranking among the top exporters of weapons to several countries in Africa and Asia. However, incidents involving failures of Chinese military technology have also surfaced.
Recently, a report from The Wall Street Journal revealed that a Chinese nuclear submarine sank near Wuhan. According to US officials, this incident occurred between May and June, and there are claims that Chinese authorities are attempting to suppress information regarding the event.
The Zhou-class submarine, one of China’s earliest nuclear-powered vessels, featured a distinctive X-shaped stern designed to enhance its manoeuvrability. Constructed by the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, it was undergoing final equipment checks on the Yangtze River before its intended deployment.
This incident represents a significant setback for China’s military modernisation ambitions and its aggressive stance towards neighbouring countries. This is not an isolated case; numerous nations have reported serious issues with Chinese weaponry after procurement.
Mediocre Chinese Weapons Worldwide
China has supplied substandard military equipment to one of its closest allies, Pakistan. Currently grappling with inflation and a declining economic situation, Pakistan stands as the largest buyer of Chinese military hardware, with China accounting for 77 per cent of its arms imports.
However, several of the weapons provided by China have exhibited significant deficiencies. The Pakistani Navy acquired multi-role frigates, including the F-22P Zulfiquar class vessels: PNS Shamsheer, PNS Saif, and PNS Aslat, which were commissioned in 2009. These frigates have encountered numerous issues primarily related to their diesel engines, which suffer from high turbocharged exhaust temperatures that limit their speed capabilities.
Additionally, engines three and four have experienced various problems, including faulty cooling systems. Further complications arose with Zulfiquar’s search and track radar and its single-barrel 70 mm cannon, both of which malfunctioned and restricted the ships’ overall operational effectiveness. Another vessel, PNS Saif, was found to have a malfunctioning HP5 stabiliser gyro. For these frigates, China received an impressive payment of $750 million.
Algeria, an African nation, has encountered three incidents linked to its acquisition of Chinese CH-4B drones. In 2016, a Chinese state-owned firm sold VN-4 armoured personnel carriers to Kenya, resulting in fatalities among Kenyan military personnel.
Nigeria has also raised concerns regarding problems with its F-7 fighter jets, which it purchased from China in 2009. Similarly, the West Asian country of Jordan was compelled to divest all six CH-4B drones just three years after their acquisition due to persistent technical issues.
China is responsible for supplying 74 per cent of Bangladesh’s military equipment, which encompasses ships, aircraft, and artillery. However, Bangladesh has faced difficulties with the KW Jets procured from China; nine of these jets were acquired in 2014, followed by an additional seven in 2020.
A serious incident occurred in July 2018 near Jassore airport involving one of the earlier K8 aircraft batches.
During the introduction of the subsequent batch in 2020, two jets encountered problems during initial firing tests with loaded ammunition. Similar complaints have been reported by other nations purchasing arms from China, including Nepal and Myanmar.
According to the SIPRI World Factbook 2022, China ranks as the fourth largest exporter of military equipment and arms globally. This notable position is not attributed to the quality of the weapons sold but rather to highly competitive pricing and a lack of stringent requirements from purchasing nations.
This approach allows authoritarian regimes to procure arms from China more readily than from democratic countries.
Military vehicles of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army arrive in Moscow, Russia, Aug. 14, 2021. (Photo by Yu Xiaoping/Xinhua)
Conclusion
China has long positioned itself as the most influential nation in Asia, second only to the United States in global competition.
However, all major powers bear responsibilities towards their citizens and allies. Military equipment and associated technologies are crucial for the security of any sovereign state, yet China has repeatedly compromised this aspect by supplying substandard weapons to its partners.
Notably, China has yet to acknowledge the incident involving the sinking of a submarine, which raises concerns about potential nuclear fuel leakage. This event not only undermines China’s military readiness and adds another flawed piece of military equipment to its inventory but also poses a significant health risk if radioactive materials begin to affect the residents of Wuhan.
Countries allied with China must conduct thorough quality assessments before making purchases from it. Furthermore, international agencies should rigorously investigate whether any nuclear incident was involved in the submarine’s sinking in the river.
(Lt Col JS Sodhi (Retd) is Editor, Global Strategic & Defence News and the Author of “China’s War Clouds: The Great Chinese Checkmate”)
Labour has backtracked on plans to push for formal recognition of China’s treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide in the run-up to David Lammy’s trip to the country this weekend…reports Asian Lite News
Labour has backtracked on plans to push for formal recognition of China’s treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide in the run-up to David Lammy’s trip to the country this weekend. The foreign secretary is expected to arrive in Beijing on Friday for high-level meetings before travelling to Shanghai on Saturday.
The trip marks a shift in the British government’s approach to China, with ministers seeking to improve engagement and build closer economic ties. Trade between the UK and China is worth £110bn a year, the Guardian reported.
Senior government figures are bullish about their approach, pointing out that allies including the US and the EU have maintained high-level engagement with China in recent years while the UK has fallen behind.
As part of this diplomatic rapprochement, Labour has dropped its tough stance towards Beijing over its treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority.
We expect India to intervene to stop the genocide: Uyghur leader
China has detained Uyghurs at camps in the north-west region of Xinjiang, where for years there have been allegations of torture, forced labour and sexual abuse. The Chinese government claims the camps carry out “re-education” to combat terrorism.
The European parliament passed an emergency resolution this week censuring China’s repression of the Uyghurs and calling for the release of detainees.
In opposition, Labour backed a Commons motion that declared China’s conduct genocide and urged the government to seek formal recognition of this through the UN and with other countries. Stephen Kinnock, then shadow Asia minister, said in 2021 that it was not enough to leave the matter to international courts because China would have to consent to an investigation.
“Ideally, a competent international court would examine this evidence, but there is no prospect that either the ICC or the international court of justice will be able to do so, as this would require the consent of China,” Kinnock told the Commons.
“The foreign secretary should seek to introduce a general assembly resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the international court of justice on the question of genocide. We should also explore legal avenues via other international treaties and conventions.”
Lammy confirmed this was still his position at a Fabian Society event in 2023 and said a Labour government would “act multilaterally with our partners” to pursue legal routes towards declaring China’s actions genocide. But a government source said that “genocide is a determination for competent international courts to decide”.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “This government stands firm on human rights, including in Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities. This includes raising our concerns at the highest levels of the Chinese government and coordinating efforts with our international partners to hold China to account for human rights violations.”
Lammy’s two-day visit to China was confirmed by the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Thursday.
A UK business source briefed on the visit said Labour was pursuing the same strategy as Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson, but more successfully.
“All the signs are that they are taking the engagement side of the relationship much much more positively and seriously than the previous government,” they said. “They seem to be pretty robust about being sensible that engagement doesn’t mean agreement.”
“What we’re seeing from our perspective is recognition of the importance to the UK growth agenda of a sensible trade and investment with China.”
Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is drawing up plans to visit the country early next year and restart two high-level economic forums, the Economic and Financial Dialogue and the Joint Economic and Trade Commission. Labour also wants to cooperate with China, the world’s biggest polluter, on tackling the climate crisis.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson told reporters on Thursday: “This is necessary pragmatic engagement with China in the UK’s interest. We will challenge China where we need to and we will seek to have a consistent and long-term, strategic approach.”
Successive Conservative leaders faced pressure from hawkish Tory backbenchers – some of whom have been placed under sanctions by Beijing – over their approach to China.
Labour is likely to find internal party management easier on this issue, although it is still likely to come under pressure over China’s actions in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang. Lammy met his counterpart, Wang Yi, in July in Laos, where the foreign secretary raised human rights, Ukraine and parliamentarians under sanctions.
Rahima Mahmut, the UK director of the World Uyghur Congress, said: “In opposition, Labour accurately described the suffering of my people as genocide. Now it seems they won’t even see through their promises to seek genocide recognition with allies at the UN. “No words can describe the distress of the Uyghur community at this disappointment.”
Taiwan’s defence ministry responded by deploying its own forces and putting its islands on high alert…reports Asian Lite News
Recently, Taiwan reported an unprecedented sighting of 153 Chinese military aircraft flying over its airspace in just one day, marking the highest number in a single event.
The aircraft, including fighter jets and drones, were part of large-scale drills, accompanied by warships and coast guard boats encircling the self-governed island.
Taiwan’s defence ministry responded by deploying its own forces and putting its islands on high alert. The Taiwanese government condemned China’s actions as “irrational and provocative,” while the U.S. labelled them as “unwarranted.”
In addition to military intimidation, China has expanded its pressure tactics through cyberattacks and media influence. According to a Wall Street Journal report, more than 90,000 cyberattack attempts were detected in Taiwan in August, targeting critical infrastructure.
This wave of attacks was the largest since the spike during former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan two years ago.
Chinese efforts to sway public opinion have also extended to recruiting Taiwanese celebrities. These well-known figures are being encouraged to express pro-unification sentiments and share messages that align with Beijing’s “One China” policy.
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Chief Tsai Ming-yen confirmed that celebrities from the arts, entertainment, and political sectors were being used in this media campaign.
Furthermore, China’s disinformation tactics aim to undermine Taiwan’s image and U.S. support for the island. A false claim circulating online during the military drills accused a Taiwanese naval captain of being intoxicated the night before, which was later debunked by Taiwan’s Justice Ministry.
These methods highlight China’s multifaceted approach to pressuring Taiwan beyond traditional military threats.
Meanwhile yesterday, Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan released a statement announcing that the Chinese military’s aircraft and naval vessels were found to be operating in Taiwan’s territory early in the morning on October 17.
In a post on the social media platform, X, the Ministry of National Defence attached maps and a press statement highlighting the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) activities in the waters and airspace of Taiwan.
“20 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s central and south-western air defense identification zone (ADIZ)”
In response to the Chinese activities, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence announced, ” Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. “
The activities by Chinese vessels have seen a rise along Taiwan after PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command had announced a joint military exercise in the surrounding waters and airspace near Taiwan.
During the military exercises around Taiwan and its outlying islands, China deployed a record 125 aircraft, including its aircraft carrier Liaoning and various ships.
Taiwan has been seeing a record increased interference of Chinese vessels in its areas since the beginning of October, with the incursions becoming more frequent after October 10, which is celebrated as the National Day of Taiwan.
Taiwanese armed forces had registered a strong protest condemning the PLA’s “irrational and provocative actions”.
Freedom House said that China shared its designation as the world’s worst environment for internet freedom with Myanmar….reports Asian Lite News
China has secured last rank in internet freedom, according to an annual report by the US-based non-profit organisation Freedom House.
The organisation’s 2024 ‘Freedom on the Net’ (FOTN) report, which was released on Wednesday, assessed internet freedom based on data collected from June 2023 to May 2024 in terms of obstacles people face accessing the internet, limits on content and violations of users’ rights.
Freedom House said that China shared its designation as the world’s worst environment for internet freedom with Myanmar.
China and Myanmar both scored 9 out of 100 in internet freedom, the lowest among all the countries assessed.
According to the report, China intensified its efforts to seal off its domestic internet from the global network. The Chinese government blocked international access to certain official websites. Moreover, authorities imposed hefty fines on individuals using virtual private networks (VPNs).
“Beijing has persisted in its effort to isolate China’s domestic internet from the rest of the world, blocking international traffic to some government websites and imposing huge fines on people using VPNs. The Chinese government also continued to systematically repress dissent, for example by censoring online discussion about activist and journalist Sun Lin, who died in November 2023 after police beat him in apparent retaliation for his social media posts about protests against Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping,” the report said.
Over the deteriorating internet freedom conditions in Myanmar, the report said that the country’s military escalated its assault on internet freedom, and conducted a brutal campaign against online dissent.
“Conditions there deteriorated to their lowest point in the history of FOTN. Since seizing power in a 2021 coup, Myanmar’s military has conducted a brutally violent crackdown on dissent and imprisoned thousands of people in retaliation for their online speech, all while building a mass censorship and surveillance regime to suppress the activities of civilian prodemocracy activists and armed resistance groups,” the report said.
“In May 2024, the military introduced new censorship technology to block most VPNs, cutting residents off from tools they had relied on to safely and securely bypass internet controls,” it added.
At the other end of the spectrum, Iceland maintained its status as the freest online environment, and Zambia secured the largest score improvement. For the first time in 2024, FOTN assessed conditions in Chile and the Netherlands, both of which showcased strong safeguards for human rights online.
The organisation further noted that global internet freedom declined for the 14th consecutive year and protections for human rights online diminished in 27 of the 72 countries covered by FOTN. (ANI)
This came following Taiwan’s inauguration of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Mumbai, the country’s third office in India, on Wednesday…reports Asian Lite News
China urged India on Thursday to handle Taiwan issues with caution following Taiwan’s announcement of the official operation of its new office in Mumbai.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that it strongly condemns any form of official contact and interaction between Taiwan and countries they have diplomatic ties with and urged India to adhere to its commitment to the “one-China principle,” which serves as the political foundation for the India-China relationship.
This came following Taiwan’s inauguration of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Mumbai, the country’s third office in India, on Wednesday.
During a press conference on Thursday (local time), the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, said that India should “prudently and properly” settle the issues related to Taiwan and reiterated not to conduct any form of official interaction with Taiwan in order to improve the India-China relationship.
“There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. China strongly opposes all forms of official contact and interaction between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic relations with China, including the establishment of representative offices for each other. We have lodged solemn representations to the Indian side,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
“China urges the Indian side to strictly abide by the commitments it has made, prudently and properly settle the Taiwan-related issues, not to conduct any form of official interaction with Taiwan and avoid disturbing the process to improve the China-India relationship,” said Mao Ning.
Earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan inaugurated its third office of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Mumbai.
The new office will serve four major western Indian states–Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa–as well as the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, as per an official press release.
Ambassador Baushuan Ger, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) in India, and Director General Homer Chang of the new office attended the reception that day, as per the release.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Chia-Lung Lin recorded a congratulatory video for the event, highlighting the remarkable progress in India-Taiwan relations in recent years.
He noted that the opening of TECC in Mumbai at a key strategic hub in western India not only reflects the success of Taiwan’s “New Southbound Policy” and India’s “Act East Policy,” but also represents the continued promise to enhance bilateral ties, the press release stated.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Mumbai is Taiwan’s third office in India, following the establishment of the TECC in New Delhi in 1995 and the TECC in Chennai in 2012.
This development came amid the growing tension in the South China Sea as well as the increased military activities of the Chinese forces in the Taiwan Strait and the surrounding areas. (ANI)
Parliamentarians hit with sanctions by Beijing have urged David Lammy to engage with China and raise human rights concerns during his trip to the country…reports Asian Lite News
David Lammy must “engage with China as it really is under the leadership of Xi Jinping” and raise human rights concerns during his trip to the country, UK parliamentarians who have been hit with sanctions by Beijing have said.
The foreign secretary is expected to hold high-level meetings in China this week. The visit forms part of an effort by Labour to improve relations with China after they deteriorated under successive Conservative governments. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, plans to travel to the country next year and restart high-level economic dialogue.
The rapprochement is controversial because of human rights and security concerns about China, including its treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang and crackdown on democratic freedoms in Hong Kong.
In a letter to Lammy on Tuesday, the group of parliamentarians wrote that “Beijing is testing the UK’s resolve [and] seeking to establish new parameters for engagement”, The Guardian reported.
Beijing imposed sanctions on the group, which includes the Labour peer Helena Kennedy, in 2021 for criticising its human rights record in Xinjiang.
In their letter, the parliamentarians urge Lammy to raise the case of political prisoners in Hong Kong, including the British citizen Jimmy Lai, and the “heinous treatment” of the Uyghur community.
They call on the foreign secretary to express “deep concern” about China’s “unilateral alteration of the status quo” in Taiwan. The Chinese military held drills around Taiwan on Monday in what it called a “stern warning” against those seeking “independence” for the self-ruled island.
Last week, the Foreign Office had asked that a visit to the UK parliament by Tsai Ing-wen, the former Taiwanese president, be delayed so as not to anger China before Lammy’s trip. Tsai is travelling to Prague and Brussels on her first international tour since leaving office.
The letter warns that “the projected $10tn impact of a conflict over Taiwan to the global economy is intolerable and would be catastrophic for China’s standing in the world”. Taiwan, which has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China, has grown increasingly opposed to Beijing’s claims of sovereignty over it. There are fears China will eventually try to annex the island by force.
Signatories of the letter include the former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, the former security minister Tom Tugendhat and the former health minister Neil O’Brien.
“We must engage with China as it really is under the leadership of Xi Jinping, not as we all hoped it would become after accession to the World Trade Organization,” they wrote. “Our own political environment means that the temptation to prioritise short-term economic advantage over UK resilience and values is strong, but will only disadvantage the UK in the long run.”
The letter urges Lammy to underline that the UK’s concerns are not a product of alignment with US foreign policy but “a result of non-negotiable values which rest at the heart of the UK national interest”.
The last foreign secretary to visit China was James Cleverly in August 2023. Earlier this year the UK and US governments accused Chinese state-backed hackers of a years-long cyber-attack targeting politicians, journalists and businesses.
In its manifesto, Labour pledged to conduct a Whitehall audit of the UK-China relationship. In the past, Labour has also committed to taking steps to recognise China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority as genocide.
Lady Kennedy and Duncan Smith are UK co-chairs of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, which is strongly critical of Beijing.
A FCDO Spokesperson said: “This government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must. It is only right that we engage pragmatically with China where there are clear UK and global interests. That includes on areas where we agree and more importantly where we disagree, as the foreign ssecretary did during his meeting with Wang Yi at ASEAN. Foreign secretary travel will be confirmed in the usual way.”
The CCP’s inability to provide meaningful opportunities for its young population has led to a crisis of confidence among China’s youth, writes Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma
As we move through 2024, the Chinese Communist Party’s grip on its narrative of economic prosperity is slipping. The evidence of China’s economic downturn has become too substantial to obscure with propaganda, forcing even the CCP to acknowledge the challenges through its unusually austere 75th-anniversary celebrations.
The roots of this crisis run deep, stemming from fundamental flaws in the CCP’s economic model and political governance. While external factors like the Trump-era tariffs and the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to China’s economic woes, the party’s response to these challenges has only exacerbated the underlying problems.
Perhaps nowhere is the failure of the CCP’s economic stewardship more evident than in the real estate sector, which accounts for roughly 30% of China’s GDP. The ongoing collapse of this sector represents not just a financial crisis but a betrayal of the Chinese middle class’s aspirations. With continuing declines in both home prices and sales, the sector shows no signs of recovery, threatening the savings and investments of millions of Chinese families.
The CCP’s inability to provide meaningful opportunities for its young population has led to a crisis of confidence among China’s youth. The regime’s decision to stop publishing youth unemployment figures in June 2023 speaks volumes about the severity of the situation. Even with their revised methodology excluding students, which conveniently lowered the official rate to 14.9%, youth unemployment remains nearly triple the national average.
Workers cross a street with equipment in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Li Gang/IANS)
The emergence of the “lie flat” movement among young Chinese citizens represents a damning indictment of the CCP’s economic model. When the next generation actively rejects the promise of upward mobility that legitimized the party’s rule for decades, it signals a fundamental breakdown in the social contract between the CCP and its people.
The CCP’s economic difficulties stem from its unwillingness to implement necessary reforms that might threaten its political control. The party’s insistence on maintaining a state-controlled banking system and its distorted industrial policies have created a perfect storm of economic inefficiencies. The result is massive overproduction in key sectors, leading to dumping practices that harm both Chinese companies and international trade relations.
The party’s focus on production capacity over innovation has created an unsustainable economic model. Chinese manufacturers continue to flood global markets with excess inventory, triggering retaliatory trade measures that further damage China’s economic prospects. Yet the CCP remains unwilling to implement meaningful reforms, as doing so would threaten the patronage networks that maintain party loyalty.
As economic challenges mount, the CCP has increasingly turned to aggressive foreign policy as a diversion. The continuation of “wolf warrior diplomacy” isn’t merely about diplomatic posturing; it’s a calculated strategy to redirect domestic frustration toward external enemies. Through military provocations against neighbors and confrontational diplomacy, the CCP aims to stoke nationalism and deflect attention from its economic mismanagement.
Recent provocative actions, including military incursions near Taiwan and the Philippines, border conflicts with India, and aggressive moves in the South China Sea, demonstrate that the CCP’s combative approach to international relations remains firmly in place. These actions serve a dual purpose: distracting the Chinese public from domestic problems while attempting to project strength on the international stage.
The CCP faces a fundamental crisis of legitimacy. For decades, the party justified its authoritarian rule through delivering economic growth and improved living standards. As this implicit social contract breaks down, the regime increasingly relies on surveillance, control, and nationalism to maintain power.
While the CCP’s sophisticated surveillance apparatus may allow it to suppress visible dissent, it cannot address the underlying economic challenges facing China. The party’s prioritization of political control over economic reform has created a self-reinforcing cycle of decline: economic problems lead to social discontent, which prompts tighter control, which further impedes economic development.
As investment continues to flee China and domestic consumption remains depressed, the CCP appears trapped in a paradigm of its own making. The party’s decision to maintain its grip on power at all costs may ensure its short-term survival, but it comes at the expense of China’s economic future and the aspirations of its people.
The CCP’s current trajectory suggests a future marked by increasing authoritarianism at home and aggression abroad, as the party struggles to maintain legitimacy in the face of mounting economic challenges. The cost of this approach will ultimately be borne by the Chinese people, who find themselves subject to an increasingly restrictive political system that prioritizes regime survival over economic prosperity.
Xi’s epithet has lost much of its luster, and some Western scholars and commentators now bandy around sarcastic terms such as “Xi’s empire of tedium”, “Xi’s age of stagnation”, “China’s age of counter-reform” and “China’s age of malaise”….reports Asian Lite News
Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing is well used to the growl of armored-vehicle engines, clouds of diesel exhaust and the clanking of tank tracks. On 4 June 1989, it was People’s Liberation Army (PLA) ruthlessly putting down student-led protests, but in more recent times it has been military parades driving past Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders in the Tiananmen Gate seated high above the masses.
Chairman Xi Jinping and his predecessors typically hold military parades in Tiananmen Square on National Day, 1 October. The last such parade under Xi was on 1 October 2019, plus before that, he hosted one in September 2015 commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
However, on 1 October 2024, activity in central Beijing carried on as usual, with Tiananmen Square merely lined with flower beds and national flags. There was no parade, there was no fanfare, there was no gala atmosphere, there was no assembling of the world’s media to witness the technological and military might of the PLA.
Why not? The Chinese government has been mute on when the next military parade will occur. Certainly, 2024 would have been ideal for a military parade, given that it marks the 75th anniversary of modern China’s founding.
The whole situation is emblematic of the struggle in which Xi and the CCP now find themselves. In 2019 – the time of the last parade – China was enjoying a vigorous golden era under Xi. China’s demigod could do no wrong, the world was bending to his will and China’s future trajectory looked unstoppable.
Yet within just a few months, COVID-19 was spreading inexorably across the globe, economies were shutting down and China itself endured draconian lockdowns. It was a seminal moment for China and Xi, with the emperor shown to be a fallible human. In an embarrassing display of poor planning and cruelty, COVID-19 went from lockdown to rampant contagion across China.
China and Xi have been in recovery mode since then, as the country and party faces ever-stronger international resistance and its own economic woe. China’s dour prospects were apparent in Xi’s speech at a banquet on 30 September, the eve of the republic’s 75th anniversary. The pre-dinner speech was not intended to impart new policies, but it was a useful barometer of the mood within the CCP’s upper echelons.
Xi’s soliloquy contained phrases such as “stormy seas”, “preparing for rainy days” and, following on from the past 75 years, yet more “bitter struggle”.
(241001) — BEIJING, Oct. 1, 2024 (Xinhua) — A flag-raising ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China is held at the Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
Arran Hope, Editor of the China Brief at The Jamestown Foundation think-tank in the US, assessed four notable points in Xi’s speech. “First, there was a useful reminder that the CCP sees rapid economic development and long-term social stability as the two main pillars of its legitimacy.” These dual pillars were described as “the two great miracles”.
However, the CCP’s problem lies in the fact that these pillars are showing signs of crumbling. The party has no ready answers for the economic malaise now besetting the national economy, and the only way it knows to maintain stability is implementing evermore repressive regulations on the populace.
Hope continued. “Second was the focus on Chinese-style modernization, which took up a substantial portion of the speech.” Xi said that the central task of the CCP is “comprehensively advancing the building of a strong nation and the rejuvenation of the nation with Chinese-style modernization”. This can only be achieved, according to the CCP, by adhering to the party’s leadership. The only “solution” the party can offer is blind obedience to Xi, closing ranks and fighting on through the pain and suffering. Xi can only demand greater loyalty and commitment from the people. He has decried Western-style democracy and advocated a Chinese model – there is no turning aside from this pathway created by the CCP. To do otherwise, to reverse course, would be an admission of fallibility and thus a loss of legitimacy.
Thirdly, Hope pointed out, “Another prominent feature of the speech was the space dedicated to Taiwan. Taiwan is traditionally mentioned in the PRC’s National Day speeches, as it remains central to the country’s conception of itself. This year, however, a whole paragraph – nearly 10% of the entire speech – was dedicated to the topic.”
Xi made no references to peaceful cross-strait ties. Instead, Xi took a hardline and emphasized the blood ties between the mainland and Taiwan, the latter described as “sacred territory” belonging to China. He also claimed reunification was inevitable, since “the wheel of history cannot be stopped by anyone”.
As a step on its historic mission to claim Taiwan for the CCP, the PLA commenced its one-day-long Joint Sword-2024B military sea and air wargames around Taiwan on 14 October. The People’s Daily said the PLA was “compelled” to conduct these drills because President Lai Ching-te had declined China’s “olive branch”.
Beijing: Photo taken on May 21, 2020 shows red flags on the Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Cai Yang/IANS)
However, nobody has seen or heard of China’s olive branch; indeed, Beijing has done nothing but crank up military coercion and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan. Rather than offering an olive branch, China is wielding a big stick to show its strength. In reality, it makes no difference what Taipei does or does not do – China will continue to escalate no matter what.
Taipei responded to the Joint Sword-2024B exercise with the following criticism: “PLA Eastern Theater Command has announced joint military exercises in the surrounding waters and airspace near Taiwan. ROC Armed Forces strongly condemn the PLA’s irrational and provocative actions and will deploy appropriate forces to respond and defend our national sovereignty.”
Returning to Xi’s speech, “The final notable part of the speech, coming shortly before the toast, was an invocation to prepare for ‘unpredictable risks and challenges’. Warning that the country ‘must be prepared for danger in times of peace’ is not a triumphalist way to close out a speech, and suggests a lack of confidence among the leadership. It perhaps goes some way to explain why the events that marked National Day itself were muted.”
Symbolic dates and anniversaries are extremely important to the CCP, so a 75th anniversary should have been marked by great festivity. There were no grand festivities, but only various banquets and concerts, probably because the CCP did not want to antagonize people with overt symbols of triumphalism. Such displays would have been impolitic given the financial crisis that many Chinese now face.
Hope also compared Xi’s latest speech with the one that Jiang Zemin gave in 1999, on the occasion of modern China’s 50th anniversary. “Convictions of the historical inevitability of the PRC’s rise feature in both, as does the certainty that socialism is the only correct model for the country to follow. While many of the specific rhetorical constructs of the Xi era are missing from the earlier speech, Xi echoes Jiang in allying the PRC with the countries of the Global South.”
The Jamestown Foundation editor added that the “the core substance and direction remain the same. Namely, the desire to diminish the influence of the West in the world and promote the PRC’s preferences in its place.” Interestingly, Jiang’s most prominent phrase was “a brand-new era” for the Chinese nation, whereas Xi routinely refers to the “new era”.
The “new era” was incorporated into the CCP constitution in 2017, and it reflects an assessment that the world has entered a period in which the global balance of power has shifted in China’s favor. However, Xi’s epithet has lost much of its luster, and some Western scholars and commentators now bandy around sarcastic terms such as “Xi’s empire of tedium”, “Xi’s age of stagnation”, “China’s age of counter-reform” and “China’s age of malaise”.
It is not only Westerners who have provided such critical labels. Last year, essayist Hu Wenhui described China’s current period as the “garbage time of history”. Some are even going so far as to suggest that an end is in sight. In fact, while Xi may refer to “the wheel of history”, some see history repeating itself as modern China might mirror the collapse of the Ming Dynasty in 1644.
Russia was the first nation to establish a “new era” partnership with China, this occurring in June 2019. It encompasses a strong sense of alignment with China’s strategic vision and how it is challenging the global status quo. This ideological agreement is critical to Sino-Russian relations, as they oppose so-called US hegemony over the global order.
There are numerous levels and a hierarchy in China’s use of partnerships, even if it never delineates precisely what each label means. The most common are “cooperative”, “strategic” and “comprehensive”. In fact, China uses 42 unique adjectival combinations for the quality of partnerships, which suggests they are tailormade for each occasion. The UK alone, for instance, has a “global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century” with China.
Very weighty are the partnership terms “all-weather” (initially used for China’s relationship with Pakistan, but later extended to Belarus, Venezuela, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Hungary and all of Africa) and “permanent”, with Kazakhstan enjoying the latter status.
Last month, Beijing elevated the diplomatic status of no fewer than 30 African countries. This means that every African nation – except for Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan – now has at least a “strategic partnership” with China.
As the analyst Jacob Mardell explained in another article published by The Jamestown Foundation, “‘Partnership diplomacy’ plays a central role in PRC foreign policy. Through its partnership network, Beijing seeks to shore up global support by swelling its ranks of various types of partners. There are no direct economic or institutional implications to becoming a ‘strategic partner’ of the PRC, nor are there necessarily material benefits to advancing to the level of ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’. Such promotions can be significant in other ways, however. For partner countries, being officially designated a close partner can provide opportunity for real cooperation.”
Whereas the US values alliances based on mutual values, China pursues a different approach. Notably, China prefers partners rather than allies, meaning it can reap benefits from friendly economic cooperation but avoid any diplomatic entanglements. China’s partnership diplomacy gained momentum in the 1990s, and its very first strategic partner was Brazil.
Mardell noted: “This narrative is a core part of the PRC’s value proposition to the Global South. Beijing seeks a values-agnostic ‘democratization of the international order’ and proposes the creation of a harmonious ‘global community of common destiny’. These CCP concepts increasingly have been inserted into partnership statements in recent years. This helps build support for Beijing’s global leadership and its vision for a new international order.”
China has perhaps one ally, though. In 1961 it signed a mutual defense treaty with North Korea, although it has never been invoked. In the Korean War, North Korea invaded its neighbour, China provided soldiers and Russia handed over arms. Approximately 70 years later, in a kind of reshuffle involving the same “partners”, Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine, North Korea is providing arms and people, and China is supporting Moscow’s military industrial base and Russian economy. Perhaps not much has really changed between the alignment of these three partners against the West and democracies.
Hope concluded: “As the PRC reaches its milestone 75th anniversary, the health of its body politic has come under scrutiny. Official rhetoric from the party continues to tell a good story, but as Xi Jinping’s speech makes clear the positive energy of the propaganda messaging is shot through with concerns about the path forward and the risks and challenges that lie ahead. Those darker undercurrents are reflected in the characterizations of the PRC’s predicament articulated by many alternative voices, both inside and outside the country.”
Whichever one way looks at it – whether from the perspective of China’s ruling party or the people – most agree there was little cause for celebration on this year’s National Day. (ANI)
Gazing into the future today appears to be possible with the new Chinese efforts to use quantum computing to carry out cyber-attacks. This may still be in the initial stages of development, but awareness of the work being conducted in this sphere is important for the US if it is to defend itself, writes Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma
The Chinese cyber threat to the US is increasing in intensity and could well pose a threat to the conduct of the Presidential elections scheduled to be held on 5 November 2024. The realisation of this threat is what has led US Representative John Moolenaar and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi to call for a briefing from telecom giants Verizon, AT & T, and LumenTechno soon after reports of a Communist Party of China (CPC)-sponsored cyber-attack against these firms. This follows a 5 October 2024 report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) which indicates that the attack penetrated the networks of several US broadband providers, potentially compromising systems used for court-authorized wiretapping requests. The WSJ report claims that hackers may have had prolonged access to critical network infrastructure, raising significant national security concerns.
Representative John Moolenaar and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
While the Select Committee’s efforts to highlight and suggest counter measures to CPC sponsored cyber-attacks is to be highlighted, a new threat has emerged to the US and its allies, in form of Chinese researchers using a D-Wave quantum computer, having reportedly executed what they are claiming to be the first successful quantum attack on widely used encryption algorithms. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) states that this poses a “real and substantial threat” to sectors like banking and the military. Prior to analysing this new threat, it is worth dwelling on the current findings of the Select Committee.
The Select Committee on the CPC in a post on X stated that Chairman Rep Moolenaar and Ranking Member Congressman Raja had requested that Verizon, ATT, & LumenTechco brief the committee following reports of a CPC-sponsored cyber-attack against the companies. Further, a senior US intelligence official quoted in The Washington Post stated that such attacks would enable the CPC to understand exactly who the US government is interested in. This could assist China in either, undermining the US government’s intelligence collection efforts or feed the US disinformation. Both these mechanisms have the potential, to directly or indirectly, create dissonance during the upcoming Presidential election.
— Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (@committeeonccp) October 11, 2024
US intelligence sources claim that the group behind the latest hacking is probably ‘Salt Typhoon’, which is closely associated with China’s Ministry of State Security. Earlier this year, the US Select Committee had drawn attention to similar threats posed by another Chinese hacking unit, ‘Volt Typhoon’, which successfully compromised US critical infrastructure. This type of targeting is globally common these days and can have ramifications in a number of sectors of economic importance. Pertinently, the Select Committee on the CPC was specifically established to address the challenges posed by China to the US and its allies and to undertake investigation into the activities of the CPC relating to espionage, trade, technology theft, and human rights abuses. The Committee also oversees US government policies to ensure that they are aligned with national security interests. The Committee promotes transparency regarding the CPC’s influence across various sectors and recommends legislation to counter this influence. Taking note of recent developments, the Committee has called for urgent enhancement to the cybersecurity strategies of the US to counter these unprecedented threats.
If the current level of cyber threat to the US is very high, the purported success of an attack using a quantum computer, by Chinese scientists raises the bar even higher. The SCMP has reported Chinese scientists have successfully mounted the world’s first effective attack on widely used encryption methods. This attack is probably a test run and existing limitations could hamper at least immediately, a full-on quantum hack. But this no reason for complacency, as the threat is live, and time taken to straighten the kinks may not be too long. The ‘D-Wave Advantage’, initially designed for non-cryptographic applications, has reportedly been used to breach SPN-structured algorithms, but has not yet been applied to crack specific passcodes.
Evidence of this latest achievement by China, comes in an article (30 September) in the Chinese Journal of Computers. The research led by Wang Chao of Shanghai University, shows that the latest development poses a “real and substantial threat” to security mechanisms used in banking and military sectors. The academic journal mentioned above is run by the China Computer Federation. Despite general-purpose quantum computing still being in early stages, scientists are increasingly exploring potential uses of specialized quantum computers to search for vulnerabilities, especially in cybersecurity. Wang’s team reportedly utilized a quantum computer from Canada’s D-Wave Systems to breach cryptographic algorithms, marking a important milestone in such efforts and thus require monitoring.
A 🇨🇳 research team led by Wang Chao (王潮) of Shanghai University claims to have executed what they call the first successful quantum attack on widely used encryption algorithms by employing the D-Wave Advantage quantum computer — from Canada’s D-Wave Systems — to target the… pic.twitter.com/kX8JmjeZda
Wang’s team wrote, “This is the first time that a real quantum computer has posed a real and substantial threat to multiple full-scale SPN structured algorithms in use today”. While the study notes that the quantum computer has not yet revealed the specific passcodes used in the algorithms that were tested, it is closer to doing so than previously achieved. As the technology advances, further advances could yield more robust quantum attacks, indicates the Wang paper. The SCMP reports that the ongoing evolution in quantum computing could pave the way to identifying potential new vulnerabilities in existing cryptographic systems.
The significance of the latest development can be adduced from the fact that the Chinese research team used the D-Wave Advantage quantum computer to target the ‘Present’, ‘Gift-64’, and ‘Rectangle algorithms.’ They are known as the key representatives of the Substitution-Permutation Network (SPN) structure and is the foundation for Advanced Encryption Standards (AES), a system widely deployed in military and financial encryption protocols, according to the newspaper. While AES-256 is usually labelled as military-grade and considered to be the most secure encryption standard available, the latest Chinese study suggests that quantum computers may soon threaten such security.
Gazing into the future today appears to be possible with the new Chinese efforts to use quantum computing to carry out cyber-attacks. This may still be in the initial stages of development, but awareness of the work being conducted in this sphere is important for the US if it is to defend itself. The US Select Committee would do well to take cognisance of the new and emerging threat. The responsibility of the US legislature in the current political environment has only increased given the Presidential election around the corner. Whatever the outcome, the ever-growing threat from China in the cyber domain and its persistence will find a looming presence before the US and its allies.
These drills, part of China’s ongoing show of force, mark the fourth round of large-scale military operations in the past two years….reports Asian Lite News
China launched military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, with planes and ships encircling the self-ruled island, according to Beijing’s Defence Ministry, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported.
These drills, part of China’s ongoing show of force, mark the fourth round of large-scale military operations in the past two years.
The exercise, titled Joint Sword-2024B, is designed to “test the joint operations capabilities of the theatre command’s troops,” the ministry said.
According to Captain Li Xi, a spokesperson of the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command, the drills are taking place in “areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan Island,” as reported by CNA.
Li explained that the drills focus on multiple areas, including “sea-air combat-readiness patrols, blockades of key ports and areas,” and the “assault on maritime and ground targets.” The exercises also involved the “joint seizure of comprehensive superiority.”
China’s military presence around Taiwan has increased significantly in recent years, with frequent flights and naval maneuvers around the island’s waters.
Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control.
In the wake of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s speech during the island’s National Day celebrations last week, both the US and Taiwan urged China to hold off on any aggressive actions. Lai, who has taken a stronger stance on defending Taiwan’s sovereignty than his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, angered the Chinese government, which labels him a “separatist,” reported CNA.
In his speech, Lai emphasized Taiwan’s resistance to any attempts at annexation, stating that “Beijing and Taipei were ‘not subordinate to each other’.”
In response, Beijing called the drills a “stern warning to the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan Independence’ forces” and affirmed that the exercises were “a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding state sovereignty and national unity.”
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te also expressed a desire for “healthy and orderly dialogue and exchanges” with China. He urged Beijing to play a constructive role in ending conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Despite Taiwan’s robust governance and military, it has never formally declared independence from China, which continues to push for Taiwan’s exclusion from international platforms and diplomatic recognition.
Taiwan expels Chinese Coast Guard ships
Taiwan has expelled four Chinese coast guard ships that entered its restricted waters near the Matsu Islands shortly after the People’s Liberation Army announced the start of its Joint Sword-2024B drills around Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) reported detecting two China Coast Guard ships near Nangan Island and two more near Dongyin Island on Monday morning. Following the intrusion of Chinese vessels into restricted waters off Matsu, the CGA’s Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch dispatched four patrol boats to monitor the situation.
According to CGA, the incident raised the total number of Chinese incursions into Taiwan-controlled waters to 44 this year.
The CGA noted it has formed a task force to address “abnormal” Chinese coast guard activities that began around 11 am. Several Chinese ships crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, loitering near various parts of Taiwan’s coastline. In response, the CGA deployed patrol vessels to assist the Ministry of National Defence in monitoring these activities.
According to the CNA report, the CGA and Army personnel on Menghu Islet had also detected a suspicious target moving towards the islet early Monday. After assessing the situation, patrol vessels intercepted an inflatable boat carrying a Chinese citizen, who was arrested and is now under investigation.
The China-Taiwan dispute centres around the political status of Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province that must eventually be reunified with the mainland, while Taiwan operates as a self-governing democracy with its own government, economy, and identity.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) asserts its sovereignty over Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. In contrast, Taiwan, under the leadership of various parties over the years, has increasingly embraced its distinct identity and has resisted unification on Beijing’s terms.
The disputes in the maritime areas surrounding Taiwan are emblematic of broader geopolitical tensions in the region, particularly involving China’s assertive claims over the South China Sea.
The increasing military presence by China, including naval exercises and the construction of artificial islands, has heightened tensions. (ANI)
