The CHN/ China thread

[Jimbuna]

China called ‘inhumane’ for trying to block evacuation of sick Philippines soldier

The Philippines has denounced China’s “barbaric and inhumane” efforts to block a medical evacuation mission in the South China Sea last month.

The Philippines coast guard alleged that “despite informing the Chinese Coast Guard via radio and public address system about the humanitarian nature of our mission for medical evacuation they still engaged in dangerous manoeuvres and even intentionally rammed” a vessel “transporting the sick personnel”.

Philippine sailors eventually managed to evacuate the sick soldier to nearby Palawan, Commodore Jay Tarriela, a coast guard spokesperson, said.

The incident occurred on ​​19 May near the contested Ayungin Shoal but the Philippines coast guard made videos of the altercation public on Friday.
“The barbaric and inhumane behaviour displayed by the China Coast Guard has no place in our society,” Mr Tarriela said. “What should have been a simple medical evacuation operation was subjected to harassment, with the excessive deployment of two China Coast Guard vessels, two small boats and two rubber boats.”

“Their actions clearly demonstrated their intention to prevent the sick personnel from receiving the proper medical attention he urgently needed.”

The Philippines says that Ayungin lies within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea but Beijing contests this claim.

In 1999, the Philippines deliberately grounded a vessel named BRP Sierra Madre on the shoal, converting it into a military outpost. The sick soldier was stationed on Sierra Madre.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...6f9c7374&ei=50

[Jimbuna]

China’s new ‘big deck’ invasion ship may have catapults. It’s one to watch

Ashipyard in Shanghai is making solid progress on the first vessel in a new class of amphibious assault ship for the Chinese navy. The 830-foot Type 076 assault ship appears to have a full-length flight deck and may have an electromagnetic aircraft catapult and arrestor wires – like an aircraft carrier, but smaller.

Countries with these “big-deck” amphibs tend to use them primarily for carrying out landings of troops from the sea. They carry assault and attack helicopters on their flight decks, and landing craft and amphibious armoured vehicles in their internal well decks. The helicopters land marines from the air at the same time the landing craft and vehicles land marines from the sea. America’s big-deck amphibs, which are as big as some countries’ full-sized aircraft carriers, carry Osprey tiltrotors and vertical-thrust Harrier or F-35B jump jets as well as helicopters.

In a pinch, big-deck assault ships can also double as “light” aircraft carriers – provided they have suitable aircraft. The Type 076 will, at the very least, be a formidable addition to the Chinese navy’s growing amphibious flotilla. And it just might bolster China’s carrier air power, too.

The Chinese navy already has three Type 075 big-deck amphibs and is building at least one more. The big difference between the Type 075 and the future Type 076 is the latter’s possible catapult and arrester wires. Steam-powered or electromagnetic catapults help carriers launch heavy fixed-wing aircraft in a short distance. Wires help them land in a short distance.

The Type 076’s specifications specifically mention unmanned aerial vehicles, possibly indicating the Chinese navy plans to equip the class with one or more of the many armed drone types Chinese industry is developing for the People’s Liberation Army, Navy and Air Force.

That would make sense. The Chinese navy is already building, at a river shipyard near Shanghai, an experimental drone-carrier that could help the fleet develop technology and tactics for the Type 076s.

It’s unlikely the Type 076s will operate the Chinese fleet’s existing and in-development manned carrier aircraft. They include the Shenyang J-16 fighter, the Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter, the Shenyang J-16D radar-jamming jet and the Xi’an KJ-600 early-warning plane.

The lightest of these types, the J-16, is barely compatible with China’s first two flattops – the Soviet-inspired Liaoning and Shandong, both around 1,000 feet long and equipped with arrester wires but no catapults. To be able to take off from these ships’ “ski-jump” ramps, the J-16s must get up to flying speed under their own power. This means they must take off with only partial loads of fuel and weapons.

It’s telling that the Chinese navy has devoted enormous resources to building a third carrier, the 1,040-foot Fujian, that boasts a much wider flight deck plus catapults.

Fujian, which set sail from Shanghai for sea trials last month, is optimized for J-16s, J-35s, J-16Ds and KJ-600s. If an 830-foot Type 076 could embark China’s new carrier air wing, Fujian might’ve been redundant.

But if the Chinese navy ever develops a vertical-thrust jump jet in the class of the Boeing AV-8B Harrier or Lockheed Martin F-35B, the Type 076s might do more than carry drones. They could become true light carriers, as American amphibs sometimes do.

The US Navy operates nine big-deck assault ships that normally embark six or so US Marine Harriers or F-35Bs. Launching after a short take-off run and landing vertically, the jump-jet fighters are primarily intended to provide close air support to beach-storming Marines. However they can instead be armed as air-to-air fighters, and protect the ship against attacking aircraft or drones.

The US Navy and US Marines have demonstrated the ability to transform the assault ships into light carriers by reducing their helicopter complements and adding more fighters. During the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, four assault ships each embarked up to 20 Harriers in order to contribute to the coalition air campaign.

In 2019, the improved assault ship USS America set sail across the Pacific Ocean with no fewer than 13 F-35Bs aboard. Three years later, America embarked 16 F-35Bs, working toward a theoretical maximum of 20 of the stealthy jump jets.

For years, there have been rumours that China is developing its own jump jet. For years, there’s been no actual hard evidence of this purported F-35B-like warplane. If these rumors prove true and a Chinese jump jet ever takes flight, the Chinese navy’s carrier fleet could – by a certain definition – instantly grow by potentially several vessels.

China’s navy continues to grow, both in numbers and in new capabilities. And this latest development, strengthening as it does China’s ability to mount a seaborne invasion, will probably be watched very carefully in Taiwan.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...d=BingNewsSerp

[Jimbuna]

China says it could take EU to WTO over electric car tariff threat

China has threatened to take the European Union to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the high punitive tariffs it is considering on Chinese electric vehicles.

"China reserves the right to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization and will take all necessary measures to firmly defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," said He Yadong, a spokesman for the Commerce Ministry, on Thursday.

The EU tariffs would not only "disrupt the mutually beneficial cooperation" in the field of electric vehicles, but also distort the global automotive industry and supply chains, He said.

The European approach is an "obvious act of trade protectionism" and could break WTO rules, the spokesman continued.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, threatened on Wednesday to impose import tariffs on Chinese EVs of up to 38.1%, after an investigation found evidence of illegal support from subsidies.

The higher import duties will only be applied if the EU and China cannot find a solution to the issue, and would come into force from July 4.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/othe...f96be8e8&ei=24

[Jimbuna]

Philippine officials say Chinese forces seized boats in South China Sea

Chinese forces seized two Philippine rubber boats that were delivering food and other supplies to a military outpost in a disputed South China Sea shoal in a tense confrontation in which some Filipino navy personnel were injured, Philippine security officials said on Tuesday.

The United States renewed a warning that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, a treaty ally, a day after the hour-long hostilities in Second Thomas Shoal.

The shoal has been occupied by a small Philippine navy contingent aboard a long-grounded warship that has been closely monitored by China’s coast guard and navy in a years-long territorial standoff.

There is fear that territorial disputes in the South China Sea, long regarded as an Asian flashpoint, could escalate and pit the United States and China in a larger conflict. China and the Philippines blamed each other for Monday’s hostilities, the most serious in recent months, but provided few details.

A Philippine government task force overseeing the territorial disputes condemned what it said were “dangerous manoeuvres, including ramming and towing”, which disrupted an effort to transport food, water and other supplies to the Filipinos manning the territorial outpost on the grounded ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, at the shoal. It did not elaborate.

Two Philippine security officials told The Associated Press that two rubber boats manned by Filipino navy personnel had approached the BRP Sierra Madre at the shoal to deliver fresh supplies when several Chinese Coast Guard personnel on speedboats arrived to disrupt the mission, sparking a scuffle and collisions.

At least eight of the Filipinos were injured, including one who lost a thumb, in the scuffle, said one of the officials.

Five of the injured sailors were rescued by a Philippine Coast Guard patrol ship that was waiting at a distance to back up the navy’s supply mission.

The two rubber supply boats were towed away by Chinese Coast Guard personnel and then abandoned after being damaged and emptied of their contents, including an unspecified number of rifles, the two officials said. They were later recovered by the Filipino navy, they said.

The Chinese coast guard gave a different version of the hostilities and said the Philippines “is entirely responsible for this”.

It said a Philippine vessel “ignored China’s repeated solemn warnings … and dangerously approached a Chinese vessel in normal navigation in an unprofessional manner, resulting in a collision”.

China’s Foreign Ministry said the supply ship was accompanied by two Philippine speedboats that were attempting to deliver construction materials and other supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre. It described the Chinese Coast Guard’s actions as “professional, restrained, reasonable and lawful”.

US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell discussed China’s actions with his Philippine counterpart, Maria Theresa Lazaro, in a telephone call.

Both agreed that China’s “dangerous actions threatened regional peace and stability,” state department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

Mr Campbell reaffirmed that the 1951 US-Philippine Mutual Defence Treaty, which obligates Washington and Manila to help defend each other in major conflicts, “extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft – including those of its coast guard – anywhere in the South China Sea,” according to Miller.

Philippine defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr said on Monday that his country’s armed forces would resist “China’s dangerous and reckless behaviour”, which “contravenes their statements of good faith and decency”.

“We will exert our utmost in order to fulfil our sworn mandate to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights,” Mr Teodoro said.

“It should now be clear to the international community that China’s actions are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

Several other incidents have occurred in recent months near Second Thomas Shoal, which is less than 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from the nearest Philippine coast and is where the BRP Sierra Madre, now encrusted with rust, was deliberately grounded in 1999 to create a territorial outpost.

The ship remains an actively commissioned military vessel, meaning an attack on it could be considered by the Philippines as an act of war.

China has become increasingly assertive in pressing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which has led to a rising number of direct conflicts with other countries in the region, most notably the Philippines and Vietnam.

A new Chinese law which took effect on Saturday authorises its coast guard to seize foreign ships “that illegally enter China’s territorial waters” and to detain foreign crews for up to 60 days.

The law renewed a reference to 2021 legislation that says China’s coast guard can fire upon foreign ships if necessary.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...366a38e5&ei=16

[mapuc]

Markus

[em2nought]

Wow, compare Shanghai to Biden's big cities. Chyna is a little more expensive than I imagined, I guess that's why they take vacations to Thailand. I think I'd take Shanghai as compared to any city in the USA in which to live. I'd be afraid they might lock me up as a spy though.

[em2nought]

Found this about Chairman Mao pretty interesting too. Lots of stuff that's new to me. Some of this is crazy. Some of it makes me think of us right now.

[Jimbuna]

US approves new $300 million arms sale to Taiwan for drones, related equipment

The Biden administration on Tuesday approved a new $360 million weapons sale to Taiwan, sending the island hundreds of armed drones, missile equipment and related support material, the State Department said in a statement that is sure to draw condemnation from China.

The announcement was not unexpected but it comes at a time of high tension between Washington and Beijing, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to consolidate by force if necessary.

The sale includes 291 Altius-600M systems, which are unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, with warheads. It also includes 720 Switchblade drones known as “extended-range loitering munitions,” the department said.

It said the sale “serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability.” It will “help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region," the department said.
The statement claimed that the transfer would not affect the military balance in the region. The announcement was not unusual, although the U.S. and China have in recent months sought to smooth tense relations.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...72a1c4e0&ei=45

[Jimbuna]

China threatens ‘diehard’ Taiwan separatists with death penalty despite lack of jurisdiction

China on Friday threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases for “diehard” Taiwan independence separatists, a ratcheting up of pressure even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction on the democratically governed island.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has made no secret of its dislike of President Lai Ching-te who took office last month, saying he is a “separatist”, and staged war games shortly after his inauguration.

Taiwan has complained of a pattern of ramped up Chinese pressure since Mr Lai won the election in January, including ongoing military actions, trade sanctions and coast guard patrols around Taiwan-controlled islands next to China.

The new guidelines say China’s courts, prosecutors, public and state security bodies should “severely punish Taiwan independence diehards for splitting the country and inciting secession crimes in accordance with the law, and resolutely defend national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity”, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.
The guidelines are being issued in accordance with laws already on the books, including the 2005 anti-succession law, the news agency reported.

That law gives China the legal basis for military action against Taiwan if it secedes or seems about to.

Sun Ping, an official from China’s Ministry of Public Security, told reporters in Beijing the maximum penalty for the “crime of secession” was the death penalty.

“The sharp sword of legal action will always hang high,” she said.

There was no immediate response from Taiwan‘s government. One official told Reuters they were still digesting the contents of the new guidelines.

The guidelines detail what is considered a crime worthy of punishment, including promoting Taiwan‘s entry to international organisations where statehood is a condition, having “external official exchanges” and “suppressing” parties, groups and people that promote “reunification”.

The guidelines add a further clause to what could be considered a crime - “other acts that seek to separate Taiwan from China” - meaning the rules can be broadly interpreted.

Mr Lai has repeatedly offered to hold talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan‘s people can decide their future.

China has taken legal measures against Taiwanese officials before, including imposing sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan‘s former de facto ambassador to the United States and now the island’s vice president.

Such punishments have little practical effect as Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Senior Taiwanese officials, including its president, also do not visit China.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...791b5508&ei=49

[Jimbuna]

China Sinks U.S. Red Sea-Based Ticonderoga-Class Cruiser with Fire Dragon Missiles in Recent Simulation

China has conducted another mock attack on a United States military asset with missiles, and this time it is a Ticonderoga-Class Battle Cruiser currently on patrol in the Red Sea.

Knewz.com has learned that the purported computer simulation and ensuing paper, found it would take at least six of the Asian superpower's Fire Dragon projectiles to sink a warship like the USS Philippine Sea.

The model involved firing 12 projectiles and using low-precision satellite photos to identify the general locations of the mockup U.S. naval assets. As the projectiles neared their targets, they recalibrated their courses to match the vessels' exact positions.

According to the Eurasian Times, the exercise factored in said vessels’ defensive capabilities including the radar-guided Phalanx cannon with its 4,500 per minute rate of fire—and despite this potent feature, one of the US vessels sank.

A report on the simulation indicated that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China’s experiment also used versions of the Fire Dragon missile fitted with six drones apiece, which in a real combat scenario, would be used to confuse a ship’s radar and divert firepower while the real explosive honed in.

The results of this simulation were purported as an even greater success because none of the simulated ships survived.

According to the Business Standard, the projectile is no state secret and is produced exclusively for export by the country’s North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO).

It weighs 880 lbs according to the South China Morning Post, and has a high degree of accuracy.

Additionally, its impact velocity exceeds 1,640 feet per second.

According to Li Jiangjiang, senior author of the paper, it would take two of the warheads to destroy a 10,000-tonne (the weight of the Ticonderoga-Class Cruiser) warship.

Thus far, only one known sale (worth $245 million) has been made, and it was to the United Arab Emirates.

The Ticonderoga-Class vessels, on the other hand, were first commissioned in 1981 as destroyers but due to their enhanced firepower were designated cruisers.

The last vessel was built in 1994 and of the 27 existing units, 13 remain in service.

Despite the alleged results of the Chinese experiment, Ticonderoga-Class cruisers make formidable adversaries.

They comprise a variety of mechanisms (offensive and defensive) including the PY-1A-powered AEGIS weapon system that automatically tracks threats and targets entities beyond 200 miles.

In addition to the latter, per National Interest, the ships carry up to 80 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), 16 anti-submarine rockets, and 26 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Making this ordinance even more lethal are two Mk-41 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS), which allow the vessel to store all its missiles in standby mode.

As noted by the Chinese paper, the Ticonderoga-Class vessels also carry two Phalanx cannons, two machine guns, and two torpedo tubes, and can accommodate two Seahawk helicopters.

The U.S. is yet to comment on the test—but notably, it is not the first time China’s training for attacks on American assets has become public.

In January 2024, Knewz.com reported on satellite images of structures closely resembling the supercarrier Gerald Fordin the country’s Taklamakan Desert.

More recently, satellites captured another dessert-bound mockup. This time, of the Taiwanese parliamentary buildings.

This sighting led to speculation among experts that a Chinese attack on the breakaway island democracy would be very different from what many expect—and it could all be over 30 minutes.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...894140ee&ei=14

[Jimbuna]

Polish president arrived in China to see Xi Jinping. Ukraine to be discussed at their meeting

Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in China on Saturday, June 22. During the visit, he plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine and more.

"This visit is of great importance for our security in Europe. We know that China is a superpower, we know that it has friendly relations not only with Belarus, but also with Russia, and Russia is the aggressor in Ukraine today. And this is what I would like to talk about with President Xi Jinping," the Polish president said before the visit.

Duda also wants to discuss with Xi Jinping the behavior of Belarus, in particular its hybrid attacks against Poland with the help of illegal migrants. China could supply its goods to Europe via Belarus, but the railroad route through Poland is restricted due to Belarus' border provocations.
"China has traditionally friendly relations with Belarus. I would like to present this situation to President Xi Jinping. And tell him what we are facing," the Polish leader said.

In May, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid a three-day visit to China. The German leader's visit was intended to resolve differences on various issues, including China's trade practices and its support for Russia.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...ee3492ff&ei=59

[Jimbuna]

Taiwan conducts military exercises similar to combat operations amid threat from China

Taiwan will begin its annual five-day military drills in late July. This year, however, these exercises will be closer to real combat operations to prepare the Taiwanese army for threats from China, reports Reuters.

A senior Taiwanese official told Reuters that the exercises will not be a "show" as they used to be, but will be as close to real combat as possible.

"In recent years, the enemy threat has changed rapidly. Our defense combat plan must also be continuously revised on a rolling basis, and the urgency of comprehensive combat training is becoming more and more important," he said.

One of the unusual elements of the exercise for the Taiwanese army will be night training. Also, according to the Taiwanese official, the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, will be in the exercise area.

China wants to take over Taiwan

In the 40s of the last century, the leader of the Chinese ruling Kuomintang party and his supporters fled to the island of Taiwan after the defeat of the Communists in the civil war, where he created a Chinese government in exile. Since then, Taiwan has become a de facto independent country, although it has also claimed the territory of mainland China, where the Communist People's Republic of China was formed.

Today, Chinese President Xi Jinping is already dreaming of "reunification" with Taiwan. And the more Taiwan moves away from China and toward the West, the more aggressive China's rhetoric and behavior becomes.

Recently, China conducted military exercises around Taiwan, effectively surrounding the island. As Beijing explained, these exercises were "a severe punishment for separatism."

According to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, China considers the "elimination" of Taiwan's independence its great national cause.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...30a9d291&ei=26

[Jimbuna]

China to seek ways to resolve 'crisis in Ukraine' in its own way - Xi Jinping

Chinese leader Xi Jinping said at a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Beijing that China would seek to resolve the "crisis in Ukraine" in its own way, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

"Xi Jinping emphasized that China's position on the "Ukrainian crisis" is to promote peace negotiations and a political settlement," the statement said.

In Xi Jinping's view, efforts must now be made to prevent the expansion and intensification of the conflict, reduce tensions, and create conditions for peace talks.

"China is ready to continue playing a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis in Ukraine in its own way and supports all efforts that contribute to the peaceful solution of the crisis and the construction of an effective and sustainable European security architecture," the Chinese leader noted.
At the same time, he added that Beijing opposes other countries' criticism of its "normal trade" with Russia, stating that the aim is to discredit China.

Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in China on Saturday, June 22. During the visit, he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, among other topics.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/video/news...745be8a4&ei=74