China's air force steps up modernization drive: white paper

[Spring Onion]

China's air force steps up modernization drive: white paper

BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese air force has stepped up its modernization efforts in order to "satisfy the strategic requirements of conducting both offensive and defensive operations," says a white paper on the country's national defense on Thursday.

The modernization and transformation of the Air Force of the People's Liberation Army follows a "carefully-structured plan," says the white paper, issued by the Information Office of the State Council, or Cabinet.

The air force strengthens and improves its development and personnel development strategies, and enhances its research into the operation and transformation of air forces in conditions of informationization, it says.

The air force conducts training on "confrontation between systems in complex electromagnetic environments, and carries out maneuvers, drills and operational assembly training in different tactical contexts," it says.

The air force also strengthens routine combat readiness of air defenses, "taking the defense of the capital as the center" and "the defense of coastal and border areas as the key," it says.

It has carried out military operations other than war (MOOTWs), such as air security for major national events, emergency rescue and disaster relief, international rescue, and emergency airlift.

It has gradually deployed airborne early warning and control aircraft, third-generation combat aircraft, and other advanced weaponry and equipment, the white paper says.

The air force has under it an air command in each of the seven military area commands of Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Chengdu. It also has under its command an airborne corps, according to the paper.

Under each air command at military area level are aviation divisions, ground-to-air missile divisions (brigades and regiments), anti-aircraft artillery brigades (regiments), radar brigades (regiments), electronic countermeasures (ECM) regiments (battalions), and other units.

An aviation division has under its command aviation regiments and related stations, the white paper says.

Related:

China issues white paper on national defense to enhance transparency

BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday issued a white paper on national defense, aiming to enhance its military transparency and boost the world's trust in its commitment to peaceful development.

The document, the seventh of its kind the Chinese government has issued since 1998, says China will never seek hegemony, nor will it adopt the approach of military expansion now or in the future, no matter how its economy develops.

China's air force steps up modernization drive: white paper

 

[aimarraul]

China issues white paper on national defense to enhance transparency

Officers including spokesman with China's Ministry of National Defense Geng Yansheng (2nd L) prepare to answer questions at a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 30, 2011. The Chinese government issued the white paper on China's national defense in 2010 on Thursday, which reiterates China's insistence on peaceful development and pursuit of a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. (Xinhua/Li Mingfang)

BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday issued a white paper on national defense, aiming to enhance its military transparency and boost the world's trust in its commitment to peaceful development.

　　The document, the seventh of its kind the Chinese government has issued since 1998, says China will never seek hegemony, nor will it adopt the approach of military expansion now or in the future, no matter how its economy develops.

　　It gives an overall picture of China's national defense ranging from the security environment, national defense policy, to defense expenditure and arms control.

　　On security environment, the white paper says the world remains peaceful and stable at large, but the international security situation has become more complex and military competition remains fierce.

　　China is meanwhile confronted by more diverse and complex security challenges, it says.

　　China pursues a national defense policy which is defensive in nature, the white paper says. Such a pursuit is determined by China's development path, its fundamental aims, its foreign policy, and its historical and cultural traditions.

　　The goals and tasks of China's national defense in the new era are defined as safeguarding national sovereignty, security and interests of national development; maintaining social harmony and stability; accelerating the modernization of national defense and the armed forces; maintaining world peace and stability.

　　The white paper reviewed the modernization of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), saying it has grown from a single service into a strong military force featuring a range of services and arms, and is now beginning to make progress towards informationization.

　　The PLA laid down a three-step development strategy and adopted a step-change approach which takes mechanization as the foundation and informationization as the focus.

　　On defense expenditure, the white paper says the increase has been kept at a reasonable and appropriate level.

　　China's defense expenditure mainly comprises expenses for personnel, training and maintenance, and equipment, with each accounting for roughly one third of the total.

　　In the past two years, the increase in the defense expenditure has been used to improve support conditions for the troops and accomplish diversified military tasks, ranging from earthquake rescue and escort operations in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia.

　　In view of the upward trend in purchasing prices and maintenance costs, China has moderately increased the funds for high-tech weaponry and equipment and their supporting facilities.

　　The white paper eyed military confidence-building as an effective way to maintain national security and development, and safeguard regional peace and stability.

　　China is promoting the establishment of equal, mutually beneficial and effective mechanisms for military confidence-building, via strategic consultations and dialogues, border area confidence-building measures, dialogues and cooperation on maritime security, regional security cooperation and military exchanges with other countries.

　　China attaches importance to and takes an active part in international efforts in the field of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, the white paper says.

　　The country adheres to the complete fulfillment of the UN's role in this area, and that of other related international organizations and multilateral mechanisms.

　　It considers that existing multilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation systems should be consolidated and strengthened, that the legitimate and reasonable security concerns of all countries should be respected and accommodated, and that global strategic balance and stability should be maintained.

　　The white paper also reviewed the deployment of the Chinese armed forces, national defense mobilization and reserve force building, military legal system, as well as science, technology and industry for national defense.

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/BGGkSiL6UAs/

[video]http://video.sina.com.cn/v/b/49319533-1047453724.html[/video]

[video]http://v.ifeng.com/mil/mainland/201103/c0cd2105-1385-47a2-9219-0c3fe741455f.shtml[/video]

 

[Akasa]

About time