China Chronicles September 28, 2012
- Naval patrols legitimate, says defense ministry spokesman
CHINESE naval ships have been carrying out patrols and military training in waters off the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea recently, Yang Yujun, a defense ministry spokesman confirmed yesterday.Yang was answering questions about reports in the Japanese media last week that two Chinese naval frigates had been navigating in waters off the islands.
Yang said the Diaoyu Islands had been an inseparable part of Chinese territory since ancient times and it was legitimate for Chinese naval ships to carry out patrols and training for military readiness in the waters under Chinese jurisdiction.
He said the Chinese military had the responsibility of safeguarding national territory and state sovereignty as well as its maritime rights and the safety of its people.
"Chinese troops perform a duty of military readiness to quickly react to maritime and airspace emergencies and closely work with the departments of maritime surveillance and fishery administration to provide security for the country's maritime law enforcement, fishery production as well as oil and gas development," he said.
Asked to comment on a call by some Japanese politicians that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces be upgraded to normal national defense forces, Yang pointed out that the war of aggression by Japanese militarists had brought severe disasters to Asian people.
"Japan should learn from history and strictly keep to a purely defensive policy to build trust with its neighboring countries and the international society," he said.
Yang also said that China's use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, over Huangyan Island, the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters was "justified and legal," and said China was opposed to any military provocation in the South China Sea.
He was responding to comments by a Philippine Department of National Defense spokesman that Chinese drones may be shot at if they entered those islands' airspace.
China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan! Island, the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters, Yang said. "Therefore, Chinese aircraft flying in the airspace in question is justified and legal."
On Sunday, the State Oceanic Administration said that China would promote the use of drones to strengthen the nation's marine surveillance, and step up efforts to enhance its surveillance of islands including Diaoyu and Huangyan.
- Japan's premier 'obstinate and wrong' over Diaoyu
China yesterday called Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda obstinate and wrong for saying Japan won't compromise in the Diaoyu Islands dispute, as Japanese lawmakers and business leaders visited Beijing with hopes of mending ties.
Relations between the two countries are at their lowest in years after Japan "purchased" the islands from a so-called private owner early this month.
Noda said in New York on Wednesday that the islands were an "inherent part of our territory, in light of history and international law."
He told the UN General Assembly that issues should be resolved peacefully according to rule of law.
In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday: "China is strongly disappointed and sternly opposes the Japanese leader's obstinacy regarding his wrong position."
Qin added: "Japan seriously challenges the postwar international order, but tries to take the rules of international law as a cover. This is self-deceiving."
China scrapped the reception due yesterday to mark 40 years of diplomatic relations between the countries. Instead, China's top political adviser Jia Qinglin met members of the Association for the Promotion of International Trade yesterday.
Jia reiterated China's position on the Diaoyu Islands, and said Japan's actions had "pushed China-Japan relations to an unprecedented grim phase."
Japan's erroneous action has seriously infringed on China's sovereignty, touched on the historical pain endured by the Chinese people and aroused their strong indignation and firm opposition, Jia said.
"Japan should realize the seriousness of the current situation, squarely face the disputes over the Diaoyu Islands and correct its mistake as soon as possible, so as to avoid further damaging China-Japan ties," Jia said.
Yohei Kono, a former Japanese Speaker of the House of Representatives and president of the Association for the Promotion of International Trade, referred to the strife when he told Jia he had come to ! Beijing "this time with a heavy heart."
Jia called on all Japanese people to work with the Chinese side to return China-Japan ties to the track of sound development.
"I hope Japanese people from all walks of life will take the general situation of bilateral ties into consideration, overcome current difficulties and work with the Chinese side to put the ties back on a track of sound development," said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
- Additive in another kids' cheese raises questions
QUESTIONS have been raised about a cheese product for children made by Mengniu that contains milk mineral, an additive banned for babies.The questions arose yesterday after Shanghai's dairy giant Bright Dairy had recently had a cheese product for babies with the additive pulled off the shelves.
The ingredient was printed on the package of Mengniu's "Weilaixing" cheese product designed for children. The product did not say which age group the product was for, according to yesterday's Huaxi Metropolis Daily based in Sichuan Province. Neither did it say the product should not be given to babies.
No government action had been taken against the company as of late yesterday, and the company had not removed the product from shelves.
The Inner-Mongolia-based dairy giant denied any wrongdoing. "All of Mengniu's products that contain milk mineral are not for babies and in line with the national standard," it said.
Mengniu said, however, that it started changing the package on its product on Friday as it came off the production line, without specifying the change. It can be purchased at about 1 million sales outlets nationwide.
Shanghai Daily visited some local supermarkets and did not find the products available. But it is still sold online.
The additive, milk mineral, is not allowed for babies according to regulations issued by the Ministry of Health in 2009 as it is a newly extracted compound with unproven effects on babies.
Mengniu did not explain why it included the additive in its products, while experts said it may cut costs by using the mineral, which is difficult for babies to digest, to replace milk calcium suitable for babies.
"Newly born babies have an immature digestion system and kidneys, thus China has strict requirements on the content of dairy products for babies," said Wang Dingmian, director of the Guangdong Provincial Dairy Association.
- 2 die, 7 hurt in chemical plant blast after gas leak
TWO people died and seven others were injured at noon yesterday in a chemical plant blast in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
A preliminary investigation showed coal gas leaked at a Hechi Chemical Industrial Group Company purification workshop in Hechi City and triggered the deadly blast, Xinhua news agency reported.
Witnesses reported seeing body parts at the scene. Rescuers said the huge blast smashed the windows of a five-story building, heavily damaged two vehicles parked nearby and lifted 10 iron sheets off the factory's roof.
The injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment and their injuries are not life-threatening, said Li Chunqi, deputy general manager of the company. No one was found to be trapped inside the factory.
An investigation is under way but officials said there is no indication that the environment in the area was contaminated.
The company, a subsidiary of the state-owned China National Chemical Corporation, or ChemChina, mainly produces fertilizer with an annual production value of 800 million yuan (US$127 million), according to information on the company's website.
- Officers trying evil eye to get rid of vendors
CHINA'S chengguan officers, or urban management officers, have been drawn into a fresh controversy after staring down illegal vendors in central China's Hubei Province.
A squad of 20 chengguan officers stared in silence at illegal vegetable vendors along a road in Wuhan, provincial capital of Hubei, last week, forcing the vendors to leave out of a sense of embarrassment and fear.
The novel way of executing their duties has sparked heated debate online, where photos of the officers standing in a line, fixing their eyes on the vendors, have been widely circulated.
Some Chinese Internet users joked about the "horrible stares" and "killing eyes," but others voiced their support.
"(They were using) eyes instead of fists. This means of law enforcement is creative and marks new progress," "chenyongzhonglushi" wrote in a posting on Weibo. "But it would be better if the officers turned to legal procedures," the Internet user whose Weibo username roughly translates as "Lawyer Chen Yongzhong" added.
Some, however, called the new method "emotional abuse."
Internet user "Shenglixingshibai" called it "cold violence," saying, "It is more important to improve the vendors' awareness of obeying the law."
About 60 percent of the total 2,000 respondents to an online opinion poll launched by Sina Weibo voiced their approval for the "horrible stare" law enforcement tactic, saying it is better than the officers resorting to violence.
"When I saw people's comments of support online, I was so happy," said Sha Xianqing, a chengguan officer in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province.
"Most of the time, we have no choice. We have to carry out our duties, but we also want to do them in a better way," said Sha, who has been working as a chengguan officer for over 20 years.
It was not the first time that chengguan officers have turned to "silent enforcement." Fifty officers used such tactics in Wuhan in 2009, effectively staring down vendors who had refused to m! ove their roadside stalls.
China's chengguan officers are no strangers to controversy, as they are often criticized for sometimes violent methods for tackling low-level, urban, non-criminal regulation violations.
Experts said the "horrible stares" show that the officers are actively exploring non-violent law enforcement tactics. "They are directly facing conflicts at the grassroots level," said Wang Kaiyu, a renowned sociologist in Anhui. "They are making a good effort, at least."
- All-Chinese jets to serve on nation's first carrier
CHINA'S first aircraft carrier will be equipped with aircraft developed from fighters made in China, Ministry of Defense spokesman Yang Yujun said yesterday.
At one time it had been thought Russia's Su-33 fighter might be used on the Liaoning.
However, domestic military officials and analysts are predicting that Chinese J-15 fighters, which they say are a match for US F-18 Hornet fighters, will be used as many photographs had been published showing the plane on the Liaoning's deck.
The current weak point of the J-15, also known as the Flying Shark, is its Russia-made Al-31 engines which are less powerful than those of the American F-35 fighter, said Hu Siyuan, a professor with the National Defense University PLA China.
"However, the J-15 will be more competitive with the F-35 in future when the Chinese jet is equipped with made-in-China engines because the US jet has only a single engine," he said.
The twin-engined Chinese fighter made its maiden flight in 2009 in northeastern Shenyang.
China's J-31 stealth fighter may also be used on the carrier in future, analysts said.
The J-31 attracted wide public attention in June when some online pictures showed the cutting-edge fighter fully wrapped but with its futuristic shape still discernible.
"Both fighters have twin engines and will have great potential to upgrade weapons load and fighting ability in future," said military analyst Qu Yanbing.
Qu said the Liaoning would have about 40 fixed-wing aircraft on board.
Though the carrier could be combat ready at any time, it will continue to be used for scientific research and experiments as well as military training, Yang told a regular press conference in Beijing yesterday, two days after the Liaoning had been officially commissioned in its home port of Dalian.
"Aircraft carriers can be used for both attack and defense as well as to safeguard the peace and for rescue works in disasters, but, for the Liaoning, experiments and training a! re its major task," he said.
The carrier is a milestone in China's military history and a major achievement in the nation's naval development, Yang said. "But this is only the first step of our aircraft carrier development. We still have a long way to go," he said.
When asked to confirm reports that the Chinese Navy will create an aircraft carrier formation in the future and build an aircraft carrier base in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, Yang said: "The formation is generally made up of the aircraft carrier itself, escort vessels, submarines and aircraft. China will study the issue in accordance with the development and real needs of the aircraft carrier."
Yang dismissed media reports that a second aircraft carrier was being built in Shanghai for launch later this year. "Such reports are inaccurate," he said.
As for the Liaoning's impact on China's surrounding areas, Yang stressed that the country adheres to the path of peaceful development, independent foreign policy and pursues a defensive national policy.
- Beijing denies reports about China's second aircraft carrier
THE Ministry of Defense today denied foreign media reports that China was building its second aircraft carrier in Shanghai.
"The reports are inaccurate," ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a press conference in Beijing today, two days after the country's first aircraft carrier Liaoning was officially commissioned.
Yang said China will plan its aircraft carrier projects by taking into account the country's economic and social conditions as well as the needs of its national defense and army building.
Some foreign media claimed that China was building its second aircraft carrier on Changxing Island off Shanghai and the ship was 100 percent Chinese-made and was expected to leave the shipyard by the end of this year. However, no satellite images proved the claim.
Major General Luo Yuan, a researcher with the PLA's Military Science Academy, also said: "It is entirely possible for China to build more aircraft carriers based on the nation's economic power."
But the spokesman said, "The first aircraft carrier Liaoning will continue to conduct scientific research and experiment as well as military training. Its future use has yet to be confirmed."
Yang said the Defense Ministry is going to form an aircraft carrier fleet that will consist of aircrafts, submarines and frigates, adding that the new aircraft carrier can assume the combat role whenever necessary.
China's newly developed 052D missile destroyers are most suitable to escort the aircraft carrier, said Hu Siyuan, a professor with the National Defense University in Beijing.
- China slams Japanese PM for remarks on Diaoyu Islands
CHINA was outraged by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's remarks to reporters at the UN General Assembly, and has urged Japan to cease immediately all actions that infringe China's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
"China is strongly disappointed and sternly opposes the Japanese leader's obstinacy regarding his wrong position on the Diaoyu Islands issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a written statement today.
Qin's remarks came following Noda's insistence when responding to reporter's questions at the UN General Assembly yesterday that the Diaoyu Islands "are an integral part" of Japan's territory in light of history and of international law.
"China has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis to prove the Diaoyu Islands have been an inseparable part of Chinese territory since ancient times," Qin said, citing the fact that the Qing court was defeated in the Sino-Japanese War in 1895 and forced to sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki and cede to Japan "the island of Formosa (Taiwan)," together with all islands appertaining or belonging to the said island of Formosa including the Diaoyu Islands.
After World War II, China took back all the territories that were invaded and occupied by Japan including Taiwan according to the international legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, Qin said, explaining that such a move indicates the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands were returned to China's sovereignty in terms of international law.
"The Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation are among the most important anti-fascist achievements and a significant basis for the post-war international order, and were publicly accepted by Japan in the Japanese Instrument of Surrender," Qin noted.
According to Qin, the Chinese government has voiced its stern opposition ever since the United States and Japan made backroom deals concerning the Diaoyu Islands, and never acknowledged such deals.
"Th! e Chinese people made a huge sacrifice and remarkable contribution to the victory in the World Antifascist War; however, a defeated country wants to illegally occupy the territory of a victorious nation," Qin pointed out.
"Where is the justice?" he asked.
Japan's position and acts regarding the Diaoyu Islands issue gravely trample on the principles of the UN Charter. Their essence shows an inability to engage in introspection and thoroughly repent and condemn Japanese militarism's history of invasion. They are a gross attempt to deny the outcomes of the victory of the World Antifascist War and a dangerous challenge to the post-war international order. These actions call for a high degree of vigilance from the international community, Qin warned.
"The historical verdict can never be overturned. The disaster and sufferings brought about by World War II shall never be forgotten. The peace and security order maintained by the United Nations cannot be undermined, and generally acknowledged international truths and human conscience shall never be challenged," Qin stressed.
He reiterated that Japan's "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands is totally illegal and invalid and will never change the historical facts of Japan's illegal occupation of Chinese territory, and therefore China's sovereignty over the islands.
Qin said the will and resolve of the Chinese government and its people to safeguard its national territorial sovereignty is unshakeable and Japan will never succeed in its illegal scheme.
"In consideration of both history and international law, the Japanese side should immediately cease all actions that infringe China's territorial sovereignty, instead of making one mistake after the other and deceiving the world," Qin demanded. - 浙江西塘@11
- At least 7 seriously injured in Guangxi chemical plant blast
AT least seven people have been seriously injured today in a chemical plant blast in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, police said.
No casualties have been reported.
An unknown number of other people were slightly injured after the accident around noon at a Hechi Chemical Industrial Group Company purification workshop in Hechi City, said an officer with the Liujia Township police station in the city.
Further information is not known yet.
Rescue efforts are on-going and the cause of the accident is under investigation.
The company, a subsidiary of the state-owned China National Chemical Corporation, or ChemChina, mainly produces fertilizer with an annual production value of 800 million yuan (US$127 million), according to the company's website. - Taiwan's SEF elects new top negotiator for cross-strait affairs
THE Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) today formally accepted the resignation of its Chairman Chiang Pin-kung and elected Lin Join-sane as its new head.
Lin will act as the top negotiator between the SEF and its mainland counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS).
Chiang, who had headed the SEF since May 2008, announced his resignation last week due to his age, physical condition and future career plans.
His resignation has been accepted by Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou.
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