Chinese Maritime Defense Strategy
March 9, while attending China's Eleventh National People's Congress, the former commander of a naval test base, Major General Cao Dongshen, commented on the issue of China's maritime rights and interests. He believes that china's national sovereignty must be defended at all expenses. With regard to some media's report that the Chinese aircraft carrier Varyag might start its military service this year, Cao said that the carrier is still only used for training and research. He also repeatedly stressed that modern warfare is systematic, where the aircraft carrier is not the determining factor. As for the Chinese navy's ocean escort operations, Cao Dong Shen said that because the situation is not stabilized yet, the convoy will need to continue.
Also responding to the "China Threat Theory" stirred up by China's aircraft carrier, Vice Admiral Wang Dengping recently said in an interview that China will change its defense strategy merely because of the carrier, and it is ungrounded to see China as a threat to others. Regarding the North Sea Fleet's escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali waters, Wang said that this glorious mission is of important responsibility. Wang also emphasized that the training of Chinese navy is consistent with international law and international convention, and is not targeted at any specific country. Therefore, he argued that the outside world should not make unnecessary speculations or fuss about Chinese navy's training and exercises in relevant waters.
Chinese Military Expenditure
As the fuss about the increased Chinese military spending continues, a commentary came out on Global Times this week. The title of this commentary says that China is not as belligerent as Japan, otherwise Asia would not be peaceful as it is today. According to a report produced by a British think tank, Asia's military expenditure could for the first time surpass that of Europe, and that China's defense budget accounts for 30% of Asia's military spending. The Global Times commentary responds that this report is deliberately misleading. First, there no arms race between Asia and Europe. Second, the percentage of China's military spending in Asia is not a result of an arms race in the region either. Instead, this article argues that, what really matters is the difference between China's military spending and the US's military spending. In 2011, China's military spending is about 1/8 of the U.S. military. It is this big difference that will have the most important impacts on Asia's geopolitical and military situation. The increase in China's military spending does not mean that China is belligerent. Rather, it is an insurance for China's future.
Sino-Russia Alliance?
Some Chinese experts believe that as the US shifts its strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific, it is imperative for China and Russia to reinforce and promote the Sino-Russian strategic partnership. Accordingly, China needs to reformulate its "no-alliance" principle to adjust to the changing global power balance.
Sources:
"少将：瓦良格号航母服役后仍用于训练研究" (Major General: Varyag aircraft carrier is still used for training and research)
"海军中将：中国不会因有航母改变现防御战略" (Vice Admiral: China will not change the current defense strategy because of the carrier)
"中将：中国海军要以实际行动来维护海洋权益" (Vice Admiral: Chinese navy needs to take concrete actions to safeguard maritime rights and interests)
"中国不是日本 若涨军费是好战亚洲岂有今天" (China is not as belligerent as Japan and is not a threat to other Asian states)
"中国不能孤独对抗美国 中俄军事结盟势在必行" (China cannot confront the US alone, the U.S. Sino-Russian military alliance is imperative)
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