What i have to ask is that, does anyone have anymore information? I cant seem to find anything more than what this website has to say.
Beijing, China — China took two steps forward in September on its journey to become a major player in international politics: one in space, the other in military diplomacy. The Shenzhou 7 mission that involved the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut won accolades from home and abroad. The military exercises afforded China a chance to show off its new tactical capabilities as well as its military hardware.
From Aug. 26 to Sept. 25 China carried out a live-fire military exercise called “Warrior 2008” that pitted an armored regiment from the Beijing Military Area Command against a mechanized infantry brigade from the Jinan MAC. The joint land-air operation, held at the remote Zhurihe tactical training base in Inner Mongolia, involved more than 5,200 troops.
The month-long war games showcased new revisions to the doctrine of the People’s Liberation Army, made public by General Staff Headquarters in late July. The new guidelines focus first on joint training between different branches of China’s armed forces, and second on enhancing tactical combat capabilities, including reconnaissance, communication and coordination, among smaller units operating in the field.
Chinese military diplomacy was also on display as 110 observers from 36 countries watched parts of the exercise. Geng Yansheng, deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense, said the number of invitations “was the largest in history” and part of an effort “pushing forward the PLA’s openness and transparency.”
A complete list of nations attending was not provided, but senior officers and military attaches from Brazil, India, Pakistan, Mongolia, Germany and the United States were mentioned in news reports.
In another recent example of military diplomacy, an agreement was reached in July in Washington between the head of the U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy Keating, and General Zhang Qinsheng, commander of the Guangzhou MAC, for the two sides to hold land-based joint exercises in both countries within the next 15 to18 months, to simulate humanitarian relief efforts after natural disasters.
Improving military-to- military ties is a key priority in U.S. strategic thinking when it comes to China. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates gave a speech on the limitations of “hard power” – like high-tech weaponry – to the National Defense University on Sept. 29, where he stressed the need for greater use of “soft power” capabilities such as diplomacy and economic influence.
Gates’ comments came shortly before Congress rejected a US$700 billion dollar bank bail-out plan, causing turmoil in world financial markets. The secretary said growth in U.S. military spending was “probably a thing of the past” and the Pentagon would be lucky if future expenditures kept pace with inflation.
While acknowledging that the United States remains the world’s strongest power, Gates said: “Both Russia and China have increased their defense spending and modernization programs to include air defense and fighter capabilities that, in some cases, approach our own.”
He said China’s investments in cyber and anti-satellite warfare, anti-air and anti-ship weaponry, submarines and ballistic missiles “could threaten America's primary means to project power and help allies in the Pacific, our bases, air and sea assets and the networks that support them.”
Gates downplayed the “China threat,” however, saying he regarded China as a competitor, not an adversary, and that Chinese defense expenditures were “not disproportionate” to the size of its economy. “I don't think China is an enemy,” he said. Still, he warned, “If we pursued the wrong policies, we could make them into one and that would be a serious mistake.”
Beijing, China — China took two steps forward in September on its journey to become a major player in international politics: one in space, the other in military diplomacy. The Shenzhou 7 mission that involved the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut won accolades from home and abroad. The military exercises afforded China a chance to show off its new tactical capabilities as well as its military hardware.
From Aug. 26 to Sept. 25 China carried out a live-fire military exercise called “Warrior 2008” that pitted an armored regiment from the Beijing Military Area Command against a mechanized infantry brigade from the Jinan MAC. The joint land-air operation, held at the remote Zhurihe tactical training base in Inner Mongolia, involved more than 5,200 troops.
The month-long war games showcased new revisions to the doctrine of the People’s Liberation Army, made public by General Staff Headquarters in late July. The new guidelines focus first on joint training between different branches of China’s armed forces, and second on enhancing tactical combat capabilities, including reconnaissance, communication and coordination, among smaller units operating in the field.
Chinese military diplomacy was also on display as 110 observers from 36 countries watched parts of the exercise. Geng Yansheng, deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense, said the number of invitations “was the largest in history” and part of an effort “pushing forward the PLA’s openness and transparency.”
A complete list of nations attending was not provided, but senior officers and military attaches from Brazil, India, Pakistan, Mongolia, Germany and the United States were mentioned in news reports.
In another recent example of military diplomacy, an agreement was reached in July in Washington between the head of the U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy Keating, and General Zhang Qinsheng, commander of the Guangzhou MAC, for the two sides to hold land-based joint exercises in both countries within the next 15 to18 months, to simulate humanitarian relief efforts after natural disasters.
Improving military-to- military ties is a key priority in U.S. strategic thinking when it comes to China. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates gave a speech on the limitations of “hard power” – like high-tech weaponry – to the National Defense University on Sept. 29, where he stressed the need for greater use of “soft power” capabilities such as diplomacy and economic influence.
Gates’ comments came shortly before Congress rejected a US$700 billion dollar bank bail-out plan, causing turmoil in world financial markets. The secretary said growth in U.S. military spending was “probably a thing of the past” and the Pentagon would be lucky if future expenditures kept pace with inflation.
While acknowledging that the United States remains the world’s strongest power, Gates said: “Both Russia and China have increased their defense spending and modernization programs to include air defense and fighter capabilities that, in some cases, approach our own.”
He said China’s investments in cyber and anti-satellite warfare, anti-air and anti-ship weaponry, submarines and ballistic missiles “could threaten America's primary means to project power and help allies in the Pacific, our bases, air and sea assets and the networks that support them.”
Gates downplayed the “China threat,” however, saying he regarded China as a competitor, not an adversary, and that Chinese defense expenditures were “not disproportionate” to the size of its economy. “I don't think China is an enemy,” he said. Still, he warned, “If we pursued the wrong policies, we could make them into one and that would be a serious mistake.”