Malay Mail, Page: 30
By No author available
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
BEIJING has put its nuclearpowered submarine fleet on public display, with state media yesterday touting the move as unprecedented and necessary to show other countries China's strike capabilities as territorial tensions mount. In an overt declaration of China's high-seas strength, several state-run papers ran front-page stories on the four-decade-old submarine fleet, while state broadcaster CCTV has devoted much airtime in recent days to its drills and exercises. China's first nuclear-powered submarine was launched in 1970, the Global Times said, but had not been properly taken into account by others. "China is powerful in possessing a credible second-strike nuclear capability," it said in an editorial yesterday, adding: "Some countries haven't taken this into serious consideration when constituting their China policy, leading to a frivolous attitude toward China in public opinion." "China needs to make it clear that the only choice is not to challenge China's core interest," said the paper, which often takes a nationalistic tone and is close to the ruling party. "Developing marine-based nuclear power is part of such work." In a nod to accusations that Beijing is becoming increasingly assertive over its territorial claims in the East and South China Seas, the editorial continued: "Perhaps it will give excuse to 'China Threat' speculation but the benefit will far eclipse the trouble created by external opinions." The media reports have focused on China's older Xia-class submarines, rather than its newer Jin-class vessels. But analysts said the footage could be intended as a reminder that the world's second-largest defence spender is growing in confidence and building an even more powerful fleet. "What they're showing you, they re pretty much just stock scenes," said Richard Bitzinger, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, adding that it might constitute "very subtle sabre-rattling". Meanwhile in TOKYO, Japan's defence minister said yesterday, Beijing is jeopardising peace in a row with Tokyo over disputed islands, days after China warned any bid to shoot down its drones would constitute "an act of war". Itsunori Qnodera's comments are likely to further heighten fears the two countries could be sliding towards conflict over the outcrops in the East China Sea and come as China showed off its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and as Japan readies for war games. "I believe the intrusions by China in the territorial waters around the Senkaku islands fall in the 'grey zone' (between) peacetime and an emergency situation," Onodera said. AFP
BEIJING has put its nuclearpowered submarine fleet on public display, with state media yesterday touting the move as unprecedented and necessary to show other countries China's strike capabilities as territorial tensions mount. In an overt declaration of China's high-seas strength, several state-run papers ran front-page stories on the four-decade-old submarine fleet, while state broadcaster CCTV has devoted much airtime in recent days to its drills and exercises. China's first nuclear-powered submarine was launched in 1970, the Global Times said, but had not been properly taken into account by others. "China is powerful in possessing a credible second-strike nuclear capability," it said in an editorial yesterday, adding: "Some countries haven't taken this into serious consideration when constituting their China policy, leading to a frivolous attitude toward China in public opinion." "China needs to make it clear that the only choice is not to challenge China's core interest," said the paper, which often takes a nationalistic tone and is close to the ruling party. "Developing marine-based nuclear power is part of such work." In a nod to accusations that Beijing is becoming increasingly assertive over its territorial claims in the East and South China Seas, the editorial continued: "Perhaps it will give excuse to 'China Threat' speculation but the benefit will far eclipse the trouble created by external opinions." The media reports have focused on China's older Xia-class submarines, rather than its newer Jin-class vessels. But analysts said the footage could be intended as a reminder that the world's second-largest defence spender is growing in confidence and building an even more powerful fleet. "What they're showing you, they re pretty much just stock scenes," said Richard Bitzinger, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, adding that it might constitute "very subtle sabre-rattling". Meanwhile in TOKYO, Japan's defence minister said yesterday, Beijing is jeopardising peace in a row with Tokyo over disputed islands, days after China warned any bid to shoot down its drones would constitute "an act of war". Itsunori Qnodera's comments are likely to further heighten fears the two countries could be sliding towards conflict over the outcrops in the East China Sea and come as China showed off its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and as Japan readies for war games. "I believe the intrusions by China in the territorial waters around the Senkaku islands fall in the 'grey zone' (between) peacetime and an emergency situation," Onodera said. AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment