Thursday, October 13, 2011

China miserable soccer fortunes continue

By China Watcher

China struggles again in a soccer match with Iraq on home ground in a 2014's Asia World Cup qualifier yesterday, losing 0-1 to a team who did not even have a competitive soccer league given that the country has gone through some civil strife a decade ago.

It is a common sight to see the despair on the football fans faces who came to support its team after the first round knockout of its soccer team from the Olympic qualifiers.

I still strongly believe that the future of Chinese soccer is in the youth programs and if there is to be a change in fortunes then we must see some strong wins against the teams from South Korea, Japan and the Middle Eastern countries at the Junior level - U16, U-19 and Youth, But then there is no current performance even to justify that the future of Chinese soccer is indeed encouraging.

There is a need to revamp the Chinese structure in the development of soccer towards one in which the players are motivated to take risks, develop individual skills and most important to learn the basics of kicking and passing the ball to its team mates. China need to learn from Korea and Japan and it is important to do it fast, otherwise they will continue to lose or just draw with the Middle Eastern countries like Syria, Jordan, Qatar, Iraq and Iran.

Just watch how the Japanese, Korean and the Australian players who always have the upper hand when they deal with the Middle Eastern style of play which I think is not superior than the speedy work rate of the East Asian teams.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

China should downgrade its relations with Mexico

By China Watcher
Ever since the current Mexican President ascent to power, he has been promoting a-Western centric values closed to the US and his directions and diplomacy have always been anti-Chinese ranging from economic partnership and working against the good of the Chinese people.

By meeting the CIA sponsored Dalai Lama on 9 September 2011 he is sending a clear message to the Chinese government and its people that he could not care less for the feelings of the Chinese people including in large the overseas Chinese people as well.

The only plausible way the Chinese government could do is to downgrade this country relationship or if possible, use its international influence to “isolate” business activities with the Mexican government. I do not see any importance of promoting an economic relationship with the corrupt Mexican government as whatever goods and services produced are competing with China.

It is important as it could send a very powerful message to the world community.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Chinese ways to counter the US continued challenge to China’s rise as an economic and military superpower in the Asia Pacific region.

By China Watcher

The US (and not America because the US do not represent the continent of America) empire as many critics say is heading on a declining slope due to its massive debt and the poor performance of its economy – which is heavily reliant on technological improvisation. What happens if the technological barrier has been lowered (other countries can innovate better) or the technological development has reached a plateau over the next few decades.

The US is very eager to see that its dominant superpower status is not in any way challenge by a growing China. China must realize that after the cold war ended, the Pacific Ocean became, in effect, a US haven. With its air and naval forces operating through bases in subordinate satellite countries like Japan, Philippines and South Korea.The United States believe that it could continue to deter its labeled aggressors and to insure safe passage for commercial shipping throughout the Western Pacific and into the Indian Ocean. Recently, it has started engaging Vietnam (a former enemy) and Singapore (a pro-US city State) to allow it to make port calls with the hope of creating future satellite naval bases to deter China movements in the South China Sea. The US forces presently is the only power which could operate everywhere with impunity.

Western media keeps generating various reports that China has over two decades engaged in the fast and wide-ranging military buildup which threatened not the US but also the surrounding countries. Though China is secretive about its military improvements, it is no different when it comes to the US. Did the US ever notify the world community why it needed 11 aircraft carriers to patrol the world?

China must continue to build on its “anti-access capability” and focus on more cost-effective ways to neutralize US capability in coming to the aid of nations which have been taking orders from the superpower. The building of a large number of relatively inexpensive non-nuclear ballistic missiles inclusive of sea- and air-launched cruise missiles is a good strategic move in the right direction. The important thing here is to make these weapons more precise, powerful and deadly in order not to allow the US the time to recoup and launch counter attacks. These weapons must be able to destroy or disable the satellite ports and airfields (like in Japan and Korea) from which US air and naval forces operate and sink warships with weapons that could reach an area from hundreds of miles out to sea, more particular the might of US aircraft carriers.

More developments are needed in the area of space technologies to accurately disable US satellites and cyber-networks which will “blind” the US military vision in high tech war. China should also continue to develop more potent long-range nuclear missiles that can easily reach the United States in the event of an attack from the US. The strategic direction is to minimize the “windows” or options for Washington to retaliate in an outbreak of hostilities leading to a war.

China must develop a strong détente with its improvement in all its military armaments in such a way that any US satellites states which allow its bases to be used in launching a war against the Chinese people (esp Korea, Japan and Philippines) will run the risk of being annihilated WITH OR WITHOUT the US support. It is important to create this atmosphere of uncertainty on the reliance for the US support which will prompt these countries to consider carefully before embarking on any war against the Chinese people.

China must continue to take its rightful place as Asia’s dominant power. It can do so in 2 ways by co-existing with the US or by eroding the credibility of America’s security guarantees, hollowing out its many military alliances and eventually easing it out of the region.

China is stating its claims to the various contested areas around South China Sea and Japan more on the basis of what has been written in the historical context based on 16th century maps but the surrounding countries have suddenly become bolder to challenge Chinese sovereign interest, mainly because of the US support from within.

Western media reporting have always been lopsided and branding China as the “aggressors”. Why? It is no surprise since most online and printed media are from the West. The West has stated that strength deters aggression and weakness tempts it, which I wholeheartedly agreed. Beijing must continue to build a more aggressive and efficient military like what the US had done over the last 100 years in order to bring about peace and stability in Asia.

Beijing’s must continue to stress that any nation that work closely with the United States to deter China’s right to takes its own place in Asia is viewed as an ‘unfriendly nation” which will be subjected to the same treatment as an “enemy”.

Can Washington shoulder the entire burden of preserving the Asian power balance, in a declining economic scenario? Can US continue to spend as lavishly to confront China openly to counter its anti-access capabilities, thereby reducing the likelihood that they will ever be used? The West always criticize China’s relentless military buildup but is there anyone who is willing to question the US year by year increase in military spending which is so much higher than the size of China’s military budget?

Monday, September 5, 2011

Field Hockey: China miserable performance at Ordos, Inner Mongolia

By China Watcher

For the past few days in the men’s Asian Champions Trophy, we have seen Asian hockey giants, India and Pakistan, continued its shameless hammering of China, a nation which is not known for its hockey prowess, with a score of 5-0 and 4-1 respectively.

It has always been the same story for China which has started playing field hockey more than 15 years ago, not progressing from its tag as the “whipping boys” of any tournament it participated. The hockey management in the country is pathetic with no improvement shown over the last 15 years. Nearly 4 years ago, under the guidance of a Korean coach, the men’s team has shown sign of hope by beating Pakistan and India but it faltered recently. We really do not know why? The women’s hockey team which used to be on top of the Asian league of nations also fare no much better losing to their previous rivals which they always have the upper-hand, that is, Japan and South Korea.

South Korea, a nation which was not known to be a field hockey playing nation has improved by leaps and bounds and was able to challenge the likes of world’s hockey playing nations like Australia, Germany and Holland 5 years ago and it is only recently that it has started to rebuild its credentials with a young team by beating Malaysia and Japan frequently. If the Koreans can play intelligently and adopted its European brand of physical contact and hard hitting game, I am perplexed at why the Chinese cannot do so. Most of Chinese players are from Inner Mongolia, the same breed of people like the Koreans. Maybe, the Koreans should be asked to revitalize a competitive hockey league in Inner Mongolia.

China is hosting the Asian premier championship and it is so ridiculous for the host to lose in such despicable manner. I am wondering why there is no such development of youth hockey and clubs in China. The basic skills are missing. The stamina is sadly lacking and there is just no direction in their team play, similar to the Chinese soccer team. Why is there a need to go through this torture in every tournament?

Perhaps, there should send a team of personnel to Holland to see how youth development programs have played an active role in the continued supply of new talents to the Senior Team. Holland is never short of new stars in the making whenever the veterans retired. If this is not possible, then China might as well stop hosting or play field hockey tournament anymore and the recent big losing streak in the tournament have become a laughing joke for the rest of countries in Asia.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

China first aircraft carrier program is a first step to project naval power

By China Watcher

Being the second world’s largest economy, it is appropriate for China’s to possess its own aircraft carrier. In fact, China should use this self developed refurbished technologies to produce at least 5 more aircraft carriers, to reflect its status as an emerging superpower.

Smaller nations like the Philippines and Vietnam, of course, with the US backing, have recently provoked China by erecting building structures on the disputed isles and awarding oil drilling contracts within the zone of contention. This is outright challenging China’s sovereignty over the clusters of isolated islands and atolls which are reported to be rich in natural resources particularly oil.

China must also not forget that Japan and India are highly unpredictable in its foreign policy who are deemed US “satellites” in this part of Asia.

It is the right of every nation to own weapons for self defense and we observed that superior and highly technological weapons are widely being use as a leverage to negotiate for better terms in any sharing of resources that comes about in an country to country agreement.

The launch of the carrier is a great breakthrough and fills the gap of China’s navy power and boosts the ability in combined military operations. But China is still a long way from being a great naval power. Much still remains to be done.

China recognized that the refurbishment and ship reconstruction technology would be acquired in the process in taking the former Ukraine’s vessel to the seas. China should understand that the outdated carrier would be no match for the ships of other nations in times of war. But the Western internet participants have laughed off China’s efforts, which I personally feel will revitalize China’s effort to work even harder, as it will put them on their laurels until China can produce a nuclear powered one. This will not be a difficult task considering China had already built another more fearsome military vehicle - the nuclear submarine.

China must have already realized that it has to continually develop homegrown technologies and not dependent on any nations especially those from the West who will dictate terms not to your country’s favor. I am proud that China has proved to the West that with self determination and the combined hardworking abilities of the Chinese people there is no such impossible tasks, although I have to admit it will take a longer time. The EU and US sanctions on transferring high technologies military wares to China since 1989 have proven to be useless in keeping a great nation like China from acquiring home grown technologies. Who knows in years to come, we may see some new emerging technologies coming from China of which the West do not possess. Then we will see who has the last laugh.

China development of carriers for use is different from those of the US. China's aircraft carrier will not be used for attacks, unlike US ships. The carriers will be used for self-defense. It is important to note that the US have 11 nuclear-powered, whereas the former Varyag is gas-powered, a significant difference. US fighter planes have being developed to fly off the carrier with catapult assistance and the US carriers also far have considerable more advanced weapons technology and other systems. The technologies used on the former Varyag are still in an exploratory stage.

There is no doubt that China will compete with the US for domination and influence. But this task is still underway.

Making China a powerful nation is the dream of generations of all Chinese people, including people of Chinese origins throughout the world.

Deep within my heart, I always feel that there must be someone other than the people of Caucasian origins to one day lead a section of the world with very different cultural backgrounds from the Western world, which to this very day have shown its own fair share of weaknesses.

Let us hope China will continue to develop nuclear powered carriers in a decade.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

US Orchestrated Move In Asia is Dangerous and Threaten Peace for The Chinese People

By China Watcher

The Chinese people must realize that the real threat to the Chinese people throughout the world is not from its surrounding neighbors but from the US government and its 300 million people who are threatening to disrupt Chinese from growing and taking its rightful place as another big power in world politics.

I fully agree with the views from a writer at China Daily, which is re-produced for the readers of my blog.

China has been dedicated to a peaceful external environment so that it can concentrate on domestic agendas, bring more welfare to the world's biggest population and remain committed to world and regional peace and stability.

Contrary to its desire, a spate of escalations in tensions at its doorsteps is constantly challenging its role as a low-key, broad-minded power. The latest round of tensions has stemmed from maritime disputes with countries in the region including Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam and fueled by outside forces such as the United States.

The current skirmishes between China and Japan over the sovereignty of Diaoyu Islands in East China Sea have been Tokyo's making. To reinforce the country's unreasonable claim on the islands, some Japanese fishing boats, orchestrated by the country's right-wing groups, deliberately went fishing in the adjacent waters on July 3. In the face of China's protest, the instigators had to leave in disgrace.
This is not the end of Japanese provocation. On July 4, Japan's air self-defense force sent F-15 fighters to intercept two Chinese military aircraft, which were flying in China's airspace some 60 kilometers away from the Diaoyu Islands. Statistics from Japan's ministry of defense indicate that from May to December last year Japan conducted 48 similar interceptions against China. In the first three months this year, Japanese interceptions had increased to almost 60 times.

If Tokyo does not refrain from staging such dangerous scenarios, a mid-air clash between the two militaries in the East China Sea can occur any time. If this were the case, it would change the nature of the Diaoyu Islands dispute and escalate it into a major conflict between Beijing and Tokyo. Beijing would be compelled to react strongly. Sino-Japanese ties would be seriously derailed. Such a result will serve neither country's interest, especially those of Japan's as the country is seeking Chinese support for its post-disaster rebuilding.

While a storm is simmering in the East China Sea, another has already gathered in the South China Sea. Before their foreign ministers flew to Beijing for consultations to defuse the tensions, both Vietnam and the Philippines had resorted to drastic moves in different forms to provoke China over the issue.

After their government pledged to solve the disputes with Beijing peacefully, Vietnamese protesters continued to stage demonstrations outside the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi. Anti-China sentiments are the highest in years in Vietnam at the moment. The country is scheduled to hold a joint military drill with the United States today. The two already held one last month amid tensions in the South China Sea.For the Philippines' part, it seems ready for both negotiations and military confrontation. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario wound up a three-day visit to Beijing on Saturday. A joint statement released by the two governments on Friday said China and the Philippines would not allow rising tensions over conflicting claims in the South China Sea to hamper bilateral relations.

The agreement marks a welcoming sign in easing tensions. However, Manila needs to match its words with concrete deeds. There is ample evidence for Beijing to gauge that Manila intends to play the card of diplomacy and confrontation at the same time. While the country's top diplomat arrived in Beijing on Thursday, Manila was engaged in an 11-day joint drill with the US starting June 28. This saber-rattling is not only a show of US-Philippine alliance but also targets China. Before his Beijing trip, Rosario went to Washington last month to seek more US military support. Upon his request, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was prompted to pledge that the US will provide "affordable material and equipment that will assist the Philippines military to take the steps necessary to defend itself."

All these indicate Manila is gathering chips for a military confrontation with China over the South China Sea issue. But, does Manila have the competence to do so? Will a showdown with Beijing serve its own interests?

The answers to both questions are negative.

On the one hand, the island country's military muscle is no match for China's. On the other hand, Manila enjoys surplus in its trade with Beijing. Bilateral trade volume has a chance to reach $30 billion this year. A full-blown conflict with Beijing over maritime territory dispute would easily squander the rosy prospect of bilateral trade. This apparently is not in the interests of Manila.

It is believed Rosario's China visit is paving the way for Philippine President Benigno Aquino's visit to China, which is likely to take place in late August or early September. Aquino needs to take concrete moves before Beijing can be convinced of his country's sincerity in solving the disputes peacefully.

The South China Sea disputes did not break out until the late 1970s, when the waters of 3.5 million sq km were believed to have vast deposits of oil and natural gas. Since then, countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam have competed with one another to seize isles and reefs and illegally tap the resources. Today, not one of the oil wells in the disputed waters belongs to China. Instead, Chinese fishermen legally operating on Chinese maritime territory have been harassed from time to time by the Philippines and Vietnam.

As a country holding historical proof of its sovereignty over the waters, China has so far exercised utmost restraint. It does not lack the means and resources to act more assertively in defense of territorial integrity. As a responsible country, it always opts for peaceful solutions to settle disputes with its neighbors.However, some countries in the region have taken advantage of China's restraint. To grab more benefits from the South China Sea, they have instigated the latest outbreak of disputes and vilified China as a bully in the international community.

The US strategy to seek a bigger role in the region has obviously fueled those countries' ambitions. One day before Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Beijing for a four-day visit, the US, Japan and Australia held naval drills in the South China Sea. The first of its kind since 2007, the show of force by the three outside forces clearly aims to contain China.

The US has orchestrated several military drills in the past month with countries in maritime territorial disputes with China. It has turned the South China Sea into the US playground to project its power in Asia.

The US meddling has aroused indignation from China. In a joint news conference with Mullen on Monday in Beijing, Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, criticized the US for masterminding the series of military drills at China's doorsteps and said the timing was very inappropriate.

The US military presence in the region should contribute to peace, not bring displeasure to the region, which was continuously warned by the Chinese Military.
For the South China Sea issue, claimant countries should understand that peaceful consultation is the only way to resolve the disputes. Washington's support would not come to them as a free lunch.

In conclusion, the US needs to perceive the rise of China as a chance for win-win cooperation on the regional and global stage. Treating China as a threat and containing it in the South China Sea issue would be a bad judgment benefiting neither country's interests. If Washington continues to go along the wrong direction, it should prepare for the severe consequences.

If there is a outbreak of another war, it will define changing countries borders. I wonder whether Vietnam, Philippines and the irritant, Japan would exist. China could be gone who knows, so is a large part of the US especially on the West Coast

Friday, July 8, 2011

Chinese is to be taught in Swedish schools

By China Watcher

Sweden, a former Viking country in northern Europe has been supportive of the European crusade against China on human rights but has so far taken a softer approach (non confrontational) as compared to Norway which has been in the forefront (through a disguised Committee with hidden agenda) in awarding the shamed Nobel Peace Prize to a criminal dissident from China last year.

The country has taken a bold and wise decision to introduce Chinese as an important foreign language at all primary and secondary schools and this would take around 15 years for the school systems to adjust. In 15 years time, you could probably get to observe younger Swedish citizens speaking Chinese among themselves,

The decision to prioritize the Chinese language is seen as a move to recognize the importance of China from the economic standpoint as compared to French and Spanish languages which were presently being used widely more because of the impact of colonization over the last 500 years and not from the economic standpoint.

For a start, we understand the Swedish authorities would begin the recruitment of qualified educators who can teach Chinese and assigned them to the schools.

I commend the Swedish administration move which will bring closer ties between the Chinese and the Swedish people.

Friday, June 24, 2011

China Soccer Blues

By China Watcher

China was beaten by Oman last night 3-1 in an Olympic Soccer Qualifying match which, once again, put the Chinese population to shame. A nation with the largest population of 1.3 billion in the world at a strong economic position cannot even form a 'decent" outfit to represent the country. By the way, Oman has a small population of only 5 million.

What is really wrong with Chinese soccer? Corruption, an old issue?

I would probably suggest a full revamp of the whole top down Chinese Soccer Federation and appoint new corporates to run it. The Chinese need to learn from the Koreans and the Japanese how they have revitalized their soccer fortunes in the heydays of the 80s to what it is today. Even Chinese leading soccer clubs are not doing well in the Asian Champions league.

There is really something very wrong in the youth development programs. The younger players are not coming up especially Chinese appearance in the Asian U15, Youth qualification for the U-17 are clearly very disappointing. The Olympics features U-23 players which will provide the core of its world cup squad in the near future and this does not measure up well for Chinese soccer.

I am questioning whether physically or maybe there is an attribute or quality in the DNA of a Chinese which is not made up to play soccer or football in other parts of the world.

Then again, the Koreans and Japanese are from the same strain of DNA genetics. Why?

This is clearly a big wake-up call to the Chinese sports authorities that there is clearly a big problem and something needs to be drastically done to appease the many soccer fans in China.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Epoch Times is a mouth piece of the Illegal Falun Gong cult

By China Watcher

Last night I went out to have a dinner with my family at an eatery shop serving Northern Indian Food and I managed to get hold of a free copy of the Epoch Times (English version) and the translated Mandarin copy, which were freely distributed in a country in South East Asia.

I was shocked by the written content in the paper which contained mostly anti-China news and the promotion of the banned Falun Gong. What I could not bear was the amount of news which were twisted to portray China as a big bully and a destroyer of Western forms of human rights. The articles published reminded me of some US newspapers who are championing a hidden agenda – to bash China at every known way it could to demonize China to the general public.

I performed a check on the Net and it is not a surprise that the Epoch Times is funded by the Falun Gong cult, a religious grouping who had been focused at overthrowing the current Chinese government in China. Is it possible? Nope, without the public or the Chinese support at large it is highly remote. That is the reason why they are actively promoting their cause to the world including the overseas Chinese.

What saddened me was that the Falun Gong (and the Tibetan dissidents) had been used as pawns by the Western world to promote the Western World hidden agenda that is to introduce Western type of democracy in China.

I am sure the Falun Gong has many followers and supporters (the human rights activists, Amnesty International and the US Congress) and the most important of all, the US government. To fund this particular exercise through the printed media as well as from the many online sites would require massive amount of free funds and I would not be the least surprise if the US government are fully behind this.

The “forces” behind this strong support wanted to cause instability in present China, with the hope to create an environment which would bring about a change of government that is more democratic and one which is fully dependent on them and if possible to be administered with a dotted line reporting to the US government. China, after all, is the only nation in the world who will be able to undermine the US dominance status (the last 80 years) in this world. The West has to date refused to admit that this autocratic government has succeeded to achieve many No 1s throughout the world.

When I left the place, I noted there were still many copies left at the corner of the shop even though it is free. I am sure there are many first time readers like me who thought that it is just a normal international paper which will provide a more balanced reporting. We were obviously wrong.

The copies which I took from the restaurant ended as paper trash fit for use in the toilet!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

China's Li Na wins a Grand Slam Tournament

By China Watcher

Just watched the completion of the French's Ladies Tennis Open on Live TV and was pleased that this is the first Chinese women and an Asian to win a big tennis tournament by beating Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6.

There is something very odd after so many years which the West has yet to get it right on Chinese Names, that is, the surname is stated last and which is always preceded by the actual name like Na Li that sounds odd to a Chinese. Anyway, the West always like to push its weight around and insisted as usual that their way is the best. On a brighter note, there are some Westerners who have been to Asia who had accepted the fact that the Chinese are different.

Well, who cares what the West thought is odd about the Chinese way of arranging the names. Li Na has certainly created history and hopefully, there will be more Chinese champions in a sport, which is still largely dominated by the West (including Australians).

Congrats to Li Na, you are awesome!

Friday, April 29, 2011

What is the big fuss over the Royal Wedding?

By China Watcher

Over the past few weeks, especially, former British colonies, like Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India where the people and its media are fascinated with the wedding of the second in line to the British Monarchy. These people and the media have nothing better to do than to highlight the wedding so prominently in its attempt to build up a “make-believe” fantasy which has been missing from their own lives. There will be a live telecast of the event like the World Cup! Sad, isn’t it. Some of my own family members were also looking forward to witness the wedding, which to me is just a normal matrimony between two loving individuals. The event of course will be lavishly and extravagantly celebrated by the British people.

The British people, who wanted something to cheer up their own miserable lives, with the "Wedding" is perfectly understandable which after all, the royal family is actually their own creation when they disbanded direct Royal rule for the Constitutional Monarchy political system years ago. But for other people who do not depend on these events concerning the Royal Family for their livelihood and the happenings in Britain, why do we actually pay so much attention to it?

If the British couple survives the marriage or wanted to kill each other, how does this concern us? If this is not worshipping another fellow human being, I really don’t know what to say. In this world, we are taught to only look up to intelligent beings and leaders who can share innovative and beneficial ideas which will bring about development to mankind. And the royal family is definitely not on my list.

In China, at least it is being depicted just as a marriage and also, in the US, there is no such fanfare over just a simple wedding. At least there is sanity in this part of the world.

Friday, April 8, 2011

China should tell Germany to mind its own business

By China Watcher

I have not been writing anything for the past few months because of busy work schedule.

This morning I managed to catch a glimpse of a news report stating that the Chinese Ambassador to Germany has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry over not the fate of a German citizen but over a Chinese writer who was detained over issues pertaining to economic matters.

It comes as no surprise to me because of the meddling ways the West would try to put its foot into Chinese internal affairs just because China has different ideology and own approach in handling citizens who breaks Chinese laws.

Well, Germany is not what it used to be when it controlled part of Shanghai and Tsingtao during the early 20th Century as what is called "Slicing of the Chinese Melon". It is just an European power which is very good in making cars with a population of not more than 100 million. Yet, it wanted to act like a big brother to the US in questioning the local laws of the Chinese.

China should just tell the Germans to look at themselves first and most important, tell them point blank.. it will affects Sino-German relations in the long run.

Minus 10 points on Sino-German relations. The Chinese should start thinking twice about buying Mercedes and BMW.

Friday, January 14, 2011

The test flight of the prototype J-20 has further reduced the technological gap between the Western advanced nations and China

By China Watcher

This is one piece of good news for the Chinese people throughout the world. The Chinese people are catching up with the “whites” from the Western world. The development of an Aircraft Killer Missile, the Dongfeng 21D, is another sign that the Chinese are developing weapons to cope with the aggressive US posture in Asia.

The Chinese military aviation industry has made impressive strides over the past 15 years in narrowing the technological gap with the world’s advanced aviation powers. In the mid-1990s, China was struggling to produce third-generation, 1970s-era combat aircraft that were 20-to-30 years behind their global counterparts. After major structural reforms and considerable assistance from Russia and also from its homebred scientists, China is now able to manufacture an indigenous fighter aircraft such as the Chengdu J-10 and Shenyang J-11 that are only 10-to-15 years behind the most advanced Western models. The successful test flight of the J-20, even though the quality of its craft is not known, has to a certain extent indicated that the Chinese has further reduced this gap.

I agreed that the J-20 is still in the testing phase and it will take a while for the planes to be introduced for military use. But the indigenously develop stealth aircraft proved the resolute determination of the Chinese people to bring its technological advancement to be ON PAR with the Western world in 10-20 years time. China has stated clearly that it is in no position to threaten the US military might at this juncture, given the state of its own military readiness and the US edge on weapon power alone which the US still holds even when compared to the Russian military.

Some Western critics from the many China bashing media (The Independent -UK and the Guardian-UK) loudly claimed that the Chinese would not be able to close the gap and has confidently maintained that the US military superiority would not be challenged in the next 50 years. It is clear the United Kingdom is not mention here as the UK is a smaller “brother” of the US. Somehow I noted that there is a tinge of widespread jealously in the many articles coming from the Caucasian based community which convinced me further that there so worried or fearful about losing their political and military dominance as well as influence. As a rational person, I personally believe that the fulcrum of power will change according to time and I sense that the time is now ripe for a gradual decline of the “Western Empire” of which I may not live to see the collapse of these bragging societies but perhaps, in another 50-100 years from now. We are already seeing some symptoms of Chinese political influence throughout the world but the West as expounded by its many so called international media failed to accept the fact or choose not to accept the real situations.

The Chinese should openly thank the embargo of high-tech weapons from the EU and the US for motivating them to embark on its own intensive research project to use its own resources in the development of high-tech weapons. It may take a longer time but it makes the country self sufficient and less reliant of the Western world. I applaud the Chinese and its inborn culture to be self reliant and the strong perseverance to achieve its eventual objective however difficult the task may pose to be. The Western created Iraq war opened up the eyes of the Chinese on how the US literally uses technology to defeat the “enemies” with the least number of human fatalities.

Over the past one week, the Chinese has stated that the development of advanced weapons like the stealth is not a threat to neighboring countries and it is more for defense. In Chinese viewpoint, “defence” would mean protecting its “core security interest”, which includes:

1. the possible secession of Taiwan by the independence forces (promoted by the Western world) and the assistance from the US forces in the outbreak of a war.
2. the protection of sea lanes in the transportation of raw materials/resources needed by its industries, which is normal for a nation which rely heavily on imported natural resources like oil and coal.
3. a stronger bargaining position in the negotiation of territorial disputes with Japan, India and some of the South East Asian countries.

The above are the 3 main reasons why China embarked on a military modernization over the past 2 decades. There is no threat to US dominance in the Asia Pacific unless the US interferes in the event of a war between the Taiwanese independence forces and China.

There was this one person (a Caucasian I think) who posed 3 questions in a China bashing article:
1. If China is such a peaceful nation and at peace with all its neighbors and distant nations, then why do they need to spend money on such high tech military equipment?
2. Who do they fear will attack them and why?
3. Who do they think they need to attack and why?

It is the right of every nation to develop itself whether it is economical or military and the 3 reasons for China are given above. The Iraq War has shown to the Chinese that if the bargaining odds are down they could be attacked by an aggressor, like the US. The need to attack is more to prevent a unilateral secession of Taiwan from the motherland of which the West chooses not to accept this fact.

If the US has the right to continuously upgrade and improved the power of its weapons, why is this right not given to China? I am sure you know the answer.

To the many Western critics or the supporters of the US, don’t be too sure that the US military superiority cannot be challenged at all. Just wait and see in another 20 years.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year 2011

I would like to wish all my followers and readers a very Happy New Year 2011.

Awakening China will continue to highlight press report especially reports from the West which is bias and has no basis but with an anti-China bashing agenda.

Let's hope that 2011 will see more progress in our struggle for equality and less dominance by a presumed superpower, greater respect for self governance and model of democracy for the good of all Chinese citizens and not catering for a few minorities.

My wish - I sincerely hope the Chinese government could strengthen its efforts further to combat corruption (which is still at a high level) and continue its effort to curb degradation of the environment (pollution level), which brings about an unhealthy culture that retards societal growth as well as the improvement of the quality of lives of its own people.

China Watcher