China is to show off new warships, including nuclear submarines and destroyers, at a parade on Tuesday marking 70 years since its navy’s founding, a senior commander said yesterday, as Beijing flexes its increasingly well-equipped military muscle.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is overseeing a sweeping plan to refurbish China’s military by developing everything from stealth jets to aircraft carriers as China ramps up its presence in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been a key beneficiary of the modernization plan, as China looks to project power far from the country’s shores, and protect its trading routes and citizens overseas.
Photo: Reuters
Beijing last month unveiled a target of a 7.5 percent rise in defense spending for this year, a slower rate than last year, but still outpacing China’s economic growth target.
PLAN Vice Admiral Qiu Yanpeng (邱延鵬) told reporters in the eastern city of Qingdao that Tuesday’s naval parade — likely to be overseen by Xi himself, although China has not confirmed that — would feature 32 vessels and 39 warplanes.
“The PLAN ships and aircraft to be revealed are the Liaoning aircraft carrier, new types of nuclear submarines, new types of destroyers, as well as fighter aircraft,” Qiu said, without giving details. “Some ships will be revealed for the first time.”
It is not clear if China’s second carrier, an as-yet unnamed ship developed and built purely in China, is also to take part, but in the past few days, state media have run stories praising recent sea trials.
About a dozen foreign navies are also taking part. While Qiu did not give an exact number, China has announced the parade would include ships from Russia, Singapore, India, Thailand and Vietnam.
Vietnam frequently complains of Chinese military activity in the disputed South China Sea, where Taiwan also has claims.
China’s last naval battles were with the Vietnamese in the South China Sea, in 1974 and 1988, although these were relatively minor skirmishes.
Qiu reiterated China’s frequent stance that its armed forces are not a threat to anyone.
“It is fair to say that the PLAN has not brought war or turbulence to any place,” but China has been scarred by its past and needs good defenses, Qiu said.
“A strong navy is essential for building a strong maritime country,” Qiu said. “From 1840 to 1949, China was invaded by foreign powers from the sea more than 470 times, which caused untold suffering and deep wounds to the Chinese nation.”
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
CHIPS AND DEFENSE: Trump said the US had lost its chip business and Taipei should pay it for defense, and added that ‘we’re no different than an insurance company’ Taiwan-US relations are solid, and both sides are in agreement that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are everyone’s concern, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday following comments by former US president Donald Trump that Taiwan “should pay” for US defense. Taiwan is thankful to the US for supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate in international organizations, Cho told a news conference in Taipei. “I know the people very well, respect them greatly. They did take about 100 percent of our chip business,” Trump told Bloomberg on June 25 in an interview that was published on Tuesday. “I think
SECURITY CONCERNS: An FBI agent said it was surprising that the shooter, whose motive remains unknown, was able to open fire before the Secret Service killed him On the heels of an apparent attempt to kill him, former US president Donald Trump yesterday called for unity and resilience as shocked leaders across the political divide recoiled from the shooting that left him injured, but “fine,” and the shooter and a rally-goer dead. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said the upper part of his right ear was pierced in the shooting His aides said he was in “great spirits” and doing well. “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place,” he
FRONTLINE DEFENDERS: While air defense forces were placed on alert, Lai visited the navy’s 131st Fleet in Keelung, calling it a vital pillar in the nation’s defense The Ministry of National Defense yesterday said it was monitoring “waves” of missile tests in China’s Inner Mongolia and that its air defense forces were on alert. From 4am yesterday, the ministry detected “multiple waves of test launches” by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force in Inner Mongolia, about 2,000km from Taiwan, it said. The military are continuously monitoring developments and the air defense forces are on alert, the ministry said, without giving details. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense did not answer calls seeking comment outside of office hours. The Rocket Force is in charge of China’s conventional and nuclear