Berlin Calls for a “One-Europe Policy”

BERLIN/BEIJING (Own report) – Berlin sees China’s growing economic presence in the EU’s eastern periphery as an increasing threat to German predominance over Eastern and Southeastern Europe. During his visit to Paris at the end of August, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned against the People’s Republic’s alleged “division of Europe.” Beijing’s cooperation with 16 Eastern and Southeastern European countries is threatening the EU’s “unity” and must be stopped. China should follow a “one-Europe policy.” German media and think tanks have been sharply criticizing Chinese economic activities in Eastern and Southeastern Europe since years. In a recent analysis, the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation (FDP) assailed the Czech government for signing a “declaration on the territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China” in view of comprehensive Chinese investments in that country. Beijing has reacted to these attacks by pointing to Germany’s dominant status in the EU.

Russia and China Agree Joint To Hold Military Drill in South China Sea

Joint Sea 2016 will be the fifth annual drill held by the two countries, with the last one taking place in May 2015. The location of the exercise is different each time and often mirrors areas of increased military significance for at least one of the two navies. In 2015, in keeping with Russia’s air force operations in Syria, the drill took place in the Mediterranean Sea.

Chinese vessels could ram US warships in S China Sea: Sina

The People’s Liberation Army may deliberately ram a vessel into a US warship if the US Navy makes further ventures into waters claimed by China, says the Beijing-based Sina Military News, just as US officials confirmed that they have sent a destroyer to pass within 12 nautical miles of one of China’s artificial islands in the disputed region.

The report said the US Navy has since May been sending warships near China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea. But until now, the ships have operated at least 12 nautical miles away from the islands where China has been conducting extensive land reclamation to build airstrips and facilities. The move on Tuesday goes further in challenging China’s territorial claims.

Given that China’s military constructions such as runways on several South China Sea islands are not yet complete and the PLA’s South Sea Fleet is too far away to react promptly, the only option for China is to use nearby patrol frigates to monitor and intercept US vessels that come within what Beijing considers its territory.

PLA Navy to show off stealth frigate in return to Asian military expo

Chinese military sends warship as tensions grow with the US over the South China Sea

The Chinese navy plans to showcase a stealth frigate at a key Asian defence expo this week, the first time it has had a presence at the international event in eight years.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy said on its microblog yesterday that it would send a 4,000-tonne Type 054A Jiangkai II frigate to the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (Imdex) Asia in Singapore.

The exhibition starts today. The last time China sent a similar warship to Imdex Asia was in 2007.

South China Sea: US mulls sending planes, ships near disputed islands

 

Washington: The Pentagon is considering sending US military aircraft and ships to assert freedom of navigation around rapidly growing Chinese-made artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, a US official said on Tuesday.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter requested options that included sending US military ships and aircraft within 22 kilometres of reefs that China had been building up in the disputed Spratly Islands, the official said.

Such a move would directly challenge Chinese efforts to expand its influence in the disputed region by literally adding territory through a massive island-building exercise.