Will China’s new laser satellite become the ‘Death Star’ for submarines?

 

Scientists are working on a device they hope will be able to reveal the location of a target as far as 500 metres below the ocean surface

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It is the latest addition to the country’s expanding deep-sea surveillance programme, and aside from targeting submarines – most operate at a depth of less than 500 metres – it could also be used to collect data on the world’s oceans.

Project Guanlan, meaning “watching the big waves”, was officially launched in May at the Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology in Qingdao, Shandong. It aims to strengthen China’s surveillance activities in the world’s oceans, according to the laboratory’s website.

As G7 feuds, Xi and Putin play up their own club

 

The leaders of China and Russia Sunday praised the expansion of their regional security bloc at a summit which put on a show of unity in stark contrast to the acrimonious G7 meeting.

President Xi Jinping gave the leaders of Pakistan and India a “special welcome” to their first summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, since their countries joined the group last year.

What will India’s role be in the SCO?

Next month the heads of state of India and Pakistan will attend, for the first time as full members, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, being held in Qingdao, China. Pakistan was already engaged with SCO member states through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Joining the SCO will reinforce Pakistan’s position and integration into the region.

However, regarding India, there are few clarifications needed. What will India’s role be in the SCO? How well can India integrate into the SCO? What are the expectations?

Does China’s deep-sea tech upgrade point to submarine signals network under Pacific?

Analysts say PLA military chiefs might already be using their version of a network of sensors and communications technology deep under the sea to make contact with submarine commanders operating far from home. Photo: AFP

 

China has announced plans to upgrade a civilian network of ­sensors and communications technology deep in the Western Pacific that it says is used in scientific research.

But analysts said the PLA could already be using a military-grade version of the communications technology to contact submarines operating far from base.

Buoys anchored between 400 and 500 metres beneath the surface of the Western Pacific would be upgraded this year, state media quoted scientists involved in the project as saying.

US Arleigh Burke-Class Guided Missile Destroyer Ports in China

The US ship Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, arrived in Qingdao, China for a scheduled port visit, the US Navy announced in a press release on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The press release described the week-long port visit as an opportunity to advance maritime cooperation and boost relationships between the US and Chinese navies.

U.S. Navy on alert: China, Russia to launch largest-ever joint navy exercise

The Chinese and Russian navies are gearing up for their largest-ever joint exercises, slated to begin Thursday in the Pacific with more than 20 ships and featuring anti-submarine operations as well as a joint-beach landing.

The “Joint Sea 2015 II” exercises will run through Aug. 28 in the Sea of Japan and off the coast of Vladivostok.

Russia and China to stage naval drills in Sea of Japan, train for beach landing

Major amphibious assault ship takes part in the Russian-Chinese “Joint Sea-2015” drills in the Mediterranean. / RIA Novosti

 

A Chinese squadron has left the port of Qingdao in Shandong province on Saturday and headed for Russia’s Vladivostok to take part in the bilateral naval exercise to be held in Peter the Great Bay on August 20-28.

A source close to the operation told Xinhua news agency that the drills “are not targeted at any third party and are not relevant to the regional status quo,” stressing that the exercise is part of annual exchange program between Chinese and Russian militaries.

PLA Navy Submarine Academy has trained total of 70,000 cadets

The Submarine Academy of the People’s Liberation Army Navy has trained a total of 70,000 submarine crew members for China since its establishment in Qingdao in Shandong province in 1953, Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao reported on May 14.

Rising red tide: China’s Navy in frenzy to build new nuclear-powered attack subs

China’s military is investing heavily in advanced submarines, including both ballistic and cruise missile firing vessels and attack subs.

Recently, Beijing showed off what appears to be a mock-up of its next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine, according to veteran military analyst Rick Fisher.

China Southern launches new Guangzhou-Frankfurt route

China Southern Airlines on Monday launched a new flight from China’s Guangzhou via Changsha to Frankfurt in Germany to meet rising demand for travel and business engagement.

China to join Russia for largest naval drills with foreign partner

Exercises are intended to deepen co-operation between militaries, says Chinese army chief

China will join Russia later this week for its largest-ever naval drills with a foreign partner, underlining deepening ties between the former cold war rivals along with Beijing’s desire for closer links with regional militaries.

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China’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that its navy would send four destroyers, two guided missile frigates and a support ship for the exercises, which start on Friday in the Sea of Japan and run until 12 July.