'Chinese military publicly assertive under new leadership'
Chinese defence forces, shedding
reticent style of functioning, are highlighting their military
activities since the change of leadership, a move analysts say
is intended to send a strong message to China's neighbours.
Besides state-run CCTV, official organs of the People's
Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, PLA Daily and state-run news
agency Xinhua have been highlighting the navy's activities in
the South China Sea and East China Sea, where China is locked
in disputes with neighbouring nations.
The official media specially highlighted the open-ocean
training mission led by the amphibious landing ship
Jinggangshan in the South China Sea, close to the coast of
Malaysia and Brunei, who along with Vietnam and the
Philippines contests China's claims over the South China Sea.
The fully equipped PLA amphibious naval task force
created flutter conducting exercises near James Shoal or
Zengmu Reef some 80-km from Malaysia, less than 200 kilometres
from Brunei and 1,800 kilometres from the mainland coast.
The PLA navy website posted high-profile oath-taking
ceremony performed by the crews of a fully equipped four-ship
fleet, near the outer limits of the country's controversial
"nine-dash line".
The line, the basis for China's claim to virtually all of
the South China Sea, encompasses territory also claimed by the
Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.
The pictures showed marines and sailors pledging to
"defend the South China Sea, maintain national sovereignty and
strive towards the dream of a strong China".
"The intended message by the PLA Daily and other official
reports was to tell the world that, no matter what speculation
was made by neighbouring counties involved in territorial
disputes with us in the South China Sea, our navy will still
conduct patrol and training missions there. It's a move to
show our determination to defend our ocean territory," Li Jie,
a Chinese naval expert told Hong Kong-based South China
Morning Post.
Shanghai-based naval expert Professor Ni Lexiong said the
navy had also sent more ships to the disputed Diaoyu Islands,
also claimed by Japan, which calls them the Senkakus, since Xi
Jinping became chairman of the Central Military Commission in
November.
New Chinese President Xi's "call to make China a maritime
power, and the dream of a strong China, told us that he wants
to make some difference from his predecessors Hu Jintao and
premier Wen Jiabao, who were criticised by the public as being
too soft and weak when dealing with territorial disputes," Ni
said.
"As someone from a princeling background, Xi is more
assertive than Hu and will certainly take a tougher stance on
the issues over the East and South China seas."
Chinese defence forces, shedding
reticent style of functioning, are highlighting their military
activities since the change of leadership, a move analysts say
is intended to send a strong message to China's neighbours.
Besides state-run CCTV, official organs of the People's
Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, PLA Daily and state-run news
agency Xinhua have been highlighting the navy's activities in
the South China Sea and East China Sea, where China is locked
in disputes with neighbouring nations.
The official media specially highlighted the open-ocean
training mission led by the amphibious landing ship
Jinggangshan in the South China Sea, close to the coast of
Malaysia and Brunei, who along with Vietnam and the
Philippines contests China's claims over the South China Sea.
The fully equipped PLA amphibious naval task force
created flutter conducting exercises near James Shoal or
Zengmu Reef some 80-km from Malaysia, less than 200 kilometres
from Brunei and 1,800 kilometres from the mainland coast.
The PLA navy website posted high-profile oath-taking
ceremony performed by the crews of a fully equipped four-ship
fleet, near the outer limits of the country's controversial
"nine-dash line".
The line, the basis for China's claim to virtually all of
the South China Sea, encompasses territory also claimed by the
Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.
The pictures showed marines and sailors pledging to
"defend the South China Sea, maintain national sovereignty and
strive towards the dream of a strong China".
"The intended message by the PLA Daily and other official
reports was to tell the world that, no matter what speculation
was made by neighbouring counties involved in territorial
disputes with us in the South China Sea, our navy will still
conduct patrol and training missions there. It's a move to
show our determination to defend our ocean territory," Li Jie,
a Chinese naval expert told Hong Kong-based South China
Morning Post.
Shanghai-based naval expert Professor Ni Lexiong said the
navy had also sent more ships to the disputed Diaoyu Islands,
also claimed by Japan, which calls them the Senkakus, since Xi
Jinping became chairman of the Central Military Commission in
November.
New Chinese President Xi's "call to make China a maritime
power, and the dream of a strong China, told us that he wants
to make some difference from his predecessors Hu Jintao and
premier Wen Jiabao, who were criticised by the public as being
too soft and weak when dealing with territorial disputes," Ni
said.
"As someone from a princeling background, Xi is more
assertive than Hu and will certainly take a tougher stance on
the issues over the East and South China seas."
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