US defense secretary Robert Gates warns of leadership 'disconnect' in China

[SHASH2K2]

US defense secretary Robert Gates warns of leadership 'disconnect' in China ​

TOKYO: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates Friday said there had been signs of "a disconnect" between China's military and civilian leadership but stressed that President Hu Jintao is "in command and in charge".

When Gates met Hu and other top officials on Tuesday, Chinese state media published photos that were said to show the debut flight of the J-20, the country's first radar-evading combat aircraft.

The incident illustrated the Asian juggernaut's confidence and also raised questions about the role of its military, as a senior US defence official said Hu and other top civilians apparently were unaware of the test flight.

Gates, speaking in Tokyo on Friday, said "this is an area where over the last several years we have seen some signs of, I guess I would call it a disconnect between the military and the civilian leadership".

He said the civilian leadership appeared to be unaware of aggressive actions by Chinese naval ships in recent years, about an anti-satellite test and that there were "pretty clear indications they were unaware of the (J-20) flight test".

But Gates also stressed: "I have no doubt about the fact that President Hu Jintao is in command and in charge."


Read more: US defense secretary Robert Gates warns of leadership 'disconnect' in China - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...n-China/articleshow/7281387.cms#ixzz1Azdqq0Hq

 

[JayATL]

China the next Pakistan? US defense secretary Robert Gates warns

I can personally testify to this statement made by the US. I heard the press coverage and Defense sect. gates comments on TV here in the US. This can be a dangerous turn if china goes Pakistan's way, where the military is the true power.

US defense secretary Robert Gates warns of leadership 'disconnect' in China
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...p-disconnect-in-China/articleshow/7281387.cms

TOKYO: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates Friday said there had been signs of "a disconnect" between China's military and civilian leadership but stressed that President Hu Jintao is "in command and in charge".

When Gates met Hu and other top officials on Tuesday, Chinese state media published photos that were said to show the debut flight of the J-20, the country's first radar-evading combat aircraft.

The incident illustrated the Asian juggernaut's confidence and also raised questions about the role of its military, as a senior US defence official said Hu and other top civilians apparently were unaware of the test flight.

Gates, speaking in Tokyo on Friday, said "this is an area where over the last several years we have seen some signs of, I guess I would call it a disconnect between the military and the civilian leadership".

He said the civilian leadership appeared to be unaware of aggressive actions by Chinese naval ships in recent years, about an anti-satellite test and that there were "pretty clear indications they were unaware of the (J-20) flight test".

But Gates also stressed: "I have no doubt about the fact that President Hu Jintao is in command and in charge."

 

[JayATL]

self delete....------------------------------------

 

[SHASH2K2]

It was expected that military leadership of China may become over ambitious. Luckily here in India we have a tight leash on armed forces leadership.

 

[JayATL]

well, the concern here is more grave for India even graver than Pakistan. We have all read what their military leadership in China says, the absurd statement about china needs to go to war and grab its borders back or attack the US. these guys are not a stable lot. If the military turns out to be like Pakistan, then this posses a greater risk in this region and if this turns out to be true then INDIA just got a DEFCON 5 situation in instability from another neighbor.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

After decades of knowing these facts this conclusion has come.

 

[JayATL]

If the Indian leadership thought Kargil was a concern...this just FUBBARD their day - Gates is extremely well respected defense sec. he is very thoughtful, highly intelligent and quiet man. He does not issues alarmist statements, does not show boat or BS ( even with Afghanistan, he will call it truthfully while others will try to sugar coat parts of it) - hence this from him has to be real concern. ...

 

[Ray]

There can be a disconnect.

More so, since the General's commentary also was aggressive in intent, which is not what the political face of China, which does everything is a indiscernible manner.

Yet, at the same time, it maybe the old China tactics of pretending that the left hand does not know what the right hand does!

Something on the line that Mao was70% right and 30% wrong!

A neither here nor there status, keeping all happy and guessing!

The Chinese strategic game of Go.

 

[SHASH2K2]

I think CHinese military leadership are more intelligent and saner than their Pakistani counterparts. They may take more hawkish stand with increase in power but they are already hawkish against us. Its chinese CCP that needs to be more worried . I guess its an attempt to create a wedge between military and civilian leadership of China.

 

[JayATL]

There can be a disconnect.

More so, since the General's commentary also was aggressive in intent, which is not what the political face of China, which does everything is a indiscernible manner.

Yet, at the same time, it maybe the old China tactics of pretending that the left hand does not know what the right hand does!

Something on the line that Mao was70% right and 30% wrong!

A neither here nor there status, keeping all happy and guessing!

The Chinese strategic game of Go.

a great alternative analysis that I hope is true. what makes me feel rather alarmed is that China is hell bent on image control in the world. They won't even give stats on the earthquake that killed thousands of its citizens, they tried to hide SAR's and many such examples that show - they are all about trying to portray an image of control . Alternatively, saying that they had no idea of a satellite being shot down or J-20 test flight having taken place- it just does not reflect well on them. Couple that with gates statement that for sometime now, he has been concerned about a disconnect between the military and governing leadership, has to be of concern for India.

Besides, showing such instability hurts them more in the world stage where countries doing trade and investments want to be assured that there is stability and control of the country by the central leadership. trying to depict a rogue military is the worst game of diplomacy.

 

[kickok1975]

Mr. Gates has no clue on China's political system and what a strong grip CCP has on military forces. Chinese leader was merely acting polite to him that this test is a coincidence, not aiming to his visit.

In China even military nationalization theory is forbidden, let along military force to challenge the national policy. All military zone commanders are rotating every few years and head of central military committee are normally retired at 65. Nobody can move a large force without nod from Committee Chairman who is coincidently also the CEO of CCP. CCP has lots of experience to manage military thanks to its Founder Chairman Mao

 

[JayATL]

Mr. Gates has no clue on China's political system and what a strong grip CCP has on military forces. Chinese leader was merely acting polite to him that this test is a coincidence, not aiming to his visit.

In China even military nationalization theory is forbidden, let along military force to challenge the national policy. All military zone commanders are rotating every few years and head of central military committee are normally retired at 65. Nobody can move a large force without nod from Committee Chairman who is coincidently also the CEO of CCP. CCP has lots of experience to manage military thanks to its Founder Chairman Mao

the sec def of the US has no clue about china's internal working and military relationships???? O-Okayyyyyyyyyy.

He said the civilian leadership appeared to be unaware of aggressive actions by Chinese naval ships in recent years, about an anti-satellite test and that there were "pretty clear indications they were unaware of the (J-20) flight test".

But Gates also stressed: "I have no doubt about the fact that President Hu Jintao is in command and in charge."

GATES does not claim that command is lost , just that the military leadership is showing troubling signs of some rogue activity. ALSO- This has nothing to do with being polite , it had to do with 'we had no clue this was done'... two separate issues

example: Polite= " we did not do the test to coincide with this date, it was pre- scheduled date for a long time"

example Clueless ="He said the civilian leadership appeared to be unaware of aggressive actions by Chinese naval ships in recent years, about an anti-satellite test and that there were "pretty clear indications they were unaware of the (J-20) flight test". = signs of military going rogue on certain decisions...

this is pretty straightforward word 'unaware' here kickok and a deliberate statement; there was no obfuscation about them NOT being aware of past tests too! - nothing to do with coinciding with this visit date.

 

[nimo_cn]

Well, the disconnection between Indian government and Indian citizens should be more alarming.

One the one hand, we heard Indian government officially recognizes Tibet and Taiwan to be parts of China; on the other hand we are witnessing Indian members keep coming up with plans of splitting Taiwan and Tibet from China by arming the two.

Well,it seems Indians are playing the old tactics of pretending that the left hand does not know what the right hand does! But you can defend that by claiming India is a democracy, therefore you have speech freedom, that is predictable.

 

[houde10000]

Chinese generals scheduled this so important 5th generation jet fighter maiden flight without CCP general secretary Hu's permission, OMG, is there any chinese general so bold, LOL. Indian friends, you guys really know nothing about CCP!! Hu has three titles: chinese president, chinese communist party general secretary, central military commission chairman, do you indian friends know which one is the most important? of course, central military commission chairman!!! Without CMC permission, no chinese general can even maneuver one battalion troop.