Chinese Soldiers Training In Sub-Zero Temperature. What are they up to?

rockey 71

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What do you guys say about this?


PLA is going to invade Siachen in near future and we must increase our capabilities there ASAP!

China's link to Gwadar is hugely important. She must protect it at all costs - and the starting point of this link is snow-clad round the year. That's also the point in the Palmir Knot where PRC, IRP and RoI stare at each other eye ball to ball.
 

sorcerer

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China's Quest for Arctic Access & Resources
Thursday, 19 April 2012 00:00 Muhammad Makki


China has become increasingly interested in the Arctic in recent years due to the melting of the polar ice-cap, and its own desperate need for energy resources and raw materials for its growing economy. Access to natural resources and shortened shipping routes has prompted China to look at what Arctic might provide. China is not an Arctic littoral state, has no Arctic coast, and as such neither sovereign rights over region’s continental shelves nor the resources that lay beneath them. Regardless as an emerging global power and permanent member of United Nations Security Council, it is expected to seek a role in determining this framework and legal foundations for the region’s future management.

Figure1: Map of possible future shipping routes in Arctic


Source: NATO Parliamentary Assembly

The changing situation in the Arctic has raised many questions and uncertainties about its future and could lead to new geopolitical challenges for both Arctic littoral states and non-Arctic countries. These issues are primarily related to free passage and resource extraction rights. To this end, countries across Asia, including China, Europe and North America are concerned with this transformation and its economic, territorial and geopolitical implications.

Due to the region’s spatial placement, the the trans-regional implications of competition, often spelled-out as another ‘Great game’, these implications include increasing military activities especially from a Russian perspective. At present, border disputes do exist between Canada and Denmark regarding the rights over Hans Island in Nares Strait; Canada and the US, regarding a sea area in the Beaufort Sea; between Norway and Denmark, regarding the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Spitsbergen; and between Norway and Russia which in the past concerned an EEZ in the Barents Sea which in fact has been resolved.

There are three possible international routes through the Arctic: 1) the North East Sea Route or Northern Sea Route along the Russian coast (NSR), 2) Transpolar Route and 3) the North West Passage (NWP) through the Canadian Arctic archipelago. There is disagreement concerning the status of NWP which could considerably shorten the distance between Europe and Asia. The NWP is claimed as an internal waterway by Canada. In contrast, the European Union and the US identify the NWP as in international waters which they contend they have every right to sail across. In general, the potential NSR and NWP routes would substantially reduce the distance between Asia, Europe and North America.

China’s commercial and strategic interests in the Arctic

China is extremely concerned and increasingly focused on the role of a changing Arctic. Primarily, China’s scope of research focuses on how the changing environment is effecting the country’s continental and oceanic environment and furthermore how such transformation will affect its domestic agriculture and economic development. However, at various levels government is being encouraged to actively get involved in the region and map the strategic opportunities the melting Arctic offers. China has not yet published any official strategy towards Arctic. However, their actions suggest a careful approach towards showing greater involvement in the region in order to avoid alarmism among polar states. In relation to the sovereignty debate. China asserts that Arctic belongs to all people and the region is part of the ‘common heritage of mankind’. Vocalized or not, China’s strategic interest in the region is clear and the country is taking concrete diplomatic steps to ensure that it should be recognized as a key player in the region.

Changes in the Arctic will further increase territorial claims and border disputes between Arctic and non-Arctic states. China’s interest in the region is magnified by the fact that 46% of its GDP is shipping related and 85% of its energy imports come from abroad. China has no Arctic territories but does have appetite for its natural resources and is eager to utilize shortened routes. Different routes will be utilized depending on the origin of goods shipped and their destination. For example, LNG will be transported to Shanghai from the Barents Sea through Russia Northern Sea Route, German products will sail ‘over the top’, and Chinese exports to the Eastern US will make way through the NWP. The distance between Shanghai and Hamburg through NSR - along the north coast of Russia from Bering Strait in the and the Russian Arctic island Novaya Zemlya in the west - is 345 nautical miles shorter comparable to the route via the Strait of Malacca and the Suez Canal.

In Chinese academic circles different voices are heard on how China should approach Arctic governance. Various Chinese researchers like Li Zhenfu, Xu Zhenwei, Guo and Xu Yuayuan, express an enormous sense of entitlement of the country towards the region and argue that China needs access over Arctic assets while insisting the country should not adapt a ‘neutral’ position as an outsider. In March 2010, a statement made by Chinese Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo revealed a sense of moral entitlement to access to the Arctic resources and sea routes and his concern that Arctic states might endeavor to restrict Chinese access “The Arctic belong to all the people around the world, as no nation has sovereignty over it [...] China must plan indispensable role in the Arctic exploration as we have one fifth of the world’s population” (Official China News Service, March 2010). China is asserting pressure to review and re-develop Arctic regulations due to changing circumstances. They insist that Arctic issues are becoming inter-regional and that a balanced approach towards common interests should be adapted.

Figure 2: A Chinese view of Arctic Sea Routes


Note: ‘North East Sea route’ is red and the ‘North West Sea route’ is blue
Source: Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration
China is of course completely aware of the potential hydrocarbon resources and economically critical minerals in the Arctic region. According to US geological survey, the Arctic contains 30% of the world’s remaining natural gas and 13% of the world’s remaining oil reserves along with an abundance of other resources. Also, China recognizes the significance of new Arctic routes in ‘controlling new passages’ for its economic and international strategy, which refers to shortened sea routes, and the strategic military significance of the region. Indeed, the increasing military importance of the region is reflected in several discussions made by littoral states in recent years to strengthen their military capabilities and overcome complex sovereign disputes in the region.

China and Arctic politics


Due to the transformation of the Arctic region pressure from non-Arctic states like China and others is bound to increase and as suggested could escalate the friction between littoral and non-Arctic states. And, it is no wonder China is expected to expand its role as decisive power in the region’s management. China has had a permanent presence in the Arctic since 2004, when it established a research station - Huang He Zhan - in Svalbard, Norway, which is well inside the Arctic Ocean in the Barents Sea. Also, China already has the largest foreign embassy in Reykjavik, Iceland in expectation of Iceland becoming a major shipping hub. Further, China is reportedly planning three Arctic research expeditions over the next three to four years. The country has announced its intention to build a new 8000 ton ice breaker by 2013 which would be an addition to its current vessel, the Xuelong-Snow Dragon, in order to cruise the Arctic region to conduct various expeditions. Interestingly, no Arctic state possess a larger non-nuclear powered icebreaker than China.

China has also expressed its interest in obtaining permanent observer status in the Arctic Council. The Arctic Council has eight members states - Canada, US, Russia, Denmark (Faroe Islands and Greenland), Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and Finland. In addition, the Council includes six permanent observers, which are all European (France, Germany, Poland, Britain, and Spain) and ad hoc observer members, including Japan, South Korea, and China.

Before the Nobel Peace prize was awarded to Chinese dissident Lui Xiaobo in 2010, China and Norway had been actively improving their bilateral diplomatic and trade ties. In 2009, Norway together with Canada established formal bilateral dialogue with China and discussed various common interests including climate change, Arctic policies, polar research, energy issues, and shipping routes. In general, Norway’s position on China’s application for non-Arctic states to join Arctic Council was positive. However, since the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 2010 China-Norwegian diplomatic contacts have been largely been put on hold. China’s relationship with Canada is another important factor that will shape China’s future role in the Arctic as in 2013 Canada will hold the Chair of Arctic Council and will formulate its agenda over the next two years. So far, both nations’ relationship appears to be strong on both the diplomatic and trade fronts especially with respect to energy sector development and cooperation.

In summary, the Arctic region is constantly changing and polar coastal states should expect future geopolitical challenges as the new environment develops. It seems that conflict is now fermenting. Arctic nations are alarmed regarding China’s position towards the Arctic; China’s economic growth and increasing military capacity building are further making Arctic nations suspicious about China’s interest in the region. A crucial question will be how to ensure a balanced approach and effective policies to confront the pressure from non-Arctic states that will arise as the Arctic is opened for oil, gas and mineral extraction, international shipping and other developments. There is no doubt that a melting Arctic provides a unique opportunity for China with its significant plans to benefit from possible sea routes and access to natural resources. However challenges to these opportunities should not be underestimated. It would not be easy for China to sail through the NWP and NSP without clarification of the legal status of these passages (as one example). There is a therefore a pronounced need to comprehensively understand all of the issues as interpreted by Arctic littoral states and non-Arctic nations alike.

Contributor Muhammad Makki is a PhD candidate at School of Journalism and Communication & Sustainable Mineral Institute, The University of Queensland, Australia.

http://www.ensec.org/index.php?opti...s-aamp-resources&catid=123:content&Itemid=389
 

DFI_COAS

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#China is increasing the number of the military exercises in low temperature conditions
China’s marines conducted first military exercises in the Gobi Desert
Low temperatures in that region of the Gobi hovered around -15 degrees Celsius last week
















It's high time we should turn Siachen in to a fortress with all kinds of war machines. From suicide drones to land mines. We should turn that place into a fortress ASAP!

Does anyone know what kind of defence do we have there other than Soldiers?
 

DFI_COAS

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I hope RAW will not repeat the same mistake as we did in Kashmir. if they did it's going to much worse for our side.
 

Gessler

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north pole is also part of china ......... illegally captured by penguins . so now china plans to build artificial islands and some watchtowers there . ;)
It was illegally captured by eskimos.

Penguins are found at the south pole
 

amoy

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China copes with worst cold in decades

2016-01-24 04:55:25 GMT2016-01-24 12:55:25(Beijing Time)


NANJING, Jan. 24, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on Jan. 23, 2016 shows the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum after a snowfall in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province


KUNMING, Jan. 23, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Two girls walk in snow and rain in Kunming, known as the Spring City, in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Jan. 23, 2016. Snow hit the city on Friday and the temperature dropped dramatically due to cold front from the north.

China has geared up to cope with the winter's coldest weekend as the worst cold front in decades sweeps across the country.

The national observatory raised the weather warning level from yellow to orange on Saturday morning.

According to the National Meteorological Center (NMC), temperatures dropped 6 to 10 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning in parts of northwest China, north China and the Huanghuai area.

China has a four-tier warning system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

In Beijing, temperatures dropped to under minus 10 degrees Celsius on Friday and will hit a 30-year low of minus 16 degrees Celsius from Saturday through Sunday, the Beijing meteorological station said.

The maximum load of Beijing's power grid system reached about 16.96 million kilowatts at 5:54 pm on Friday, setting a record for the capital's winter power supply in recent years.

A total of 465 emergency repair vehicles and 15 emergency generator wagons allocated by Beijing Electric Power Corporation are ready to help with any power supply problems.

The heating supply departments from the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin and neighboring Hebei Province asked the heating supply units or companies in the region to raise heating temperatures to cope with the freezing weather.

Sanitation workers in Xingtai City of Hebei received cotton clothes, hats and gloves from the city's environmental sanitation department.

Traffic police from Baoding City, Hebei Province, have also been equipped with warm clothing while their shifts have been shortened.

"We must ensure the police do not get frostbite," said Jia Tao, a traffic police officer in Baoding.

The cold air moving south also brought low temperatures and rare snowfall to regions along the Yangtze River on Saturday.

At 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, all regions north of the Yangtze River, except eastern Sichuan Province and Chongqing, saw temperatures drop to below zero degrees Celsius, according to the NMC.

The downtown of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality braced for its first snow since 1996 from Friday night to Saturday morning.

The "super cold wave" brought sleet and heavy snow to southwest China's Sichuan Province from Friday night to Saturday morning, disrupting parts of the province's power supply system.

The power supply of more than 300,000 households in Sichuan has been affected, and local power companies are racing to repair the paralyzed grid system.

As of 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, 72,500 of the 300,000 households had their electricity restored. Electricity for the remaining households will be restored during the weekend, according to the State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company.

Shanghai Municipality also saw snow early Saturday morning while the temperature in the city dropped to under minus two degrees Celsius.

Before the cold spell arrived, the agriculture department of Shanghai stored enough vegetables to deal with demand during the weekend cold snap.

The NMC also expects temperatures in South and Southeast China to drop by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius from Saturday to Monday. Temperatures in central and eastern regions of China were 6 to 8 degrees Celsius lower than the average historical level.

Temperatures in parts of Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong are forecast to approach or even drop below the lowest levels on record, it said.

As of Saturday noon, a total of 493,600 people in Zhejiang Province had been affected by the cold weather, while 31,852 people had been relocated.

About 5,500 hectares of farmland in Zhejiang have been damaged and seven homes had collapsed, resulting in direct economic losses of about 40.13 million yuan (6.1 million US dollars), the provincial civil affairs department said.

The department so far has provided assistance to 3,565 people and ordered personnel to visit more than 2,280 nursing homes across the province. The department also sent personnel to patrol the streets to help the homeless

In east China's Anhui Province, traffic was disrupted by the snow. Several highways saw different sections closed as of Saturday morning, while long-distance coach service from Wuhu City was suspended.

In neighboring Jiangxi Province, the provincial fishery department ordered local authorities to help the endangered finless porpoise survive the harsh weather. According to weather forecasts, the province will experience the coldest weather since 1992 from Saturday to Tuesday, which could threaten the porpoise.

Special personnel were sent to feed the animals and patrol the Yangtze River to quickly identify porpoises that need help.

The cold air has also brought trouble to China's coastal areas.

Due to freezing weather, sea ice coverage in the north of Liaodong Gulf almost doubled within 10 days to 12,415 square kilometers. The size is 7,650 square kilometers larger than last year.

Liaoning maritime authorities issued a warning on Friday urging those involved in fishing, drilling and shipping in the sea to pay attention to changes in weather and ice and take precautionary measures.

The southernmost island province of Hainan did not escape the weather. Severe cold air caused strong winds to howl across the Qiongzhou Strait. Ferry services across the strait between Hainan and the mainland were suspended on Saturday, according to the Haikou Maritime Safety Administration.

As most of China struggles against the bitter cold, a man in China's "ice city" of Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, pushed himself to the limit to entertain others.

Jin Songhao, dubbed "ice man," performed cold-resistant feats such as dumping snow and ice on his body at the city's ice and snow festival on Saturday, when the city saw temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius.

http://english.sina.com/china/2016/0123/884500.html

~Tapa talks: Orange is the new black.~
 

garg_bharat

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Stop worrying about Siachen.

I doubt China will entangle itself into costly mountain warfare when it has Pakistanis to die for it.
 

amoy

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PLA conducts winter live-fire drill
(Xinhua) 09:50, January 27, 2016

Photo shows marines firing the man-portable cluster rocket launcher during a drill. The Marine Corps of the PLA Navy, which is conducting the winter training in the Gobi Desert of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, carried out a combined-arms live-fire drill on Jan. 21, 2016. (Source: 81.cn)


Photo shows a ZBD-05 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle firing its Hongjian-73C anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launcher during a drill. The Marine Corps of the PLA Navy, which is conducting the winter training in the Gobi Desert of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, carried out a combined-arms live-fire drill on Jan. 21, 2016. (Source: 81.cn)


Photo shows marines firing the man-portable anti-tank missile system during a drill. The Marine Corps of the PLA Navy, which is conducting the winter training in the Gobi Desert of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, carried out a combined-arms live-fire drill on January 21, 2016. (Source: 81.cn)


Photo shows marines firing the man-portable anti-tank missile system during a drill. The Marine Corps of the PLA Navy, which is conducting the winter training in the Gobi Desert of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, carried out a combined-arms live-fire drill on January 21, 2016. (Source: 81.cn)


Photo shows marines firing the man-portable anti-tank missile system during a drill. The Marine Corps of the PLA Navy, which is conducting the winter training in the Gobi Desert of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, carried out a combined-arms live-fire drill on January 21, 2016. (Source: 81.cn)


Photo shows amphibious combat vehicles firing their 122 mm self-propelled howitzers during a drill. The Marine Corps of the PLA Navy, which is conducting the winter training in the Gobi Desert of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, carried out a combined-arms live-fire drill on January 21, 2016. (Source: 81.cn)


Photo shows a ZTD-05 tracked amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) fires its 105mm gun during a drill. The Marine Corps of the PLA Navy, which is conducting the winter training in the Gobi Desert of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, carried out a combined-arms live-fire drill on January 21, 2016. (Source: 81.cn)


Photo shows marines shooting tripod-mounted heavy machine guns during a drill. The Marine Corps of the PLA Navy, which is conducting the winter training in the Gobi Desert of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, carried out a combined-arms live-fire drill on January 21, 2016. (Source: 81.cn)
 

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