Xi Inspects STC Navy - New PLA Recruitment Regulations - Han Zheng Meets Intel Chief - China & Australia Resolve Barley Dispute - Afghanistan Position Paper - Questioning US Bio-military Activities
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Thursday, April 13, 2023.
Page 1: The main story on the page is about Xi Jinping’s inspection of the naval forces under the Southern Theatre Command. He stressed that “it is necessary to conscientiously implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, the thought on strengthening the armed forces in the new era, the military strategic policy in the new era, deepen training and combat-readiness, accelerate the transformation and construction, comprehensively raise the level of modernization of the armed forces, and resolutely fulfil all tasks entrusted by the Party and the people.” 他强调，要认真贯彻党的二十大精神，贯彻新时代党的强军思想，贯彻新时代军事战略方针，深化练兵备战，加快转型建设，全面提高部队现代化水平，坚决完成党和人民赋予的各项任务.
During the visit, Xi was shown a “multimedia film reflecting the construction of the navy in the southern theatre.” He then listened to relevant work reports, and “acknowledged the achievements the command's navy has made in improving itself and exercising its duties since the 18th Party Congress.” 随后，习近平观看了反映南部战区海军建设情况的多媒体片，听取了有关工作汇报。习近平对党的十八大以来南部战区海军部队建设和完成任务情况给予充分肯定.
He then said: “We must persist in thinking and handling military issues from a political perspective, carry out military struggles with firmness and flexibility, improve our ability to respond to complex situations in a timely and proper manner, resolutely defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and strive to maintain the overall stability in the neighbouring areas.” 习近平强调，要坚持从政治高度思考和处理军事问题，坚定灵活开展军事斗争，提高及时妥善应对复杂情况的能力，坚决捍卫我国领土主权和海洋权益，努力维护周边大局稳定.
He then called on the forces “to strengthen training under actual combat conditions, deepen the study of war and operational issues, innovate the concepts of combat and the methods of combat and training. It is necessary to intensify force-on-force training based on operational plans, focus on key domains and improve training levels and actual combat capabilities. Xi Jinping said that we must vigorously develop new combat forces and means, grasp the characteristics and rules of building new quality combat capabilities, and accelerate the efforts to incorporate new equipment and new forces into actual combat capacity. It is necessary to adhere to system construction and system application, thoroughly crackdown on areas of weaknesses, and promote the overall upgrade of the combat system.” 习近平指出，要加强实战化军事训练，坚持以战领训，深化战争和作战问题研究，创新作战概念和战法训法。要加强实案化对抗性训练，突出抓好重点课题专攻精练，提高训练水平和实战能力。习近平强调，要大力发展新型作战力量和手段，把握新质战斗力建设特点规律，推动新装备新力量加快形成实战能力。要坚持体系建设、体系运用，深入破解短板弱项，推动作战体系整体升级.
The final paragraph of the report says:
Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to:
strengthen the Party's leadership and Party building in the armed forces, and pay close attention to comprehensively and strictly governing the Party and the armed forces
do a good job in studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress
carefully organise and implement the thematic education campaign on Xi Jinping’s thought
comprehensively strengthen the talent work and expand the talent team.
promote the normalisation and institutionalisation of political training and discipline, and persevere in fighting corruption
strengthen the education management of the forces, unremittingly grasp the grassroots and lay a foundation to ensure the safety and stability of the armed forces.
Finally, he called on leading cadres to “investigate and study, earnestly resolve outstanding contradictions and problems in the construction of the forces, actively solve problems for the officers and troops, and lead the officers and troops to continuously create a new situation in the construction of the navy in the southern theatre command.” 习近平指出，要加强部队党的领导和党的建设，狠抓全面从严治党、全面从严治军。要深入抓好党的二十大精神学习贯彻，精心组织实施学习贯彻新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育，统筹抓好“学习强军思想、建功强军事业”教育实践活动，夯实铁心向党的思想根基，激发团结奋进的精神力量。要全面加强人才工作，壮大人才队伍。要推进政治整训常态化制度化，持之以恒正风肃纪反腐。要加强部队教育管理，坚持不懈抓基层打基础，确保部队安全稳定。各级特别是领导干部要大兴调查研究，认真解决部队建设中的突出矛盾和问题，积极主动为官兵排忧解难，带领广大官兵不断开创南部战区海军建设新局面.
Next, there’s a report on Vice President Han Zheng meeting with Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger in Beijing on Wednesday. Xinhua reported:
“Noting that China adheres to the basic state policy of reform and opening-up, Han said the country will continue to provide better services to foreign companies, and share new development opportunities with companies of all countries. Han said economic globalization is an irresistible trend, and transnational enterprises should overcome difficulties and challenges to promote better cooperation in global trade and industry. Intel is welcome to stand committed to the Chinese market and contribute to promoting China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation and maintaining the stability of global industrial and supply chains, Han said.”
The report quotes Gelsinger as saying that “Intel is optimistic about the prospects of the Chinese market and will continue to increase investment and deepen cooperation with China.”
Finally, at the top of the page is a report on the CMC and the State Council releasing a set of revised rules regarding military recruitment. Xinhua says that “the new regulation, with 74 articles in 11 chapters, focuses on recruiting more high-caliber soldiers, standardizing and optimizing conscription procedures, and improving the system's efficiency.” The full text of the regulations is available on Page 10. I’m capturing some excerpts below.
The first section details the general provisions, comprising 9 articles.
Article 4 details the institutions who are responsible for recruitment-related work. I am capturing a brief bit from this. It says that the national recruitment work is carried out under the leadership of the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC). The Ministry of National Defense has the executing responsibility. 第四条 全国的征兵工作，在国务院、中央军事委员会领导下，由国防部负责，具体工作由国防部征兵办公室承办。国务院、中央军事委员会建立全国征兵工作部际联席会议制度，统筹协调全国征兵工作. In addition, there are leading groups at provincial, city, and county levels that shall be responsible for overall planning and coordination of conscription work in their administrative regions. Conscription offices at local people’s governments levels have a key role to play in this process.
Article 8 says that state organs and public organisations, enterprises and institutions shall carry out in-depth education on patriotism, revolutionary heroism, the glorious history of the armed forces and the glory of service, and enhance citizens’ awareness of national defense and military service in accordance with the law. The military service organs of the local people's governments at or above the county level shall, jointly with the propaganda departments, coordinate and organise the cyberspace, education, culture and other departments to carry out the propaganda work related to conscription and encourage citizens to actively enlist. 八条 机关、团体、企业事业组织应当深入开展爱国主义、革命英雄主义、军队光荣历史和服役光荣的教育，增强公民国防观念和依法服兵役意识。 县级以上地方人民政府兵役机关应当会同宣传部门，协调组织网信、教育、文化等部门，开展征兵宣传工作，鼓励公民积极应征.
The second part of the regulation deals with the preparations that need to be made for the conscription process. To simplify, this section provides information about enlistment criteria, where people can enlist, what must be taken into account for preliminary assessments and which agencies should do what to ensure these basic level checks. Some key points:
Article 11 informs that the initial military service registration shall be carried out for male citizens who have reached the age of 18 before December 31 of the relevant year. 对本单位和本行政区域当年12月31日以前年满18周岁的男性公民进行初次兵役登记，对参加过初次兵役登记的适龄男性公民进行信息核验更新.
Article 12 empowers local organs to determine whether male citizens who have registered for military service for the first time are eligible for, exempt from or not permitted to perform military service. 第十二条 县、自治县、不设区的市、市辖区人民政府兵役机关对经过初次兵役登记的男性公民，依法确定应服兵役、免服兵役或者不得服兵役，在公民兵役登记信息中注明，并出具兵役登记凭证. The article also says that “according to the needs of the armed forces, female citizens can be recruited for active service in accordance with regulations.” 根据军队需要，可以按照规定征集女性公民服现役.
Article 13 says that citizens who are required to perform military service in accordance with the law shall be eligible for military service if they meet the following enlistment requirements after preliminary examination:
Support the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system;
Love of national defence and the armed forces, whether they abide by discipline and law, and have good political qualities and moral conduct;
Compliance with the age requirements stipulated by law;
Possess the physical condition, psychological quality and educational level to perform the duties of the military job;
Other conditions stipulated by law.
第十三条 依照法律规定应服兵役的公民，经初步审查具备下列征集条件的，为应征公民： （一）拥护中华人民共和国宪法，拥护中国共产党领导和社会主义制度； （二）热爱国防和军队，遵纪守法，具有良好的政治素质和道德品行； （三）符合法律规定的征集年龄； （四）具有履行军队岗位职责的身体条件、心理素质和文化程度等； （五）法律规定的其他条件。
Article 16 calls on local departments of public security, health and education, etc, to “conduct preliminary verification of the ideological and political information, health status, and educational level of citizens enlisted.” 第十六条 县级以上人民政府公安、卫生健康、教育等部门按照职责分工，对应征公民的思想政治、健康状况和文化程度等信息进行初步核查.
Section 3 deals with physical assessments. It calls on the conscription offices of the local people's government at or above the county level to work with local health departments to designate hospitals or physical examination institutions that meet the standard conditions and management requirements to set up physical examination stations for conscription. The section does not detail metrics of physical fitness but basically outlines process requirements. Article 22 calls on the conscription offices to carry out random checks of recruited citizens who pass the physical examination; if the spot checks identify a high proportion of unqualified people, then everyone selected should be reviewed. 第二十二条 县级以上地方人民政府征兵办公室根据需要组织对体格检查合格的应征公民进行抽查；抽查发现不合格人数比例较高的，应当全部进行复查。
Section 4 deals with the political assessment of candidates. It calls for examining/assessing one’s “political attitude, practical performance and family members.” The fifth section deals with the approval process. It says that local conscription offices shall conduct “pre-service education for those who clear the physical examination and political assessment.” It informs that the specific measures for examining and approving new recruits shall be formulated by the conscription office of the Ministry of National Defense, with local offices being required to use them to approve candidates.
Article 28 says that children of martyrs – soldiers who died in the line of duty – children of soldiers who died of illness, and brothers, sisters and children of soldiers in active service who voluntarily enlist and meet the conditions shall enjoy priority approval for active service.” 第二十八条 烈士、因公牺牲军人、病故军人的子女、兄弟姐妹和现役军人子女，本人自愿应征并且符合条件的，应当优先批准服现役。
Article 29 Soldiers who have retired from active service but voluntarily apply for enlistment and meet the requirements may be approved to re-enlist. In such cases, priority shall be given to serving in the original active service unit or similar posts; those who meet the conditions for serving as non-commissioned officers may be directly recruited as such. 第二十九条 退出现役的士兵，本人自愿应征并且符合条件的，可以批准再次入伍，优先安排到原服现役单位或者同类型岗位服现役；具备任军士条件的，可以直接招收为军士.
The section then details timelines for announcements and cancellation of enlistment if someone is found to have been in violation of regulations. Article 31 says that from the date of approval, the individuals are entitled to receive the treatment/benefits and security, as other armed forces members. Also, their families are entitled to receiving the preferential benefits and treatment stipulated by laws and regulations for families of service members. 新兵自批准入伍之日起，按照规定享受现役军人有关待遇保障。新兵家属享受法律法规规定的义务兵家庭优待金和其他优待保障.
Article 32 says that local governments shall purchase personal accident insurance to provide corresponding protection for the rights and interests of recruited citizens; Article 33 empowers student recruits to retain their admissions during the service period. They are allowed to enrol or resume their studies within two years after they retire from active service. 第三十二条 县级以上地方人民政府可以采取购买人身意外伤害保险等措施，为应征公民提供相应的权益保障。 第三十三条 已被普通高等学校录取或者正在普通高等学校就学的学生，被批准服现役的，服现役期间保留入学资格或者学籍，退出现役后两年内允许入学或者复学.
Article 34 says that approved individuals who are employed with state organs, public organisations, enterprises and institutions shall give priority to military service.
The next section details the process and responsibilities related to the transport and handover of the recruits. Not summarising this because it is actually just about procedure. Section 7 deals with measures related to quarantine of recruits upon arrival, followed by another review, which includes physical, health and political review. If they fail that, they shall be returned. This period of review is 45 days, from the time that one arrives. The section details requirements and processes for this.
Article 56 says: Conscripts who have one of the following acts before enlisting in the army shall be returned, and the time limit for returning is not limited by the first paragraph of Article 49 of these regulations. Remuneration, pension preferential treatment and other benefits shall be cancelled and recovered by relevant departments:
Has committed criminal acts or records before enlisting in the armed forces, and deliberately concealed them;
Is suffering from mental illness, nervous system disease, AIDS (including virus carriers), malignant tumours and other serious diseases that affect active service before enlisting in the armed forces, and intentionally concealed this;
Has obtained enlistment qualifications by providing false enlistment materials or through bribery or other illegal means.
第五十六条 义务兵入伍前有下列行为之一的，作退回处理，作退回处理的期限不受本条例第四十九条第一款的限制，因被征集服现役而取得的相关荣誉、待遇、抚恤优待以及其他利益，由有关部门予以取消、追缴： （一）入伍前有犯罪行为或者记录，故意隐瞒的； （二）入伍前患有精神类疾病、神经系统疾病、艾滋病（含病毒携带者）、恶性肿瘤等影响服现役的严重疾病，故意隐瞒的； （三）通过提供虚假入伍材料或者采取行贿等非法手段取得入伍资格的.
The next three sections affix cost-related responsibilities on different organs, provide special clauses in case of wartime mobilisation and briefly specify the legal responsibilities of citizens and different institutions. The regulation comes into effect from May 1.
Along with this, I also recommend going through this SCMP report:
“The Chinese military will ease the physical thresholds for “urgently needed” hi-tech professionals as it steps up a modernisation drive. However, there is one condition. Any applicant – even for non-combat positions – who cannot stand the sight of blood would be rejected, state broadcaster CCTV reported, quoting newly published medical selection standards for the People’s Liberation Army. The new standards would apply to all candidates seeking to become PLA officers, whether they were soldiers seeking promotion or university graduates wanting to join the ranks, as well as non-combat positions, Wednesday’s report said. The release of the latest medical standards comes as the PLA steps up its quest to modernise by 2035 and become a world-class military power by 2049….The addition of new combat forces and the push to hire professional and technical personnel required the military to customise the physical and mental qualities required, the Chinese defence ministry said. “We need to optimise and adjust the physical examination and selection standards as we take into account the current physical fitness of our recruitment-age youth and the specific needs of different positions in various branches of the armed forces,” the PLA Daily quoted a Central Military Commission official responsible for the drafting of the new standards as saying. “This is so that our recruitment of qualified PLA personnel can be conducted in a scientific manner based on factual data.” Physical standards such as height, weight and vision acuity could be relaxed for personnel deemed by officers to be “urgently needed for war preparations” or non-combat staff of “high-level” and “special professional talents”, the official said.
Page 3: We have the text of the foreign ministry’s new document - China’s Position on the Afghan Issue. This comes as Foreign Minister Qin Gang is in Uzbekistan to attend the fourth foreign ministers’ meeting among the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan.
The position paper on Ukraine had 12 points; this one has 11 points. I don’t see anything new in this document. I’ve noted some discussion on social media about the text regarding the rights of women, children and all ethnic groups being new. This is not true. For instance, refer to this March 2022 joint statement following the Third Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan. It is also interesting to note that three out of the 11 points deal directly with terrorism and security, although others also discuss security issues like say narcotics trade. It gives you a sense of the prism through which Beijing is viewing Afghanistan. It’s not so much of an opportunity that the US withdrawal opened up; it’s more of a challenge that needs to be contained.
Anyway, the Chinese paper says:
“Adhering to the ‘Three Respects’ and ‘Three Nevers’. China respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, respects the independent choices made by the Afghan people, and respects the religious beliefs and national customs of Afghanistan. China never interferes in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, never seeks selfish interests in Afghanistan, and never pursues so-called sphere of influence.”
Supporting moderate and prudent governance in Afghanistan. China sincerely hopes that Afghanistan could build an open and inclusive political structure, adopt moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies, and engage in friendly exchanges with all countries especially neighboring countries. We hope the Afghan Interim Government will protect the basic rights and interests of all Afghan people, including women, children and all ethnic groups, and continue working actively to meet Afghan people’s interests and the international community’s expectations.
Supporting peace and reconstruction of Afghanistan…China welcomes Afghanistan’s participation in Belt and Road cooperation and supports Afghanistan’s integration into regional economic cooperation and connectivity that will transform Afghanistan from a “land-locked country” to a “land-linked country”.
Supporting Afghanistan in countering terrorism resolutely and forcefully. Security is the foundation and prerequisite of development. The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is a terrorist organization listed by the UN Security Council and designated by the Chinese government in accordance with law. The ETIM forces in Afghanistan pose a severe threat to the security of China, Afghanistan and the region. China hopes that Afghanistan will fulfill its commitment in earnest and take more effective measures to crack down on all terrorist forces including the ETIM with greater determination, and earnestly ensure the safety and security of citizens, institutions and projects of China and other countries in Afghanistan.
Calling for greater bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation…Afghanistan should be supported in taking comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism and prevent the country from again becoming a safe haven, breeding ground and source of terrorism.
Working together to fight terrorism, separatism and extremism in Afghanistan. Terrorism, separatism and extremism in Afghanistan remain a major security threat to the region and the world. China calls on the international community to firmly support Afghanistan’s fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism and its active measures to cut off the channels of terrorist financing, to counter recruitment and cross-border movement of terrorists and the spread of violent terrorist audio and video materials, to contain extremism, youth radicalization and the spread of terrorist ideologies, and to eliminate sleeper cells and terrorist safe havens.
Urging the US to live up to its commitments and responsibilities to Afghanistan.
Opposing external interference and infiltration in Afghanistan. It is a shared view of regional countries that the military interference and ‘democratic transformation’ by external forces in Afghanistan over the past 20-odd years have inflicted enormous losses and pain on Afghanistan. It will be difficult to eliminate the negative impacts for many years to come. To help Afghanistan achieve sustained peace and stability, relevant countries should not attempt to re-deploy military facilities in Afghanistan and its neighbourhood, practice double standards on counter-terrorism, or advance their geopolitical agenda by supporting or conniving at terrorism.
Strengthening international and regional coordination on the Afghan issue.
“Facilitating solution to Afghanistan’s humanitarian and refugee issues. China is concerned about the situation of Afghan refugees and will continue to provide assistance through bilateral and multilateral channels. China supports relevant UN agencies in playing a positive role in this regard, applauds the efforts by regional countries, and calls on the international community to provide continuous humanitarian and development assistance to jointly help Afghanistan rebuild its economy and create favorable conditions for the final settlement of the refugee issue.” — Comment: Of course, there is no Chinese commitment to accept refugees from Afghanistan.
Supporting Afghanistan’s fight against narcotics.
There are a bunch of other brief reports:
A report informs of EU’s Josep Borrell’s visit to China from April 13th to 15th for the 12th round of China-EU high-level strategic dialogue. This, however, has been pushed back after Borrell tested positive for COVID-19.
Another report informs of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s visit to China from April 13 to 15, for the sixth round of China-Germany strategic dialogue on diplomacy and security.
There’s a one-line report on Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s arrival in Shanghai on Wednesday night.
Likewise, there are two very short reports on ILD chief Liu Jianchao and Wang Dongming, NPCSC vice chairman, meeting with a cadre delegation led by Peter Lam Both, secretary general of Sudan People's Liberation Movement of South Sudan.
Finally, there’s a report on the Ministry of Commerce's comments on the resolution of the trade dispute with Australia over barley. Global Times has an English report:
“Within the framework of the WTO, China and Australia have conducted friendly consultations and reached a consensus on the barley dispute, demonstrating the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Tuesday. ‘We are ready to work with the Australian side through dialogue, consultation and cooperation and accommodate each other's industrial concerns, properly resolve economic and trade disputes, including the two cases still at the WTO panel stage, and jointly promote the steady and long-term growth of bilateral economic and trade relations,’ said the spokesperson, who stressed that China and Australia are both WTO members and important trading partners of each other.”
What the above doesn’t tell us is that the settlement came after Australia suspended its complaint at the WTO. AP’s report from two days ago informs:
“China effectively closed its doors to Australian barley in May 2020 by imposing an 80% tariff after the previous Australian government angered Beijing by calling for an independent inquiry into the origins of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous conservative government responded by challenging the tariff in the Geneva-based trade body. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her center-left Labor Party government, which was elected in May, had reached an agreement with China that ‘creates a pathway for the resolution of the dispute over Australian barley.’ China had agreed to review its duties on the grain over three or four months, she said, and Australia will temporarily suspend the WTO dispute during that review period. ‘Obviously, if the duty is not lifted at the end of the review period, we’ll resume our dispute in the WTO,’ Wong said. She said the Chinese review offered a ‘significantly shorter time frame’ to resolve the dispute than the WTO offered.”
Page 17: Finally, on the international page, there is a report on protests in Japan against the decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean. The piece adds that before fully consulting with neighbouring countries and other stakeholders and relevant international agencies and reaching an agreement, the Japanese side must not initiate the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the ocean.
There is also a Zhong Sheng commentary on the issue, emphasising that the discharge of wastewater must be “subject to strict international supervision.”
Next, there’s a report on Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov’s comments at a plenary session of the Russian State Duma on Tuesday, where he said that the American biological facilities in Donbass shown that “the United States is manufacturing biological weapon components near the Russian border.”
The report adds that Kirillov pointed out that during the special military operation, the Russian Defense Ministry analysed more than 2,000 documents, which “confirmed that the United States carried out biological military activities in Ukraine.”
Yesterday, MoFA’s Wang Wenbin had also addressed the issue. He had said:
“We have noted the reports. The US conducts more military-biological activities than any other country in the world. It is also the only country that has refused verification on this issue. This has long caused serious concern from the international community. Regrettably, the US has yet to provide any meaningful clarification. The only thing the world has been hearing from the US is empty slogans. Not only that. The US has been the only country that continues to oppose multilateral negotiations on establishing a verification mechanism, which fundamentally closes the door for resolving the issue of compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). The US even does anything it can to thwart negotiations on an international convention to combat acts of chemical and biological terrorism, an initiative that would apparently benefit all humanity. Whenever it comes to international security, the US always makes a great deal about compliance and demands verification for other countries. Why on biological security in particular, has the US been mum about its own compliance issue? Is there any “secret” that the US is trying to hide? The rest of the world would not accept the US double standard. Still less will they sit by and watch the US stay outside the law on issues that matter to world peace and security. China supports the international community in taking a serious and just attitude and continuing to review the US compliance with the BWC, so as to truly safeguard the authority and efficacy of the convention. We once again urge the US to earnestly live up to its international obligations, make comprehensive clarification and receive verification on its military-biological activities both within and outside the country, and stop thwarting international efforts to strengthen the biological security governance system and legal framework.”
Finally, there’s an article informing that ICBC has successfully processed its first cross-border renminbi settlement transaction, making substantial progress in the bank's cross-border RMB business in the Brazilian market. In February the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, authorised ICBC Brazil as the RMB clearing bank in Brazil.