September 27:
The South China Morning Post has published an expose detailing the role of China’s generally opaque People’s Armed Police (PAP). The role of the PAP, a 660,000 strong hybrid police and military force, was clarified for officials in an official proclamation earlier this year. The PAP was established in 1982 under the joint leadership of the Central Military Commission and the State Council, which commands it through the Ministry of Public Security. The PAP generally has three responsibilities: maintain social order and fight crime; border security; and it has four specialized, but non-combat branches tasked with forestry, gold mining, transport and hydropower. In the early 1980s China cut the number of troops by 500,000 to focus resources on economic development but later rehired these soldiers as PAP officers to help the Communist Party hold power and quell riots.
September 29:
In comments carried by Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency China's ambassador to Russia, Hui Li, has called for Russia to create "a commercial platform for Chinese businessmen, where fair and transparent rules exist, business activities are conducted legally and in an orderly manner and personal security and that of property are reliably ensured." He assured his Russian interlocutors that China is not seeking to create communities of Chinese people in Russia and called for the creation of “a trade or logistics center for Chinese goods” to replace Moscorw’s Cherkizovskiy market, which Russian authorities raided and closed earlier this year.
The Iranian newspaper Aftab-e Yazd has published a scathing attack on Beijing and Iranian officials. The rebuke comes amid growing attention from media, parliamentarians, and citizens questioning the influx of “low-quality Chinese products at the cost of destroying the country's textile industries.” Rumors have circulated, for instance, that Chinese firms have imported Israeli oranges and produce Iranian flags. The report decries Iranian officials for allowing “the Chinese to consolidate their position in the country's oil industry,” “distracted Iranian officials from the killing of Chinese Muslims,” and allowing “the brittle Chinese to cast votes for anti-Iranian (UN) resolutions.” “The untrustworthy presence of the Chinese in Iran's economy” is reflected in the “unsuitable quality of Chinese goods in Iran's market,” the report claims.
September 30:
The editor-in-chief and the entire board of editors of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Online Paper have been punished for publishing an article detailing China’s naval exercises in the South China Sea entitled "Chinese Navy's Military Exercises in the East Sea." Vietnam’s Central Party Propaganda and Education Commission has officially and publicly admonished Dao Duy Quat and his colleagues. Hanoi has also ordered the online news agency to conduct a full investigation of the liabilities of those officials and correspondents responsible.
October 1:
Indian intelligence has warned that Beijing is using Nepal-China study centers along the India-Nepal boarder to spy on India. “The issue will have to be taken up diplomatically with Nepal," said a senior Indian security official in comments carried by the Times of India. Around 30 Chinese firms, some headed by retired Chinese army officers, have established over two-dozen such bases to gather information on Indian activities.
[Editor’s Note: Over the past two years China has expanded relations with Nepal. Beijing is constructing a $100 million highway connecting Lhasa to Kathmandu. The two countries are also enhancing military cooperation. In September 2008, China announced a $1.3 million military aid package for Nepal and three months later promised another $2.6 million. Last month China’s ambassador to Nepal Quo Guohang said China would again increase aid and provide diplomatic support to Katmandu.]