China Reform Monitor: No. 1166

May 20:

Five senior Angolan Armed Forces (AAF) officers, led by Luanda Military Region Commander General Simao Carlitos, visited China from May 9-18 to observe the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) cadre training program. During the trip “the Chinese side reiterated that [PLA-AAF] ties were excellent, particularly in cadre training” and called for “strengthening the friendship and cooperation ties between the two institutions.” While at the Nanjing Artillery Academy in Jiangsu, which can host up to “5,000 national and foreign students annually,” the Angolans learned about the region’s “integrated defense system” and “training organization system.” The official Angop reports: “Accompanied by senior Chinese officers, the delegation also visited Beijing's Air Defense Center where it received explanations about the organization, operation, dependency, and missions of Beijing's air space defense.” They also “received information about the structure, organization, operation, and dependency of the Beijing Military Region, and its relations with central bodies.”

May 25:

The Afghan Taliban have released a statement denying a Wall Street Journal reportthat on May 20-21 the group sent four representatives to meet with Afghan government officials in Urumqi, Xinjiang. “The names of the officials of the Islamic Emirate said to have traveled to China for talks are all in their own localities. We do not deem it necessary to meet or establish political links with anyone secretly. If we have ever traveled anywhere or met with anyone, we have informed the media. We do not believe in secret talks.”

May 27:

Amid an upsurge in ethnic violence between Uighurs and Han Chinese, China's Ministry of Finance has announced the conclusion a of loan deal with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund infrastructure “projects including bridges, roads, heat supply, water supply and drainage pipeline networks” in Tacheng, Xinjiang and neighboring Emin, Tuoli and Yumin counties. The ADB’s $150 million loan will cover more than half of the $282.5 million needed for the projects, with the remainder paid by local governments. “Xinjiang is facing an unprecedented opportunity as China presses ahead with its Belt and Road Initiative, given its location along the ancient Silk Road linking China, Central Asia and Europe,” the official China Daily reports.

May 29:

North Korea's military has dispatched a 10-member special surveillance team to “launch a full-scale investigation” into residents, patrol forces, and security agents that are aiding and abetting escapes to China. The investigation is focused on illegal crossing through the border river and overseas phone calls. “An inspection team made up of officers in the military's Defense Security Command was dispatched to the border, where they're carrying out intensive investigation. The team will travel from Musan County in North Hamkyung Province to other areas in order to carry out inspections on illegal activities. The team is not only arresting those involved with outsiders [Chinese or South Korean] but also anyone who has turned a blind eye,” a local DPRK source told Daily NK. Patrol guards, soldiers, the Ministry of People's Security, and local State Security Department officials have been questioned. North Korean officials often take bribes to aid or ignore residents crossing illegally into China to flee or conduct illegal business.

May 31:

China is concerned about the possible deployment of an advanced U.S. air defense system in South Korea. Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the PLA general staff department, raised the issue during talks with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo in Singapore. Sun explained Beijing’s concerns over the America’s alleged push to introduce the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean peninsula. THAAD, an essential component of the U.S. missile-defense systems, uses a hit-to-kill method to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate ballistic missiles at their high altitude terminal phase. In February, China’s Defense Minister Chang Wanquan said the U.S. missile-defense system targets China and publicly pressed Seoul not to accept the system. Both Seoul and Washington have said that no official consultations have been held on THAAD, Yonhap reports.