January 23:
Eutelsat announced that China Central Television (CCTV) has signed a long-term distribution contract with Eutelsat Communications to broadcast three of its flagship channels in High Definition (HD) across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. CCTV-4 HD, CGTN HD (launched by CCTV in December 2016 formerly CCTV News) and CGTN-Documentary HD (formerly CCTV Documentary) are now available in HD in Chinese and English from the high-powered Hotbird satellites. The channels broadcast free-to-air and complement Standard Digital versions already available from the region's leading broadcasting neighborhood. Eutelsat started broadcasting CCTV channels in 2008 and currently broadcasts on seven Eutelsat satellites serving Europe, Africa and the Middle East, according to a company press release.
January 24:
China will receive "more respect"after testing the Dongfeng-41, the latest generation of intercontinental ballistic missile, the official Global Times reports. The missile has a range of 14,000 km and is capable reaching any part of the U.S. "[U.S. President Donald] Trump's administration has taken a hardline stance against China before he took office. It is logical for China to regard the Dongfeng-41 as a strategic deterrence. China has not developed the technologically-mature missile with any particular incident in mind. But it will allow China to be more confident when dealing with new strategic risks. We mustn't be naive when it comes to nuclear issues. The U.S. has the world’s most powerful military - including the most powerful and technologically-advanced nuclear arsenal. But Trump has said he wants to rebuild the U.S. military, including developing more powerful nuclear weapons. If Washington thinks it needs more nuclear weapons - who are we to think we can do with a nuclear arsenal that is just 'enough', given that we are seen as their 'prime potential competitor'?"
January 25:
China has deployed ICBMs in Heilongjiang along the Russian border, Russia’s Izvestia daily reports. "Moscow and Beijing may tirelessly tell the entire world about their 'unprecedentedly good relations.' But 90 percent of China's missile and nuclear potential targets Russia but not the USA. Turning a blind eye to this fact is inadmissible,"Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports. Ekho Moskvy radio called the Kremlin position on the Chinese ICBM deployment "the silence of the lambs."Not everyone agreed, however. Vedomosti reported: "When Moscow and Beijing are partners, Chinese missiles do not pose a threat to Russia,"though it expressed concern about a lack of "a treaty on strategic offensive arms with China and mechanisms of control."
January 27:
President Xi Jinping has gained his 12th title position and job title, making him “the most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping,” the South China Morning Post reports. Xi's latest title is chairman of the Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development, a body created to ensure the industrial base is meeting the military’s needs. Xi’s other eleven titles are: General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC; Chairman of the Central Military Commission; Leader of the Central Leading Group for Foreign Affairs; Leader of the Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs; President of the People's Republic of China; Head of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms; Chairman of the Central National Security Commission; Head of the Central Leading Group for Internet Security and Informatization; Leader of the Central Leading Group for National Defense and Military Reform; Head of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs; and Commander-in-chief of the Joint Battle Command of the PLA.
January 30:
China’s top "five potential threats"are the U.S., North Korea, Japan, the South China Sea, and the Indian border dispute, according to a report written by Chinese military strategists, the Bangkok Post reports. The document, issued in May 2016, is a wartime exercise guideline for preparing for threats from possible enemies. Despite the traditionally friendly Sino-DPRK relationship, from a military perspective North Korea is seen as a threat due to its nuclear and missile development. Many DPRK nuclear facilities are located near its border with China so a war would pose a "huge threat"to northeastern China. China fears a conflict with Japan over the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands in the East China Sea. By deploying air defense radar on the islands it occupies China is expanding its military presence in the SCS, but because China can only control some of the territory there, Beijing "cannot be optimistic."Regarding India, the report says that even as bilateral economic cooperation increases, New Delhi’s appetite for territorial expansion is increasing as its national strength grows.
