Afghanistan - Nato Leaving, China Coming

China's top security official and member of Communist Party's politburo, Zhou Yongkang, paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan, where he met with President Hamid Karzai on issues ranging from investment and bilateral trade to terrorism and drug trafficking, China's state-run news agency XINHUA said Sunday.

Beijing kept the visit secret because of security concerns, the agency said.

[Source: CNN Online quoting XINHUA agency on September 23]

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Earlier on June 8, 2012, China's President Hu Jintao had held talks with his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, in the frame of an SCO summit that took place in Beijing at that time (picture above). He offered a five-point proposal for future talks between high-ranking officials of both countries.

2012 Summit of the "Shanghai Cooperation Organisation" SCO



[Source: Website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 8, 2012]

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It should not surprise that it was China's top security official, Zhou Yongkang, who now came to Kabul because deteriorating security in Afghanistan is a crucial point in the development of bilateral relations.

As to security problems between Afghanistan and China, the following text has been quoted from a relevant article published by Al-Jazeera the day before:

الصين وأفغانستان.. علاقات ما بعد الناتو

China and Afghanistan - Relations After Nato [Engagement]

تعكس عناوين الاتفاقيات هواجس أمنية لدى البلدين، والتطلعات الاقتصادية الصينية في أفغانستان، ففيما يتعلق بالجانب الأمني تتزايد مخاوف بكين بشأن تدهور الأمن مع جارتها أفغانستان والتي تشترك معها في حدود يبلغ طولها 76 كيلومترا

Both sides are [reconsidering] an agreement of security obsession on the part of both countries as China's economic ambitions in Afghanistan are being related to the security aspect of increasing dangers [due to] deteriorating security that is [raging in] Afghanistan and [even] reaching the border of [both] countries which stretches over 76 km.

[Source: Al-Jazeera Online on September 24, 2012]

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The following text is a quotation from China Daily's article on Zhou Yongkang visiting Kabul and dated September 24 (last update), 2012:

Zhou said China is willing to make due contributions to peace and stability in Afghanistan, which is at a critical transition period.

"We will continue to provide assistance to Afghanistan with no attached conditions and sincerely hope the Afghan people can regain peace as soon as possible and build a better home in a peaceful environment," he added.

The United States has said that Washington and its allies will completely withdraw their troops from Afghanistan by 2014, leaving the country to stand on its own.

Karzai said Afghanistan would like China to be involved in its reconstruction efforts and is expecting China to play a bigger role in the peaceful development of Afghanistan and the region.

Official figures showed that by the end of 2011, China's direct investment into Afghanistan stood at about $200 million and the aggregate contract value of projects undertaken by Chinese constructors in Afghanistan reached nearly $600 million. In addition, about 20 China-aided projects in Afghanistan were completed between 2002 and 2011.

Karzai said China is among the first batch of countries that invested in Afghanistan, which brought concrete benefits to the Afghan people, and Afghanistan welcomes China to expand investment.

China at Sea - Diaoyu Island Dispute

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UPDATE on September 25, 2012:
Inauguration of China's first aircraft carrier by President Hu Jintao who is, as well, chairman of the Central Military Commission. The vessel has been renamed from its provisional name Varyag to LIAONING 辽宁, thus referring to China's Liaoning province where it has been completed in the seaport of Dalian.

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China's First Aircraft Carrier "Varyag" or No. 16

Yesterday, September 20, People's Network quoted Peking Evening News with an article on China's first aircraft carrier "Varyag 瓦良格" and dealt with the question of who might be the new commander of that vessel.

谁将指挥中国航母第一舰？

The aircraft carrier was originally built in the former Soviet Union from 1985-1991 but remained uncompleted. In 1998 it was sold by Ukraine without its original engines and after being disarmed for U.S.$ 20 million to China. In the following years it has undergone extensive overhaul and modernization, making it a modern style carrier that already caught the attention of U.S. authorities. The U.S. came to fear it as an example of China's modernization of its armed forces even before the carrier was finally completed.

Now, we hear that a certain Bo Yao Ping 柏耀平 should be commander of China's first aircraft carrier, a man who joined the armed forces at the age of 24 when he became known as an outstanding fighter pilot.

Commander Bo Yao Ping

Some days before, on September 15, another Chinese source had offered a more precise description of the aircraft carrier under the following headline:

解放军在瓦良格上集结这是准备收复钓鱼岛

What the Liberation Army is building up on the "Varyag" [in terms of military strength] is [sufficient to] prepare the recapture of Diaoyu Island.

Technical data: The "Varyag" should have a tonnage of 57.000 tons, its overall length being 304 m at the level of its flight platform and 281 m at water level. The vessel's maximum width should be 70.5 m.

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As to the notorious island dispute between China and Japan, China is still determined to defend its territorial rights.

Today's main headline of People's Network (September 21, 2012) is quoting semi-official People's Daily, Beijing, with the following text:

People's Daily - The Bell is Telling the Hidden Meaning:
Japan's "first occupation" of Diaoyu Island is in reality [an act of] stealing it.

China is referring to historic documents that should serve to prove its territorial rights in the region. As to reliable documents still existing, the network of Xinhua News Agency reported on September 18:

9月17日，观众在北京国家图书馆观看关于钓鱼岛的古籍文献。当日，国家图书馆举行“馆藏钓鱼岛有关文献情况介绍会”，向媒体展示了数十种从馆藏中精选的钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿（简称钓鱼岛）相关古籍善本、舆图、报刊等资料。大量历史文献证明，中国至迟在15世纪初就已发现钓鱼岛，并作为台湾的附属岛屿进行管辖，纳入了中国海疆版图作为海上防区，绝非“无主地”。日本明治政府于1885年通过冲绳县当局调查，认为其是无人岛，于是在1895年编入日本领土。日方偷换概念，用无人岛的说法取代无主岛，其所谓依据“先占”原则取得钓鱼岛“主权”的说法纯属历史谎言。无论是19世纪末日本窃取中国领土钓鱼岛，还是20世纪70年代美日对钓鱼岛进行私相授受，都不可能也没有改变钓鱼岛属于中国的事实。

September 17 saw masses in the National Library in Beijing who were looking at documents from ancient books referring to Diaoyu Island. On that day, the National Library held a "presentation on the condition of documents stored in the library and referring to Diaoyu Island". The carefully chosen material from the library's [archives], laid open to the media, contained ten sorts of reliable editions of old books, territorial maps and press publications that have a bearing on Diaoyu Island and its attached islets (in short called Diaoyu Islands). A large number of historic documents are proving, China had discovered Diaoyu Island in early 15th century, at the latest, and regarded it as a [group of] islets attached to Taiwan and being subject to its jurisdiction. [Diaoyu Island] became part of China's territory as belonging to its coastal areas and territorial seas which make up for [China's] maritime defence area, [therefore] being absolutely not a "no man's land". In 1885, [when] the Japanese Meiji government undertook an investigation to put vigorous restrictions on county authorities, it considered [Diaoyu Island] an uninhabited island. Later in 1895, [they] annexed it into their territory. The Japanese side secretly changed their concept and replaced the name "uninhabited island" by "unruled island". Their way of naming what they call the basis of the "first occupation" principle to gain Diaoyu Island's sovereign rights is a simple historical lie. Regardless of Japan stealing China's territory Diaoyu Island at the end of the 19th century, there was another U.S.-Japanese illicit transfer underway regarding Diaoyu Island in the 70th era of the 20th century. All that cannot possibly change the fact that Diaoyu Island belongs to China.

Some additional historic information referring to Diaoyu Island can be found on another blogspot of mine. My collection of opinion from China might be interesting as well as news about China's maritime surveillance fleet. For further news reports search the archives of my blog.

Old Chinese Naval Map

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Visitor access point for visitors of "blueprint news" activated from Tokyo, Japan on September 15, 2012:

Chiyoda City 千代田区 is a special ward in central Tokyo dominated by the Imperial palace (below) and hosting government administrations like the prime minister's residence and some embassies.

U.S. Elections - Mitt Romney Lost Face

要闻 以色列果断的对伊朗动武

Evening News Update for September 19 further down:

Interested parties are to be found in my recent visitor statistics:
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Al-Jazeera, Evening News on September 18, 2012:

Only 50 days before the U.S. presidential elections are expected to start, President Obama's competitor Mitt Romney lost face when he was caught making remarks that should, at least, astonish U.S. voter who are not yet decided.

A video is showing Mitt Romney speaking at an exclusive meeting in front of guests who had paid a sufficiently high sum (50.000 $ level) to participate. Here are some typical remarks that reached international media. The complete video should be available on the internet.

"Obama Supporters Too Poor To Pay Tax"

"Palestinians Do Not Want Peace"

Oh my goodness ... What a guy to become president !

One day later, on September 19, CNN quoted an ad-hoc opinion poll by USA Today / Gallup that is showing how Mitt Romney's remarks influenced his popularity in both groups of voters, those registered as Republican or Democratic voters and those considered as independent voters.

As to the stance "47% Obama voters don't pay taxes", here are the official U.S. statistics of tax payers:

Indeed 46% of U.S. citizens don't pay federal income (!) tax which means they are not keeping an own business but are essentially either employees paying payroll taxes or retired persons or low income workers. The payroll tax payers making up for 28%, those U.S. citizens who don't pay any taxes at all are summing up for 46-28 = 18%. Supposed social welfare candidates, included in these 18%, make up for just 1%.

Even though Obama might attract more low income voters than Romney, he doesn't necessarily take all of the low income votes. Therefore, Mitt Romney's remark on Obama voters don't paying taxes is altogether wrong and unqualified.

Disputed Islands - China's Maritime Surveillance

要闻 以色列果断的对伊朗动武

Yesterday, September 15, two Chinese patrol boats have reached Diaoyu Island and associated isles. Wuhan Evening News reported on their mission:

盘点中国海监船巡航钓鱼岛编队

Making an inventory of China's Maritime Surveillance ship formation cruising Diaoyu Island.

The biggest of those vessels are the No. 50 Maritime Surveillance Ship (tonnage 3.980 tons, length 98 m, width 15.2 m, draught 7.8 m) and its sister ship No. 83. Their cruising radius should be 10.000 nautic miles, maximum speed 18 knots and period of deployment 60 days.

The fastest ship in China's Maritime Surveillance is No. 66 (tonnage 1.290 tons, length 77.4 m, width 10.4 m). Its main engine providing 2.380 PS, both engines can speed up the ship to a maximum speed of 20 knots. The cruising radius should be 5.000 nautic miles and the period of deployment 30 days.
Maritime Surveillance No. 66 has already driven out a Japanese surveying ship near Okinawa.

Maritime Surveillance No. 26 and No. 27 are similar to No. 66, both, in size (1.125 / 1.200 tons) and performance (20 knots, 5.000 nautic miles). No. 27 has been equipped with latest radar technology.

The picture below is showing the No. 15 unit (1.740 tons, cruising radius 6.000 nautic miles) in front of Diaoyu Island. It is usually being deployed in the North China Sea and should have accompanied No. 51 on its actual trip to Diaoyu Island.

There are additional items regarding China's Maritime Surveillance fleet, like the number of crew members and the places of launching, which I did not translate. By the way, it seems that all information has been specially promoted by China's leadership to be made known outside of China, such serving as some kind of deterrent.

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Visitor access points to "blueprint news" for East and South-East Asia (registered on September 19 for the last 200 visitors):

Islamic Rage Continues - Egypt Sudan Indonesia

Egyptian citizen accused of insulting Islamic customs.

Headlines from Al-Arabiya on September 15, 2012:

المصري صانع الفيلم المسيء ملثماً في قبضة الشرطة

The Egyptian who fabricated the film that is insulting veiled women [finds himself] in police custody.

أمريكا التي صوّرت صخورا صغيرة في المريخ لا تملك صورة واضحة لـ "نيقولا باسيلي"ـ

America that took pictures of the smallest stones on Mars doesn's have a clear picture of "Nakoula Basseley".

The anti-Islam film was originally reported by Associated Press news agency to have been written, directed and produced by an Israeli real estate developer living in California, Sam Bacile. Later reports by AP suggest that this was a fake identity and the news agency issued a fresh story having investigated further and traces the genesis of the film to a Coptic Christian, Nakoula Basseley, living in California.
[Source: The Guardian, London, on September 14, 2012]

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السودان يرفض استقبال قوات أمريكية لحماية السفارة

Sudan denying to receive U.S. forces for the protection of [their] embassy.

وزير الخارجية السوداني علي كرتي اعتذر عن استقبال عناصر من حماية واشنطن

The Sudanese minister of foreign affairs Ali Karti made excuses for not receiving members of Washington's guard.

Further news from The Guardian, London, on September 15, 2011:

Sudan has rejected a U.S. request to send a platoon of marines to bolster security at the US embassy outside Khartoum, the state news agency Suna said on Saturday.

On Friday, around 5,000 people protested against a film that insults the prophet Muhammad, storming the German embassy before breaking into the US mission.

They also attacked the British embassy. At least two people were killed in clashes with police, according to state media.

A U.S. official told Reuters on Friday that Washington would send marines to Sudan to improve security at the embassy, which is located outside Khartoum for security reasons.

"Sudan is able to protect the diplomatic missions in Khartoum and the state is committed to protecting its guests in the diplomatic corps," Sudanese foreign minister Ali Ahmed Karti told Suna agency.

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Islamic rage in Indonesia:

No wonder that Islamic Rage is spreading over to Indonesia as it happens to be the most densely populated Islamic country in the world and is facing interior tensions due to extreme economic and social differences. However, I would never have expected radical Islamism on Bali which is a rather small island inhabited by a majority of mild-mannered followers of Hinduism.

Recently torched school in a Bali community.

As militant Islam is spreading all over Indonesia, the government has launched a deradicalisation campaign.

[Source: Al-Jazeera TV, English channel, on September 15, 2012]

Islamic Rage in Libya:

The above mentioned source Al-Jazeera TV, English channel, had additional information on the killing of U.S. ambassador Stevens in Benghazi, Libya, in their news program on September 15, 2012:

In interviews granted to Al-Jazeera and other media, Libya's president says he believes al-Qaida is behind the deadly attack in eastern Libya that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other U.S. staffers. President Mohammed el-Megarif says foreigners infiltrated Libya over the past few months, planned the attack and used Libyans to carry it out.

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Visitor access point to "blueprint news" activated from the Islamic Republic of Iran on September 22, 2012:

Above: Tabriz in the Iranian province of East Azarbaijan.

Spreading Islamic Rage - Egypt Libya Yemen

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UPDATE on September 14:
Rallies on Western embassies
in Karthoum, capital of Sudan.
German embassy torched (right)
but no casualties among German
embassy staff. U.S. and U.K.
embassies targeted as well.

Pro-Islamic Hizbollah TV in Lebanon
and its news summary on September
13, 2012, can be found here: Rallies on U.S. Embassies and Consulates

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استمرار المواجهات في محيط السفارة الأمريكية في القاهرة احتجاجا على الفيلم المسيء للإسلام

Confrontations continue in the neighbourhood of the U.S. embassy in Kairo [as an expression of] protest against the film that is insulting Islam.

[Source: Al-Jazeera, Arabic TV, on September 13]

أوباما يتفق مع زعيم ليبيا على العمل معا ويتصل بالرئيس المصري

Obama [comes to] an agreement with the Libyan leadership on acting together and approaches the Egyptian president.

[Source: Reuters news agency on September 13, 2012]

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Editor's Note:

According to latest news from Germany's TV channel NT24, U.S. President "Obama has sent two destroyers to the coast of Libya".

That information should be seen as an expression of cooperation between America and Libya as both countries are not waging war with each other. Facing an outbreak of anti-American riots in Libya, related to an independent American film production, both nations should be interested in regaining normal relations with each other as soon as possible.

Egypt's president Mohammad Morsy, known for his background in the Muslim Brotherhood, only recently made the following comment concerning the holy figure of Prophet Mohammed. The prophet's "red line" or his "depiction in red" are probably hinting at the prophet's love-live that has been exploited in the notorious American film and subsequently raised furious displeasure among Muslims.

مرسي: الرسول الكريم خط احمر لا يمكن المساس به

Morsy: Tracing the venerable prophet in red is not possibly touching him.

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Meanwhile, anti-American riots have reached the Yemenite capital of Sanaa where protesters tried to get into the U.S. embassy (pictures below):

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Now, I know where my pictures go .....

Two visitors from Brooklyn / New York using the same visitor access point to "blueprint news":

Islamic Rage - Killing of U.S. Ambassador

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Latest News Update:

After Kairo and Benghazi is now Tunis experiencing militant Islamic unrest in the neighbourhood of its U.S. embassy. [Source: CNN, evening news on September 12, 2012]

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Storming the U.S. Embassy in Kairo

Anti-U.S. protest in Egypt and Libya has been triggered off by an American made film on Prophet Mohammed that showed him as a fraud and womanizer.

While the storming of the U.S. embassy in Kairo was already discussed in yesterday's evening show on CNN, the storming of the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and the killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya made the headlines of Al-Arabiya's September 11 News Report. It was not before the next day, September 12, that ABC and other Western media reported on the outcome of the Benghazi attack.

U.S. Consulate in Benghazi (NHK World, Japan)

مقتل سفير أمريكا اختناقاً في هجوم القنصلية بليبيا

Assassination of U.S. ambassador who suffocated in
an attack targeting the [U.S.] consulate in Libya.

عضو في المؤتمر الليبي:ـ
الانتخابات المقررة اليوم مستمرة ولن يوقفها شيء

A member of the Libyan Congress: The elections fixed
for today are continuing without any obstruction.

A clarification of the above headlines from Al-Arabiya can be found in a related article published on September 11, 2012:

هجوم البارحة على القنصلية في بنغازي
U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, 52, died in
yesterday's attack on the consulate in Benghazi .
The Arabic source says that another 3 or 4 U.S. diplomats were killed in Benghazi while ABC News mentioned but 2 further victims. Inhalation of smoke should have caused the death of at least one of them.

Both incidents, in Kairo and Benghazi, are being related to pro-Al-Qaeda forces who seemed to be present in both places. However, it is only clear for the Benghazi assault that an Al-Qaeda near group, Ansar al-Sharia, has used the occasion to target U.S. diplomats.

The black flag mounted on the compound of Kairo's U.S. embassy (above) might be slightly different from the kind of Al-Qaeda flag we know from Yemen and West Africa. However, it could be that Al-Qaeda is not spending a dime on the certification of their corporate design. At least, the "Allahu Akbar" and the human skull on a black background have been preserved as some kind of "trademark".