The Invisible Bird

Hours before American Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, 11 January, an aircraft took off from an airfield in the southwestern city of Chengdu. The flight lasted barely 15 minutes, but it was a clear message that the strategic balance of global air power was set to shift inalterably. The fifth-generation Chinese stealth fighter, the J-20, which took off on that day, was a signal that the end of American technological dominance of the skies may no longer be a question of decades but years.

Denis Roy, senior fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu, notes, ‘The unveiling of the new Chinese stealth fighter, which the US press is characterising as a rival to the US F-22, reinforces two general US perceptions about the Chinese military. The first is the sense that the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) is modernising more quickly than expected and catching up with US capabilities. The second is anxiety about Chinese intentions, and the fear that Beijing plans to challenge the accustomed US role and US interests in the Asia-Pacific.’’

For weeks before the flight, pictures of the stealth fighter had been making their way to several Chin-ese websites. The very fact that they were not pulled out and the websites left free to operate was a signal that the world was meant to know of the existence of this fighter. The photographs were impressive, displaying the kind of technology that the world had suspected the Chinese were a decade away from developing. For this very reason, there was no shortage of sceptics, among them Robert Gates.

In July 2009, in a speech at Chicago, he had said, ‘‘Consider that by 2020, the United States is projected to have nearly 2,500 manned combat aircraft of all kinds. Of those, nearly 1,100 will be the most advanced fifth generation F-35s and F-22s. China, by contrast, is projected to have no fifth generation aircraft by 2020. And by 2025, the gap only widens.’’

Now, on his way to China, he admitted that US intelligence had underestimated the Chinese. He told reporters aboard his plane, which arrived in Beijing on Sunday, “I think what we’ve seen is that they may be somewhat further ahead in the development of that aircraft than our intelligence had earlier predicted.” But even then he said he remained unsure of how ‘stealthy’ the plane was.

The flight that took off from Chengdu was the Chinese answer. This time the news did not filter out through grainy photos on the Web. It was Kanwa Asian Defence magazine (an East Asian military journal) editor Andrei Chang, a long-time observer of the PLA, who confirmed this in a report from Hong Kong. He said the J-20 took off at 12:50 pm local time, and this was the report the Chinese state-run media picked up to confirm the flight.

Pakistan’s Nukes... What are "they" upto?

On 8^th January 2009 an important Indian Atomic scientist suddenly disappeared. At the time of disappearance “Lok Nath Mahalingham” was working in Kaligah Nuclear Power Plat Karnataka. Before he was working on Madaris Atomic Power Project near Chennai two years before he was transferred to Karnataka Power Plant after a scandal of Uranium theft was unveiled. IAEA has complained against him. America has also informed India that Indian scientist is smuggling enriched uranium through Nepal. However has done nothing except transferring him from one nuclear plant to other plant.

After civil nuclear deal between USA and India, disappearance of a nuclear scientist in his own country was important news. But silence of India and US over this matter is of greater importance. Astonishingly the dead body of Lok Nath was found after six days on the bank of River Kali, but America and India did not react over it. Indian govt. just got contented on a press release expressing possibility that Lok Nath might have been killed by terrorists or factions active for separation.

There are two suspicious aspects of the murder of Indian scientist; First, separatists are so much organized and powerful that they can easily kidnap and murder such an important personality (Possibly India has unintentionally admitted for first time the presence of separatists), Second important aspect is about media, that why on such an important matter Western and American media had been silent? Just only for that Lok Nath was allegedly involved in supply of enriched uranium through underworld? Moreover after civil nuclear deal with India this news could have created problems for USA. Then India itself is involved in murder of its scientist or America has assassinated him and advised India to keep silent. Then in such a situation what is crime of Pakistan, why western media has objection over Pakistan’s Nuclear Capability? Enemies of Pakistan are against Pakistani Nukes right from the start and after Pakistan has successfully acquired nuclear technology their conspiracies have increased. But shameful fact is that our own people are equally involved in these conspiracies, at least why?

After sending spy satellite to space with the support of Israel, India has also bought AWACS from Jews. In order to tackle lawlessness on western side Pak-Army is busy on Afghan Boundary and tribal areas. In such situation US says India is not Pakistan’s enemy. Suddenly India has started talking about withdrawal of troops from Held Kashmir. Through bans on freedom movement of Kashmiri people from UNO, India has already paralyzed it. The moral and legal right Kashmiri People for freedom is not accepted by world and especially USA. What else India needs? It will transfer 700,000 troops from Kashmir to Pakistani boundary. After this in Delhi or any other major city the staged drama of terrorism will be enough for Indian attack over Pakistan. In such situation while Pakistani economy is already pledged by IMF and World Bank, how longer Pak-Army will be able to fight on two sides? Under these conditions, Pakistani nukes can deter any adventurism from Hindu Brahmans.

Consider objections in the backdrop of these circumstances; is it not clear that after defeat in tribal areas enemies are trying to dispute Pakistani nukes? Criticism of Pakistani nukes on international level is not new, Pakistani intellectuals and analysts have started a new discussion while Pak-Army is facing so called Islamists supported and organized by few powers of world. They are objecting that Pakistan should not have conducted nuclear tests. A poor country like Pakistan does not need nuclear weapons. So called champions of free media, two private TV channels have even got such statements from their guest speakers, “This nuclear capability is cause of all the problems of the nation. If we had spent our wealth and energies for development in spite nuclear weapons, today Pakistan has been amongst the list of developed nations”.

This discussion apparently has been started in the scenario of celebrations in the commemoration of Nuclear Tests on 28^th May. But famous scholar and teacher of science from Islamabad, Dr. Hood Bhai has already written an article against Pakistani Nuclear weapons in Indian digest, “Outlook”. This article has supported propaganda of enemies against Pakistani nuclear weapons.  Chief of Indian Army General Deepak Kapoor has expressed concerns about Pakistani atomic weapons and appealed international community in this matter. American Senators has also said that Pakistan is using US Aide to increase number of atomic bombs and manufacture plutonium bombs. In presence of such propaganda which country will be ready to provide aid for rehabilitation of effected people of northern areas who have lost their homes and property during operations against terrorism. Painful fact is that during discussion opponents of Pakistani nuclear weapons provide a series of articles written by a famous journalist as evidence to support their claim against Pakistani Nukes, i.e. how he tried to convince and stop Nawaz Sharif from Nuclear Test. All Pakistani intellectuals while criticizing nukes should keep in mind that they are not criticizing nukes but Pakistan. Because the nukes are not guarantors of safety of Pakistan but it has become a part of Pakistan. They should read the book written by “Ravi Rakhe” about Brass Take War Games, the title of book is, “The War that Never Was”. This book makes it clear that what would have happened if Pakistan does not have nuclear weapons. Author treats Indian Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi as a coward who believed the threat of nuclear war by General Zia-ul-Haq and lost golden chance to capture Pakistan. In contrast to this Indian newspaper “India Today” not only Rajeev Gandhi but his cabinet along with whole Indian Parliament as cowards. The representative of India Today has included the comments of Rajeev Gandhi’s special advisor “Behramnam” in his article. He quotes;

“General Zia-ul-Haq arrived in Delhi for cricket match as a spectator without any invitation. At that time Rajeev Gandhi was not ready to meet him at the airport. Indian troops were waiting for the PM’s orders on the Rajasthan sector to invade into Pakistani territory. In such situation it was improper to meet General Zia-ul-Haq. But opposition leaders and cabinet members were of the view that if arrived Pakistani leader has arrived in delhi without any invitation (from here he had to departure for Chennai for cricket match), it will against diplomatic values not to meet him and will cause misunderstanding about Indian leadership on the international level. On our demand Rajeev Gandhi got ready to go to Delhi airport, he coldly shaked hands with General Zia-ul-Haq without making any eye contact. Rajeev said to me, “General has to go to Chennai for cricket match, so accompany him and take care of him”. Bhagwan knows how strong was that man, in spite of insulting behavior of Gandhi, Zia kept smiling.

Before departure for Chennai General Zia-ul-Haq while saying good bye to Gandhi said, “Mr. Rajeev you want to attack Pakistan, do it. But keep in mind after this world will forget Hilaku Khan and Changez Khan and will remember only Zia-ul-Haq and Rajeev Gandhi. Because this will not be conventional war but nuclear war. Possibly whole Pakistan might be destroyed in this was but Muslims will be still there, however after destruction of India, Hinduism will be vanished”. In spite of cold drops of perspiration were visible on Gandhi’s forehead. I felt sensation in my backbone. These were only few moments when Zia-ul-Haq looked a dangerous man, his face was stern his eyes showed that he will do whatever he is saying no matter whole sub continent is burnt to ashes in nuclear war. I was astonished, after warning, in the blink of eye Zia-ul-Haq brought his smile; he warmly shook hands with other hosts. Except me and Rajeev Gandhi no one was aware that Zia-ul-Haq looking very happy and in light mood has created trouble for Indian PM by threatening him of nuclear war”.

It was nuclear capability which adhered India from attacking Pakistan. Representatives of India Today “Daleep Bob” and “Mandir Singh” write in their cover story, “Indian army was ready but Indian politicians cheated, such people are not worthy of being called Hindus and also not worthy of being leaders of India. They got afraid threats of a Pakistani General”. In their story of ten pages they have no where mentioned the cause behind India-Pakistan disputes/tension. They are not concerned with the Indian torture in Held Kashmir; they are just regretting that Indian, Indian politicians lost a golden chance to fulfill the dream of Greater India. According to some Indian intellectuals Indian army and RAW has collectively planned murder of Rajeev Gandhi so that he can be punished for being coward in front of Zia-ul-Haq and being the cause of defeat of army during Brass Take War Games. We had started from the murder of Indian nuclear scientist Lok Nath. International media is silent on it, but always worried about Pakistani Nuclear programs. Time by time their propaganda is going on. In the edition of first week of June 2009 weekly “Newsweek” writes, “Religious extremism might get access to spare uranium from Pakistani nuclear facilities. In the fight between Pak-Army and Taliban the question about future of nuclear weapons makes one shiver”. But Newsweek or other media cannot see the protest of family of Indian scientist. They have rejected official claim about his murder. They are of the view that dead body of Lok Nath has not been found on the bank of river Kali. But his mutilated corpse had been retrieved by divers of Indian Navy from the depth of river. Moreover on the morning of 8^th June 2009 as per usual Lok Nath had gone for jogging, on track of India Navy situated on the bank of river Kali. Before disappearing last time he had been seen on that track. Then how did officials of navy was aware that his body is present in the depth of river? The questions and protest of Lok Nath’s widow is valid on its place, but why our free private media is silent on such an important incident? This was the time to tell the world that India is an irresponsible country possessing nuclear technology. While Indian scientists are involved in smuggling and selling of uranium and nuclear technology-

Hu Jintao in Washington: Clinton urges 'real action'

Hillary Clinton called on China to join other nations in confronting global threats

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said US-China relations have reached a critical point and the two must work together more effectively.

Mrs Clinton said a summit next week between the Chinese and US leaders must yield "real action, on real issues".
"It is up to both nations to translate the

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said US-China relations have reached a critical point and the two must work together more effectively.

Mrs Clinton said a summit next week between the Chinese and US leaders must yield "real action, on real issues".
"It is up to both nations to translate the high-level pledges of summits and state visits into action" on trade and other issues, she said in Washington.
Hu Jintao is to meet President Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday.
"America and China have arrived at a critical juncture, a time when the choices we make - big and small - will shape the trajectory of this relationship," she said.
'Confront threats' Mrs Clinton urged China to allow its currency to appreciate faster, reflecting concerns in the US that the undervalued yuan gives Chinese exports an unfair advantage in world markets.

“Start Quote

Global recession, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, piracy on the high seas - these are threats that affect us all, including China”

End Quote Hillary Clinton US Secretary of State

She also said the US rejected the notions that China's growth is a threat to the US and that the US aims to contain the country's rise and constrain its growth.

Her remarks in Washington came the same week that US Defence Secretary Robert Gates made a historic visit to Beijing, while the Chinese military on Tuesday announced it had tested a new stealth fighter plane.
Mr Hu's visit to the US is being hailed by some US analysts as the most important state visit in three decades.
But the relationship between the two countries has been fraught with tension recently over US arms sales to Taiwan, a visit to the White House by the Dalai Lama and human rights issues.
"Global recession, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, piracy on the high seas - these are threats that affect us all, including China. And China should join us in confronting them," Mrs Clinton said.
In Washington, Mr Hu is expected to meet US congressional leaders of both parties and visit a Chinese-owned vehicle parts factory.
He and Mr Obama are expected to drop by a meeting between US and Chinese business executives.

Global piracy costs billions, says study

Piracy is particularly prevalent off the Somali coast

Maritime piracy costs the global economy between $7bn (£4.4bn) and $12bn (£7.6bn) a year, a study says.

The report, compiled by US think-tank One Earth Future, calculated the amount from the costs of ransom, security equipment and the impact on trade.
The majority of costs came from piracy off Somalia, it says.
Although the costs are said to be difficult to assess, one researcher estimated they had increased roughly five-fold since 2005.
Despite an international effort to patrol waters, the number of reported incidents of piracy has risen over recent years, and the areas in which they operate has grown.
'Treating the symptoms' The study, launched at the offices of UK think-tank Chatham House, said there had been some 1,600 acts of piracy, causing the death of over 54 people, since 2006.

“Start Quote

What is even more concerning is that all these are simply treating the symptoms - almost nothing is being done to treat the root cause”

End Quote Anna Bowden One Earth Future Foundation

Looking at the problem in three regions - the Horn of Africa, Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, and the Malacca Straits - the report suggests that the biggest costs arise from re-routing ships to avoid risky areas, which is estimated at between $2.4bn and $3bn.

Meanwhile, about $2bn is spent on naval operations off the coast of Somalia each year.
"Some of these costs are increasing astronomically," said researcher Anna Bowden from the Colorado-based One Earth Future Foundation, which conducted research for the study.
"What is even more concerning is that all these are simply treating the symptoms. Almost nothing is being done to treat the root cause."
At the start of this year, around 500 seafarers from more than 18 countries were being held hostage by pirates around the world.
Somalia has been ravaged by internal conflict for two decades, and pirates have flourished amid the lawlessness.

Uncertainty in Nepal as UN mission ends

In cantons around Nepal, there are nearly 20,000 Maoist fighters who have not been integrated into the security forces

The United Nations mission established to monitor Nepal's peace process, Unmin, is scheduled to leave the country on Saturday amid uncertainty about its future.

The mission is closing after Nepal's warring political parties agreed not to extend its mandate last September.
But there is still no agreement over how they will take over its monitoring duties.
The departing UN chief, Karin Landgren, is hoping for an 11th-hour deal so that there will be a smooth handover.

The departing UN chief in Nepal, Karin Landgren, is hoping for a last-minute deal

"My fear is that if there isn't consensus by Saturday, there'll be a lot of nervousness among the population," she says.
"But I think the parties feel the pressure and I am confident that they will come to some arrangement before our deadline on 15 January."
Established in 2007, Unmin monitored the arms and personnel of the Maoist army and the Nepalese Army under a peace deal that brought 10 years of conflict between the Maoists and the state to an end.
It also helped conduct elections to a Constituent Assembly in 2008, in which the Maoists won most seats but fell short of an outright majority.
But despite these successes, Nepal is still a long way from concluding its peace process and writing a new democratic constitution.

“Start Quote

Unmin has been a psychological deterrent on both sides not to break the peace process”

End Quote Baburam Bhattarai Maoist Vice-Chairman

"I believe we could have done more given a different mandate," says Ms Landgren.

"It's been frustrating having the monitoring end of things without being able to influence the decision making."
Many of the conditions of the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement have yet to be fulfilled.
The Nepalese Army has not been restructured. More than 19,000 former Maoist fighters remain in cantons around the country, their weapons under UN supervision.
A deal to either integrate them into the security forces or rehabilitate them into civilian life has stalled because of distrust between the Maoists and an alliance of the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist).

Nepali MPs could not be persuaded to back Ram Chandra Poudel for the premiership

The peace process in Nepal has been deadlocked since the collapse of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML coalition government in June.
Since then, the country's parliament has held 16 unsuccessful votes to chose a new prime minister.
A 17th vote was cancelled this week after the only candidate standing, the Nepali Congress MP Ram Chandra Poudel, withdrew.
It is hoped that this will pave the way for a new power-sharing government that will agree on how to take over the UN's monitoring duties and move the peace process forward.
All the parties agree there is no alternative to consensus. But there remains deep division between them.
'Time is short' The Maoists want the UN to stay.
"Unmin has been a psychological deterrent on both sides not to break the peace process," says Maoist Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai. "Without it there could be trouble."

More than 19,000 former Maoist fighters remain in camps around the country

The Maoists hope to persuade the other parties that an impartial, international presence is necessary before Unmin's deadline expires.
But the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML disagree.
Some in these parties feel the mission has always been too close to the Maoists, and resent its equal treatment of the former rebels and the state security forces.
In this respect they are backed by India, Nepal's large and powerful southern neighbour.
India, who is fighting a war with Maoist rebels within its own borders, has played a key role in trying to exclude the Nepali Maoists from power.
'Special relationship' It has also had a behind-the-scenes hand in advising members of the UN Security Council that keeping Unmin in Nepal would only slow down the peace process.
"India sees any foreign presence in the territory of Nepal as a possible challenge to its hegemony," says political commentator, C K Lal.
"This is because India interprets the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship as a special relationship between the two countries - and thinks that India has special rights over foreign policy in Nepal."
As Unmin waits for a last-minute deal between the political parties, there is uncertainty over how the peace process will continue.
In particular, with political attention focused on who is going to be the next prime minister, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the 28 May deadline to write a new constitution will be met.
As time runs out for a compromise deal to take over the UN's duties, Ms Landgren says she believes that the gains made during the last four years will not be reversed.
"But it's up to Nepalis to pull up their boot straps because time is very short."

Robert Gates tours China nuclear warfare headquarters

China and the US have pronounced the visit by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates a success

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has visited China's nuclear warfare headquarters, at the end of a four-day visit to try to mend relations between the two militaries.

"There was a discussion of nuclear strategy," including China's policy of not using nuclear weapons pre-emptively, Mr Gates said.
Officials from both countries praised the visit as a success.
Beijing froze military ties last year because of a US arms sales to Taiwan.
The rare view of China's nuclear and missile arsenal was given on a trip to the Second Artillery Corps of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) headquarters.
Both the US and China have long-range missiles capable of reaching each other's shores, but both have said they do not intend to use them.
Fences mended? The visit by Mr Gates to China was pronounced a success by both Beijing and Mr Gates.
"We believe exchanges with the US in all kinds of fields are beneficial. They'll add to our mutual trust and eliminate misunderstanding and miscalculations," said Guan Youfei, deputy chief of the Defence Ministry's foreign affairs office.

Chinese vessels surrounded the USNS Impeccable last year in an escalation of maritime tension

"The visit is a move to develop healthier and more stable relations between the two military establishments," he said.
Mr Gates said the commander of the nuclear headquarters, General Jing Zhiyuan, had accepted an invitation to US strategic Command headquarters in Nebraska.
"I think the discussions were very productive and set the stage for taking the military-to-military relationship to the next level," he said.
Mr Gates' visit comes ahead of a trip by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Washington next week.
China has agreed to more direct military co-operation with the US but it remains unclear how open and collegial such exchanges will be.
Mr Gates has said he wanted to convene a new round of military talks in the first half of this year to cover nuclear, missile defence, cyberwarfare and the military uses of space alongside the current focus on maritime issues.
Last year, tensions increased significantly over a series of maritime disputes, with the US supporting South East Asian concerns at China's re-stated claim to the South China Sea.

Robert Gates warns of North Korean threat

US defence secretary Robert Gates is in South Korea after talks in China and Japan

North Korea poses an increasingly potent threat to the region and the world, the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said.

Speaking in Japan, he said while Pyongyang's conventional capability was degraded it was in other respects "more lethal and destabilising".
He also said there were signs of a "disconnect" between the civilian and military leaderships in China.
But he insisted the Chinese President Hu Jintao was firmly in charge.
Mr Hu is to visit Washington next week.
Mr Gates has now arrived in South Korea.

threat to the region and the world, the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said.

Speaking in Japan, he said while Pyongyang's conventional capability was degraded it was in other respects "more lethal and destabilising".
He also said there were signs of a "disconnect" between the civilian and military leaderships in China.
But he insisted the Chinese President Hu Jintao was firmly in charge.
Mr Hu is to visit Washington next week.
Mr Gates has now arrived in South Korea.
"The character and priorities of the North Korean regime sadly have not changed," Mr Gates told an audience of students at Keio University in Tokyo.
"North Korea's ability to launch another conventional ground invasion is much degraded from even a decade ago, but in other respects it has grown more lethal and more destabilising."
The country's missile technology and nuclear programmes "threaten not just the peninsula, but the Pacific Rim and international stability," Mr Gates said.
'Unaware' As for China, he quashed suggestions that China's growth as a military power made it an "inevitable strategic adversary" of the US.
He said the only area of dispute between them was the issue of "freedom of navigation".
While he was in Beijing, seeking to repair military ties frozen by China over US arms sales to Taiwan, the Chinese military published photos of a test flight by its J-20 stealth jet.
Mr Gates said of China's civilian leaders that there were "pretty clear indications they were unaware of the flight test".

Five Chinese vessels surrounded the USNS Impeccable on 8 March 2009

"This is an area where over the last several years we have seen some signs of, I guess I would call it a disconnect between the military and the civilian leadership."
He added that China's government leaders had also appeared to be unaware of what he called aggressive actions taken by Chinese naval vessels against a US Navy surveillance ship in 2009, and of an anti-satellite test in recent years.
However, he said, he had no doubt that President Hu was "in command and in charge".
He also reiterated his belief in the vital importance of large numbers of US troops remaining in Japan.
Japanese public opinion and some government leaders have become more critical of the noise, crowding and occasional misbehaviour of the 49,000 US troops based in and around Okinawa.
"We do understand that it is politically a complex matter in Japan," he said during a news conference with Japan's Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa.
"While issues associated with Okinawa and Futenma have tended to dominate the headlines this past year, the U.S.-Japan defence alliance is broader, deeper and indeed richer than any single issue," he said.
"North Korea's military provocations could be even more outrageous" without that military presence, he argued, and China "might behave more assertively towards its neighbours", he said.
"It is precisely because we have questions about China's military - just as they might have similar questions about the United States - that I believe a healthy dialogue is needed," he said.
Mr Gates's trip has focused on repairing military ties with China and easing tensions between the Koreas.