DTN News: National Day Of Indonesia On August 17, 2010

DTN News: National Day Of Indonesia On August 17, 2010

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 17, 2010: The National Day of Indonesia is one of the most important holidays in the country with weeks of preparation prior to the main day. During this celebration, the most solemn ceremony is the flag hoisting at the National Palace, televised live and considered a spectacle of the greatest respect and honor for the flag and the Republic of Indonesia.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, left, and his deputy Boediono greet the audience during a flag hoisting ceremony marking the country's 65th independence day at Merdeka (Freedom) Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010.

Escorted by honor guards, a flag bearer carries an Indonesian national Red-White flag during a ceremony marking the country's 65th independence day at Merdeka (Freedom) Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010.

Honor guards march before a flag raising ceremony marking the country's 65th independence anniversary at the presidential palace in Jakarta on August 17, 2010. Indonesia is celebrating its 65th Independence Day after declaring independence in 1945, although it had to fight the Dutch colonialists in a bloody struggle that lasted until 1949.

This ceremony is led by the President and Vice President and attended by the cabinet, military brass, family members of the current and preceding president, diplomatic corps, and honored guests. In several towns, celebrations are very lively. Neighborhoods gear up for fun and games for the kids. Krupuk (shrimp chips) eating contests, bike decorating, games, races, and lots of fun fill the day. The women are busy in cooking contests to see who can make the biggest krupuk or the most delicious nasi tumpeng.

A spectacular parade is usually held on the Sunday after Independence Day. The parade is marked by floats and marching bands, starting near the National Monument and traveling down JI. Thamrin and JI. Sudirman. The floats are sponsored by government institutions, state companies, private firms, and foundations.

The Philippines enjoys warm and cordial relations with Indonesia, developed through frequent exchanges of visits by high-level officials. Bilateral meetings between the two countries are also held at the sidelines of annual meetings such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations General Assembly, among others. Last November, the Philippines and Indonesia celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Philippines-Indonesia Bilateral Relations at a reception held at a hotel in Manila. We congratulate the people and the government of Indonesia led by H.E., President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and its Embassy in the Philippines headed by H.E., Ambassador Yohanes Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo, on the occasion of the 65th Anniversary of their Independence. We wish them all the best and success in all their endeavors.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact:dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: China Air Force Looks To High-Tech Future On 60th Anniversary, But Still Lags Far Behind US

DTN News: China Air Force Looks To High-Tech Future On 60th Anniversary, But Still Lags Far Behind US *Source: DTN News / CHRISTOPHER BODEEN Associated Press Writer (NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - November 7, 2009: China's rapidly modernizing air force is planning a display of its new military might for its 60th anniversary, showcasing a wide-ranging technical upgrade that has boosted its capabilities, though it still lags far behind its main rival, the United States.China's President Hu Jintao (3rd L) and top Chinese military leaders (behind Hu) shake hands with foreign air force generals after a group meeting ahead of the 60th anniversary of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing November 6, 2009. China's foreign ministry insisted on Thursday that the country's intentions in space were peaceful, after comments from top air force brass preparing to celebrate a 60th anniversary worried analysts in the United States. The People's Liberation Army Air Force is marking the occasion this Sunday with an aerial show and skydiving exhibition, using some of the state-of-the-art combat aircraft that have replaced hundreds of antiquated MIG fighters. While only about 20 percent of those planes are on a level with those deployed by the West, that ratio is already double what it was five years ago, said Cheung Tai Ming, an expert on the Chinese military at the University of California, San Diego. In another two decades, it could become the region's dominant air force, Cheung said. "In terms of hardware," he said, China's air force "is making strides but still has long way to go." China's air force and navy have been prime beneficiaries of huge defense spending increases as the primarily land-based, defensively oriented military boosts its ability to project force far from the nation's borders.J-7GB fighter jet aerobatic team of China Air Force performs a manoeuvre during a rehearsal for the upcoming 60th anniversary of the founding of China Air Force near an airport on the outskirts of Beijing, November 3, 2009. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) airforce will put its most advanced warplanes on display in the suburbs of Beijing in November, to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the PLA airforce, an airforce officer said. This year marks the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, its naval forces on April 23, and its airforce on Nov. 11, Xinhua News Agency reported. Picture taken November 3, 2009. Tanker planes, AWACS and other support aircraft have been added to extend the reach and effectiveness of the air force's advanced Russian Sukhoi and domestically developed J-10 fighters. The force has more than 600,000 members and about 2,000 aircraft - making it the largest in Asia - but still far smaller than the United States Air Force fleet, which has more than 5,500 aircraft and nearly 327,500 active service personnel. The improvements are primarily seen as augmenting the force's key mission of protecting China's borders and preventing formal independence for Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own territory. China's air force is largely considered superior to Taiwan's in both quantity and quality, while the 1,300 short and medium range missiles deployed opposite the island could deal severe blows to Taiwanese airfields and anti-aircraft defenses. Yet planning for any conflict over Taiwan would have to factor in the possibility of intervention by the U.S., which is bound by law to help ensure the island's defense. Under those circumstances, China's air force would very likely be outmatched and outgunned. The force's key problems include a lack of actual combat experience and outdated training and tactics. Its last combat experience was in the brief 1979 war with Vietnam, in which it played a mainly symbolic role. Other woes include a lack of integration with naval and ground forces, limited surveillance and reconnoissance capabilities, and problems recruiting and retaining pilots.Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force fighter jets are seen during a rehearsal for the PLA Air Force's 60th anniversary celebrations in Beijing, China. The Chinese PLA Air Force will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Nov. 11, 2009. In addition, China's air force doesn't have enough planes to mount a major airlift of equipment and supplies in either a combat or humanitarian relief operation. Troops taking part in a recent nationwide training exercise flew by commercial jet, and the lack of capacity has frustrated China's aspirations to play a greater regional role in humanitarian relief operations. While the air force mobilized massively to deal with last year's Sichuan earthquake, bad weather forced the cancellation of several attempts to fly in men and equipment. A much ballyhooed mission to parachute in troops bordered on farce, requiring the better part of two days and resulting in the dropping of a mere 15 soldiers. Flight safety is another issue. A series of disasters in recent years have led to the firing of some top officers, but intense secrecy surrounding all mishaps makes it difficult to assess the PLAAF's record. Guards seized footage of one recent accident shot by state television, according to the cameraman, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of official retribution. Sunday's celebration is to include aerial displays by both the force's standby J-7 fighters and the newer J-10, along with men's and women's teams skydiving from helicopters. The event is the third major military display this year following an international naval review and a national day military parade featuring hundreds of tanks and other armored vehicles. Beijing insists the events are intended only to boost public pride and confidence in the armed force, although they have also renewed concern abroad about the ultimate aims of China's military expansion. Such displays "underscore the rise in the country's comprehensive national power and the firm material and technological foundation provided for air force modernization," the force's commander Xu Qiliang told the PLA Daily newspaper in an interview published this week.

DTN News: China TODAY October 6, 2009 ~ China at 60 No More Excuses For Growing Rich-Poor Gap

DTN News: China TODAY October 6, 2009 ~ China at 60 No More Excuses For Growing Rich-Poor Gap

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media by John Lee

(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - October 6, 2009: Blaming Mao's chaotic years for the slow pace of reform is wearing thin as the vast majority of Chinese remain poor while their leaders grow more powerful. A hot air balloon helped locals in Wuhan celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It has been 60 years since Mao Zedong told his people on Oct. 1, 1949, that "the Chinese people have stood up" and declared the founding of the People's Republic of China. Anniversaries are usually arbitrary passing points in time carrying little true significance, but this one isn't. Leaders from Deng Xiaoping onward have been telling the world that China is assiduously laying the groundwork for political reform and eventually democracy-but only after it recovers from the chaos and destruction of the Mao years. Yet with China now in the midst of a weeklong holiday to celebrate the anniversary, the reform period since Deng Xiaoping took power will be nearing the completion of its 30th year -- exactly half the age of modern China. The reform period will have exceeded Mao Zedong's 27 years of terrible rule. In reality, China's leaders have been deliberately moving further away from any fundamental reform, and using the excuse of Mao is wearing thin. China watchers generally caution against agitating for democracy in China on both diplomatic and practical grounds. To be sure, doing so would enrage Beijing and make any constructive bilateral relationship difficult. On practical grounds, there is no guarantee that under current conditions, one-person-one-vote would bring greater freedom and prosperity rather than more chaos and even a reversion to socialism. But this in no way absolves Beijing from blame. For even though democracy may not suit China right now, the country desperately needs the building of institutions that would both immeasurably improve the lives of its citizens and most likely deliver a sound platform for fundamental political reform and, eventually, democracy. First things first: Why does the building of institutions that might lead to democracy matter in China? Because in one important respect, authoritarian China is failing: While the Chinese state is rich and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) powerful, civil society is weak and the vast majority of people remain poor. The health, wealth, and well-being of Beijing and the Party are not the same as that of its people. Since the 1990s, what is good for the Chinese state is no longer automatically good for the vast majority of its people. Growing Power of Communist Party How then do we establish the best possible conditions that will eventually lead to greater political reforms that benefit the Chinese people? We need a strong civil society where there is rule of law. Courts need to be independent and officials need to be accountable. Private property needs to be protected, individual enterprise needs to be given a chance to succeed, basic human rights must be enforced, and the government needs to be restrained. This is the meaning of just and decent rule for the Chinese people. These are the foundations for a just society that are sorely lacking in modern-day China. China has grown sixteenfold since reforms began. But in the absence of effective institutions that restrain the discretionary powers of CCP officials and render them accountable for their actions, it is the state and the CCP that grows stronger rather than the Chinese people and civil society. Many problems in modern China begin with the increased role of the Chinese Communist Party in Chinese economy and society. Tellingly, the number of officials before and after the Tiananmen protests has more than doubled, from 20 million to 45 million. Since the early 1990s, the CCP has retaken control of the economy. State-controlled enterprises receive more than three-quarters of the country's entire capital each year, reversing the situation prior to 1989. The private sector, on the other hand, is denied both formal capital (bank loans) and access to the most lucrative markets, which are reserved for the state-controlled sector. Only about 50 of the 1,400 listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges are genuinely private. Fewer than 50 of the 1,000 richest people in China are not linked to the Party. This state-corporatist model favors a relatively small number of well-placed insiders. Rise in Corruption Meanwhile, a billion people remain "outsiders" in the corporate-state system and are largely missing out on the fruits of gross domestic product growth. In fact, 400 million people have seen their net incomes decline during the past decade. Absolute poverty has doubled since 2000. This extensive role of the CCP has coincided with a rise in systemic corruption. Courts at all levels are still explicitly under the control of Party organs. According to studies by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, stealing from the public purse by officials amounts to about 2 percent of GDP each year, and it is rising. According to a 2005 CASS report, more than 40 million households have had their lands illegally seized by corrupt and unaccountable officials since the early 1990s. Levels of dissatisfaction-especially with local authorities-are so bad that there were 90,000 instances of mass unrest in 2006, according to official figures, rising from a few thousand in the mid-1990s. To appease unhappy citizens, Beijing has instituted a system of "petitions" whereby aggrieved citizens can appeal to a higher authority against their local officials. A good idea, perhaps, except for the fact that of every 10,000 petitions lodged, only three are heard. Democracy under these circumstances is unlikely to produce a better result for the vast majority of China's people. China first needs institutions. But the CCP knows that if strong institutions are built, it will lose its privileged place in Chinese society and economy. And if so, eventually it will likely lose political power. In remembering 60 years of modern Chinese history, the chaos of the Mao Zedong years can no longer be blamed every time the issue of stalled reforms and institutional building is brought up. The Chinese state is strong, but its people are weak. It is time that the state and Party allow the Chinese people to truly stand up. John Lee is a foreign policy fellow at the Center for Independent Studies in Sydney, Australia, and a visiting fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. He is the author of Will China Fail? (CIS, 2009).

DTN News: China TODAY October 2, 2009 ~ China Celebrates 60th Birthday With Lavish Show

DTN News: China TODAY October 2, 2009 ~ China Celebrates 60th Birthday With Lavish Show *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - October 2, 2009: China on Thursday celebrated 60 years of communist rule with a military parade and elaborate pageant on Beijing's Tiananmen Square showcasing the nation's revival as a global power. BEIJING - OCTOBER 01: Fireworks explode over Tiananmen Square during the evening party for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 2009 in Beijing, China. Chinese people commemorated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China with massive celebrations taking place across the country including a grand military parade and mass pageant in Beijing. Thousands of troops marched in tight formations, fighter jets flew over the city and the world's largest military displayed an array of high-tech weaponry including intercontinental ballistic missiles in a patriotic show of force. President Hu Jintao extolled the country's Communist Party-led rebirth in a speech to the invitation-only crowd from Tiananmen gate, where Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic on October 1, 1949. "The development and progress of the new China over the past 60 years fully proved that only socialism can save China, and only reform and opening up can ensure the development of China, socialism and Marxism," Hu told the crowd. China typically holds grand celebrations every 10 years to commemorate Mao's pronouncement, but authorities promised that this year's festivities would top those staged in the past -- and outdo last year's Olympic opening ceremony. Related article: Internet, dissidents under watch The government wants to send a clear message: that China, the world's third-largest economy and with a population of 1.3 billion, has re-emerged as a proud and undeniable global force. Hu, in a high-collared Mao-style tunic, underlined this confidence in his speech before a packed Tiananmen Square festooned in the nation's red and yellow. "Today a socialist China that faces the future is standing tall and firm in the East," he declared. An estimated 200,000 people took part in the lavish morning festivities, which unfolded under clear blue skies. Flexing its growing muscle, China paraded long-range nuclear missiles capable of striki ng the heart of the United States and other homegrown weaponry signalling that a nation once bullied by foreign powers is a pushover no more. Related article: China's military power The military show was followed by a colourful parade, with tens of thousands of people marching and singing in unison in a testament to China's ability to harness its vast manpower on a massive scale. Besides goose-stepping troops, squads of pink-clad women "volunteers" dubbed the "iron roses" marched in go-go boots, while thousands of other participants danced around waving flowing fans, pompoms and bouquets of flowers. Sports heroes such as hurdler Liu Xiang rode on one of a series of brightly decorated floats as 80,000 children flipped hand-held cards to spelling out messages such as "Socialism is Good" on the massive square. Despite the burst of pride, official insecurity has also been on clear display -- authorities have imposed draconian security in a bid to prevent an array of perceived threats from spoiling the party. These include tension in ethnic minority regions such as Xinjiang and Tibet, and widespread social discontent over a widening wealth gap, corruption and environmental degradation. China rammed home its message of unity in an evening song-and-dance spectacular at the square featuring performers dressed to represent the nation's 56 ethnic groups and singing songs from minority regions as fireworks lit up the night sky. It ended with the suited-and-booted leaders of China's powerful politburo, including Premier Wen Jiabao, entering the square to dance stiffly with participants. The tight security meant most of Beijing's 17 million people were relegated to watching the pageant in their hometown on television like the rest of China. Lu Haishi, 23, travelled all the way from Shanghai to watch the festivities with friends -- on TV. "We've rented a room to see the parade on television in a hotel near the route, to get the atmosphere," he said. The Mao-led 1949 communist takeover ended years of foreign domination and war, while three decades of economic reforms initiated by late leader Deng Xiaoping enriched China and propelled it back into the ranks of world powers. No major protests in mainland China against communist rule were reported on Thursday. But in the territory of Hong Kong there were minor scuffles between protesters and police as hundreds took to the streets to urge Chinese leaders to improve human rights and release jailed dissidents. Taiwan, meanwhile, responded coolly to a call by Hu for complete reunification of the Chinese "motherland," in which Beijing includes the self-ruled island. Related article: Taiwan rejects call for reunification Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council rejected that, calling itself an "independent sovereign state".

DTN News: China TODAY September 18, 2009 ~ Beijing At High Security Alert For October 1 Celebrations

DTN News: China TODAY September 18, 2009 ~ Beijing At High Security Alert For October 1 Celebrations *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - September 18, 2009: China's leaders are marking 60 years of Communist Party rule with relentless security around Beijing in an effort to ensure nothing disrupts the parade on October 1 celebrating six decades of the People's Republic.

Cyclists stop to look at armed special forces paramilitary policemen as they stand guard near Beijing's Tiananmen Square September 18, 2009.

The General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued a collection of slogans Friday for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The collection of 50 catchphrases touches upon issues of political system, economic development, environmental protection, military modernization and national unification. On the top of the slogan list are "Warmly celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China!" and "Hail the great success of our country's reform and opening-up and socialist modernization!" Also on the list are "Put people first, realize, safeguard and develop the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people!" and "build a socialist harmonious society and promote social equity and justice!" One of the slogans also advocates the inheritance of fine military tradition that the armed forces should obey the command of the Party and serve the people. Slogans also include "Adhere to the one China policy and promote the country's great cause of peaceful reunification!" and "Adhere to the independent foreign policy of peace and unswervingly pursue the road of peaceful development!" and "Long live the great unity of all nationalities of China!" China has planned massive celebrations for the 60th founding anniversary of the people's republic on October 1. The celebrations in downtown Beijing will feature a mass pageant and a military review.

DTN News: General Commander Talks About National Day Military Parade In 1999

DTN News: General Commander Talks About National Day Military Parade In 1999 *Source: DTN News / China View (NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - September 14, 2009: As the 60th National Day of the People's Republic of China (PRC) draws near and the preparations for a military parade enter the final stage, Li Xinliang, general commander of the 1999 parade, spoke to Xinhua about the country's last military parade a decade ago. Photo taken on Sept. 5, 2009 shows a giant parterre in the shape of a flying dragon, at the intersection of business downtown of Xidan, in Beijing. Beijing Municipality is setting up a total of 22 large-scale solid parterres with over 3.3 million flowers along the Chang'an Avenue, the east-west axis of Beijing, in a move to beef up the happy festival atmosphere for the upcoming National Day Celebration on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. "We selected the participating troops based on three standards," said Li, also former commander of the Beijing Military Area Command. "They had to be competent militarily and qualified politically; they had big military exploits and won numerous awards; they were well-equipped. "Those who joined the parade were all picked troops among the whole People's Liberation Army (PLA)," Li said. China is to hold grand celebrations on and around Oct. 1 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, including a military parade. It will be the 14th parade since 1949. From 1949 to 1959, National Day military parades were an annual event. It was later suspended for 24 years until 1984. The latest massive parade was in 1999 when the PRC marked its 50th birthday. The decision for a military review on the 50th National Day in 1999 was made at the beginning of 1998, which allowed enough time for thorough preparations, Li said. Photo taken on Aug. 21, 2009 shows Chinese soldiers take part in the parade training in Beijing, capital of China. Participants are busy doing exercises to prepare for the scheduled military parade at the Tian'anmen square in Beijing to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1. "First, the Central Military Commission set up a leading team for the parade, headed by Fu Quanyou, then chief of the general staff of the PLA," Li said. Li and several other PLA leaders were appointed as deputy heads of the team. Li said the leading team had the first meeting in March, 1998, and decided to select troops mainly from the Beijing Military Area Command, which was also in charge of setting up the command office of the parade. The lineup of the 1999 parade surpassed all the previous parades, with 42 ground phalanxes and 10 flying phalanxes composed of more than 11,000 soldiers and 409 units of heavy equipment. Of the 42 varieties of large equipment, more than 95 percent had never joined a parade before, Li said. Most of the equipment was developed and made by China. The parade saw the debut of China's third-generation tanks, new strategic nuclear missiles and supersonic fighter bombers.

The participating troops included all segments of China's armed forces. The parade also included more armed branches of the PLA than any of the 13 previous events. It was the first time for units such as army aviation, marine corps, special armed police corps and reserve-duty forces, to join National Day parades. The display also saw the largest number of missiles presented by the PLA Second Artillery Corps. The missile phalanxes consisted of conventional ground-to-ground missiles, medium-range ground-to-ground nuclear missiles, and long-range ground-to-ground nuclear missiles.