China's Peaceful Rise

[a77]

Roman, would you put something in the S-400 system that rendered your aircraft immune to attack by it? That might be sensible given Turkey's recent choice of aerial targets.

 

No need Russia know exactly what frequencies the export S-400 use, hence can tailor its jamming at that frequencies. Most likely the Russians own domestic S-400 have extra alternative frequencies, that is under "only use in wartime"

[glenn239]

 

Roman, would you put something in the S-400 system that rendered your aircraft immune to attack by it? That might be sensible given Turkey's recent choice of aerial targets.

 

No need Russia know exactly what frequencies the export S-400 use, hence can tailor its jamming at that frequencies. Most likely the Russians own domestic S-400 have extra alternative frequencies, that is under "only use in wartime"

 

 

I think you're confusing 1973 and 2017.

[Roman Alymov]

Roman, would you put something in the S-400 system that rendered your aircraft immune to attack by it? That might be sensible given Turkey's recent choice of aerial targets.

I think it is possible in theory, but hardly implementable in practice as it may be discovered and used by competitors (both political and economical) as tool against Rus arms exports. I do not think military clash between Rus and Turkey coming (if only highly unlikely scenarios like Turkey attack Greece and Greece left without NATO support).

To bring S-400 contract with China into scale of Russia’s own rearmament: last year (2017), four Rus Army AD regiments rearmed with S-400 https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/105761/#cut

[KV7]

Did China take any higher level search radars as well as part of the deal ?

[Josh]

 

Roman, would you put something in the S-400 system that rendered your aircraft immune to attack by it? That might be sensible given Turkey's recent choice of aerial targets.

No need Russia know exactly what frequencies the export S-400 use, hence can tailor its jamming at that frequencies. Most likely the Russians own domestic S-400 have extra alternative frequencies, that is under "only use in wartime"

 

The radars a frequency agile and not limited to any particular pulse repetition rate. It seems likely that having built the system, the Russians would know the best methods for jamming it, but likely wouldn't be anything that would render them totally ineffective - modern radars and datalinks are significantly hard to jam.

[Josh]

 

That was actually why I asked. Actually the deal is large enough it seems fairly legitimate, as opposed to the Su-35 deal which pretty blatantly is a tech transfer.

A few years ago journalists asked about this to United Aircraft Corporation chairman. The point he made is that it would take them a very long time to copy it, and by then equipment would have moved on anyway. Russian analysts have also pointed out that companies that sold material to China are in much better shape than those that didn't because they were able to reinvest the money in research and equipment.

 

Well it still is rather state of the art equipment, outside the PAK-FA which isn't in service and has only a few pre-production examples. In this case, it's far less likely that they copy the whole plane like they did with Su-27 - they don't need to now, they design their own airframes. I think they specifically wanted to clone components of the plane - the radar would be my guess. Possibly engines, though they have access to copious amounts of Russian engines already. Their problem with engines seems to lie in metallurgy and quality control, not design.

[Panzermann]

PR China's coast guard is moved under the People's Armed Police control:

 

 

 

 

China’s military police given control of coastguard as Beijing boosts maritime security

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restructuring necessary to ensure Communist Party’s ‘absolute leadership over the PLA and other armed forces’, document says

 

 

 

PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 21 March, 2018, 7:32pm

UPDATED : Thursday, 22 March, 2018, 11:11am

 

 

 

China has shifted control of its coastguard to its armed police force in a clear show of Beijing’s commitment to protecting the nation’s waterways.

As part of the latest restructuring of state organisations, announced on Wednesday, the China Coast Guard will come under the administration of the People’s Armed Police (PAP), a paramilitary force that was itself recently put under the direct command of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

The coastguard’s troops and functions – which were previously controlled by the State Oceanic Administration – will pass to the PAP as they currently stand, but will later be reorganised, according to the Plan of Restructuring.

The transfer is necessary “to fully implement the Party’s absolute leadership over the PLA and other armed forces,” the document said.

 

Why China’s armed police will now only take orders from Xi and his generals

 

Responsibility for the enforcement of maritime law was given to the PAP when the force was put under the sole command of the CMC in January. It had previously been jointly controlled by the CMC and the State Council.

Military observer Ni Lexiong said the restructuring of the coastguard would mean better training for its personnel and a boost to its capabilities, as it would now be run as a military, rather than civilian, outfit.

However, the move could remove some of the diplomatic leeway China had in handling conflicts, he said, as in maritime disputes, having the buffer of a non-military authority could often help to reduce tensions.

“But, clearly, the confirmation of the party’s absolute control over the military and the consolidation of all armed forces is a higher priority,” Ni said. “This shows that domestic considerations prevail.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lyle Morris, a senior policy analyst at the RAND Corporation think tank in the US, said the transfer of coastguard to the PAP would have far-reaching consequences.

“The transfer to the PAP has formalised command and control of the coastguard along military, not civilian lines,” he said. “The implication of the coastguard being placed under the direct chain of command of the CMC is that the coastguard will enjoy more flexibility and authority to act decisively, if it choses, in disputed waters in the East and South China Sea.”

The move would also free up the coastguard to train more extensively and share operational intelligence with the People’s Liberation Army Navy, he added.

“This may have major implications for how the coastguard may use force and its war-fighting functions with the PLA Navy. Although China may never state explicitly that the coastguard has a wartime function, this reform makes clear it has such authorities if it so chooses.”

China’s coastguard was set up in 2013 with the consolidation of four government agencies responsible for maritime administration, policing, customs and fisheries. As well as protecting the nation’s claims in the disputed waters of the East and South China Seas, it is responsible for search and rescue efforts, fighting smugglers and managing fisheries.

 

On Monday, four Chinese coastguard ships were involved in a patrol in waters near the Diaoyu Islands, which are claimed by both China and Japan.

 

The government reshuffle will also see the Central Maritime Rights Leadership Group, a committee set up in 2012 to oversee maritime issues, being absorbed into the Central Foreign Affairs Committee.

The move is designed to “better coordinate the resources and manpower of diplomatic and maritime departments”, according to the restructuring plan.

The State Oceanic Administration, meanwhile, will cease to operate as an independent agency, and its functions will be subsumed by the newly formed Ministry of Natural Resources.

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2138257/chinas-military-police-given-control-coastguard-beijing

[JasonJ]

China and Vanuatu, just to keep an eye on it.

 

 

 

Australia has underlined its close ties with Vanuatu after a media report said Tuesday that the South Pacific island nation has been approached by China to host a military base.

While no formal proposals have been put to Vanuatu about China building its first base in the Pacific there, the nations have held preliminary talks about the scenario, Australia’s Fairfax Media reported on Tuesday, citing senior military officials it didn’t identify. The report was later denied by Vanuatu’s foreign minister, while China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang described it as "fake news".

“We have very good relations with Vanuatu and I remain confident that Australia is Vanuatu’s strategic partner of choice,” Australia Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a radio interview Tuesday after being asked about the report.

The prospect of a Chinese military outpost about 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) off Australia’s coast had been discussed at the highest levels in Canberra and Washington, Fairfax said. Beijing has been providing funding for the nation of about 270,000 people for new civic buildings, a wharf and airport upgrades, it said.

‘Not Interested’
China established its first overseas base outside the South China Sea last August in Africa’s Djibouti. Vanuatu Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the report that his nation was in talks to create a Pacific facility was false.

“We are a non-aligned country,” Regenvanu said in a radio interview Tuesday. “We are not interested in militarization, we are just not interested in any sort of military base in our country."

A permanent Chinese military base in the Pacific could worsen Australia’s already strained relationship with its biggest trading partner, as well as angering major ally the U.S. China is at odds with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull after he cited media reports of Beijing’s meddling in domestic political affairs as a catalyst for his anti-foreign interference laws, introduced in parliament last December.

Australia will give Vanuatu A$69.8 million ($54 million) in aid in 2017-18, and provides the nation “with the majority of its tourists, foreign direct investment and aid,” according to the Australian government.

“We would view with great concern the establishment of any foreign military bases in those Pacific island countries,” Turnbull told reporters on Tuesday.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-10/australia-affirms-ties-with-vanuatu-amid-report-of-chinese-base

[JasonJ]

This is a fun one too.

[RETAC21]

One wonders why a catapult-less carrier needs cat officers...

[Roman Alymov]

One wonders why a catapult-less carrier needs cat officers...

"They are also responsible for signaling to the pilot that he or she may take off." - this is also needed on catapult-less carrier. Plus i think they are setting standard for new, catapult-equiped carriers.

[RETAC21]

The second part more than the first one, it's not like they need to look out for traffic launching just 2 aircraft nearly simultaneously.

[Josh]

Besides training and directing aircraft, the 'catapult' officers probably direct the hold down clamps on the aircraft. Their release is more or less like a catapult shot in terms of procedure and function, if not mechanics.

[Josh]

The second part more than the first one, it's not like they need to look out for traffic launching just 2 aircraft nearly simultaneously.

The two a/c would still run into each other if they tried to take off at the same time. Plus it's just good practice to have the deck crew signal a launch rather than let a pilot just hit his burners anytime he feels like it.

[Roman Alymov]

[Roman Alymov]

[JasonJ]

Carrier Liaoning's first training beyond 1st island chain, into the western Pacific on April 20th and 21st.

 

 

 

海军航母编队在西太平洋海域开展远海作战运用演练

“命令歼-15飞机起飞执行对海突击任务！”4月20日上午10时许，作战指令刚一下达，飞行员戴兴拎起头盔快步跑向歼-15战机，随后数架歼-15舰载战斗机先后前出，与辽宁舰航母编队属舰密切协同，对“蓝方”舰艇实施精确打击。这次海军航母舰载战斗机在西太平洋海域开展舰基空海对抗训练，标志着航母编队远海舰机兵力协同运用向深度拓展。

今天，由辽宁舰和数艘驱护舰、多架歼-15舰载战斗机、多型舰载直升机组成的航母编队，在巴士海峡以东的西太平洋某海域，与扮演“蓝方”的导弹驱逐舰济南舰和长春舰展开“背靠背”综合攻防对抗演练，实兵检验航母编队远海体系作战运用。

演练中，航母编队以辽宁舰为核心组成海上战斗队形，并综合运用警戒直升机、舰基雷达构建严密预警探测体系，对海空目标搜索识别。编队指挥员根据不断变化的海空情态势，研判“蓝方”意图动向，定下作战决心。

在辽宁舰的编队指挥所，一条条简洁明朗的情报资料、兵力态势、打击指令等信息依托指挥系统快速上传下达，对海、对空、对潜等作战部位迅速组织兵力展开、进行战术计算，明确兵力行动、协同方法。

此次演练，编队指挥所着眼远海大洋“战场”实际，基于现实威胁，从难从严设置演练背景和蓝军,基于短板难题设计演练课题，构建海面、空中、水下立体多维、梯次配置的作战体系，检验了航母编队远海综合攻防能力。

编队参谋长高兆瑞介绍，此次航母编队远海演练，坚持实兵“背靠背”对抗，突出了陌生海域中舰艇和舰载机的协同运用，检验了航母编队综合攻防体系的建立和保持，强化了复杂态势下指挥员的指挥决策能力，推动了航母编队训练向远海作战运用深化拓展，达到了预期效果。

在演练现场，记者看到位于巴士海峡以东的这一训练海区海空情况复杂，编队指挥所及时掌握准确态势，高效保持对我各型飞机和舰艇的指挥控制，稳妥处置应对各类海空情况。

海军参谋部训练局副局长朱卫国说，远海大洋是航母编队的最佳练兵场，此次航母编队远航对抗训练，是海军年度训练计划内的例行性安排。在远海大洋组织航母编队实战化训练，有利于提高对航母编队作战运用的研究，有利于提高编队各要素的有机协同，推动海军航母编队体系作战能力的生成和提高，更好地为维护地区和平稳定发挥积极作用。（陈国全、段江山）

Five more images in spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.mod.gov.cn/power/2018-04/21/content_4810022.htm

 

 

 

Japanese report on spotting the Chinese carrier group.

At around 10:30AM on April 20th, JS Sawagiri of the 13th escort flotilla and a P-3C of Fleet Air Wing 5 confirmed the 7 seven ship group that included Liaoning, one Type 52D destroyer, three Type 52Cs destroyers, and two Type 54A frigates in the water areas about 350km south of Yonagumi island. Later at around 11AM in the same waters, what are thought to be several fighter aircraft were confirmed to have been flying.

 

 

http://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2018/press_pdf/p20180420_03.pdf

[RETAC21]

I don't know the quality of the training but Liaoning is certainly getting a workout, if they are using to train the crew of the second unit, the PLA Navy is going to double its projection capability in a year or so.

[JasonJ]

They certainly haven't been taking it slowly.

 

Chinese media on the 7 ship group in the western Pacific.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadvTDAHb7I

[JasonJ]

More images from it.

 

Seven more in the spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.weibo.com/1894445180/Gd92fpZEw?type=comment#_rnd1524385986700

[JasonJ]

Another Japanese report on the same group of 7 PLAN ships. At about 7:00AM on April 21st, JS Sawagiri of the 13th escort flotilla, JS Hamagiri of the 15th escort flotilla, and a P-3C of Fleet Air Wing 5 confirmed those ships in the water area 120km east of Miyako island and were sailing towards the East China Sea. http://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2018/press_pdf/p20180421_01.pdf

 

So here is a screenshot of google map and using the 100km scale provided at the bottom, I added the red to estimate the location of the PLAN fleet on the mornings of April 20th (350km south of Yonaguni) and April 21st (120km east of Miyako) according to the two Japanese reports.

[JasonJ]

PLA Air Force has been taking similar routes these days as well on the note of "maintain national integrity and sovereignty by 'cruising around the island'". Obviously the island is Taiwan.

 

 

中国空军新闻发言人申进科大校4月19日发布消息，空军近日连续组织多架轰炸机、侦察机成体系“绕岛巡航”，锤炼提升维护国家主权和领土完整的能力。

空军开展的海上方向实战化军事训练，出动了轰-6K、苏-30、歼-11和侦察机、预警机等多型多架战机。轰-6K等战机实施了“绕岛巡航”训练课题，提升了机动能力，检验了实战能力。

轰-6K战机是中国自主研发的中远程新型轰炸机，担当投送国家威力和意志的重要使命。空军近年来远海远洋训练和绕岛巡航中，都有轰-6K战机的英姿。

空军航空兵某师轰-6K机长翟培松表示，“这次绕岛巡航，我们用战神的航迹丈量祖国的大好河山，除了自豪，更多的是自信。改革开放、强军兴军，我们的战机更先进了，我们飞行员的翅膀更硬了，有自信和胆气应对任何挑战。祖国在我们心中，宝岛在祖国怀中。捍卫祖国的大好河山，是空军飞行员的神圣使命。”

在新时代练兵备战中，空军依照相关国际法和国际实践，飞越宫古海峡、巴士海峡、对马海峡，持续组织海上方向实战实训。空军还要按照既定计划，继续组织多型战机“绕岛巡航”。

空军航空兵某团轰-6K飞行员杨勇说，“这两天，我们接连绕岛巡航，战斗机不断刷新战斗航迹，飞行员不断刷新战斗经历。每一次绕岛巡航，都强一份使命担当、多一分血性胆气。听从祖国和人民的召唤，空军飞行员勇往直前。”

走实训之路，练打赢之功。空军轰-6K飞行员群体聚研战谋战的心气、砺勇往直前的胆气、壮敢打必胜的底气、养砺剑亮剑的霸气，把“思想政治要过硬、打仗本领要过硬、战斗作风要过硬”的战略要求，落实到每一个战斗岗位、每一次战斗起飞。

空军新闻发言人表示，按照“空天一体、攻防兼备”战略目标，空军深入开展海上方向实战化军事训练，备战打仗能力发生历史性变化。空军有坚定的意志、充分的信心和足够的能力，捍卫国家主权和领土完整。

 

 

Two more in the spoiler

 

 

 

 

http://www.mod.gov.cn/power/2018-04/19/content_4809865.htm

 

 

 

There are Japanese reports on these flights too.

 

April 18th: two H-6s

http://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2018/press_pdf/p20180418_02.pdf

 

April 19th: two H-6s, a Y-8, a TU-154, and two supposed fighters (images in the Chinese article have fighters in the pictures so..)

http://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2018/press_pdf/p20180419_01.pdf

 

April 20th: two H-6s

http://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2018/press_pdf/p20180420_02.pdf

Edited April 22, 2018 by JasonJ

[JasonJ]

An article talking about a propaganda video released by the PLA Air Force that is about the flights "around the island" [cough]Taiwan[cough] for the sake of protecting the "homeland's territory".

 

 

战神展翅，把宝岛拥入祖国怀抱！中国空军4月21日向海内外发布多语种宣传片《战神绕岛新航迹》。空军战神轰-6K等战机近日连续3天“绕岛巡航”的震撼画面，在宣传片中集中展现，彰显了空军飞行员维护国家主权和领土完整的意志能力。

战神轰-6K是中国自主研发的中远程新型轰炸机。空军近年来警巡东海、战巡南海、前出西太、绕岛巡航，都有战神轰-6K的战斗英姿。

4月18日以来，空军出动轰-6K、苏-30、歼-11和侦察机、预警机等多型多架战机，开展了海上方向实战化军事训练。轰-6K等战机实施了“绕岛巡航”训练课题，提升了机动能力，检验了实战能力。

宣传片《战神绕岛新航迹》有普通话、闽南语、粤语以及英语等多语种，由中央广播电视总台新闻播音员海霞以及海峡之声广播电台主持人张玥等人配音。“空军飞行员绕岛巡航，就是在用战机的航迹，丈量祖国的大好河山! ”海霞的配音掷地有声。

“传播语种有多样，战斗乐曲都一样！”这部多语种宣传片以小提琴曲《我和我的祖国》为背景音乐，抒情和激情相结合，将优美动人的旋律与朴实真挚的家国情怀有机结合起来，深切表达了空军飞行员对伟大祖国的热爱、对维护国家主权和领土完整的自信、对新时代使命责任的担当。

“宝岛在祖国怀中，祖国在我们心中。捍卫祖国的大好河山，是人民解放军的神圣使命！”执行“绕岛巡航”任务的空军飞行员杨勇少校表示，“我们绕祖国宝岛飞行，由蔚蓝走向深蓝，俯瞰祖国的大好河山，有豪情有底气，更有一种责任和担当。只有祖国强大了，我们才能飞得更远；只有军队强大了，才能够更好地守卫祖国。”

中国空军新闻发言人申进科大校表示，按照“空天一体、攻防兼备”战略目标，空军深入开展海上方向实战化军事训练，备战打仗能力发生历史性变化。空军有坚定的意志、充分的信心和足够的能力，捍卫国家主权和领土完整。

 

 

http://www.mod.gov.cn/power/2018-04/21/content_4810058.htm

 

 

Expecting it to be another macho stronk! type of video like this other one focusing on the H-6:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=979qUfw2HR4

 

...but it takes the tender sentimental approach.

 

 

Taiwanese don't want to be a part of China. Taiwan was never part of the old long history of China. It was only part of the Qing dynasty for about 200 years, just passing from one foreign owner to another, the first being Europeans, not the Chinese. So China making this propaganda about including Taiwan as part of its territory is just expansionism. It's like how some other country trying to get territory because it was once part of their territory in the past.

Nearly 70 percent of Taiwanese are willing to go to war if China were to attempt to annex Taiwan by force, a survey released by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy yesterday said.

The foundation considers it a fitting time to pose the question as the Chinese military has over the past few years been increasing activity near Taiwan, foundation president Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told a news conference in Taipei.

A total of 67.7 percent of respondents said they were willing to go to war to defend Taiwan if China launched an armed assault on the nation to force unification.

The number of people willing to fight to prevent unification with China rose to 70.3 percent among respondents aged 20 to 39, the survey showed.

However, the number of respondents willing to go to war with China as a result of Taiwan declaring independence dropped to 55 percent, the survey showed.

A large majority of respondents — 91.1 percent — said they support maintaining the “status quo,” with 34 percent saying that they wanted the “status quo” to be maintained and would decide whether to support independence or unification based on future developments, it showed.

Respondents that supported “perpetually” maintaining the “status quo” accounted for 27.8 percent, while those who support maintaining the “status quo” before moving toward independence and those who support maintaining the “status quo” before moving toward unification were about equal at 15 percent and 14.3 percent respectively.

Only 2.4 percent of people said Taiwan should immediately declare independence, while even fewer people — 1.5 percent — said that Taiwan should immediately unify with China.

The survey also gauged satisfaction with the nation’s democratic system, which found that 58.2 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with Taiwanese democracy.

The majority of respondents — 54.4 percent — felt “pessimistic” about the future of politics under the nation’s democratic system, while 36.4 percent said they felt optimistic.

However, 94 percent of people said that living in a democratic society is “important,” of which 65.8 percent said it is “very important.”

In addition, 76.4 percent of people agreed with the statement: “Democracy, despite its flaws, is still the best system,” the poll showed.

The commonly held opinion that a majority of young people are “congenitally in favor of Taiwanese independence” could be better put as “congenitally against unification” with China or “born democratic,” as the majority are in favor of maintaining the “status quo,” Hsu said.

“If we factor in questions about whether young people support democracy, we discover that the more people support democracy, the more willing they are to defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China,” Hsu said. “I think it is our democratic lifestyle and values that people want to protect.”

Academia Sinica research fellow Wu Nai-teh (吳乃德) also revealed the results of a similar survey conducted by the academy over the past three years, which found that the percentage of people willing to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese military invasion has dropped from 75.9 percent in 2016 to 69.1 percent last year and further to 67.1 percent this year.

The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy survey, conducted from Jan. 12 to Jan. 19, collected 1,597 valid samples from Taiwanese living in Taiwan proper and Penghu, and has a confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/04/20/2003691661

Edited April 22, 2018 by JasonJ

[Roman Alymov]

Nice to see old good Tu-16 (first flown in 1953 when Stalin was still alive) still flying – I’m afraid no single one left in Russia in airworthy condition. Now, with modified Tu-160 entering production in Kazan, China got nice chances to upgrade directly from Tu-16 to Tu-160.

 

 

 

Taiwanese don't want to be a part of China. Taiwan was never part of the old long history of China. It was only part of the Qing dynasty for about 200 years, just passing from one foreign owner to another, the first being Europeans, not the Chinese. So China making this propaganda about including Taiwan as part of its territory is just expansionism. It's like how some other country trying to get territory because it was once part of their territory in the past.

Taiwanese Crimeans don't want to be a part of China Ukraine. Taiwan Crimea was never part of the old long very short history of China Ukraine. It was only part of the Qing dynasty Soviet Socialist Republic Ukraine for about 200 60 years, just passing from one foreign owner to another, the first being Europeans Ancient Greeks, not the Chinese Ukraine. So China Ukraine making this propaganda about including Taiwan Crimea as part of its territory is just expansionism.

[JasonJ]

Taiwan has a better economy than the Ukraine and they have a healthy democracy. The Ukraine would do good to follow the advice of the Japanese ambassador. By doing so would help make themselves more worth maintaining independent sovereignty and satisfying more of its population. Fortunately for Taiwan, they are surrounded by water have strong friendly navies. Unfortunately for the Ukraine, it borders Russia that sends little green when they don't like the economic direction the country was taking and annex some of its territory away.

YOU'RE READING: Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Sumi: Ukraine cannot just sit and relax and wait for business to come

Business Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Sumi: Ukraine cannot just sit and relax and wait for business to come Back to Home

World in Ukraine: Japan World in Ukraine: Japan

Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Sumi: Ukraine cannot just sit and relax and wait for business to come

By Brian Bonner. Published Feb. 6. Updated Feb. 6 at 9:43 pm

 

Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Shigeki Sumi speaks with the Kyiv Post during a 2017 interview in his office at the Japanese Embassy.

Photo by Kostyantyn Chernichkin

In his most recent interview with the Kyiv Post, Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Shigeki Sumi remained troubled by the lack of confidence in Ukraines law enforcement system and Ukraines passivity in attracting investment from Japan.

 

To be honest, people, those who are in business, do not have confidence in the law enforcement system in Ukraine the way it should be, Sumi, who arrived on Oct. 22, 2014, told the Kyiv Post on Oct. 27. The newspaper was not able to schedule up a follow-up interview to get his assessment of what, if anything, had changed in his outlook in the last 100 days.

 

He described arbitrary, unjustified actions by government against businesses.

 

Imagine a company doing the same business for the last 20 years and nobody raises any question but suddenly someone, sometimes from the SBU [security Service of Ukraine], sometimes from the prosecutors office, raises questions that what youre doing is illegal, Sumi said, citing an example of the type of obstacles faced.

 

They come to your office for documents and say you are violating a law for many reasons. If this company has been doing same business in the last 20 years, its a bit strange. More specifically, they say the products they are selling are not in category a, but they should be in category b. So that means you have to pay more tax. Its illegal. You are guilty of tax evasion,' Sumi said.

 

Such situations are exasperating for businesses.

 

Cmon, my company has been selling this product as a category a for the last 20 years. Why do you make a fuss about it this time? the ambassador continued. That happens not to just Japanese companies. It happens to many companies. That means theres no transparency, no explanation.

 

Fortunately, in many cases, Sumi said, Japanese companies finally win the case in the court. But imagine how much energy, money, cost.

 

Eradication of corruption

 

His conclusion: A very fair and transparent law enforcement and judicial system are very needed to establish in Ukraine.

 

He took hope that the formation of the new Supreme Court will help rule of law. I think its very good to have new Supreme Court judges, the ambassador said. It wasnt easy, but the government has done it.

 

He also said that the process needs to be completed throughout the lower courts to choose judges based on merit rather than family connections or whatever. I hope this will continue.

 

Sumi cautioned against the one-size-fits-all approach to fighting corruption for every nation, saying that it was up to the Ukrainian people whether to establish an independent anti-corruption court.

 

Whats more important, he said, are results and justice.

 

What we want to see is the eradication of corruption, he said. Lets do it in the most favorable way.

 

Strong supporter of Ukraine

 

Japan is one of the largest bilateral donors to Ukraine, giving out more than $1.8 billion in loans or grants since the EuroMaidan Revolution that drove President Viktor Yanukovych from power on Feb. 22, 2014.

 

Most of the money a long-term, low-interest loan of $1.1 billion is going to replace the decrepit Bortnytska sewage treatment plant on the Dnipro River. The construction is expected to be completed by 2023. The current plant poses an environmental threat. Parts of the station are more than 50 years old. The Dnipro River is the main source of drinking water for Kyivans.

 

Two weeks ago, I and my wife went to the area, it stinks, its very polluted, Sumi said.

 

While ready to help, Sumi said, Japan is not happy to give assistance if reforms are not done.

 

Sumi said hes seen more awareness in Ukraine of the extent to which Japan has been helping since the EuroMaidan Revolution.

 

Everybody said thank you, but why Japan? We understand why America, the European Union do it, but not Japan, he said. Now they take it for granted that Japan is doing a lot of things for Ukraine. Japan is the only country in Asia who is doing these kinds of things.

 

Japan, a member of the G7 group of large industrial democracies, is alone among Asian nations in supporting economic sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine since 2014. The aggression has dismembered Ukraine and killed more than 10,000 people.

 

Its a matter of unwavering principle, the ambassador said.

 

Japan does not accept in any way the annexation of Crimea and for people in the east, the conflict should be settled by the Minsk agreement; until that happens, Japan will keep the sanctions on Russia, Sumi said.

 

No time to relax

 

Trade relations are beginning to warm up, but not at the pace that would make Japan and Ukraine major trading partners. Bilateral trade stood at $737 million in 2016 with Japanese investment at $130 million that year.

 

Since then, its beginning that Japanese companies have an interest in Ukraine. They found a lot of business opportunities, Sumi said, citing low wages and high quality of Ukrainian workers.

 

But Sumi cautioned that the Ukrainian people cannot just sit relax and wait for business to come. In the case of IT [information technology, for example], they should go to Japan to sell the IT business opportunity. We have a huge opportunity in Japan because we have a shortage of labor.

 

Moreover, he said, getting a working visa is not a problem in Japan in specialized, in-demand professions such as IT.

 

Visa liberalization

 

For Ukrainians who just want to visit Japan, we are in the process of visa liberalization, requiring fewer financial guarantees and extending the length of visas as well as granting multiple-entry visas if you have a good record of going to Japan several times.

 

Visa-free travel for Ukrainians is not under consideration at the moment, he said, but remains possible someday.

https://www.kyivpost.com/business/japanese-ambassador-shigeki-sumi-ukraine-cannot-just-sit-relax-wait-business-come.html Edited April 22, 2018 by JasonJ