INTERNATIONAL MILITARY REVIEW THE CHINESE APPROACH

It’s clear that major world powers closely monitor the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces’ (VKO) activity in Syria. One of these major powers is China. Follwoing Chinese diplomatic actions and media coverage over the topic we could concluse that China noted that the US-led anti-ISIS ccoalition hadn’t achieved any substantial result, most of the anti-Assad forces had been already merged mainly by ISIS and al Nusra. Thus, China provides deliberate diplomatic support and deeply analyzes the Russian military actions in the region. There are crucial conclusions made by Chinese experts and media:

First is the Russian air grouping in the Hmeymim airbase includes both old and new types of the aircrafts and helicopters. Their actual number and capabilities won’t allow successfully exercise operations against terrorists in Iraq.

Second is upgrated Soviet weapons and military equipment could be very effective in the contemporary military conflicts. Moreover, the Russian space-based satellite navigation system GLONASS has shown its effectivity in directing warplanes to the targets.

Third is Russia maintains advance in some types of aviation. For instance, the Sukhoi SU-30SM multi-role fighter aircraft is a specialised version of the thrust-vectoring Su-30MKI and MKM variants for the Russian military, produced by the Irkut Corporation. Indeed, the SU-30M fighters ensure Russia’s air supremacy in Syria.

Fourth is ISIS, al Nusra and other terrorist groups have collected a high number of Soviet, US, Chinese man-portable air defense systems. This poses a threat for Russian warplanes if they ignore rules of security.

Fifth is Russia is reportedly sending about 36 Yakovlev Yak-130 light fighters in the nearest future. It will provide additional expirience to Russian aviators and allow to improve tactics of the warplanes’ usage against ground targets.

Beijing is considering a possibility to participate in the Russia-led coalition against ISIS. China can send carier strike group including aircraft carrier Liaoning, two “Type 052D” destroyers, about four “Type 054” escort vessels, two “type 39” sumbarines and some service ships. Also, China has all chances to make an agreement with Lebanon to use its air space or event get access to Iranian air bases.

The problem is Liaoning has only one embarked squadron of Shenyang J-15 and two helicopter carrier squadrons of Z-18. It isn’t enough for the full readiness condition. Liaoning need one more embarked squadron of fighters, a long-range radar detection aircraft squadron and a unit of helicopters for search and rescue of pilots.

In any case, the full-scale ground offensive of the Syrian forces supported by the Russian Air Force and Iranian military advicers will push ISIS militants in direction of Iraq. This conducts a real threat to oil upstream operations in Iraq which actively involve Chinese companies.

Thus, China actively prepares for the participating in the Russian anti-ISIS operation at least in the territories of Iraq. The particular decision will depends on the real successes of the ground operation in Syria, the Iraq’s decision to request Chinese military assistance or to not do it.

Why States Still Use Barrel Bombs

Smoke ascends after a Syrian military helicopter allegedly dropped a barrel bomb over the city of Daraya on Jan. 31.(FADI DIRANI/AFP/Getty Images) Summary Barrel bombs are not especially effective weapons. They are often poorly constructed; they fail to detonate more often than other devices constructed for a similar purpose; and their lack of precision means they can have a disproportionate effect on civilian populations. However, combatants continue to use barrel bombs in conflicts, including in recent and ongoing conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, and they are ideally suited to the requirements of resource-poor states. Analysis Barrel bombs are improvised devices that contain explosive filling and shrapnel packed into a container, often in a cylindrical shape such as a barrel. The devices continue to be dropped on towns all over Syria . Indeed, there have been several documented cases of their use in Iraq over the past months, and residents of the city of Mosul, which was re

Russia Looks East for New Oil Markets

Click to Enlarge In the final years of the Soviet Union, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev began orienting his foreign policy toward Asia in response to a rising Japan. Putin has also piloted a much-touted pivot to Asia, coinciding with renewed U.S. interest in the area. A good expression of intent was Russia's hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2012 in Vladivostok, near Russia's borders with China and North Korea. Although its efforts in Asia have been limited by more direct interests in Russia's periphery and in Europe, Moscow recently has been able to look more to the east. Part of this renewed interest involves finding new export markets for Russian hydrocarbons. Russia's economy relies on energy exports, particularly crude oil and natural gas exported via pipeline to the West. However, Western Europe is diversifying its energy sources as new supplies come online out of a desire to reduce its dependence on Russian energy supplies . This has

LONDON POLICE INDIRECTLY ENCOURAGE CRIMINALS TO ATTACK RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC PROPERTY

ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE A few days ago an unknown perpetrator trespassed on the territory of the Russian Trade Delegation in London, causing damage to the property and the vehicles belonging to the trade delegation , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during the September 12 press briefing. The diplomat revealed the response by the London police was discouraging. Police told that the case does not have any prospects and is likely to be closed. This was made despite the fact that the British law enforcement was provided with video surveillance tapes and detailed information shedding light on the incident. By this byehavior, British law inforcements indirectly encourage criminals to continue attacks on Russian diplomatic property in the UK. Zakharova’s statement on “Trespassing on the Russian Trade Mission premises in London” ( source ): During our briefings, we have repeatedly discussed compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, specif

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