Latest news with #CentralMilitaryCommission
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
China and Thailand boost strategic ties with new military cooperation plans
Senior military officials from China and Thailand reached an 'important consensus' on strategic cooperation when they met on Thursday, according to the defence ministry in Beijing. The meeting was held between China's chief of joint staff, Liu Zhenli, and Thailand's top defence official, Songwit Noonpackdee, during his visit to the Chinese capital. The two military leaders 'reached an important consensus on strengthening strategic communication and deepening cooperation in joint exercises and training', according to a statement on Thursday. They also 'exchanged views on issues of common concern, such as relations between the two countries and their militaries and the international and regional situation'. Liu is a member of the Central Military Commission, the highest decision-making body of the People's Liberation Army. In a separate meeting with Songwit, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun said ties between the two countries had endured 'the change of winds and clouds'. Songwit replied that the Thai side was willing to closely coordinate with China in multilateral affairs and 'jointly safeguard' the security and stability of the region, according to the Chinese defence ministry. The high-level meetings followed a series of diplomatic activities between China and the Southeast Asian country, which is also a traditional US ally in the region. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Thai counterpart last month and said Thailand was a high priority for Chinese diplomacy in the region. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also met in February. The two countries have also deepened defence cooperation in the past decade, especially since the 2014 military coup in Thailand, with China replacing the US to become Thailand's top arms supplier. Their joint exercises have appeared to include more comprehensive combat elements since last year, as highlighted by their joint air drill, 'Falcon Strike 2024'. Most recently, the navies of the two countries concluded an exercise last month that focused on counterterrorism tactics and anti-submarine warfare. While joint exercises and arms sales between the US and Thailand have been scaled back, Washington has ramped up its strategic and defence dialogue with Bangkok in the past few years as Beijing's influence has expanded in the region. Thailand has imported a range of weapon systems from China, from armoured vehicles to air-defence systems. The two countries signed a deal in 2017 for Thailand to buy the first of three Yuan-class submarines from China for 13.5 billion baht (US$412 million). Bangkok has paid an instalment of 7 billion baht, but production has been stalled since 2022 due to China's inability to acquire a German engine because of Berlin's defence export limits. According to news site Khaosod English, Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Tuesday that he would decide by the end of this month whether to accept the submarine with Chinese engines or cancel the contract and lose '80 per cent of the costs of the submarines which has already been paid'. Citing Wechayachai, the Thai news site also reported that the Thai government had been asked several times by the Chinese ambassador to Bangkok about when it would proceed with the remaining payment for the purchase of the Chinese-made submarines. Bangkok had previously asked Berlin to reconsider the embargo of its submarine engine, but Germany has rejected the request.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Disgraced Chinese admiral Miao Hua suspected of ‘legal violations'
China said that Miao Hua, a disgraced admiral and member of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), was suspected of 'legal violations', suggesting his wrongdoings were more serious than previously thought. The CMC's political work department decided to expel Miao from the top legislature in March for 'suspected serious violations of discipline and law', according to a statement from the legislature dated May 15. The statement was made public recently and first reported by the media this week. While his expulsion was reported in March, this is the first official acknowledgement of possible legal misconduct by Miao. Miao previously served as the head of the CMC's political work department – an influential position responsible for ideological control and personnel management within the People's Liberation Army. In late November, he was placed under investigation for alleged 'serious violations of discipline' – a type of misconduct that could lead to conviction on corruption charges. However, the recent mention of 'legal violations' suggests a potentially more severe accusation. No further details about the case have been disclosed, underscoring the sensitive nature of military investigations in China. Corruption cases involving the military are handled by a separate military justice system, which is more opaque compared to civilian institutions.
NHK
3 days ago
- General
- NHK
North Korea's Kim orders stronger control over military
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered stronger ruling party control over the military, following a warship accident during its launch last week. State-run Korean Central Television reported on Friday that Kim attended an expanded meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party on Wednesday. At the meeting, Kim said the roles of the party's organizations in the military should be strengthened to solve all problems arising from military development and operations. The commission reportedly appointed new senior military officials, although details have not been disclosed. South Korea's Unification Ministry said photos released so far indicate that Jong Kyong Thaek, head of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, has been demoted. Jong oversees ideological education in the military. South Korean media say the measures taken in the meeting appear aimed at tightening party control over the military in the wake of last week's warship accident.
Iraqi News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
North Korea replaces senior military officials after botched warship launch
INA-source North Korea replaced senior military officials during a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, state-run media reported Friday. The meeting was held Wednesday, chaired by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The commission appointed six commanding officers of corps-level units, the director of the Artillery Bureau and the director of the Security Bureau and newly dispatched some political commissars, it said. The latest development comes after a new 5,000-ton North Korean destroyer was damaged last week during its launch ceremony. The accident occurred in Chongjin, a port city on North Korea's northeastern coast, when the warship's stern slid ahead of the bow, causing structural damage and preventing the vessel from fully leaving the shipway. Kim condemned the accident as a 'criminal act' stemming from 'absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism' and promised to punish those responsible. Source- Anadolu Ajansı
Reuters
3 days ago
- General
- Reuters
North Korea's Kim Jong Un leads meeting on strengthening military, inspects artillery drill
SEOUL, May 30 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led a party meeting on strengthening the military on Wednesday and inspected an artillery drill on Thursday, state media KCNA said on Friday. In an expanded meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim emphasised that roles of party organisations carrying out measures from the central leadership should be strengthened to solve "all the problems arising in the army building and military activities." Kim also said it is "very important to frequently organize firing contests close to the actual warfare environment" to build a powerful military force, KCNA said. This was the latest in a series of moves by Kim reported by KCNA focused on strengthening the military in the past weeks. During May alone, Kim visited tanks and munitions plants, led a short-range missile test and an air drill, and condemned a failed warship launch as "criminal," according to state media.
