Thread: Eurasia Topics

Originally Posted by OhOh

Jaysus ! And they say that Han Chinese people all look alike ! Perhaps we could have a TD caption competition for these guys.....but I think there would be too many votes for "Dumb and Dumber", "Grumpy", "Dopey", or "Mr Happy".

The guy on the right appears to be thinking : "Oh shit.. ! Did I just do a fart or a shart ? Should I check, or what ?".

‘How does he get his whites so white ? I should have married his cousin like he did but I had to marry my cousin.’

It seems Vlad is so busy trousering cash and squashing any opposition that he's dropped the ball on aircraft safety. Lots of the flying coffin, the "Superjet" have been grounded.

One assumes that a big chunk of Yamal's "development strategy" will be buying some proper fucking aircraft, although I'm sure if they can make some money buying 737MAX's they would.

Technical issues keep half of Yamal’s Superjet fleet grounded

Half of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) fleet operated by YamalAirlines, Russia’s second largest operator of the type, has been grounded throughout 2018 and 2019, according to the airline’s recently approved 2018 annual report.

It blames the grounding on the “numerous design and manufacturing flaws in aircraft and engine systems, as well as the lack of aftersales support by the producer.”

The regional airline has 15 SSJ100s in its fleet, all leased from the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK) on a 12-year term. Six of them joined Yamal’s fleet in February 2017, ahead of a further one in November of the same year and the remaining eight in the March through May 2018 period.

The airline’s combined annual lease payment obligations amount to 2.2 billion roubles, plus a further 34 million roubles every year. The report notes that because of numerous defects that occurred in the 2017 to 2019 period, combined with the contract provisions which state that grounding due to technical reasons cannot prejudice lease payments, the airline is now at risk of coughing up at least one billion roubles annually in lease payments for non-revenue generating aircraft.

It is reported that six out of 11 aviation incidents in the airline’s 2018 annual log occurred on its SSJ100 fleet, and a further three happened in the first quarter of this year. Frequent technical issues with the SSJ100’s powerplants even forced the airline’s engineering and maintenance personnel to carry out engine removals and installations outside the hangar. This procedure allowed the airline to partially optimise its unscheduled maintenance costs.

Yamal Airlines first voiced its concerns over a lack of spare parts for the aircraft as early as spring 2017. Even so, the airline initially pressed ahead with its plans to lease a further 10 SSJ100s. However, a change of mind manifested itself in May 2019 when Yamal’s general director Vasiliy Kryuk announced that his airline had decided not to continue the expansion of its SSJ100 fleet because of their high operating and maintenance costs.

At the same time, according to the report, the Salekhard-based airline plans instead to continue growing its fleet of Airbus narrow-bodies, eventually bringing that list to 20 units, although the timeline for those new deliveries has not been outlined. The airline currently operates eight A321s and three smaller A320s. Their high dispatch reliability has made them the core of the carrier’s fleet. Operational lease contracts for eight of these aircraft are in place until 2023 and the remaining three until 2026. The average age of Yamal’s Airbus fleet is 15 years.

In the meantime, the airline’s 10 vintage 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200LRs are to be gradually phased out, the report reveals. Leasing agreements for three of these regional jets expire in 2019, followed by further five next year.

Yamal Airlines is the main carrier operating in Russia’s north-western Siberia Yamalo-Nenetsky autonomous region, from where more than 90 per cent of Russia’s natural gas is sourced. The region also accounts for some 12 per cent of Russia’s oil production.

Despite the financial stresses, Yamal Airlines managed to post small net profit of 13.5 million roubles in 2018, a positive consequence of airport and ground handling cost optimisation and fleet management decisions, the airline believes.

Last year the airline also received some 3.9 billion roubles in subsidies, including 714 million from its home Yamalo-Nenetsk region and 1.1 billion and 1.3 million as compensation for the leasing payments made for foreign and Russian-made aircraft, respectively, the annual report reveals.

Some 50 per cent of the airline’s earnings will be paid as dividends to its shareholders – which consist of the administration of the Yamalo-Nenetsk region (98.2 per cent) and the Fonika company (1.8 per cent).

The airline is currently working on its development strategy for the next decade, assisted in the task by global consultancy Ernst&Young.

http://www.rusaviainsider.com/technical-issues-keep-half-yamal-superjet-fleet-grounded/

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

It seems Vlad is so busy trousering cash and squashing any opposition that he's dropped the ball on aircraft safety. Lots of the flying coffin, the "Superjet" have been grounded.

Wondering why he is not so clever as (please no names here) who are not "so busy trousering cash" but allowing their "Madjets" flying and further killing people?

Whoever writes this shit has several screws loose.

"The entire myth that India is engaged in some sort of “competition” with China for regional influence gets exposed badly this week as the state visit to China by the UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan got under way today.

China needs energy, of course it's sucking up to Al Nahyan and anyone else with oil.

Also, the Gulf has always been a terrific place to launder money.

Has absolutely fuck all to do with India.

No Muslim country has voiced criticism of the situation in Xinjiang.

That's probably because they might be asked to take the Uigurs, and they don't like them either.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

That's probably because they might be asked to take the Uigurs, and they don't like them either.

On what do you base that statement?

I addition to the recent fly over by some Asian countries planes this is an interesting article which illustrates that Japan has been acquiring "islands" and "Economic Zones" some are suggesting illegally for centuries;

Why Japan Can’t Have Dokdo – Takeshima Part I


Japan’s Insatiable Appetite for Territory



Most, if not all, pages on this website have focused on the historical reasons as to why Japan’s claim to Dokdo is unacceptable.

This page focuses on the geographic reality of the Dokdo – Takeshima region. Korea’s Dokdo Island is sometimes referred to as Liancourt Rocks.

On this page the reader will get an clear picture of the geographical features of the East Sea (Sea of Japan).

The maps included show the distances of nearest Korean and Japanese islands and landfalls to clearly illustrate why Japan’s 1905 incorporation was seriously flawed. Also these maps will show how unreasonable Japan’s MOFA and Shimane Prefecture are in their push to essentially re-annex Dokdo Island.

https://www.dokdo-takeshima.com/why-...e-dokdo-i.html

Whoa there grasshopper, the biggest snivelling chinky sycophant on TD is trying to accuse the nips of being expansionist and trying to take what isn't theirs?

You fucking idiot.

From 2006 to 2019: after failures in Syria, Iraq, Palestine and Yemen, war is no longer an option for Israel


"During the summer war of 2006, Israel managed to destroy a large number of Hezbollah’s rocket and missile stocks. Most Hezbollah missile units were destroyed and, in the suburb of the capital Beirut, over 250 buildings (mainly but not exclusively hosting Hezbollah offices, warehouses and officers’ homes) were flattened by Israeli precision bombs targeting Hezbollah (and many civilians) in the suburbs of Beirut. Hundreds of houses were completely destroyed in the south of Lebanon. However, Israel was unable to fulfil its objectives due to the defeat of its infantry which faced harsh resistance and was unable to push deep inland. Moreover, the Kornet anti-tank laser-guided missiles and the “Nour” anti-ship missiles of Hezbollah surprised the enemy, indicating a serious lack of Israeli intelligence and confirming Hezbollah’s strong fighting abilities.

Thirteen years later, the failure of US and Israeli policy in the region means it is no longer possible for Israel to contemplate a direct confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The US and Israel failed to achieve four main goals: regime change in Syria, the partition of Iraq, the defeat of the Houthis in Yemen, the Palestinian “deal of the century”. Added to this, Israeli-US rejection of any fair Palestinian state has strengthened Palestinian resolve against Israel.
Israel has increased its firepower and military capabilities, but Hezbollah also moved from being a tactical local organisation to becoming a strategic player in the Middle East. The group’s superior fighting abilities have been enhanced by new military hardware. This has had the effect of rendering war in the Middle East unlikely any time in the near (or medium-term) future.

The attempt by the US and its partners to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and transform the country into a failed state governed by jihadist Takfiris (ISIS and al-Qaeda groups, who overwhelmed all other rebel and non-jihadist organisations) forced the Lebanese Hezbollah, Iran and Iraq to engage militarily in the Levant. The same scenario repeated itself in Iraq when the US looked on as ISIS grew strong and held on to robust intelligence – the accuracy of which was later confirmed – that ISIS would be migrating from Iraq to Syria after occupying a large part of Iraq. Hezbollah, Iraqi groups and Iranian forces fought in Syria and Iraq to stop the jihadists from expanding and to prevent a direct danger to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran.


In Iraq-by contrast with prevailing disinformation- ISIS did not occupy the second largest city of Mesopotamia, Mosul. It was a group of organisations, along with a few hundred ISIS fighters, who stole victory from other Sunni groups (mainly the Naqshabandi). They were supported by neighbouring countries and by the Iraqi Kurdish Leader Masoud Barzani, whose aspirations would have been fulfilled by the partition of Iraq into Kurdistan, Sunnistan and Shi-istan.

Turkey’s leadership wanted to reclaim Mosul as part of its ancient Ottoman Empire; Turkey stood to benefit from the occupation of Mosul and the north of Iraq by a group like ISIS. It would not have been difficult at some time in the future to defeat such an organisation lacking any international recognition.

The Kurdish leader Barzani wanted control of oil-rich Kirkuk and aimed for a self-proclaimed state for the Iraqi Kurds- a state which he later “declared” (but failed to achieve), notwithstanding the defeat of ISIS. Indeed, Barzani praised ISIS during its occupation of Mosul, as a “Sunni revolution”- but he failed to reckon with the fact that the terror group was also aiming to control Kurdistan and Kirkuk.

The US wanted the north of Iraq divided between a Sunni state and a Kurdish state. They would have never allowed ISIS to expand beyond Baghdad, in order to keep the oil under US control. Southern Iraq would have survived as a small but hopeless Shia canton in the south, notwithstanding its oil and gas wealth, and Iraq would have been eliminated from the map of “Iranian allies”, no longer a potential threat to Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The list of benefits to the US and its allies, had Syria disintegrated and been transformed into a jihadist safe haven, was very long. A failed state would have prevented Russia from supplying its oil to Europe via Syria and Turkey. It would have removed Russia’s access to warm Mediterranean waters and dislodgedits naval base in Tartus. It would have broken up the “Axis of the Resistance” between Iran, Syria and Lebanon. It would have stopped the flow of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and thus prevented the group from re-arming itself and updating its military hardware. It would have isolated the Shia in the south of Iraq from Syria

The US coalition could then have watched the movement of jihadist takfiri groups from Syria to Lebanon and keep Hezbollah busy with a sectarian struggle that could have lasted for years, and weakened the enemies of Israel. This would have pushed Lebanese and Syrian Christians to migrate to western countries and abandon the Middle East to future decades of sectarian struggle. The jihadists would have had no objection to the gift of the Golan to Israel. Dismantlement of the Syrian army would have left the Palestinians without any support from Hezbollah, Syria, Iran or Lebanon. With no Syrian or Iraqi armies to fear, with Hezbollah busy domestically and its supply line of weapons cut off, with jihadists providing an easy target and a pretext for war, and with Saudi Arabia on its side, Israel could have expanded and widened its territory at the expense of the Palestinians and of neighbouring countries: no country or force could have stood in its way.

But these plans failed: Hezbollah moved to Iraq and Syria to fight ISIS and al-Qaeda. It managed to secure Lebanon by defeating al-Qaeda and ISIS in Arsal and along the Lebanese-Syrian borders. It has secured the land and air passage from Syria to Lebanon for supply of weapons and renewal of its arsenal. It gained tremendous urban, guerrilla and classical fighting skills and trained itself in real combat scenarios to operate alone, with the Syrian army, and with the Russians and Syrians, using classical fighting skills together with air and artillery support. Hezbollah, used to fighting Israel within an area of less than 1,500 sq km in the south of Lebanon, now fought in Syria on over 80,000 sq km of territory.

But that is not all: During the war imposed on Syria, Hezbollah has invented a rocket with a ton of explosives in its warhead (Burkan-Vulcano) and operationalised it. It has run intensive courses in the use of its drones, used its precision missiles with accuracy, produced thousands of highly trained Special Forces and it has fought an enemy (al-Qaeda) that is much more motivated to fight to the death than any Israeli Special Forces units. Furthermore, Hezbollah established its precision long-range missiles on the well-protected Lebanese-Syrian borders to alleviate the consequences of any future war for the Lebanese cities and villages.

The failure of the regime change cemented Hezbollah’s and Iran’s position in Syria to the level of full cooperation with the state, a level never reached in the past. The Syrian government was supported economically by Iran and protected militarily by the Iranian, Lebanese, Iraqi and Russian interventions.

Today US forces occupy the territory holding most Syrian oil resources in the north-east of the country and Syria is under heavy economic sanctions. Only Iran is rushing to support Syria’s economy to prevent it from collapsing by providing oil, constructing pharmaceutical and other industries to support the local economy, and fulfil some basic needs. The US-Israeli policy to cripple the government t of Damascus is strengthening the Iran-Hezbollah-Syria relationship, particularly since the US prevented the Arab and Gulf states from returning to Damascus to re-open their embassies, leaving the road open for Iran and Russia to be exclusively represented in the Levant.

Iran is also building up Syria’s missile capability. The current Iran-US tensions have proved that missiles can face down a superior air and naval force and are capable of establishing rules of engagement with a very small investment in comparison with the price of jets and frigates. Indeed, the war in Yemen and the Iran-US crisis both showed how armed drones and missiles can hit far-off targets and fulfil targeting objectives

This is exactly what Hezbollah picked up in Lebanon and along the Syrian-Lebanese borders. In 2006 Hezbollah’s command made the mistake of building-up strategic warehouses in Syria. Israeli air superiority made the supply of weapons hazardous, as Israel could hit anything moving from the sky. The Syrian war provided Hezbollah with a heavy presence on the borders with long-range precision missile bases; they are now ready to widen the operational theatre in case of war. There is therefore no need for the non-state actor to move its missiles around from Syria to Lebanon.

In the last years, Israel bombed hundreds of objectives in Syria, including truckloads of weapons transiting to Lebanon, but never without prior warning to the driver before the raid. Israel wanted to avoid human casualties among Hezbollah officers, fully aware of the price of retaliation. Notwithstanding the repetitive attacks, Hezbollah’s warehouses are full, according to an Israeli estimate. This means the group has the capacity to fire thousands of rockets and missiles daily over a long war. Israel acknowledges its failure to limit the group’s armament supplies and capabilities.

Lessons have been learned from the wars in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. More military lessons are being drawn from the US-Iran confrontation in the Gulf. Low cost missiles directed towards oil platforms, harbours, transiting ships, airports, electricity facilities, drinking water stations and military bases are today much more effective politically and militarily than hitting civilian targets. Armed drones and precision missiles can be deadly to the most advanced and highly equipped military state. Rockets can be used to saturate Israeli interceptor defensive missile systems. Dozens of rockets can be launched simultaneously, followed by the launch of a few precision missiles against a target. The interceptor system will be saturated, unable to shoot down all the incoming rockets and missiles, thus allowing at least 30-40% of the missiles to go through and hit the desired target, enough to create a real damage and be considered as balance changer. Such saturation techniques can be extremely effective, as all parties recognise.

The new war is essentially economic; it is a war of sanctions and limiting free movement of ship movements around the globe. It is a war of tankers and oil platforms. It is a starvation war where no one can threaten the enemy with a return to the “stone age” because the firepower is now universally available. Yemen is the best example: the threat of bombing Dubai forced the Emirates to seek Iranian mediation to prevent a missile attack against them. The Houthis, despite years of Saudi bombing of Yemen, have also managed to bomb Saudi airports, military bases and oil stations in the heart of Saudi Arabia, using cruise missiles and armed drones.

Gaza, along with Beirut, Damascus and Baghdad, are all highly equipped by Tehran with sufficient missiles to inflict real damage on Israel and on US forces deployed in the Middle East. Israel is playing around by targeting various objectives tactically but with no real strategic purpose- only for Netanyahu to keep himself busy and train his Air Force, and to gain publicity in the media. Soon, when Syria recovers and Iraq is stronger, the Israeli promenade will have to cease. Hezbollah in Lebanon may also find a way in the near future to keep its irregular but organised army busy by firing anti-air missiles against Israeli jets and imposing new rules of engagement. It is, however, too early now to challenge Israel in the air because the “Axis of Resistance” alliance works according to priorities, and this stage of the Iran-US crisis is still only beginning. However, as the crisis develops, the new stabilising effect of the deadly and accurate generation of drones and missile threat will make open warfare unlikely."


https://ejmagnier.com/2019/08/04/fro...on-for-israel/

Why do you keep posting this nonsense?

Israel will fight any of the Arabs dumb enough to take it on.

The gloves came off for good in 1973 and they aren't ever going back on.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Why do you keep posting this nonsense?

I find it useful to follow a variety of opinions from a wide variety of sources, well other than RFA

It may also open some eyes to realise there are other sources, other than googles/Bing first page of search results or the DT

Originally Posted by OhOh

I find it useful to follow a variety of opinions from a wide variety of sources, well other than RFA

It may also open some eyes to realise there are other sources, other than googles/Bing first page of search results or the DT

That's all they are. Stupid opinions from someone who probably hates the joos.

Anyone who has actually followed the history of Israel would know that if anyone hits them, they pay the price.

India offers billions in credit & investments for Russia's Far East development

"In an unprecedented move, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his country will provide a US$1 billion loan for the development of Russia’s Far Eastern territories.
The announcement marks the first time New Delhi has offered a line of credit to any specific region of any country.
“In order to continue and help develop the Far East, India will provide a $1 billion credit line. This is a completely unprecedented measure when we provide such a special credit line to another country,” Modi said during his speech at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.

India's prime minister added that since the start of the forum the delegation of Indian businessmen managed to sign about 50 agreements with counterparts in Russia’s Far East in a variety of sectors from energy, mining and woodworking to healthcare and education.

“We expect that as a result we can provide investments amounting to $5 billion (€4.5 billion),” Modi stated. He also invited 11 governors of the Far East regions to visit India to strengthen economic relations between the two states. Modi voiced his admiration for the Russian president's plans for the Far East, adding that both countries will benefit from working “hand in hand” on the region’s development.

“President [Vladimir] Putin said that the development of the Far East is Russia’s national priority for the 21st century. President Putin’s approach is really inspiring. On the one hand, the region is completely open to investment, on the other hand a huge amount of attention is paid to social development,” Modi stated, noting that he “fully share[s] the vision of President Putin.”

“India wants to work hand in hand with Russia in developing this fascinating journey and [implementing] this wonderful vision,” said the prime minister. He clarified that in economic terms the two leaders have a specific goal which is for bilateral trade to triple by 2025, while forecasting India’s own economy to reach five trillion dollars by that time.

“India is developing very fast, it also has many talents, and a partnership of this kind with the region of the Far East is a historic opportunity that allows us to say 1 plus 1 equals 11,” Modi said.

The Indian prime minister was invited to Russia as the main guest of the EEF, held in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok, where he held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This year, some 8,000 guests from across the globe are attending the forum, which is hosting over 70 various business events."

https://www.rt.com/business/468099-m...an-russia-eef/

US-China trade war boosts demand for Russian soybeans

"The volume of Russian soybeans exported to China will be worth at least $600 million by 2024, according to the Russian Ministry of Agriculture. Soybeans and their processed derivatives were the second-biggest agricultural export from Russia's Far East, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sergey Levitin said at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.

“Over the past year, these exports doubled and amounted to 6.5 percent of the total export volumes from the Far East. This became possible due to a significant increase in demand from the Chinese market due to its trade conflict with the US,” he said.

Levitin also noted the ministry’s intensive policy, “which in every way stimulates soybean production throughout the country, but primarily in the Far East.”
Over the past 10 years, Russia’s soybean production has been growing. Farmers are expected to harvest a record 3.9 million tons in the current season, which ends in 2019. The country is expected to ship up to 700,000 tons of the product abroad.

Last year, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would increase its production and export of soybeans to China to fill a gap in the market, which was left by the protracted trade war between Beijing and Washington.

China has halted the import of soybeans from its biggest supplier, the United States, after imposing 25 percent tariffs on soybean imports. The levy came in retaliation to American tariffs on Chinese goods."

https://www.rt.com/business/468096-us-china-trade-war-soybeans/



China to import soybean meal from Russia

"China has allowed the import of soybean meal, sugar beet pulp, rapeseed meal and sunflower meal from Russia, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement on its website on Thursday. Exporters of the animal feed ingredients must be inspected and approved by Russian authorities and would need to register with the Chinese regulator, the statement said.

The move came after the GAC announced in July that China will expand the import of Russian soybean and wheat. Industry experts said the growing amount of soybean products coming from Russia will help China meet domestic demand for animal and aquatic feed. It will also mitigate the effects caused by the ongoing Sino-US trade dispute.
To ensure grain security, China must diversify its import channels for various grains such as corn, wheat and soybean from global markets, said Ding Lixin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing.
Wang Zhimin, a professor at the Beijing-based China Agricultural University, said the country has become the world's largest market for food trade. Supported by the Belt and Road Initiative, food trade between China and its partners is expected to grow rapidly.
Chinese consumers' daily diet will shift from low-protein to high-protein food in the long-run. Exports of edible oil, meat and dairy products will keep growing, while soybeans will increasingly be used as animal feed to boost pork, beef, fish and milk production, he said.

Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng said at a news conference last month that China is willing to work with Russia to expand market access, facilitate bilateral trade and conduct deeper agricultural cooperation.
Gao said Chinese companies have already imported about 4,400 metric tons of soybean from Russia in July.

"In the recent years the bilateral trade of agricultural products between China and Russia has seen steady growth," Gao said, adding that bilateral trade in agricultural products exceeded $5 billion in 2018, up 28.2 percent year-on-year.
Customs data showed that agricultural product trade between China and Russia reached $2.18 billion in the first five months this year, up 1.9 percent year-on-year."

China to import soybean meal from Russia - Chinadaily.com.cn

So much winning!

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

So much winning!

Await the announcements of all the win/win commercial deals. Possibly for the benefit of both the Iraqis and Chinese populations, as well.

Iraqi PM's visit to China to boost bilateral ties: Iraqi politician




Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's visit to China is expected to realize a "a quantum leap" in bilateral relations.

"Mahdi will pay an official visit to China from Sept. 19 to 23 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.


BAGHDAD, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi politician said that the Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's upcoming visit to China will contribute to "a quantum leap" in bilateral relations.

Raed Fahmi, secretary of the Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party, told Xinhua that "the visit may open the door for signing agreements to improve the level of cooperation between China and Iraq that could have strong effects."
"Such agreements could help Iraq to meet the requirements of development, especially in the development of infrastructure, including roads and bridges," said Fahmi, who is also a member in the Iraqi parliament.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that Abdul Mahdi will pay an official visit to China from Sept. 19 to 23 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

The relations between Iraq and China have developed in political and economic fields, and there is good cooperation with major Chinese companies in the oil sector as well as in other sectors, according to Fahmi.

"Today, we know that this visit is aimed at creating a qualitative and quantitative leap in the relations to help Iraq face the challenges to improve its economy through building its infrastructure," Fahmi added.

Fahmi believed that Abdul Mahdi will put forward ideas that would deepen the cooperation between the two countries through strategic projects in various fields.

"As far as I know, a number of agreements will be signed during this period and a joint fund may be set up to give this cooperation a success," Fahmi said.

Iraqi people welcome the development of Iraqi-Chinese relations and see them as useful, he added.

According to Iraqi media report, Abdul Mahdi will head a large delegation, including ministers, advisors and businessmen, to visit China in order to discuss several issues, including the mega projects in fields of roads, education and health.

Earlier this month, al-Sabah newspaper quoted China's Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao as saying that the "Chinese side attaches great importance to developing relations with Iraq, and looks forward to seizing the opportunity of this visit to make joint efforts hand in hand with the Iraqi side to further consolidate and deepen Sino-Iraqi relations."

The volume of the trade exchange between China and Iraq exceeded 30 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, according to Zhang, asserting that "China is the biggest trading partner of Iraq, and Iraq is the second biggest oil supplier to China, and the fourth biggest trading partner of China in the Middle East."

Iraqi PM's visit to China to boost bilateral ties: Iraqi politician - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Deal for biggest naval ship inked with Thailand

Deal for biggest naval ship inked with Thailand

By ZHAO LEI | China Daily | Updated: 2019-09-16 09:29




China to build Type 071E amphibious transport dock ship for foreign navy


"China will build a Type 071E amphibious transport dock ship for export to Thailand, the largest naval ship the nation will have built for a foreign user.

China State Shipbuilding Corp, a State-owned shipbuilding conglomerate and one of the major suppliers to the Chinese Navy, said last week it had inked an agreement with the Royal Thai Navy on the construction and sale of the Type 071E, adding it was the first time China had sold such a vessel to another country.

Admiral Luechai Ruddit, commander-in-chief of the RTN, and officials from the Chinese government and military took part in a signing ceremony for the deal in Beijing on Sept 9, according to a statement issued by CSSC.

The company said the deal was a major new accomplishment in the strategic cooperation between the two countries, adding it would substantially deepen collaboration in the arms trade and also help strengthen regional peace and stability.

The shipbuilder did not provide details about the ship's specifications, or its construction and delivery schedule.

The Type 071E is an export version of the Type 071 landing platform dock deployed by the People's Liberation Army Navy. There are six Type 071s in service with the PLA Navy, according to military observers following the Navy's weapons development.

According to information from CSSC, the Type 071 is China's largest landing craft and boasts advanced weapons systems. It is 210 meters long and 28 meters wide, and has a full-load displacement of 25,000 metric tons. The vessel is capable of sailing more than 18,500 kilometers in a single operation, the company said.

PLA Navy, the export version features better weapons and can carry more helicopters.

The Type 071E amphibious transport dock ship, also classified as a type of landing platform dock, will be the largest naval warship China has built for a foreign country.

After the ship is delivered to the RTN, it will also become the biggest warship in the Southeast Asian nation's fleet, eclipsing HTMS Chakri Naruebet, the flagship of the RTN and its only aircraft carrier.

The largest naval ship China has exported so far is HTMS Similan, a Type 908 replenishment ship built for the RTN in the 1990s that has a full-load displacement of 22,000 tons. That makes it bigger than HTMS Chakri Naruebet, but it is not classified as a warship."

Deal for biggest naval ship inked with Thailand - Chinadaily.com.cn

That is a marriage made in Davy Jones Locker.

The Indians have got to be careful about the chinkies sniffing around Bangalore trying to nick all their emerging technologies.

Prudent considering the thieving chinkies track record.

The main problem is that the west is trying to drag a bunch of islamic morons into the 21 century when they are quite happily living in the 6th century.