China's Air Force Equipping for Offensive Role

From its original military strategy of "active defense," China's Peoples' Liberation Army air force (AF/PLA) "will endeavor to become a strong and modern force combining defense with offense," according to its commander, Lt. Gen. Liu Shunyao. Addressing the Millennium Air Power Conference in Singapore yesterday, Gen. Liu said the AF/PLA is shifting from national air defense to defense plus offense, to better implement the goals of active defense.

"China will never invade or threaten any sovereign state," he said, "but it will definitely not allow any other country to invade (it)." China's fundamental military objective, Gen. Liu said, is safeguarding national territory, sovereignty and maritime rights, plus air defense and the protection of national economic construction. With the other services, the AF/PLA endeavors to form an integrated deterrence, while providing high mobility and the flexibility to cope with air threats and local wars.

"It (will also) take operational and tactical air assault as a main measure to reach the objective of strategic defense," Gen. Liu said. "As high technology is further employed," he continued, "a new generation of fighters, bombers and UAVs will soon be put in use."

Opened by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Dr. Tony Tan Yam, the Millennium Air Power Conference attracted air force commanders, senior military and industry officials, and over 500 other participants from more than 60 countries. Its brief was to cover a range of topics relevant to air power issues, and the impact of technological developments in aviation and aerospace in the 21st century.

In addition to Gen. Liu, presentations were made by Sir Charles Masefield, group managing director and main board member BAE Systems; Serge Dassault, chairman and CEO, Dassault Aviation; Dain Hancock, president, Lockheed Martin; Boon Swan Foo, president and CEO, Singapore Technologies Engineering; Maj. Gen. Raymund Ng, Republic of Singapore air force chief; Air Chief Marshal Hanafie Asnan, chief of staff, Indonesian air force; Gen. Jean Rannou, chief of staff, French air force; Air Marshal Errol McCormack, CAS, RAAF; Gen. Patricio Rios Ponce, C-in-C, Chilean air force; Maj. Gen. Eitan Ben-Eliahu, commander, Israeli air force; and Gen. Patrick Gamble, commander, USAF Pacific Air Forces.

By John Fricker