‘Kuayue’ means a stride in Chinese and the 2009 exercises are likely to be a big step forward in the upgradation of the PLA’s operational skills. Military analysts say the Kuayue ‘09 exercises are very much part of Beijing’s new emphasis on delivering military force at long range on short notice. Power projection is what all great powers do, and China will certainly be no exception.

Compass navigation

After the US, Russia and Europe, China will become the fourth entity to develop a worldwide commercial satellite navigation system. Named ‘Compass’, the system will firmly establish China’s credentials as a space power.

Last month, China conducted its second successful launch of a Compass satellite. The system is expected to provide regional availability over China by 2010 and offer independent worldwide coverage by 2020. By then Compass would have a constellation of 30 satellites.

The Compass data can also be used in conjunction with the existing and planned satellite positioning systems, including the GPS of America, GLONASS of Russia and Galileo of Europe. The system, of course, will offer important services on the military front on a selective basis.

The writer is a Professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.