“China whole-heartedly hopes that Myanmar will push forward a democracy process that is appropriate for the country,” Tang told the minister, according to the Chinese media. As Beijing presents itself as a “responsible stakeholder”, New Delhi’s move to send the Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora this week to Burma is being seen as “too crude” by the Burmese dissidents.

Nuclear sub

While India talks in whispers about its long-delayed national programme to build nuclear powered submarines, China was showing off its second generation nuclear powered attack submarine. Last week, official Chinese media published pictures of the Type 093 nuclear submarine.

The Type 093 subs, known as “Shang” class in the West, will replace five first generation Han-class attack submarines (Type 091) — widely described as obsolete and noisy — that were first seen in the late 1970s. Construction of Type 093 submarines began in the mid-1990s and the first two vessels were launched in 2002 and 2003. The images of the 6,000-tonne nuclear-powered boats have been a closely guarded secret until recently.

Fifth generation

As Beijing prepares for next month’s 17th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, a likely political heir to President Hu Jintao has already emerged. There is growing speculation that Hu, in charge of the CCP since 2002, favours Li Keqiang as his successor.

Li, who currently runs the north-eastern province of Liaoning, is expected to be promoted to the powerful Standing Committee of the CCP politburo. Li, 52, holds a Ph.D in economics and represents the young and well-educated fifth generation of the CCP leadership.

... contd.