China admits to locking ship radar

there are concerns about corruption, environmental safeguards and communities being displaced.

The trip is the latest example of Thein Sein’s new-found globetrotting diplomacy that has seen him address the UN General Assembly, meet a host of European Union leaders and be feted at a number of international summits.

Myanmar has surprised observers with its reforms following the end of nearly half a century of military rule in 2011, prompting Western nations to start rolling back sanctions.

Since Thein Sein took over the presidency, hundreds of political prisoners have been released, elections have been held, and long-detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been elected into parliament.

Thein Sein said he was determined his country continue on its democratic path.

“It is my sincere wish and aspiration that, like Australia, Myanmar will enjoy peace, democracy and prosperity,” he said.

Thein Sein added that he was in Australia not just to request support and assistance, but to explain the changes that have been taking place.

“I hope that you appreciate that what we are undertaking has no equal in modern times. This is not just a simple transition... but a transition from military rule to democratic rule,” he said.

“From 60 years of armed conflict to peace. And from centrally controlled and isolated economy to one that can end poverty and create real opportunities for all our people.”

John Blaxland, a Myanmar expert at the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, said Canberra was keen to reward Thein Sein, but also wanted to keep Myanmar onside as the next ASEAN chair.

“The government wants to reward [him] for the work he has done, but it also partly Australia burnishing its regional credentials ahead of Myanmar becoming the next ASEAN chair,” he said.

“ASEAN is a significant part of Australia’s security and trading outlook and it is good for Australia if ASEAN is stable, robust and secure.”

Myanmar is due to assume the Association of Southeast Asian Nations chairmanship from Brunei next year. SENIOR Chinese military officials have admitted for the first time that a frigate locked its radar on a Japanese destroyer during the two nations’ row over disputed islands, Kyodo News reported yesterday.

In one of the more serious incidents in an escalating wrangle over ownership of the islands in the East China Sea,Tokyo said the Chinese vessel effectively had a Japanese ship in its sights earlier this year.

Meanwhile, three Chinese marine surveillance ships were seen entering the territorial waters extending 22 kilometres off one of the islands yesterday, Japan’s coastguard said.

State-owned Chinese vessels have intermittently cruised near theTokyo-controlled Senkakus, which China claims as the Diaoyus, since Japan nationalised some of them last September – at times inside territorial waters.

Beijing has consistently denied the allegation of the radar lock and has accused Tokyo of exaggerating the “China threat” in a bid to manipulate world public opinion.

ButKyodoNewscitedunidentified senior Chinese military officials as saying the weapons targeting had taken place.

The officials, including “flag officers” – those at the rank of admiral – told Kyodo it was an “emergency decision” and not a planned action and was taken bythecommanderofthefrigate, the report said.

The Tokyo-datelined report said the comments were made recently but gave no specifics.

Theradarincidentmarkedthe first time the two nations’ navies havelockedhornsintheincreasingly bitter island row.

The Chinese officials told Kyodo that on January 30 the frigate and the Japanese destroyer were three kilometres apart in international waters some 110 to 130 kilometres north of the outcrops, the report said.

The commander of the frigate directed his vessel’s weaponstargeting radar, based on the Chinese military’s rules of engagement, without seeking instructions from navy headquarters, Kyodo cited the Chinese officers as saying.

It was not known if the commanderhadbeenreprimanded, Kyodo said.

Tokyo has also charged that a Chinese frigate locked its radar on a Japanese helicopter in the middle of January.

China has denied the accusations and its defence ministry said yesterday that the truth was “very clear”.

“The Japanese allegation of Chinese navy vessels targeting warships and airplanes of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces with fire-control radar does not fit the facts,” it said.