11th Moscow Conference on International Security: “Hierarchial West, Egalitarian Russian-Chinese Friendship”

The following is my translation of a article by Russia’s Sputnik newsagency in Chinese, published online last night (Tuesday night) and updated this morning (Wednesday) Greenwich Mean Time. It is billed a “commentary”, but doesn’t really match the criteria. It looks more like a report. The 11th Moscow Conference on International Security is its main topic, but it also seems to contain some carefully calibrated propaganda, targeted at a Chinese readership.

The article starts with a reference to Putin’s video address to the conference, but then gathers assessments from a number of Chinese and Russian pundits.

Links within blockquotes have been added during translation.

Another video address, Putin on August 15 (CCTV)

NATO links up with AUKUS to put pressure on China and Russia
北约联合AUKUS是为了施压中俄
Commentary
评论
Russian-Chinese relations aren’t influenced by fluctuations in the global situation. Russia’s and China’s cooperation in the field of security won’t pose a problem to third parties. Even though the West is trying to isolate Russia, there is no change in Sino-Russian friendship.
俄罗斯和中国的关系不受世界局势波动的影响。俄中在安全领域的合作不会给第三方带来问题。尽管西方企图孤立俄罗斯，但中俄友谊不变。
Russian president Putin pointed out in his video message to the 11th Moscow International Security Conference participants and guests that most countries were prepared to defend their sovereignty and national interests. The Russian president also said that a multipolar world is now taking shape and that new economic and political centers are continuously becoming stronger.
俄罗斯总统普京在向第十一届莫斯科国际安全会议与会者和嘉宾的视频致辞中指出，大多数国家准备捍卫本国主权和国家利益。 俄罗斯总统还说，多极世界正在逐渐形成，新的经济和政治中心也在不断加强。
Referring to global security threats, Putin pointed out that America was trying to change the relations between the nations in the Asia-Pacific region in accordance with its own wishes. Carrying out the so-called “Indo-Pacific strategy” was essentially about creating a military and political alliance controlled by Washington. In his speech to the conference’s participants, Putin emphasized that “it can’t be ruled out that NATO will carry out comprehensive integration with the already-created AUKUS group”.
谈到全球安全威胁，普京指出，美国试图按照自己的意愿改变亚太地区现存的国家间关系体系。推行所谓“印太战略”，实质上就是为了打造华盛顿控制的军事政治联盟。普京在向与会者发表的讲话中强调：“不排除北约同已经创建的 AUKUS 集团进行全面整合这一走向。”
Anatoly Smirnov, director of the National Institute of Research of Global Security, pointed out in an interview with Sputnik that Asian countries have similar concerns about these processes.
国家全球安全研究所所长阿纳托利·斯米尔诺夫在接受俄罗斯卫星通讯社采访时指出，亚洲国家对这些进程也有类似的担忧。
Anatoly Smirnov said: “The strengthening of NATO integration with AUKUS is about putting double pressure on China and on Russia’s east. This includes roping Japan and South Korea into AUKUS. They want to make Russia and China divert resources for their countries’ development plans into the protection of their sovereignty. At the same time, America and the European Union leaders also try to create trouble for countries that reject these policies. Many Asian countries understand this policy very clearly, a rip-off policy that includes all kinds of pressure, containment, blackmail and bluff, financial and sanction obstacles and rude campaigning for American and Western interests.”
阿纳托利·斯米尔诺夫说：“西方加强北约同AUKUS的整合是为了向中国和俄罗斯东部实施双重压力。包括拉拢日本和韩国加入AUKUS。他们想让俄罗斯与中国把资源从本国发展计划中挪出，以用于保护其主权。与此同时，美国和欧盟领导人还试图为那些拒绝与响应他们政策的国家制造麻烦。亚洲许多国家已经清楚地意识到这种包括各种施压、围堵、讹诈、金融和制裁障碍、无礼游说美国和西方利益在内的敲诈政策。”
Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu was among the more than 800 delegates from 76 countries attending the conference. Current affairs commentator and a high-level researcher at People’s University of China School of Finance Zhou Rong points out that the Chinese defense minister’s visit shows the continuous development of relations between the two armies.
来自76个国家的800多名代表中，中国国防部长李尚福出席了本届会议。时事评论员、中国人民大学重阳金融研究院高级研究员周戎就此指出，中国防长访问俄罗斯体现了两军关系的不断发展。
Expert Zhou Rong says: “When Li Shangfu visited Russia for the first time after taking office, the two sides already exchanged opinions about Sino-Russian strategic cooperation. His further visit to Russia after four months marks the concrete implementation and advance of the two countries’ strategic military cooperation. A framework for Chinese-Russian military exercises have been planned for a long time. So, the Chinese defense minister’s visit is even more about strengthening trust in the development of strategic relations between the two countries’ military, to demonstrate that there is no change in Chinese-Russian determination to develop their comprehensive strategic partnership relations. No matter how much the international community may isolate Russia, the Chinese government’s friendship with Russia doesn’t change.”
周戎专家说：“李尚福防长就职后首次访问俄罗斯时，双方已就中俄战略合作交换了意见。时隔四个月后再次访俄，则是对两国已达成军事战略合作的具体落实和推进。另外，中俄战略军演框架早已规划。因此中国防长访问俄罗斯，更多的是增进两国军队发展战略关系的信心，表现出中国与俄罗斯发展全面战略合作伙伴关系的决心不变。无论国际社会如何孤立俄罗斯，中国政府对俄罗斯人民的友好情谊不变。”
Expert Zhou Rong believes that one of the goals of the Chinese defense minister’s particiipation in the Moscow Security Conference is to convey the message to his foreign colleagues that China’s position concerning the Ukraine crisis hasn’t changed.
周戎专家认为，中国防长参加莫斯科安全会议的目的之一就是向外国同行传达中国对乌克兰危机的立场。
Concerning this, Zhou Rong’s thought is that “it needs to be emphasized that China’s support doesn’t mean that its position concerning the Russian-Ukrainian crisis has changed. China has always emphasized its stance on the side of peace. We see that defense minister Li Shangfu’s main objective is to participate in the 11th Moscow Security Conference. I believe that while visiting Russia, he will emphasize China’s just position on the Ukraine crisis and, from the platform in Moscow, convey this attitude to the world. Not long ago, China also took part in a peace summit held by Saudi Arabia. The nature of that summit underwent a dramatic change by China’s participation. Without China, it could have been seen as an anti-Russian-alliance summit. After the summit, the Chinese and Russian foreign ministers also had a timely telephone call and exchanged their views. This time’s Chinese-Russian defense ministers dialogue can move the awareness further that the fundamentals of Chinese-Russian cooperation won’t change, that China’s fundamental position concerning the Ukraine problem won’t change, and that China will continue to promote regional stability and the concept of global peace.”
周戎专家就此发表了自己的看法：“需要强调的是，中国的支持并不意味着中国在俄乌问题上的立场发生变化，中国始终强调站在和平一方。我们看到，李尚福防长赴俄罗斯的主要目的是参加第十一届莫斯科国际安全会议。相信访俄期间，他也会强调中国在乌克兰危机上的公正立场，并通过莫斯科平台向世界传递这一态度。不久前中国还参加了沙特举办的和平峰会。该峰会因为中国的参加，性质发生极大变化。如若没有中国，可能就会被认为是反俄联盟峰会。峰会后中俄外长也及时互通电话，就问题交换了意见。此次中俄防长对话能够进一步强化意识，即中俄两国军事合作的基本盘不会变，中国在乌克兰问题上的基本立场不会变，中国将继续促进地区稳定，推动世界和平理念。这也恰恰是中国不会接受俄罗斯被孤立的原因。”
In his speech on the first day of the conference, Li Shangfu told the plenum that Chinese-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership relations had entered a new era of sustainable and stable development. Chinese-Russian relations in the military field had established an example of cooperation that was non-algined, non-confrontative and not directed against third parties.
在会议的第一天，李尚福在全体会议上致辞时指出，中俄全面战略协作伙伴关系进入新时代持续稳定发展。中俄军事领域关系树立了不结盟、不对抗、不针对第三方的合作典范。
Russian defense minister Shoigu’s assesssment of Russian-Chinese relations was similar. He said that from every perspective, these relations were already exceeding the level of strategic partnership.
俄罗斯国防部长绍伊古对俄中关系也做出了类似的评估。他说，从各个方面来看，这些关系已经超越了战略关系的水平。
Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ deiputy director Alexander Lomanov said in an interview with Sputnik that Russia and China have shaped a common language to describe mutual cooperation. It was very important that the two countries’ military people also had this common language.
俄罗斯科学院世界经济与国际关系研究所副所长亚历山大·洛马诺夫在接受俄罗斯卫星通讯社采访时表示，俄罗斯和中国已经形成了描述双边合作的共同语言，两国军人也有这种共同语言非常重要。
Expert Alexander Lomanov said: “That this common language has received approval and acceptance by the two countries’ military circles is an extremely important and constructive signal. It shows that Russian-Chinese relations, in all areas, have common principles and foundations. That’s to say, they are predictable. These declarations by the two defense ministers have explicitly confirmed that these relations won’t be influenced by situational turmoil. Sometimes, the West exerts more pressure on China than on Russia, and at other times, Russia faces greater pressure than China. These changes in Western policies are just there to create splits, to create the illusion in China that if Russia or China weaken their bilateral relations, they can earn themselves some advantages and convenience in their relations with the West. China and Russia have left this stage behind themselves and won’t fall for these kinds of tricks. This proves the maturity of relations. The two sides are perfectly aware that any promises and threats by Western countries aiming at Russia and China doubting each other are meaningless. The West is not prepared to develop substantial and constructrive relations with Russia or China. Only if the West arrives at the belief that it can’t destroy Russian-Chinese cooperation, Russia and China can face a matching partner – the Western powers.”
亚历山大·洛马诺夫专家说：“这一共同语言得到两国军界的认可和接受，是一个非常积极和建设性的信号。这表明俄中关系在各个领域都有共同的原则和基础。也就是说，它们都是可预测的。两国防长的这些表态明确证实了这些关系不受局势动荡的影响。有时西方对中国施加的压力比对俄罗斯大，有时俄罗斯面临的压力比中国大。西方政策的这些变化不过是为了制造分裂，给其中一方造成一种错觉，即俄中若削弱两国关系，可以给它们各自与西方的关系带来一些好处和方便。中国和俄罗斯已经超越了这个阶段，不会上这类伎俩的当。这证明了双边关系的成熟。双方十分清楚，西方国家任何旨在让俄中相互怀疑的许诺和恐吓都是毫无意义的。西方并没有准备与俄罗斯或中国发展实质性的建设性关系。只有当西方确信破坏不了俄中合作时，俄中两国才能面对一个配得上的对话者——西方大国。”
Alexander Lomanov emphasized the egalitarian characteristic of Russian-Chinese cooperation, pointing out that there were essential differences to Western-built alliances of all kinds.
亚历山大·洛马诺夫强调了俄中合作的平等特点，指出这与西方建立的各类联盟有着本质区别。
He said: “China has continuously emphasized during recent years that Sino-Russian relations are more than allied relations, that they go beyond alliance relations, this is a mechanism of higher quality. This is indeed the case. Western alliances are compeletely built on hierarchy. There are differences between major countries and non-major countries. Non-major countries must obey the major countries’ orders. Often, Western countries’ alliances are directed against others, against “bad” countries. Among Western countries, Russia and china are more and more often considered “bad” countries. At the same time, Russia and China actively protect themselves, but they won’t create trouble for others or use their combined economic and military strength to threaten others.”
他说：“近年来中方不止一次强调：中俄关系高于联盟关系，并超过联盟关系，这是一个质量更高的机制。事实的确如此。西方联盟完全建立在等级制度之上，有主要国家和非主要国家之别，非主要国家必须服从主要国家的命令。 通常，西方联盟是针对某人、针对“不好”的国家。在西方联盟中俄中越来越经常被列为“坏”国家。与此同时俄罗斯和中国正在积极努力保护自己，但不会以给他人制造麻烦或利用其经济和军事潜力的综合实力来恐吓他人为代价。”
On the Moscow International Security Conference, both the Russian and Chinese defense ministers have expressed their willingness to strengthen military support with the Asia-Pacific region. Shoigu pointed out that one of Russia’s most important cooperation partners there was India, and that Russia had historically established special relations with India. With Vietnam, Myanmar, Mongolia, Laos, Indonesia, Bangla Desh and other countries, Russia shares the experience of joint struggle against colonial rule.
在莫斯科国际安全会议上，俄中两国防长都表示要加强与亚太地区的军事合作。绍伊古指出，俄罗斯在该地区最重要的合作伙伴之一是印度，俄罗斯历史上与印度建立了一种特殊关系。俄罗斯与越南、缅甸、蒙古、老挝、印度尼西亚、孟加拉国等国都拥有共同反对殖民统治的斗争经验。
Li Shangfu said that China wanted to strengthen military exchange with all countries of the world, with ASEAN countries and bordering countries, and to improve the development and level of military relations with European Union countries. On the foundations of mutual trust, cooperation and win-win, China would also strengthen its traditional friendship with Latin America, the Caribbean and southern Pacific countries.
李尚福防长表示，中国愿加强同世界各国军队的军事交流，加强同东盟国家和周边国家的军事合作，提高与欧盟国家的军事关系发展水平。并在平等互信、合作共赢的基础上加强同拉美、加勒比、南太地区国家的传统友谊。

“Beijing News” on the Korean War: Returns to the Yalu River

The following is a translation of a video first published by “Beijing News” (新京报) on July 19. It is about a war veteran, Tang Zhanghong (唐章洪), who entered the “People’s Voluntary Army” age 15, and went to war age 16.
Translation mistakes are likely. Links within blockquotes were added during translation.

Main Link:

“The People’s Volunteer Army’s ‘amazing gunner who awes the enemy’: ‘If I get killed but killed two of you, it’s two-to-one'”

(Material from Beijing Film Productions – the banner tells the passing soldiers to respect North Korean customs)

Originally, I was chairman of the student union, organizing all schools’ propaganda work. We promoted Resisting America and Aiding Korea, and defending the country. America had started a war of aggression, and our country was seriously under threat. The entire country needed to mobilize. At the time, I set an example and reported first for military duty. At the time, our supplementary division in Zhongjiang County had more than 6,000 people joining. We first trained a bit together, in Sichuan. Then we pulled to the Northeast. As I wasn’t very tall at the time – leaving for combat was both a night march and a forced march – four grenades were enough for me. That grenade belt was rather long, and I didn’t know how to shorten it, so it kept chafing back and forth. That didn’t only wear on my trousers, but on my skin and flesh, too, making it bleed. The blood caked my trousers. On an evening in early April, 1951, we took a train to the city of Dandong. When we arrived in Dandong, the city was an empty place with nobody in it. Glass windows had been pasted with “mi”-shaped tape to prevent the glass from flying around and injuring people when the enemy planes flew bombing raids. We felt a sense of war, because whereever someone smoked, you saw those lights. The air-raid sirens went on and on, and our unit’s commanders hurriedly said: “It’s not allowed to smoke! No open light is allowed! Extinguish your cigarettes right away. So we felt this sort of a war atmosphere.

我原来是学生会主席，组织各个学校搞宣传工作。就宣传抗美援朝，保家卫国。美国发动了侵略战争，我们国家受了严重的威胁。全国都要动员起来。当时我就带头报名参了军。当时我们新兵补充师中江县就有六千多人参军。先在四川集训了一下。最后就拉到东北。因为我当时我个子还不太高，出国（作战）又是夜行军又是急行军。吃够了四个手榴弹的苦头。那个（挂手榴弹）的带子比较长，也不知道把带子挽起来收短一点，就磨来磨去。不但把裤子磨烂了，而且把皮肉都磨破了磨破了流出的血。把那个裤腿都变得硬壳了。１９５１年４月初的一个晚上坐着火车到丹东市。到丹东市的时候，丹东市满城都是一座无人的空城了。玻璃窗户上都贴着米字条1)。为了敌机轰炸的时候，玻璃不会震碎，飞溅出来伤人。我们就感觉有一种战争的气氛了，因为谁一抽烟，那里一打手电筒。那个防空警报就响个不停，部队的领导就赶快说：不准抽烟！不准打明火！赶快把烟给灭了。我们就感到有种战争的气味。

Video 2 minutes, 37 seconds

After entering the Korean War, Tang Zhanghong was first deployed to do secretarial work, but he wholeheartedly dedicated himself to the service of his country and applied for entry into the Volunteer Army 15th corps 45th command’s 135th regimental battery.

入朝作战后，唐章洪先被安排做文书。一心报国的他主动请求加入志愿军第１５军４５帅１３５团炮连。

Video 2 minutes, 50 seconds

Our equipment was really inferior. The enemy, having lots of steel, gunpowder, more planes and artillery, was in a position to wine and dine at his camp, to bask in the sun, and even to do exercise on some parallel bars moved there. He was very blasé. So in our camp, many were rather unconvinced of this arrogance. We will snipe you, and when we hit one of you, we’ve got one of you, and when we’ve hit two of you, it is worth to sacrifice ourselves, because then it’s two-to-one.

我们的装备非常劣势。敌人因为他钢铁多，弹药多，他飞机大炮多，他会在阵地上吃酒画卷晒太阳，甚至把单杠双杠都搬来阵地前沿来锻炼身体。他很无所谓。所以我们这边阵地上有很多人就很不服气。你嚣张，你很狂妄。老子2)瞄准你，放倒你一个算一个，打了你两个，我就是牺牲了。我还赚了一个。

Video 3 minutes, 30 seconds

In October 1950, the Battle of Triangle Hill started. Tang Zhanghong remembers it as the most desperate fight of the war.

１９５０年１０月上甘岭战役3)打响
在唐章洪的回忆里这也是他所经历过最为惨烈的一场战役。

Video 3 minutes, 40 seconds

The Battle of Triangle Hill started suddenly. The fiercest day was the first day, on the fourteenth (of October, 1952). The enemy fired more than 300000 artillery shells into our territory of 3.7 square kilometers. At the time, it wasn’t grass that was flying through the skies, but tree branches and trunks flying into our fortifications. You wouldn’t see the daylight, and there was smoke everywhere. All communications had been cut off. You had to be very close to each other to communicate. You could see the other’s mouth move, but you would hear no sound. So what else could we do but to keep firing away as long as we weren’t out of shells (hearing no orders). So more than 100 or 200 shells went out, and the gun barrel couldn’t be cooled down. It seemed as if it even turned red. Your hand sizzled when you touched it. And we had no more water to cool it down.

[Translation of the following requires better Chinese than mine, and some technical understanding, or having watched the recent propaganda movies about the Korean war, which I haven’t. The issue is that the gunners have run out of water to cool the gun, and use piss instead, probably to fill the gun’s jacket. Tang calls the measure an inspiration, probably not knowing that it has been done before, in WW1. While cooling the gun, the Mustang-type enemy planes begin their attacks, Tang seeks cover under the gun, and is rescued into the fortifications.]

上甘岭战役是突然发生的。打得最惨烈的战斗最激烈的就是（１９５２年１０月）１４日的第一天。敌人向我们３.７平方公里的战区内一共先后就发射了３０多万发炮弹。当时天空不是草皮飞舞，就是树枝炸碎的树干树块飞舞不断地掉进我们工事里面来。不见天白，到处是烟雾。通讯联络全部中断。人与人之间说话离得很近的地方说话。只看到他嘴巴在动，听不到声音。所以我们只要有炮弹就要连续发射（听不见发令）。就发射了１００多２００发出去。那炮身就会不断升温，甚至炮管几乎烧红了。这手一摸就烫得手滋滋叫。给炮降温又找不到水。灵机一动。我说你们弹药手赶^快都出来，对着炮衣或者一件棉衣赶快撒尿，撒湿了以后把棉衣裹到炮身上。哪个炮身就滋滋叫，就发出很浓的厌恶。尿骚味非常强烈。呛得非常难受。最后敌人就派来了。超低空飞行的野马式战斗轰炸机。当时我正在给炮身降温，听到那个炸弹的叫声（很近）下来。我就赶快往炮架下面一蹲。最后弹药手们在猫耳洞里看到人炮都埋在工事下面。他们就赶快深入到炮工事里面。掀石块，搬石块，把我扒出来了，抢救回猫耳洞了。这个地方是当时石头砸的。这个地方砸了一个洞。当时伤口也在出血。

Video 5 minutes, 42 seconds

After regaining conscience, we learned that the front line camp had been lost and that the enemy was attacking the peak line from there. But as long as you have shells, you can fire them at the front line (occupied by the enemy). I only had a barrel at the time, and used my body to support it, keeping it steady with my right hand. We fired about twenty shells to the frontline.

苏醒过来（收到）报告，说前沿阵地已失守。现在敌人正在（从前沿阵地）向往峰阵地攻击。你们只要有炮弹，在五分钟之内，你们把炮弹送（打）到主峰的前沿阵地（敌占）去。我当时就只有一个炮身，我就用身体作为支架。右手紧紧地换住炮的上半身。我们就发射了２０来发炮弹（到）主峰前沿阵地。

Video 6 minutes, 19 seconds

In the Triangle Hill Battle, Tang Zhanghong fired more than 8,000 shells, becoming the military’s renowned “amazing gunner who awes the enemy”. After the war he was further awarded. On July 27, 1953, the armistice was officially signed. The end of the war to resist America and to aid Korea was officially announced. The People’s Voluntary Army victoriously returned home.

在上甘岭战役中，唐章洪打出８０００多发炮弹，成为闻名全军的「威震敌胆神炮手」。战后补记特等功。１９５３年７月２７日「关于朝鲜军事停战的协定」正式签署。抗美援朝战争宣告结束。中国人民志愿军胜利归国。

Video 7 minutes

When we were returning, we were on a sealed train. So it was only on the second day at dawn that we knew that we had passed the Yalu River and were on the ground of the motherland again. We saw farmers tilling and fellow countrymen going to work. We were very happy. Because our motherland had been kept at peace, and we had just done our duty as revolutionary soldiers. There’s nothing that would justify pride, and nothing extraordinary. Heros who get named are a minority. There are more heros who died with the enemies and whose names aren’t known.

我们回来的时候是坐闷罐车（封闭车厢火车）。所以第二天天亮的时候我们才知道过了鸭绿江了，已经回到祖国的地方上了。看到农民在耕种，看到老乡在出工。我们的心情感到很愉快。因为我们祖国得到了和平的保障，作为我们个人来说，只不过我们作为一位革命战士是尽了一点我们应尽的职责和担当而已。并没有什么值得骄傲，或者有什么了不起的地方。知道姓名的英雄模范人物，有名有姓的，是少数。不知道姓名的同敌人同归于尽的无名英雄还更多。

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“Voice of Korea”: Great-Fatherland Tunes

The following is a newsitem broadcast by the “Voice of Korea” (North Korea’s international broadcaster) today.
Link: “Grand performance given in presence of President of State Affairs Kim Jong Un”

“Twelve o’clock midnight on July 27” corresponds with 15:00 UTC on July 26.

“A letter of Xi Jinping”, Voice of Korea, July 27

A grand performance for celebrating the 70th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War was given at twelve o’clock midnight on July 27.
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, appreciated the performance.
Before appreciating the performance, he warmly greeted Li Hongzhong, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China on a visit to the DPRK on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the great war victory, and conversed with him in a friendly atmosphere.
Li Hongzhong, who visited Pyongyang leading the party and government delegation of China, courteously conveyed a letter of Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People’s Republic of China, to Kim Jong Un, on the occasion of the V-Day.
Kim Jong Un expressed thanks for it and extended his heartfelt thanks to Xi Jinping.
He said to Li Hongzhong, head of the party and government delegation of China: Our V-Day July 27 has come to shine all the more since we are celebrating the common holiday of the peoples of the DPRK and China together. Xi Jinping has sent the party and government delegation to Pyongyang in such an important period and it demonstrates his will in attaching great importance to the DPRK-China friendship.
No matter how many years may go by and no matter how many times the generations may change, the Korean people will never forget the precious blood shed by the Chinese People’s Volunteers for war victory and their noble spirit and soul. The WPK and the DPRK government will, in the future, too, make efforts to further strengthen the friendship and solidarity with the fraternal Chinese people and always advance hand in hand with the Chinese people in the struggle for socialism.
When Kim Jong Un came out to the auditorium of the theatre together with the heads of the delegations, stormy cheers shook the theatre.
Pretty children presented him with fragrant bouquets.
The delegation heads were also presented with bouquets of friendship.
The performance was appreciated by members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, senior officials of the Party, the government and the military, war veterans, persons of wartime merits and other participants in the celebrations.
Invited to enjoy the performance were members of the party and government delegation of the People’s Republic of China and the military delegation of the Russian Federation.
The grand performance was given by major art organizations including the State Merited Chorus, the Band of the State Affairs Commission and the Wangjaesan Art Troupe, and artistes and students of civilian and military art organizations and art educational institutions.
It started with the prelude “Tell, Fireworks Display for the War Victory” and “July 27, Our Victory Day”. Put on the stage were wartime songs, songs in praise of the war victory, songs of faith sung in the decades of succession and various other programs.
The performers highly praised the tremendous exploits of the great leader Kim Il Sung who trained the Korean people as the most powerful persons with the indomitable spirit and matchless strength of punishing the imperialist tyranny and created the history of miraculous victory admired by humanity in the grim period with the extreme arrogance and arbitrariness of the would-be world’s “strongest” US imperialists, and thus effected a fierce storm of revolution for anti-imperialist independence and national liberation.
Performers also sang a series of Chinese and Russian songs they specially prepared for the goodwill envoys who have visited Pyongyang.
The performance ended with the epilogue “People Offer Glory to Our Party” and “July 27, Our Victory Day”.
Kim Jong Un congratulated the performers on their successful performance with his warm acknowledgement.

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Related

NK, China and Russia commemorate “victory”, CNN, July 27, 2023
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Wuxiwooshee: Trying to transcribe Major-General Jin Yinan

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That’s Major-General Jin Yinan (金一南), a Chinese Major-General, Professor, author and CPBS radio columnist with peculiar opinions about the Netherlands and Norway (click picture underneath for more info):

Also, I find him difficult to understand.

Here goes:

Question: 欢迎收听一南军事论坛。我是[Zhou Yuting]。 北约军事委员会主席罗伯·鲍尔^*)一月二十八日在接受媒体采访时公开表态说，北约准备与俄罗斯直接对抗。他的这个表态迅速引发国际社会的广泛关注。对此，俄罗斯国家杜马回应称，这种言论正在将整个世界投入和战争。那么北约真的要直接与俄罗斯开战吗？ 和战争的威胁是否离人类越来越近。这些就是今天一南军事论坛要关注的话题。首先欢迎金一南教授。金一南教授，您好！

Jin Yinan: 你好！

Question: 我们都知道自从俄乌开战以来，以美国为首的西方国家在对俄罗斯实施多轮建立制裁的同时，还…不断的向乌克兰提供各种军事援助。那么，北约军事委员会主席罗伯·鲍尔的自谈表态是否意味着北约已经做好准备将直接与俄罗斯开战？

Jin Yinan: 他这种讲话就北约准备与俄罗斯直接对抗－－这种话的份量非常重。不是间接对抗。与俄罗斯直接对抗。几乎就说就让往这个欧洲大战faran中。这是一个非常严重的采取啊。我觉得一辈子两次世界大战see-sai和现在有长效和平的欧洲人应该对鲍尔的话感到非常震惊。 原来北约的整个态度－－谴责俄罗斯，制裁俄罗斯，提供优先的军备－－这个优先军备是什么呢？就wuxiwoosheewooshee现在慢慢转进wuxiwoosheewooshee。现在向乌克兰提供美国的Abrahams坦克，德国的”豹”式坦克等等适于最先进的一种坦克…，那就完全不是wuxiwoosheewooshee了，是wuxiwoosheewooshee。
[…..]

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Notes

Clues:	防御性的武器 — 进攻性的武器
*)	Robert Bauer
—	Want to try yourselves? Give it a go there (starts at 19′ 45”)

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Xi Jinping’s Rabbit of the Year

The following are translated excerpts of China’s main evening TV news, Xinwen Lianbo, on January 20th, 2023.
Links within blockquotes added during translation.
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CCTV News (Xinwen Lianbo): The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council held a Spring Festival meeting in the Great Hall of the People in the morning of December 20th. Communist Party of China Secretary General, State Chairman and Central Military Commissions Chairman Xi Jinping gave a speech on behalf of the Central Committee and the State Council, wishing a happy new year to the entire nation’s and the entire people’s nationalities, to the compatriots in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, to the compatriots in Macau Special Administrative Region, and to the Taiwanese and overseas Chinese compatriots.
央视网消息（新闻联播）：中共中央、国务院20日上午在人民大会堂举行2023年春节团拜会。中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平发表讲话，代表党中央和国务院，向全国各族人民，向香港特别行政区同胞、澳门特别行政区同胞、台湾同胞和海外侨胞拜年。

^{Absolutely rabbit: Kang Hui announces the happy gathering}

Xi Jinping emphasized that the outgoing year of the tiger’s thirty-ninth year I3 of the 60 year cycle [i. e. 2022] had been a year of utmost importance in the history of the party and the country. Facing an unusually stormy international environment and formidable duties of reform, development and stability at home, the entire party, the entire army and the entire country with all its nationalities rose to the challenges, fought unitedly, and based on the enthusiasm of the soaring tiger and the leaping dragon, dared to enter the tiger’s cave, and wrote, with fortitude and tenacity, a new chapter of socialist modernization.
习近平强调，即将过去的壬寅虎年，是党和国家发展史上极为重要的一年。面对风高浪急的国际环境和艰巨繁重的国内改革发展稳定任务，全党全军全国各族人民迎难而上、团结奋斗，凭着龙腾虎跃的干劲、敢入虎穴的闯劲、坚忍不拔的韧劲，书写了社会主义现代化建设的新篇章。

Li Keqiang presided over the meeting, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Wang Qishan attended the meeting.

李克强主持团拜会，栗战书、汪洋、李强、赵乐际、王沪宁、韩正、蔡奇、丁薛祥、李希、王岐山等出席。

[…]

Xi Jinping pointed out that in traditional Chinese culture, the Rabbit is referred to as the auspicious Jade Rabbit, standing for resourcefulness and nimbleness, honesty and kindness, serenity and beauty. The auspicious rabbit represents symbolizes the increasingly auspicious peace, abundant vitality and youthful energy of the Chinese lands. In the lunar year of the Rabbit, we hope that the entire people, and especially many young people, will leap ahead in the way of the Rabbit and exert themselves in all areas of life in a graceful manner.

习近平指出，在中华传统文化中，兔被称为瑞兔、玉兔，代表着机智敏捷、纯洁善良、平静美好。吉兔呈祥，象征中华大地愈发安宁祥和、生意盎然、朝气蓬勃。在农历兔年，希望全国人民特别是广大青年像动如脱兔般奋跃而上、飞速奔跑，在各行各业竞展风流、尽显风采。

Leading and old comrades from the Central Committee, the National People’s Congress’s Standing Committee, the State Council, theNational Supervision Commission,  the Supreme People’s Court, the People’s Republic of China Supreme People’s Procurate, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended the gathering.

中共中央、全国人大常委会、国务院、国家监委、最高人民法院、最高人民检察院、全国政协、中央军委领导同志和老同志出席团拜会。

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Related

“Open the Skies for the Young”, May 5, 2013

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Air Defense Competition, Particular Honors and Promotions

^{“Hold on to revolution, advance production, advance work, advance war preparation”}
The following is my translation from an article first published by the “China Defense Paper” (中国国防报), a paper run by a “People’s Liberation Army” publishing house which also publishes the “People’s Liberation Army Daily”. It was published online by China’s ministry of defense website on September 9, 2022.
Development of civil air defense reportedly started in 1950, when the CPC Central Committee issued a circular for an organizing committee that would then establish a “Central People’s Air Defense Committee” (中共中央发出通知，成立中央人民防空委员会筹委会). “Baike Baidu”, an online encyclopedia:

The masses are both the object and the force of Civil Air Defense. In addition to Civil Air Defense staff, the important goals of partners like government agencies, enterprises and public institutions as well as from all sides of society are also included, as are all aspects of societal life. Civil Air Defense are manifold, including evacuations, camouflage, dealing with the aftermath of air raids, etc..
人民群众既是人民防空对象，又是人民防空力量。人民防空对象除了人员以外，还包括政府机构、企业事业单位等重要目标，以及社会生活的各个方面。人民防空行动形式多样，包括疏散防护、隐蔽防护、消除空袭后果等。

There have been earlier days of mass mobilization, then against a suspicious power very near there – the USSR, in the 1960s.
The concept of mass mobilisation was confirmed in the 1990s, with an air defense law

adopted at the 202nd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People’s Congress on October 29, 1996, promulgated by Order No. 78 of the President of the People’s Republic of China on October 29, 1996, and effective as of January 1, 1997.

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According to the 1996 air-defense law,

[a]s authorized by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, the major military commands shall exercise leadership in the work of civil air defense in the areas under their command.

The article you are going to read describes three particular fields of competition: satellite communication, mobile-devices communication and shortwave communication.
As far as these fields of science are concerned, the 1996 law stipulates that

The tasks to be performed by mass organizations for air defense in time of　war include dealing with emergencies, doing rush repairs, providing medical aid, preventing and extinguishing fire, engaging in epidemic prevention, disinfection and sterilization, eliminating contamination, ensuring signal communications, rescuing people, doing emergency transportation of goods and materials and maintaining public order, and in time of peace they shall assist the departments for fighting against floods and earthquakes in dealing with emergencies and doing disaster relief.

That said, the army wants specialized people within its ranks, not somewhere else. And as Chinese people can be drafted (without being asked), a guideline published (or publicised) by the “PLA” in August suggests that drafts during the later months of this year would be based on skills which are particularly relevant for war prepration.

The article.
Main Link: “I particularly care about this honor” (我特别看重这份荣誉)

From August 30 to August 31, the 2022 Henan Provincial Civil Air Defense System Skills Competiton was carried out in the city of Hebi. In contrast to the past, success during the competiton was linked to the contestants’ professional advancement. For example, workers and handymen, no matter if junior, intermediate or senior workers, can all be promoted to a higher position right away, with payment and status being adjusted accordingly.
8月30日至31日，2022年河南省人防系统职业技能竞赛在鹤壁市举行。与以往不同，这次竞赛成绩与参赛选手个人职业等级晋升挂钩。比如，对于工勤技能岗位人员而言，无论是初级工、中级工还是高级工，只要进入竞赛前3名，均可直接晋升为技师，工资待遇也会相应调整。
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This change has been made because the Civil Air Defense System Skills Competiton has been integrated into the 2022 Henan Provincial vocational technical skills competiton plan. “The Civil Air Defense communication skills competition is technologically demanding, strict in its standard requirements, and should enjoy preferential regional industrial and technical competition policies.“ Someone in charge at the provincial Human Resources and Social Security Department’s professional capacity-building office explained that “according to the ‘Henan Province Professional Skills Competition (trial) Administrative Method’, three new items have been added this time, concerning: Civil Air Defense satellite communication, Civil Air Defense shortwave communication, and Civil Air Defense mobile device operators. With certain results, participants qualify for professional promotion.
变化，源于这次人防技能竞赛被纳入2022年河南省职业技能竞赛计划。“人防通信技能竞赛，技术含量高、标准要求严，理应享受地方职业技能竞赛优惠政策。”该省人社厅1职业能力建设处相关负责人介绍，依据《河南省职业技能竞赛管理办法（试行）》，此次新增了人防卫星、短波、移动通信机务员3个项目；参赛人员取得一定成绩，即获得职业等级晋升资格。
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“Integrating war preparation competitions, practicing perfect mastery and ability.” In accordance with this line of thought, Henan Province Civil Air Defense Office first mobilized those to sign up who were up to the condition, and then instructed Municipal Civil Air Defense Offices to hold preliminary competitions to select the best from those already best so as to ensure a high starting point for the provincial finals.
“结合备战竞赛，练强过硬本领。”按照这一思路，河南省人防办首先动员符合条件的人员踊跃报名参加，然后指导各地市人防办举办预赛、优中选优，确保省决赛的高起点。
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To ensure impartiality and fairness, the National University of Defense and Technology’s School of Communication and Information, counterpart units from Shandong, Guangxi, Sichuan and other provinces, Hebi City Fire and Rescue Brigade and other third parties were invited to send referees.
Extra efforts were made in the design of the test settings. For example, shortwave transmitter-receivers had to work with groundwaves instead of skywaves, because propagation of the latter is variably influenced [by the ionosphere]. This is how variations in assignment conditions for the participants were avoided.
为保证竞赛公平公正，他们不仅邀请国防科技大学信息通信学院，山东、广西、四川等兄弟单位，鹤壁市消防救援支队作为第三方，派出专家和技术人员担任裁判，而且还在赛题设置上下了一番功夫。比如，短波电台要借助地波而不是天波进行通联，天波受天气影响较大，这样可避免前后上场的选手作业条件出现较大差异。
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Zhang Guoyin, a high-level worker from Zhengzhou City Civil Air Defense Office, achieved the second position at the Civil Air Defense mobile device operators which means that, according to the rewards policy, he can be promoted to the position of a technician^*) right away. “The things demanded in this competiton are pretty much what I’m practising and using regularly anyway, so I could do this quite safely.” Zhang Guoyin told this reporter that to get promoted had by no means been as easy in the past. In 2016, he passed his high-level worker exam, but the acceptance quota was limited, and he was only promoted in 2019.
郑州市人防办高级工张国印，在移动通信机务员赛项中获得第二名，按照奖励政策，他可以直接晋升为技师。“这次竞赛的内容，基本都是平时常训常练常用的，考起来得心应手。”张国印告诉记者，以前晋级可没这么顺利。他在2016年通过了高级工考试，但受名额数量所限，直到2019年才得以晋升。
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Tan E, winner of the gold medal at the shortwave communication operators’ competition, is a technician at the Provincial Civil Air Defense command information support center. As far as technicians are concerned, the first three of them [in the competition], won’t be benefitted in terms of payment, but are exempted from two theoretical senior-technician exams. They also earn themselves a title as “Henan Province technology experts”. “I used to be with the signal corps, and I particularly care about this honor.” Holding his certificate in his hands, Tan E couldn’t hide his joy.
在短波通信机务员赛项中夺得金牌的谭峨，是省人防指挥信息保障中心的一名技师。对于技师而言，前3名的成绩虽然不与工资待遇挂钩，但可在高级技师考试中免考2门理论，并可获得“河南省技术能手”称号。“我曾是一名通信兵，特别看重这份荣誉。”谭峨手捧荣誉证书，难掩心中的喜悦。
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There were also active engineers taking part. Gao Bing, associate engineer from the Nanyang Civil Air Defense Office, Liu Wei, intermediate engineer from Hebi Civil Air Defense Office, won gold medals in satellite and mobile device operations respectively. These are excellent successes, laying the foundations for their next professional evaluations. Zhu Anwei, second-class floorwalker at the Provincial Civil Air Defense Office, believes that competiton among staff from specialised technological posts doesn’t only help the participants’ maturity and progress, but also provides everyone with role models, goals to achieve, and is beneficial for the promotion of building skilled and talented echelons.
竞赛场上还活跃着工程师人员的身影。南阳市人防办助理工程师高冰、鹤壁市人防办中级工程师刘伟，分别获得卫星、移动通信机务员竞赛项目金牌。优异的成绩，给他们下一步的职称评定奠定了基础。省人防办二级巡视员朱安伟认为，安排专业技术岗位人员上阵比武，不仅对他们个人成长进步有帮助，而且能让大家学有榜样、赶有目标，有利于推动技能人才梯队建设。
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Those who have earned themselves gold and silver medals have been awarded, and the others don’t consider their participation wasted time either. According to releveant regulations, those who finished 4th to 10th can be promoted. “A moment on stage takes several years of practice off-stage.” According to what leaders at the Civil Air Defense Office say, having gone through several months of ample war preparation not only brought the participants’ professional skills to new levels, but also built a good atmosphere within the provincial civil air defense system that leans on personal technical skills and on real accomplishment and improvement.
摘金夺银者有奖，其他参赛人员也不虚此行。每项赛事中获得第4至10名者，也可按相关规定晋升职业技能等级。“台上一分钟，台下数年功。”该省人防办相关领导介绍，经过几个月的充分备战，这次竞赛不仅让参赛选手业务技能上了一个大台阶，而且在全省人防系统中营造了凭技能立身、靠实绩进步的良好氛围。

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Note

^*) A reformed eight-level remuneration scale has reportedly been in place earlier this year. It includes the ranks of 学徒工 (apprentice), 初级工 (junior worker), 中级工 (intermediate worker), 高级工 (senior worker), 技师 (technician), 高级技师 (senior technician), 特级技师 (top senior technician), 首席技师 (chief technician) – see Industrial Bank of China and the CPC Central Committee’s “Qiushi” (bimonthly English-language edition) for sources
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August 15, 1945 Commemoration: Putin, Kim, according to KCNA

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Dizzying heights: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin,
Vladivostok, April 25. 2019 (Source: Kremlin)

Putin to Kim Jong-un	金正恩收到普京发来的贺电
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a message of greeting from Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on August 15.	朝中社平壤８月１５日电　朝鲜民主主义人民共和国国务委员长金正恩同志１５日收到了俄罗斯联邦总统弗拉基米尔•弗拉基米罗维奇•普京发来的贺电。
In the message, Putin extended sincere felicitation to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un on the occasion of the day of liberation, a national holiday.	普京总统在贺电中表示，值此民族节日——解放日之际，谨向尊敬的金正恩阁下致以由衷的祝贺。
The message noted that the two countries have deeply kept the memories of servicepersons of the Red Army and patriots of Korea who fought shoulder to shoulder for the liberation of Korea.	我们两国珍藏着为了实现朝鲜的解放，并肩作战的红军战士们和朝鲜的爱国者的回忆。
The glorious traditions of friendship and cooperation gained in the grim days serve as a durable foundation for developing the good neighborly relations between the Russian Federation and the DPRK today, it stressed.	在严峻的年代里缔造的友好合作的光荣传统，如今也成为发展俄罗斯联邦和朝鲜民主主义人民共和国之间睦邻关系的牢固基础。
It said that we would continue to expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with common efforts,	普京总统表示相信，我们做出共同努力，将继续扩大综合性的建设性双边关系。
adding that this would entirely conform with the interests of the peoples of the two countries and contribute to strengthening the security and stability of the Korean peninsula and the whole of the Northeastern Asian region.	这将完全符合我们两国人民的利益，而且将为加强朝鲜半岛和整个东北亚地区安全与稳定做出贡献。
It wished Kim Jong Un good health and success and all citizens of the DPRK happiness and prosperity. -0-	普京总统在贺电中祝愿尊敬的金正恩阁下身体健康、事业有成，同时希望贵国的全体公民享受幸福和繁荣，并表示了敬意。（完）
http://www.kcna.kp (Juche111.8.15.)	http://www.kcna.kp (主体111.8.15.)

—

Kim Jong-un to Putin	金正恩向普京发去贺电
Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greeting to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on August 15.	朝中社平壤８月１５日电　朝鲜民主主义人民共和国国务委员长金正恩同志１５日向俄罗斯联邦总统弗拉基米尔•弗拉基米罗维奇•普京发去贺电。电文如下：
Kim Jong Un in the message extended the warm greetings to the president, the government and people of the Russian Federation on behalf of the government and the people of the DPRK on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of Korea’s liberation.	值此朝鲜解放７７周年之际，我以朝鲜民主主义人民共和国政府和人民的名义谨向你和俄罗斯联邦政府以及人民致以亲切的问候。
The servicepersons of the heroic Red Army showed the example of noble internationalism by dedicating their blood and precious lives to the struggle for liberating Korea, and merits and feats performed by them are deeply kept in the minds of the Korean people as an eternal monument, the message noted.	英勇的红军全体官兵在争取朝鲜解放的斗争中树立了无私奉献自己的鲜血和生命的国际主义的崇高典范，而且他们所建树的功绩和功勋作为永恒的纪念碑巍然屹立且永远珍藏在了我国人民的记忆中。
The DPRK-Russia friendship forged in the anti-Japanese war against the common enemy has been invariably consolidated and developed century after century, it noted, adding that the strategic and tactical cooperation, support and solidarity between the two countries have put on a new high stage in the common front for frustrating the hostile forces’ military threat and provocation, and high-handed and arbitrary practices.	在反对共同敌人的抗日大战年代里凝成的朝俄友谊跨世代和世纪不断得到巩固和发展下来，如今两国之间的战略战术合作和支持声援在粉碎敌对势力的军事威胁和挑衅、强权和专横的共同战线上正在提升到新的更高阶段。
It expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries based on comradely friendship and militant unity would grow stronger in all fields on the basis of the agreements reached at the 2019 meeting in Vladivostok and thus contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of the peoples of the two countries.	我表示相信，根植于同志式友谊和战斗团结的朝俄友好合作关系将本着２０１９年在符拉迪沃斯托克会晤中达成的协议精神，在各领域进一步得到蓬勃加强和发展，为实现两国人民的繁荣和福利做出贡献。
The message sincerely wished the Russian president good health and big success in his responsible work for defending the sovereignty and interests of the country and people and achieving the prosperity of the country. -0-	借此机会，衷心祝愿你身体健康，并在维护国家和人民的主权和利益、争取国家复兴的责任重大的工作中取得更大的成果。（完）
http://www.kcna.kp (Juche111.8.15.)	http://www.kcna.kp (主体111.8.15.)

Central Asia: Russia’s Restive “Bulk” of Allies

Links within blockquotes added during translation.

In another bid to prove his president’s claim to the global public that you can’t isolate Russia, Russian foreign minister Lavrov wrote in a signed article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta that Russia could see its trade with Central Asia growing dynamically despite “the turbulent geopolitical situation”, and that “the bulk” of Central Asian countries were Russia’s allies.

There’s probably a need to emphasize that, although the Russian government-owned Rossiyskaya Gazeta may not be an ideal communication channel to the Central Asian public.

That was long ago: a QSL card
from Radio Tashkent, December 1985

But then, security issues aren’t only Russia’s issue. Its allied “bulk” is worried about Moscow’s miltary rampage in Ukraine, and China’s relations with Central Asia may become affected, too.

“Due to its size and geography, China’s role [in Central Asia] will grow [following the war], but the SCO won’t have many success stories to point to”,

RFA/RL quotes Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center.

“Beijing is also now seen as a supporter of Russia and as a country that isn’t doing much to restrain Moscow when many [SCO members] are seeing it as a potential threat.”

Pengpai News (“The Paper”, Shanghai), by no means a natural critic of Russia, suggested in an article on April 25 that

Since Russia started its “special military operation” againly been upped further, and their immediate and long-term political and economic effects are slowly emerging. In the five Central Asian countries that once belonged to the Soviet region, the Russian-Ukrainian state of affairs has given rise to worries, with their approach becoming more and more subtle.

在刚刚经历过“一月政变”的哈萨克斯坦，从总统托卡耶夫到外交部长和国防部长都在公开表态中与莫斯科保持了一定的距离。哈官方承诺不会成为帮助俄罗斯规避西方制裁的工具，并接待了专程到访的美国副国务卿，两国还宣布拟扩大高水平战略伙伴关系。

Kazakhstan’s regime, despite Russian military dispatches to quell demonstrations against the Tokayev regime only weeks earlier,

officially promised not to become a tool that would help Russia in evading the West’s sanctions, and received a US deputy secretary of state’s special visit. The two countries announced that they would broaden their high-level strategic partnership.

哈官方承诺不会成为帮助俄罗斯规避西方制裁的工具，并接待了专程到访的美国副国务卿，两国还宣布拟扩大高水平战略伙伴关系。

Timur Suleimenov, first deputy chief of Kazakhstan’s Executive Office, is quoted by Pengpai News as saying that his country, while a member of the Eurasian Economic Union,

we are also a member of the international community. We do not want America and the European Union to impose secondary sanctions on Kazakhstan, therefore we have to prove to our European partners that Kazakhstan will not become a tool for Russia to evade America’s and the EU’s sanctions. We will abide by the sanctions.”

“虽然我们和俄罗斯、白俄罗斯一样，是欧亚经济联盟成员，但我们也是国际社会的一员，我们不希望美国和欧盟对哈萨克斯坦实施二级制裁，因此我们必须向欧洲的伙伴证明，哈萨克斯坦不会成为俄罗斯规避美国和欧盟制裁的工具。我们将遵守制裁。”

Kazakhstan’s president, having just been protected from his own people by Russian troops,

presented, in his State of the Nation address on March 16, an entire set of reform plans, and acknowledged frankly that the Russian-Ukrainian state of affairs had made the importance of national independence obvious. He promised to carry out comprehensive political reform.

托卡耶夫在最近一次于3月16日所作的国情咨文中拿出了一整套改革方案，他坦言眼前的俄乌局势凸显了国家独立重要性，并承诺进行全面政治改革。

Uzbekistan is quoted as even telling Russia to stop its “aggressive” behavior (停止“侵略”行为). To find a peaceful solution, Uzbekistan’s foreign minister Abdulaziz Kamilov is quoted,

“We support the search for a peaceful solution to this state of affairs, and a solution to this conflict by political and diplomatic means”. For this, “(Russia) must first end military activity and its invasion.”

“我们支持寻求和平解决这一局势，并通过政治和外交手段解决这一冲突”。为此，“（俄罗斯）首先必须结束军事活动和侵略”。

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan who are more dependent on Russia, and who have Russian military bases within their borders, kept “prudently silent” after the launch of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. To offset the return of many of its migrant workers from Russia, however, Kyrgyzstan negotiated with South Korea and Turkey, apparently to find work for its citizens there, and asked Turkey to ease visa restrictions on migrant workers.

The fallout, according to Pengpai News, is there: Both Kazakhtan and Uzbekistan are drawing closer to America. Even Russians flee to Uzbekistan, the Pengpai article says, to avoid military service in Russia. And Uzbek nationals have been warned by their government that they could face five years in prison if they serve in Russia’s military.