China expresses ‘concern’ over developments in South Ossetia and Abkhazia; Mongolia and China hold the third Defense Security Consultation; SCO issues joint declaration on security, energy, says force will not solve all problems
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    • Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang expressed “concern” over the developments in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and hoped that the relevant parties could resolve the issue “through dialogue and consultation.” The Chinese reaction was in response to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recognizing the independence of the two regions1.

    President Hu Jintao during his visit to South Korea stated that trade and economic cooperation was important elements of the bilateral relationship. Bilateral trade reached nearly $160 billion in 20072. Both sides also discussed North Korean denuclearization.

    The National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top Chinese political advisory body, in its meeting noted that a balance between the urban and rural development of China was key to the cause of ‘Socialism with Chinese Characteristics3.’

    Mongolian and Chinese officials held the third Defense Security Consultation at which various issues like the regional security situation, international peacekeeping, bilateral ties among others were discussed. Chen Xiaogong, Assistant Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the State Secretary of the Mongolian Defense Ministry M. Borbaatar led the two delegations. Chen noted that high-level exchanges, personnel training, and cooperation in frontier defence had been highly effective in pushing forward the bilateral ties4.

    The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) issued a joint declaration on security, energy and other issues of mutual interests. The declaration noted that any attempt to solve problems by merely resorting to force could not work and would only hinder a comprehensive settlement of local conflicts. They agreed that a comprehensive solution to existing problems could be by taking into account the interests of all parties involved5.

    Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev also met in the Tajik capital Dushanbe to discuss various bilateral issues. This was the second meeting between the two leaders in less than two months6.

    President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan expressed optimism that the US would approve the sale of weapon systems package to Taiwan. The equipment included anti-tank missiles, Apache helicopters, Patriot PAC-3 missile batteries, diesel-powered submarines, P3C anti-submarine aircraft, sea-launched Harpoon missiles and Black Eagle helicopters7.

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