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Author Archives: GovWorldMag

Some reality breaks out in the EU

It was good to hear Mr Juncker say the EU had made a mistake in briefing in the way they did about the Downing Street dinner. Just as it makes sense for the UK to be friendly and positive in its offer and dealings with the EU as we prepare to leave, so it makes sense for the EU to be the same. We, after all, are an important market for their exports, a valued partner in many collaborations, an important part of their defence and security alliance, and a frequent ally or coalition partner in international matters. We are happy for that to remain true in the future but expect reciprocal good will.

There is a clear need for strong and stable leadership in the UK to represent our interests. The UK needs to explain patiently and firmly that we will be taking back control of our laws, our money and our borders. We also need to make clear that we are making a generous offer of continuity over trade, defence, security and many other joint ventures and common workings across a wide range of areas. There are technical matters to be settled over market access, transport rights, the rights of citizens living in each other’s territories and the rest that need not be difficult to resolve if there is good will on both sides. I see no lack of good will on the UK side. That is why Mr Juncker’s recalibration of the EU response is welcome.

It is never a good idea to try to punish your main customer. I still expect reality and commonsense to break out in due course in the EU over the UK departure, as it has done over the commentary on a dinner.

Meanwhile I see the Evening Standard on line gives prominence to the fear that university research will be damaged by Brexit. Have they not heard Ministers stating clearly talented and well qualified people will be free to come to the UK. This will include faculty members, with an open door for foreign students to undertake courses at our universities.

Promoted by Fraser Mc Farland on behalf of John Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG40 1XU

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John Redwood MP •

Star UAV to monitor forest fire

A CH-4 UAV takes off from a regional airport in the Greater Khingan Mountains for forest monitoring on May 10. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

A CH-4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), also known as a “rainbow drone,” was deployed recently in northeast China’s Greater Khingan Mountains to provide an “eye in the sky” for possible forest fires.

Its deployment followed pressing demands from local forestry authorities for an advanced form of forest monitoring and to provide an early warning in case of fire. It coincided with the 30th anniversary of a major fire in the Greater Khingan Mountains, on May 6, 1987.

Monitoring and surveillance to spot forest fires in the region were traditionally conducted by forest keepers’ visual observation from fixed look-out posts and, occasionally, from a manned aircraft.

Although quite effective, such methods were far from efficient enough and involved too much manpower, said Wu Pengchao, chief of the Tahe Aviation Station in the mountains.

By contrast, a fixed-wing UAV like the CH-4 is a far better solution. Its service ceiling is 7,200 meters. In normal operation, it can hover at an altitude of 4,000 – 5,000 meters and stay airborne for up to 40 hours, meaning one sortie can provide constant surveillance for almost two days during which time ground staff can take a rest in shifts.

The CH-4 is equipped with both visual and infrared sensors to allow it to see day and night.

In particular, its near-infrared sensors allow CH-4 to see through dense smoke and pinpoint the source of any fire, according to Zhou Nai’en, deputy general manager of CH UAV Company, which is affiliated to the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA).

“This is something human eyes can never achieve, no matter how many manned planes are mounted,” said Zhou, noting that traditional aerial observation for forest fire was conducted by people looking out through the plane’s portholes with binoculars.

The Tahe aviation station chief said the introduction of the UAV also followed the call from State Forestry Administration to enhance and innovate forest monitoring; the station chose CH-4 out of other homebuilt UAVs because of its superb performance over affordable price.

Forest surveillance is the latest mission to add to the list of civil tasks of rainbow drones whose good performance in overseas anti-terrorism operations has earned them fame as “star UAVs.”

Zhou, a designer for rainbow series drones, maintained that a UAV was a basic platform with the payload deciding whether its mission is military or civil.

Domestically, different types of rainbow drones have shown their strengths in geological exploration and exploitation, disaster area observation and regional communications enhancement. Their roles will soon be expanded to maritime surveillance, according to Zhou.

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East Asia

8 dead, 11 injured in Xinjiang earthquake

Residents receive treatment at Kuzigun Village in Taxkorgan County, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 11, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Eight people have been confirmed dead and 11 others were injured after a 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted Taxkorgan County in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 5:58 a.m. Thursday.

Witnesses said frequent tremors have been felt after the quake.

The search and rescue work is underway.

The injured people have been sent to hospital for treatment.

The epicenter, with a depth of about 8.0 km, was monitored at 37.58 degrees north latitude and 75.25 degrees east longitude in the southeast part of the Pamir Plateau.

Taxkorgan, some 1,250 kilometers from Urumqi, capital of the region, borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

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East Asia