BEIJING - CHINA'S military-backed space programme will send scientists on future manned missions as its demand for technical expertise rises, state media reported on Friday.

Plans call for the programme to begin setting up space laboratories after 2012, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.

BRUSSELS - CHINA lacks the moral authority, including over the question of Tibet, to be a true superpower, the Dalai Lama said on Thursday during a European tour that has angered Beijing.

After addressing the EU parliament in Brussels, the Tibetan spiritual leader said China 'deserves to be a superpower' given its huge population and economic and military strength.

BEIJING - A CHINESE general has called for the country's navy to join the fight against Somali pirates, saying the mission would boost China's international stature and give its sailors valuable experience in fighting open ocean combat operations far from their home ports.

Chinese ships have been among those seized in a wave of pirate attacks this year, including the fishing vessel Tianyu No 8, seized in mid-November.