Top Story of the Week: US, Vietnam sign nuclear trade agreement
TOP STORIES
U.S. and Vietnam Sign Nuclear Trade Agreement
Among the feverish talk of an Iran nuclear deal, the United States has signed a nuclear trade agreement with Vietnam, according to Reuters. In order to build its nuclear capacity, Vietnam will deepen its energy links with Russia, who according to Reuters will help build the nation’s first nuclear power plant. According to Secretary of State John Kerry, President Obama is expected to look over the agreement and send it to Congress for approval by the end of the year. This agreement comes at a time when Vietnam’s rapid economic growth is increasing its energy demands. The production of nuclear energy is considered a mechanism to provide for the country’s increasing energy needs. The Vietnam energy market has seen an increase in foreign investment and interest. However, given Vietnam’s practice of subsidizing non-nuclear energy sources potentially lowers incentives for potential investors.
House Launches Oversight Committee Focused on Rebalance to Asia
Tensions flared over the weekend in the East China Sea, as Japan scrambled fighter jets to confront Chinese planes, and concerns over the South China Sea continue to run high. Administration officials continue to tout the U.S. defense pivot to the region as the key priority for the military, but some key elements, such as the relocation of marines from Okinawa to Guam, are threatened by the current budget environment. The House Armed Services Committee has launched an oversight effort called the HASC Asia-Pacific Oversight Series, which will focus on bringing greater attention to security efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. Rep. Randy Forbes will lead the effort and has promised to strike a more bipartisan tone. Secretary Kerry struck a conciliatory tone during his visit to the East Asia Summit, encouraging multilateral dialogue over disputed areas in the South China Sea and East China Sea. He gave tacit backing to claims by U.S. ally the Philippines, but stopped short of making an open proclamation on the issue.
IN THIS UPDATE
Regional Spotlight
China under international pressure over islands dispute Turkish Weekly 10 Oct 2013
China came under heavy pressure Oct.10 as U.S. and Japan both geared up to take on the South China Sea dispute during summit rounds despite Beijing’s reluctance to address the issue in public forums. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will press China and Southeast Asian nations to discuss the South China Sea dispute at an Asian summit, a senior U.S. official said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was also attending, said late on Oct. 9 that the South China Sea dispute was a matter of concern to the entire region. In pointed remarks, he said Tokyo would continue to cooperate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in resolving the row, according to Reuters. US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters on the sidelines of an East Asia Summit in Brunei that such a code was needed, Agence France Presse reported. “A code of conduct is a necessity for the long term, but nations can also reduce the risk of miscommunication and miscalculation by taking steps today,” Kerry said, according to a copy of his remarks to the summit.
U.S. gives tacit backing to Philippines in China sea dispute KDAL 10 Oct 2013
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gave tacit backing to the Philippines' stance in a tense maritime dispute with China on Thursday, saying that all countries had a right to seek arbitration to resolve competing territorial claims. The Philippines, a U.S. ally, has angered China by launching an arbitration case with the United Nations to challenge the legal validity of Beijing's sweeping claims over the resource-rich South China Sea. The United States has refrained from taking sides in the dispute, one of Asia's biggest security headaches, but has expressed a national interest in freedom of navigation through one of the world's busiest shipping channels. "All claimants have a responsibility to clarify and align their claims with international law. They can engage in arbitration and other means of peaceful negotiation," Kerry told leaders at the East Asia Summit in Brunei, including Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. "Freedom of navigation and overflight is a linchpin of security in the Pacific," he added. China claims almost the entire oil- and gas-rich South China Sea, overlapping with claims from Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam. The last four are members of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Philippines Takes China's Sea Claims to Court WSJ 14 Oct 2013
Paul Reichler, a Washington-based lawyer, has spent much of his career representing small countries against big ones: Nicaragua versus the U.S.; Georgia versus Russia; Mauritius versus the U.K., Bangladesh versus India. His first big victory made headlines in the 1980s when the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that U.S. support for Contra rebels trying to overthrow the left-wing Sandinista government of Nicaragua violated international law. That is one reason to pay attention to the case he launched this year at a United Nations arbitration body: the Philippines versus China. Mr. Reichler is the lead lawyer representing Manila in its legal challenge against China's claim to almost all of the South China Sea, signified by the "nine-dash line"—a U-shaped protrusion on Chinese maps that brushes the coastlines of smaller states, including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. The Philippines brought the case in January under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which governs the world's oceans. China is a signatory. The heart of the case is that the line has no basis under the U.N. convention, which states that coastal states are entitled to a territorial sea extending 12 nautical miles as well as a 200-mile economic exclusion zone in which they have rights to fish and extract undersea resources. "Of course we're aware of the enormity of taking on a country like China," says Mr. Reichler, a litigator with the U.S. law firm Foley Hoag.
Fixing Australia’s incredible defence policy Real Clear Defense 15 Oct 2013
Executive summary: Australia’s new government must make tough decisions in defence policy. Australia’s broad national interests and the challenging strategic environment in Indo-Pacific Asia make it essential to modernise the Australian Defence Force. The nation’s defence capabilities remain underfunded and its strategic edge in the region is eroding. The gap between the nation’s interests and capabilities is widening, and it is getting harder to meet the d emands of the US alliance. Australia’s new government needs to restore focus and funding to defence. The overnment will need a first - principles review to identify the military strategy and force structure required to protect and advance the nation’s interests. It will need to increase funding or be prepared to make drastic cuts to defence capability, with full awareness of the risks. It must also think deeply about the role of the US alliance in Australia’s security, and take the initiative in shaping that alliance in Australia’s interests.
ASEAN: No Breakthrough on South China Sea Issue VOA 10 Oct 2013
With U.S. President Barack Obama absent, Chinese leaders have been able to bask in the spotlight at summits this week in Asia. That allowed them to highlight their stances on contentious issues, especially the territorial dispute involving the South China Sea. Obama had been expected at the summits in Brunei to push for a regional maritime code of conduct that could help avert armed clashes in the disputed waters. Click to enlarge Click to enlarge China lays claim to 80 percent of the South China Sea, overlapping those made by several neighboring countries. And its officials this week have expressed no enthusiasm for outsiders applying pressure regarding the disputes. At the 18-nation East Asia Summit China's premier, Li Keqiang met with other regional heads of government and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and called for the talks to focus on areas of cooperation such as economic development and improving people's livelihoods.
S. Korea Envisions Light Aircraft Carrier Defense News 26 Oct 2013
The South Korean Navy believes it can deploy two light aircraft carriers by 2036 and expand its blue-water force to cope with the rapid naval buildups of China and Japan, according to a Navy source. The service has been exploring ways of securing light aircraft carriers based on an interim feasibility study, the source said. “It’s a hope,” the Navy source said on condition of anonymity. “There are no fixed requirements at the moment, but we’ve been studying ways of launching light aircraft carriers over the next two decades.” Rep. Chung Hee-soo of the ruling Saenuri Party revealed the contents of a program in a feasibility report last week. “To cope with potential maritime disputes with neighboring countries, we need to secure aircraft carriers as soon as possible,” Chung, a member of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, said during a confirmation hearing Oct. 11 for Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “For more active international peacekeeping operations, our Navy should have carriers.”
Japan's PM Warns China On Use Of Force As Jets Scrambled Defense News 27 Oct 2013
Japan’s leader warned China on Sunday against forcibly changing the regional balance of power, as reports said Tokyo had scrambled fighter jets in response to Chinese military aircraft flying near Okinawa. Verbal skirmishing between Asia’s two biggest economies, who dispute ownership of an island chain, escalated as Beijing warned Tokyo that any hostile action in the skies against Chinese drones would be construed as an “act of war.” “We will express our intention as a state not to tolerate a change in the status quo by force. We must conduct all sorts of activities such as surveillance and intelligence for that purpose,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in an address to the military. “The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly severe. This is the reality,” he said. “You will have to completely rid yourselves of the conventional notion that just the existence of a defense force could act as a deterrent.”
China nuclear subs ‘gallop to depths of ocean Financial Times 28 Oct 2013
China has revealed that its first fleet of nuclear submarines has started sea patrols, in the latest sign of its military’s growing confidence which has raised concerns in the region. Xinhua, the official news agency, released photographs of what appeared to be Xia-class vessels – China’s first generation of nuclear-armed submarines, which are several decades old – saying they were being “declassified” for the first time. It said the submarines would “gallop to the depths of the ocean, serving as mysterious forces igniting the sound of thunder in the deep sea”, and be an “assassin’s mace that would make adversaries tremble”. The Chinese navy has in recent years increased in assertiveness as it has enhanced its capabilities. The US in June said Chinese warships had started patrolling its exclusive economic zone; the following month, Chinese destroyers passed through the strait between Russia and northern Japan for the first time.
Philippines Should Apologize for False Scarborough Claims The Diplomat 30 Oct 2013
On September 3, Philippine Secretary of Defense Voltaire Gazmin presented aerial photographs taken of Scarborough Shoal to a congressional hearing. These photographs were taken by the Philippines Air Force a few days earlier and showed what appeared to be thirty concrete blocks, two vertical posts and a white bouy in the lagoon. Secretary Gazmin speculated that the concrete blocks “could be a prelude to construction” and were a violation of the 2002 Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. A day later, the Department of National Defense reported that new photographs had identified a total of 75 concrete blocks at Scarborough Shoal. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto del Rosario announced that the Philippines intended to file a diplomatic protest with China. An official Chinese spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to a question about the concrete blocks by stating, “what the Philippine side said is not true.” China released its own photographs of Scarborough Shoal showing the tips of rocks jutting out of the sea at high tide.
Global Spotlight
China’s Arms Industry Makes Global Inroads New York Times 20 Oct 2013
From the moment Turkey announced plans two years ago to acquire a long-range missile defense system, the multibillion-dollar contract from a key NATO member appeared to be an American company’s to lose. For years, Turkey’s military had relied on NATO-supplied Patriot missiles, built by the American companies Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, to defend its skies, and the system was fully compatible with the air-defense platforms operated by other members of the alliance. There were other contenders for the deal, of course. Rival manufacturers in Russia and Europe made bids. Turkey rejected those — but not in favor of the American companies. Its selection last month of a little-known Chinese defense company, China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corp oration, stunned the military-industrial establishment in Washington and Brussels. The sale was especially unusual because the Chinese missile defense system, known as the HQ-9, would be difficult to integrate with existing NATO equipment. China Precision is also subject to sanctions from the United States for selling technologies that the United States says could help Iran, Syria and North Korea develop unconventional weapons. A State Department spokeswoman said this month that American officials had expressed to the Turkish government “serious concerns” about the deal, which has not yet been signed.
Japan-US Alliance Adapts to the Needs of the 21st Century East West Center 24 Oct 2013
The Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (SCC)--also known as the "2+2"--was hosted for the first time in Tokyo on October 3 between the US secretaries of state and defense and their Japanese counterparts from the ministries of foreign affairs and defense. The subsequent Joint Communiqué outlined a vision for both parties to be "full partners in a more balanced and effective Alliance" ensuring regional and global peace and security. Coming only five days after President Barack Obama's address to the UN General Assembly where he focused on the Middle East, and not on Asia, many Japanese were reassured by the forward looking joint statement that promoted international norms including freedom of navigation, rule of law, open markets, democracy and human rights. Even though it was only mentioned once in the document, it is clear that China's rise, specifically its growing military presence in the region, was at the top of the SCC agenda. North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and missiles was also addressed in the joint statement, but for many Japanese increased Japan-US defense cooperation is aimed at addressing China's military development more so than North Korea's.
US 'pivot' to Asia gaining strength Global Post 25 Oct 2013
The United States has significantly increased its warships and aircraft deployed in Asia despite Washington's budget woes, adding punch to its "pivot" to the region, a senior naval commander said. Rear Admiral Mark C. Montgomery, commander of an aircraft carrier strike group homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, said the expanded military presence would have a calming effect on simmering tensions and territorial disputes in the region. "The strategic rebalancing has resulted in an extremely higher number of surface combatants, cruisers and destroyers that support the strike group," Montgomery told AFP in an interview on Wednesday aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the South China Sea. "What we've seen is an increase in surface combatant presence here in the Western Pacific... so these ships are spread throughout those areas," he said, in the interview at the flag bridge of the nuclear-powered supercarrier as fighter jets took off and landed on the deck as part of drills.
Japan Debates the Right to Collective Self-Defense Sigur Center for Asian Studies 25 Oct 2013
Japanese political leaders – faced with emerging security concerns ranging from territorial disputes with China to the nascent North Korean nuclear arsenal – are reevaluating how their constitution limits the Japanese military’s ability to project power beyond its self-defense. While Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution “forever renounce[s] war” and “the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes,” Japan’s changing security environment raises several questions. Is Japan heading towards more military activism under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his recently reelected coalition? Will Abe be successful in changing the Japanese Constitution? What are the major forces at play in this domestic debate?
Navy Leaders Warn of Submarine Shortfall DOD Buzz 25 Oct 2013
There are not enough fast-attack and guided-missile submarines in the Navy’s arsenal to meet the needs of combatant commanders around the globe, senior service officials said at the 2013 Naval Submarine League symposium, Falls Church, Va. “Combatant commander demand for these ships far exceeds what we can supply,” said Vice Adm. Mike Connor, Commander, Submarine Forces, speaking to audience members at the symposium. Connor detailed this need while delineating a host of desired investment priorities to include maintaining undersea nuclear deterrence, continuing weapons or “payload” development and meeting commanders’ needs for submarine missions and technologies. “The submarines are needed because they provide very real things, like the awareness of activity in terrorist network, over-watch for special operations forces and knowledge of potential adversary weapons capability and intentions,” Connor added. “We cannot do all of these things at the same time with one or two ships in theater.” In total, the Navy has 73 submarines, including 14 nuclear-armed Ohio-class submarines, or SSBNs; four Ohio-class submarines converted to conventionally armed guided-missile boats, or SSGNs; 42 Los Angeles-class fast attack submarines, or SSN; three Seawolf submarines and 10 Virginia-class submarines, also SSNs.
Asia still 'top of the list' of Pentagon priorities, says Hagel The Hill 28 Oct 2013
The Obama administration's military shift to Asia still tops the Pentagon's budget blueprint as the department girds for another round of budget cuts under sequestration. The planned pivot "remains at the top of the list" of the department's investment strategy for the coming years, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Monday at the Pentagon. As Defense Department number crunchers continue work on the Pentagon's fiscal year 2015 spending plan, military and civilian leaders "will protect that [Asia] rebalance in any way we can," Hagel said during a joint press conference with New Zealand Defense Minister Jonathan Coleman. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta unveiled Obama's Asia-Pacific strategy last January, setting a new direction for the U.S. military as American forces shift focus from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to the open seas and skies of the Pacific. Since then, Hagel has aggressively pushed that plan, making repeated trips to the area to meet with military counterparts and reinforce military cooperation pacts with regional powers. On Tuesday, top leaders on the House Armed Services Commitee will preview the defense panel's ongoing oversight efforts with the Pentagon on the Asia-Pacific strategy.
Hagel: New Zealand Ship Will Dock In Pearl Harbor Defense News 28 Oct 2013
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel hosted his counterpart from New Zealand for lunch at the Pentagon Monday, but there was no sign of progress on lifting the South Pacific nation’s 26-year-old ban on docking US Navy aircraft carriers and other warships. But Hagel announced a new agreement that will bring New Zealand into the annual Rim of the Pacific Exercise, or RIMPAC, and formally invited New Zealand ships to dock alongside US ships at Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Hagel did not mention the Cold War-era ban on US Navy ships visiting New Zealand ports during the joint press briefing that followed his lunch with Minister of Defense Jonathan Coleman. New Zealand banned nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered ships from docking there in 1987, leading to a breakdown in military relations with the US. The ice began to thaw last year when former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visited New Zealand, the first such visit by a US defense secretary in about 30 years.
KAI Proposes Smaller KF-X Design Aviation Week 28 Oct 2013
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is pushing for South Korea to cut the technical challenges of its proposed KF-X fighter program, offering a single-engine concept that probably has a distant connection with the Lockheed Martin F-16. KAI's KFX-E design should be cheaper to develop and build than the larger proposals put forward by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the chief proponent of the KF-X. Also much smaller than and more differentiated from the Lockheed Martin F-35, the KFX-E may offer the further advantage of minimizing competition from that U.S. stealth fighter. But it may have Lockheed Martin or other U.S. intellectual property in its design, exposing it to a foreign veto over sales or even development. Seoul will probably have a foreign alternative to consider, too. Western proposals for KF-X include twin-tail developments of the F-16 and Eurofighter Typhoon, and an advanced version of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Those offerings were included as technology transfer in bids for the separate F-X Phase 3 program for 60 fighters. F-X Phase 3 has been abandoned, but a successor competition will be needed, probably reviving foreign KF-X proposals. KAI has moved from cooperation to competition with ADD. For a decade, the manufacturer was a design contractor in support of the agency. But industry officials say that at least some KAI executives have long regarded ADD's plan to develop a twin-engine Typhoon-size KF-X as too ambitious. Meanwhile, the South Korean government has repeatedly deferred launching the KF-X. If it goes ahead, it cannot enter service before the mid-2020s. Cutting costs by accepting a smaller size would probably improve the program's chances.
China-Japan relations take turn for worse Financial Times 28 Oct 2013
When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Japanese troops on Sunday that Tokyo opposed the use of force to change the status quo in Asia, his real audience was in Beijing. The Chinese foreign ministry responded on Monday by accusing Japan’s leaders of “repeatedly making provocative remarks” and displaying “wild arrogance”. The Global Times, a nationalistic Communist party mouthpiece, said the chance that friction between the powers would “escalate into military clashes is growing”. Sino-Japanese ties have been very tense since Tokyo last year bought three of the Senkaku Islands – a chain in the East China Sea that Japan controls but China claims – from their private owners. At the weekend, tensions flared again as Japan scrambled fighter jets to shadow Chinese jets in the area. Last month, China flew a drone near the Senkaku, leading Japan to say it would consider shooting down unmanned aircraft that violate its airspace. China said that would be an “act of war” and that it would take “decisive action to strike back”. Mike Green, an Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the chance of an accidental confrontation near the Senkaku, which China calls the Diaoyu, was “higher than it has ever been, but it is not August 1914”.
Is South Korea Stealing U.S. Military Secrets? Foreign Policy 28 Oct 2013
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel watched a live-fire exercise in South Korea last month in which American and Korean tanks operated side-by-side in a display of military might between two trusted partners fond of describing theirs as a "blood alliance." But just beneath that relationship's surface is a growing unease. South Korea, one of America's strongest partners in East Asia, is aggressively targeting U.S. advanced technology for its own use in a variety of Korean weapons programs, Foreign Policy has learned. From anti-ship missiles, electronic warfare equipment, torpedoes, a multiple-launch rocket system, and even components on a Korean-made Aegis destroyer, the United States is concerned about the uncanny resemblance those systems bear to American weaponry. Even the tanks Hagel watched on the range that day may be partial knock-offs: The Korean models have fire control systems that appear to be all-but-identical to the American versions. Though the United States long has had systems in place to monitor technology-sharing with allies, the case with South Korea has become particularly acute in the last few years. As the United States pivots East and Asia's once sleepy defense industries begin to awaken, it has quietly begun to scrutinize its technology-sharing relationships with such allies, conducting secret but robust "dialogues" -- diplomatic-speak for a series of private exchanges on tech-sharing between the two countries -- to ensure that American secrets stay that way.
Marines’ Move to Guam in Question DOD Buzz 29 Oct 2013
The long-planned move of thousands of Marines from Okinawa to new bases on Guam as part of a strategic pivot of U.S. forces to Asia could be threatened by budget cuts, lawmakers were told Tuesday. “This will take resources and be challenged by budget conditions,” Rep. Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee’s Readiness Subcommittee, said during a panel briefing. “We’re fighting for every dime we can get” to realign the troops to Guam, she said. The shift of the Marines off Okinawa has already been scaled back from a planned 8,000 troops to 5,000, and “half of those will be on a rotational basis,” said Bordallo, who is also the House delegate from the U.S. territory in the Marianas Islands. The panel will hold a series of oversight hearings on President Obama’s plans to concentrate most troops overseas into the Asia-Pacific region during the next decade. Four of the five planned hearings will focus on China and U.S. efforts to deal with Beijing’s growing influence and military build-up.
Brunei
What mattered most about the 8th East Asia Summit in Brunei? ABC 10 Oct 2013
The East Asia Summit (EAS) in Brunei has ended with a number of notable outcomes yet no considerable breakthrough on the most pressing security challenge of the region: the South China Sea. The EAS involves the 10 ASEAN members plus the United States, China, Russia, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand. The plenary session of this year's EAS - held back-to-back with the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders' meetings - was held behind closed doors to facilitate free and open discussion among world leaders. However, the significant outcomes of the meeting were incorporated into a statement by the Sultan of Brunei, who chaired the meeting. SEA member nations adopted the statement. So what mattered most about the eighth EAS?
Cambodia
Military Police Test Weapons as Security in Phnom Penh Builds The Cambodia Daily 23 Oct 2013
SAMAKKI MEANCHEY DISTRICT, Kompong Chhnang Province – Two hundred Military Police cadets on Wednesday displayed the power of the force’s arsenal at a weapons demonstration, while members of the unit continued to patrol Phnom Penh. In front of military police Commander General Sao Sokha and scores of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces officers, the trainees, in their first public weapons engagement, unloaded live ammunition from antitank recoilless rifles, mortars, and heavy machine guns. “This training exercise makes them [the cadets] sweat,” said Gen. Sokha in an address at the conclusion of the demonstration. “This sweating is the action of those who love the nation and are ready to fight against any turmoil to protect the Cambodian kingdom and our people.” In the wake of July’s disputed national election, military police have become an almost permanent presence on the streets of Phnom Penh and at opposition demonstrations, and yesterday’s show of force comes just a week before the CNRP’s planned mass rally at Freedom Park on October 23.
US Senator Calls for Suspension of Military Aid to Cambodia The Cambodia Daily 22 Oct 2013
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham last week submitted a resolution to the U.S. Committee on Foreign Relations requesting the suspension of U.S. military assistance to Cambodia until an independent investigation into July’s national election is conducted. The resolution was submitted on Wednesday to express “the sense of the Senate that United States military assistance for Cambodia should be suspended until an independent and credible investigation occurs into the July 28, 2013, parliamentary elections, and election reforms are being implemented by the Government of Cambodia,” the resolution says. The resolution references independent domestic and international NGO reports “raising serious concerns” over the election; a U.S. Embassy statement calling for transparency in the electoral system; and a Cambodia Daily editorial by opposition CNRP leader Sam Rainsy about “shocking election irregularities.” The CNRP is currently boycotting the 55 seats it won in the National Assembly, calling for an independent investigation of the election. Mr. Graham submitted the resolution to the Foreign Relations committee the same day that Mr. Rainsy met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns.
USNS Safeguard Begins Diving Exercise in Cambodia America's Navy 22 Oct 2013
Rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) arrived in Cambodia Oct. 22 as part of the annual exercise series Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). CARAT Cambodia is part of a bilateral exercise series between U.S. Navy and its naval counterparts from Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste. Each phase of the exercise is tailored to support mutual host-nation and U.S. objectives. This year's CARAT Cambodia focuses on diving training. "The Safeguard team looks forward to participating in extensive diving training during this year's CARAT exercise, an event designed to build interoperability and strengthen relationships between our two navies," said Capt. Ed Santillan, civil service master aboard Safeguard. Embarked U.S. Navy divers from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii-based Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One, Company 1-3, will train with Cambodian navy divers to share best practices and techniques in dive and salvage operations. The exercise will include both classroom training and at-sea diving exercises. Classroom training will take place on board Safeguard where MDSU divers will provide an overview of dive medicine and maintenance of dive equipment. Divers will demonstrate the use of Safeguard's hyperbaric chamber to treat decompression sickness required after deep-water dives. Divers will also conduct training on the use of Safeguard's remotely-operated vehicle (ROV).
Trade Expo Links Vietnam, Cambodia Military Firms National News Agency of Malaysia 19 Oct 2013
The 2013 Vietnam-Cambodia trade fair will commence on Nov 14 in Cambodia's capital city Phnom Penh, said a representative from the Defence Ministry at a press briefing on Friday. The trade show aims to consolidate the traditional friendship and solidarity between the two armies, as well as support Vietnamese businesses in trade promotion in Cambodia and other Asean countries, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported. According to the organising board, some 200 Vietnamese enterprises have registered with more than 300 booths to showcase high-quality products. During the five-day event, art troupes of the two countries' militaries will entertain visitors with nightly musical and dance performances. In addition, Vietnam's Military Hospital 175 in association with Cambodia's Royal Army Hospital 179 will operate on 300 cataract patients. Statistics provided by the Trade Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia showed that bilateral trade between Vietnam and Cambodia has constantly increased, reaching US$3.3 billion last year and US$2.6 billion in the first nine months of this year. The figure for the entire 2013 is estimated at US$3.5 billion USD.
Indonesia
Indonesian military chief starts 3-day Manila visit Inquirer News 10 Oct 2013
Indonesia’s military chief is in the Philippines for a three-day visit. General Moeldoko, commander-in-chief of Tentara Nacional Indonesia (Indonesian Defense Forces), paid a courtesy call to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines General Emmanuel Bautista on Thursday at Camp Aguinaldo. Military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said his visit was part of a tradition of military chiefs among Asean counterparts. He will be in the country from October 9 to 11.
New Defense White Paper: Moving beyond the cliché Jakarta Post 13 Oct 2013
The Indonesian Defense White Paper should be made available this year, replacing the last one published in 2008. Law No. 3/2002 on national defense says the white paper is a statement of comprehensive defense policy published by the Defense Ministry and distributed to the public, nationally and internationally, in order to generate mutual trust and eliminate conflict. Ideally, the white paper is far from a mere presentation of defense stakeholders’ recognition on what is strategically important, challenging or even threatening for Indonesia. Instead, it serves the purpose of understanding the way they value Indonesia’s stance in the global context. In formulating the white paper, we need to take into account two major events that will significantly shape Indonesia in the near future. First, a new government will be in power in 2014. Whoever elected to lead the country, the key question is whether military modernization as outlined in the Minimum Essential Forces policy will progress, or the new government will direct the process to a brand new path.
Indonesian Military Seeks Partnerships to Help It Modernize World Politics Review 17 Oct 2013
In early September, the United States and Indonesia participated in joint counterterrorism exercises, part of a trend of growing military ties between the two countries. In an email interview, Ristian Atriandi Supriyanto, associate research fellow with the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, explained Indonesia’s goals in modernizing its military and its military partnerships.
U.N. reviews military tribunals UPI 29 Oct 2013
Military tribunals, convened outside the civilian justice system, need to conform to basic standards for due process, a U.N. rights official said from Geneva. Gabriela Knaul, U.N. special envoy on judicial independence, said U.N. member states need to enact tighter principles to govern military tribunals. "Irrespective of their military status, these tribunals must be an integral part of the general judicial system," she said in a statement Monday. "It is also essential to ensure that military tribunals are compatible with human rights standards, including the respect of the right to a fair trial and due process guarantees." Amnesty International in June said a military tribunal in Indonesia was being used to shield human rights violators from the rule of law. The rights group said a trial for 12 soldiers accused of the extrajudicial execution of four detainees was a sham. Human Rights Watch, in a separate statement, said it's "convinced" the use of military commissions to try suspected terrorists at the U.S. Navy's detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is a serious error. It said the justice system there is "substandard." Knaul did not single out any particular system in her statements. She served as a Brazilian judge before starting service with the United Nations in 2009.
Malaysia
New RMAF plane plays three roles New Straits Times 10 Oct 2013
A RADICAL shift is expected in the way the Royal Malaysian Airforce (RMAF) approaches military and humanitarian missions, once it takes delivery of the new Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft. The aircraft, dubbed the "next generation airlifter", is to play a pivotal role in the airforce's operations once it comes into service in two years. Airbus Military head of media relations Maggie Bergsma said first of four aircraft ordered by RMAF was expected to be delivered by the 2015 deadline. "We are on track and the first delivery for Malaysia is scheduled for 2015. We have launched long-lead items up to MSN33, which includes two A400Ms for Malaysia. The fourth delivery for the RMAF is scheduled for 2016," she said. RMAF had placed an order for the aircraft on Dec 8, 2005. She said the A400M was expected to change the way military and humanitarian operations were carried out by RMAF. Bergsma said this was due to the A400M's ability to perform tasks that were previously executed by three aircraft.
Malaysia base in area disputed by China The Australian 23 Oct 2013
Malaysia has announced it will build a new naval base about 100km from James Shoal, which is also claimed by China. Until now, Malaysia has been the claimant of contested South China Sea zones and islets, which have previously most sought common ground with China. In March, China's navy conducted a substantial exercise at the shoal, off the coast of the Malaysian state of Sarawak on northern Borneo. Analyst Gary Li, with IHS Fairplay newsletter, said then: "It is not just a few ships here and there, but a crack amphibious landing ship carrying marines and hovercraft and backed by some of the best escort ships in the PLAN fleet. "We've never seen anything like this that far south in terms of quantity or quality." Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammudin Tun Hussein said the Royal Malaysian Navy would set up a base at Bintulu in Sarawak to protect the region, and national oil and gas reserves. He also said the government would establish its first marine battalion, to be drawn from army, navy and air force elements, but with the core to come from parachutists. Malaysia is also expected to consider the purchase of an attack helicopter for marine use, as well as a replacement for its only amphibious ship, which was destroyed by fire four years ago.
Malaysia’s 2014 Defence Budget Malaysian Defense 25 Oct 2013
In the run-up to the unveiling of the 2014 budget, I was asked for my thoughts on the allocation for the Defence Ministry by a local newspaper. I was asked whether the defence budget for 2014 will be increased following the Lahad Datu incident. I answered that despite the rhetoric I expected only a slight increase in the operating expenditure with cuts to the development expenditure. Guess what? When Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak unveiled the 2014 Budget – a total of RM264.2 billion (RM217.7 billion is for operating expenditure while RM46.5 billion is for development expenditure) he did just that -increased the management expenditure and reduced the development allocation!. For 2014, the Defence Ministry got RM16.1 billion – RM13.355 billion as operating expenditure and RM2.745 billion for development costs- some RM849 million higher compared to the budget in 2013 which was RM15.251 (RM11.970 billion for operating costs and RM3.281 billion for development. This means the development expenditure for 2014 has been reduced by RM536 million. Management expenditure which pays for everything from salaries to fuel, parts and maintenance got a whopping increase by RM1.385 billion. As usual the budget document however did not revealed much in terms of new assets expected to be procured. In his budget speech, Najib did gave a clue saying “In addition, the Government will continue to enhance national security of our territorial waters and borders by strengthening surveillance and upgrading defence equipment. This includes the purchase of six offshore patrol vessels; four cargo aircraft and support equipment; as well as armoured vehicles with an allocation of RM2.4 billion.”
Maritime moves signal Malaysia’s determination to defend interests, say security analysts Malaysian Insider 28 Oct 2013
Malaysia's recent move to beef up its maritime defences in Sabah and Sarawak has security analysts speculating whether it was due to maritime interests or territorial disputes. The Straits Times reported that Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced earlier this month that the moves to establish a marine corps and the building of a new naval base in Bintulu. Hishammuddin said the purpose of the naval base was to protect oil reserves and nearby waters following the incursion by armed Sulu militants in April this year. "The Defence Ministry will build the new naval base to guarantee safety in east Malaysian waters. "Bintulu needs to be protected as it is an important strategic location in the emerging hydrocarbon exploration industry," Hishammuddin elaborated, referring to several offshore oil and gas projects.
Malaysia, China To Hold Maiden Military Exercise Next Year Bernama 29 Oct 2013
Malaysia and China are to engage in joint military exercises beginning next year, nine years after having signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is on his maiden visit to Beijing following his appointment to the post in May, said the exercises would encompass the three disciplines of land, sea and air. He said the holding of the exercises was one of the matters agreed to during his meeting with China's Defence Minister Gen Chang Wanquan on Tuesday to forge a more comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries. "Both sides agreed to foster greater cooperation in defence, particularly in holding joint exercises, exchange of military personnel, establishing cooperation in the defence industry and fighting terrorism and transnational crime," he said in a statement sent to Bernama from Beijing. Hishammuddin's visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral defence relations besides following up on the state visit of China's President Xi Jinping to Malaysia from Oct 3 to 5.
Myanmar
Myanmar Urged to Ratify Chemical Weapons Treaty Radio Free Asia 11 Oct 2013
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to a global chemical weapons watchdog on Friday has prompted a call for Myanmar to ratify a key international treaty banning the arms. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Myanmar must ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention two decades after signing if it wants to prove to the international community it is serious about reforms. Despite political and economic reforms enacted since Myanmar’s military junta gave up power more than two years ago, experts say there are still looming questions about possible chemical weapons stockpiles and allegations that the military used chemical weapons against ethnic rebel groups. Reformist President Thein Sein’s government has denied the claims. Myanmar is one of a handful of countries that have not fully committed to the treaty, which prohibits the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer, and use of chemical weapons. The intergovernmental organization enforcing the treaty, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, was selected Friday as the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for its work to rid the world of the deadly agents and its current work helping Syria eliminate stockpiles of poison gas. “The award of the Nobel Prize to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) once again highlights how far Myanmar is from fulfilling international norms, despite the government’s rhetoric of reform,” HRW’s deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said.
Myanmar, Vietnam vow to promote security cooperation Eleven Myanmar 15 Oct 2013
Myanmar and Vietnam have vowed to promote security cooperation between the two countries, state media reported Tuesday. The pledge was made by Myanmar Minister of Home Affairs Lieutenant-General Ko Ko and visiting Vietnamese Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang at the first ministerial meeting of the two countries on combating transnational crime and security matters held in Nay Pyi Taw, said the New Light of Myanmar. The meeting discussed matters on anti-narcotics, anti-terrorism, preventive measures against poisonous materials, trafficking of women and children and money laundering, it said. The meeting called for efforts to face challenges and threats, tackle regional issues such as democracy, human rights, especially taking Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chair by Myanmar in 2014, it added. Meanwhile, according to Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar and Vietnam signed a visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders which grants exemption for entry, exit and transit visas up to 14 days of stay in each other's territories, beyond which a formal visa is required. The exemption will take effect from Oct. 26.
Myanmar army seeks first female applicants Jakarta Post 17 Oct 2013
For the first time in Myanmar’s history, the Ministry of Defense is inviting women to join the army. An advertisement in the Myanmar Ahlin newspaper says the new cadets must be single, at least 160 centimeters tall, between 25 and 30 years of age, and weigh no more than 59 kilograms. Though they won’t be called on to fight, the ad said successful candidates would be offered commissioned posts, starting as second lieutenants. Myanmar’s army once enjoyed widespread popularity for fighting for independence from British colonial rule, but support plummeted following military coups in 1962 and 1980.
Military Assistance for Myanmar: Need for Balance ISN 17 Oct 2013
Since 2012 the United States, followed by Australia, has extended military assistance and relaxed restrictions on defence cooperation to Myanmar. Then Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta announced that the US would extend military assistance to Myanmar if the leadership continued to implement democratic reforms and improve human rights conditions. Within a year the then Australian prime minister Julia Gillard announced a relaxation of restrictions on defence co-operation with Myanmar in recognition of its “critical reforms”. Australia wanted to encourage the development of a modern, professional defence force in Myanmar which continued to support democratisation and reform, she said. Building partners’ capacity To date, this has meant Myanmar sending observers to the annual Cobra Gold exercise involving American and Thai forces. This decision to extend to Myanmar what is commonly referred to as Building Partner Capacity (BPC) is part of a larger effort to help promote its evolution toward a more professional force under civilian control. However some caution is called for by Washington in regard to the amount of BPC funds it invests. As a recent RAND report Building Partner Capacity: What Works Best and Under What Circumstances noted, BPC efforts tend to be most effective with countries that share US security interests, have high governance indicators, a strong and growing economy, and are willing to invest their own funds to sustain capacity-building.
Myanmar military leader arrives back from China Eleven Myanmar 20 Oct 2013
Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and high-level military entourage arrived back in Myanmar from their visit to China on October 18, according to a report from the Ministry of Defence. Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, kicked off his visit to China last Saturday “to deepen the military ties between the two countries”. On his visit, Min Aung Hlaing met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also the chairman of China's Central Military Commission, on October 16. Myanmar Commander-in-Chief also held separate talks with Fang Fenghui, Chief of General Staff of Chinese People's Liberation Army, and Fan Changlong, Vice-Chairman of China's Central Military Commission, as well as other top Chinese military officials. They discussed Myanmar’s relationship with ASEAN countries, South China Sea’s territorial disputes, and security affairs in border regions as well as cooperation in combating drugs together. In China, Min Aung Hlaing visited industrial facilities and met Myanmar students on scholarship programs there. He also visited China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) to see the Chinese military technologies.
Military is still studying the constitution to make a report to parliament, says MP Eleven Myanmar 23 Oct 2013
Myanmar’s military is still in the process of studying the constitution and has yet to submit its report to parliament, says a military MP. MP Brigadier General Wai Lin was replying to a question about the military’s pending report on the constitution after a parliamentary session of the Lower House in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday. He said the military would submit its report to parliament no later than November 15, and that it was too early to comment on details as they were still reviewing the constitution. “Regarding the constitution, the committee is receiving suggestions from MPs, political parties, organisations and members of the public. Likewise, the military is also preparing a report. When we get suggestions from the military, we will send them to Union Parliament along with suggestions from others after November 15,” said Aye Mauk, secretary of the Constitutional Review Joint Committee of Union Parliament. A total of 166 military MPs—110 from the Lower House and 56 from the Upper House—are to submit a report after studying and reviewing the constitution. The constitution, which was passed in 2008 under the military regime, can be amended with support from 75 percent of MPs from the Union Parliament, which is the combination of both Houses. The military MPs also play a role in amending the constitution, as they make up 25 percent of the total parliamentary seats. Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, is now seeking public input in various states and regions, including Yangon, in order to amend or redraft the constitution.
Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh leaves on five-day visit to Myanmar Net Indian 29 Oct 2013
Chief of Army Staff Gen Bikram Singh left here today on a five-day goodwill visit to Myanmar, during which he will interact with senior Myanmarese leaders, including the President. An official press release said here that Gen Singh's discussions with Myanmarese authorities would cover a wide range of topics, including security, regional issues, defence engagement, IT, development projects and efforts to enhance counter terrorism / counter insurgency efforts by both the countries. In addition, he will be visiting important training establishments of Myanmar, the release said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had, in May last year, become the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Myanmar in 25 years, marking the beginnng of mutual efforts to build up trust and confidence. During the course of earlier high level visits, both sides had indicated a desire to work towards building a mutually beneficial Defence Cooperation Mechanism, the release said.
Philippines
Military ties see expansion between Philippines and US CNTV 9 Oct 2013
The Philippines and the US are holding joint annual military drills at a Philippine naval station. The three-week exercise, from September 18th to October 11th, includes a series of air, ground and amphibious activities around Luzon, with parts of the islands facing the South China Sea, near China’s Huangyan Island. The joint exercise highlights the expanding military cooperation between the Philippines and the US. Over 2,000 marines from the Philippine and U.S. armed forces participating in joint annual military exercises designed to enhance disaster response and promote regional security cooperation. Soldiers from both sides took part in live fire drills, jungle survival training, as well as in community building activities. One of the other things that they’re doing in these drills is to simulate an assault to retake an island that’s being held by hostile forces. Now the main venue of these exercises is actually just 200 kilometers off Huangyan Island, which is being claimed both by China and the Philippines. But officials here insist the exercises do not target any particular country.
Indonesian military chief starts 3-day Manila visit Inquirer News 10 Oct 2013
Indonesia’s military chief is in the Philippines for a three-day visit. General Moeldoko, commander-in-chief of Tentara Nacional Indonesia (Indonesian Defense Forces), paid a courtesy call to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines General Emmanuel Bautista on Thursday at Camp Aguinaldo. Military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said his visit was part of a tradition of military chiefs among Asean counterparts. He will be in the country from October 9 to 11.
S. Korea, Philippines agree to bolster defense industry cooperation Global Post 17 Oct 2013
South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III agreed Thursday to cooperate closely to boost defense industry cooperation between the two countries as South Korea seeks to export military hardware to the Southeast Asian nation. The agreement was one of the key points of a summit between Park and Aquino. On the sidelines of the summit, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding that calls for greater defense industry cooperation and exchanges between the two countries. South Korea has been in negotiations with the Philippines to seal a deal to export a dozen Korean-made FA-50 fighter jets, a variant of the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jets. South Korea also hopes to export naval escort vessels to the Southeast Asian nation.
PH buying SK fighter jets Inquirer Global Nation 19 Oct 2013
Move over. The big boys are coming. President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippines was close to finalizing a deal with a state-owned Korean aerospace firm to buy a squadron of FA-50 fighter jets worth P18.9 billion—a move seen to bolster the country’s aerial power and defend its territory in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Mr. Aquino said he discussed the procurement of 12 brand-new multirole combat aircraft from the Korea Aerospace Industries Inc. (KAI) when he met with South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the Blue House, South Korea’s seat of power. He said it was part of the commitment of both countries to improve their military cooperation, in line with a memorandum of understanding they entered into on Thursday. “(These are) Korean lead-in fighters. The purpose of this (procurement) … is to maintain our ability to fly jets, at least for the Air Force to fly jets,” Mr. Aquino told the Philippine media covering his visit. “We’re handling this as a G-to-G (government-to-government) procurement,” he said. “The Air Force looked at several models and after all of the negotiations, this is their preference.”
South Korea, Philippines sign defence trade accords for FA-50 IHS Janes 360 20 Oct 2013
South Korea and the Philippines have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand collaboration in defence trade and related industrial activities. The accord was signed in Seoul on 17 October during summit talks between President Park Geun-hye and her visiting counterpart, Benigno Aquino. The MoU is geared towards supporting South Korean military exports to the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Air Force's (PAF's) pending purchase of FA-50 light attack aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The agreement also enables potential industrial collaboration on this programme, said an official statement. "President Park expressed her gratitude to the Filipino leader for selecting Korea's FA-50 aircraft for its air force and expected that the conclusion of the aircraft contract will lead to wider co-operation in the defence industry," said the South Korean presidential office.
Manila, New Delhi agree to strengthen defense cooperation Global Post 21 Oct 2013
The Philippines and India on Monday agreed to strengthen defense and military cooperation by increasing exchanges in military training and education. Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said in a joint statement issued at the end of their meeting at the Department of Foreign Affairs that both countries "committed to increase exchanges in military training and education." "(Both countries) also welcomed the second meeting of the Philippine-India joint defense cooperation committee next month in New Delhi," the statement read. At their meeting, del Rosario thanked Khurshid for the visit of at least four Indian naval ships to Manila, saying the visits strengthened relations between the Philippine and Indian navy and coast guard forces.
Philippines troops killed in landmine attacks Gulf News 21 Oct 2013
Seven government soldiers were killed and two others were hurt by communist rebels who launched two attacks against the military in the southern Philippines on Monday, the military said. Four soldiers and three members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit, a pro-government paramilitary, were killed when a powerful bomb exploded on a road connecting Tulunan town and Bituan village in North Cotabato, the Tulunan municipal police office said in a report that reached the Philippine National Police’s headquarters in suburban Quezon City. Captain Ernesto Aguilar of the 38th Infantry Batallion was wounded when members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) also shot at the Army’s light truck with assault rifles, said the same report, adding that Capt. Aguilar and his escorts were in a mission to deliver salaries of soldiers and paramilitary members in the said village. Meanwhile, an enlisted serviceman and an officer, 1Lt. Bruno Hugo, was also wounded when he and a convoy of soldiers from the 57th Infantry Battalion were in nearby Luna Sur village, Makilala town. They were then to send assistance to the troop members who were ambushed in Bituan village, Tulunan town. Members of the NPA’s Fronts 72 and 74 were behind the two attacks, said the report.
PH military to augment forces in Manila for coming election NZ Week 22 Oct 2013
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will deploy at least 861 soldiers in Metro Manila to help secure the conduct of the barangay (village, district) elections next Monday, military said Tuesday. Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, chief of the Philippine military’s public affairs office, said that soldiers will augment the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the performance of election-related duties, including the security of about 763 polling centers in the capital city of the Philippines, until Wednesday next week. Zagala said the soldiers’ “election-related tasks will include manning of checkpoints; visibility patrols; establishment of joint security assistance desks, security of 743 voting centers; and security of vital installations.”
China Asked Korea Not to Sell Jets to Philippines Chosunilbo 26 Oct 2013
China asked Korea not to sell FA-50 fighter jets to the Philippines, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Saturday. The daily said Beijing made the request ahead of a summit in Seoul between President Park Geun-hye and Philippines President Benigno Aquino on Oct. 17. Korea declined, saying it cannot accept "interference" in arms exports, an issue of its national interest, according to the daily. In their meeting, Park thanked Aquino for Manila’s decision to buy the FA-50 jets and urged a speedy signing of the contract. A government official here said, "The Philippines is engaged in a territorial dispute with China over the Spratly Islands, and that appears to be why Beijing protested several times through the Chinese Embassy and other channels." The government has officially denied the Yomiuri report, but officials privately admit it. "Every time the Korean or Filipino media reported on the FA-50 sale, China reacted sensitively trying to confirm the reports through diplomatic channels," a government source said. But the official added the sale will go ahead.
Woman officer to lead Philippines UN peacekeepers The Gulf Today 30 Oct 2013
A Philippine Navy captain became the first woman military officer to head the country’s UN peacekeeping missions to the world’s “trouble spots.” Colonel Roberto Ansan, the head of the military’s peacekeeping operations, said she is Navy Captain Luzviminda Camacho who left on Tuesday as the head of the 156-member Philippine contingent to replace its local counterpart in Haiti. The Camacho team composed of men and women officers as well as enlisted personel, Ansan said, is to provide perimeter security to the peacekeeping force of the UN mission in Haiti. Ansan said Camacho was “dependable and very professional” to become the first woman military officer to head such contingent in the country’s 50-year history of peacekeeping operations under the UN. He disclosed the Camacho was chosen among the several applicants to head the Philippine contingent to Haiti and described her thus: “She always keeps her troops physically fit and train with excellence and uphold discipline. She upholds the standards of a Filipino peacekeeper.” But more than that, Ansan pointed out that Camacho’s appointment was in line with the Philippine Navy’s commitment for gender equality among its officers and men. Based on her military records, Camacho also made history by becoming the first woman to command a Philippine Navy vessel, according to Ansan.
Singapore
Singapore seeks counter-fire radars UPI 9 Oct 2013
The Republic of Singapore is seeking AN/TPQ-53 (V) Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar Systems from the United States. The sale of six AN/TPQ-53 (V) systems, under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, carries a price tag of $179 million. "This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by increasing the ability of the Republic of Singapore to contribute to regional security," the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in its notification to Congress. "Its contributions to counter-piracy and counter-terrorism efforts continue to stabilize a critical choke point where much of the world's goods and services transit en route to and from the Asia-Pacific region. "The proposed sale will improve the security of a strategic partner which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region." In addition to the systems themselves, Singapore is also requesting associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support. The principal contractor would be Lockheed Martin.
Singapore and the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter The Diplomat 18 Oct 2013
Indications are that Singapore may go ahead with the purchase of the JSF. That would be a game-changer for its operational capabilities. In a wide-ranging interview with the Defense Writers Group in late July, General Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle was asked about Singapore’s interest in the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program and if an initial sale had been made. He had this to say: “I talked to their CDF (Singapore’s Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Ng) Chee Meng. I was just in Singapore. Singapore’s decided to buy the B model, the VSTOL variant to begin with. But I don’t know where they’re at in putting it into their budget. I know that’s a decision that’s been made and that’s why they’re part of the program, but I don’t know where they’re at in putting that in the budget”
LCS Freedom Sidelined In Port Again Defense News 25 Oct 2013
The littoral combat ship (LCS) Freedom remained in port at Singapore Friday to deal with yet another engineering problem — the latest in a string of relatively minor issues that have affected the ship over the course of a planned 10-month deployment. The ship was sidelined earlier in the week by a seawater service piping rupture that affected both gas turbine engines. Repairs have been completed and both engines are back online, and on Thursday, the ship was preparing to get underway. That’s when, according to the Navy, the crew found seawater contamination in the starboard steerable waterjet hydraulic system. “While Freedom could get underway and navigate safely with the port drive train, the commanding officer decided to remain in port to fix the starboard steerable waterjet hydraulic system,” said Lt. Cmdr. Clay Doss, spokesman for the Navy’s Logistics Group Western Pacific in Singapore. “Like the previous issue this week, there are no plans — and no need — to get underway until repairs are accomplished.” Freedom had planned to conduct local operations around Singapore, and isn’t scheduled to take part in a significant exercise for another few weeks.
Singapore announces cyber-defence investment IHS Janes 360 27 Oct 2013
Singapore has pledged to invest SGD130 million (USD105 million) over the next five years to further enhance its cyber-defence capabilities. The city-state's Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC), chaired by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, announced on 25 October that the funds would be allocated to the development of systems and technologies that will be used to bolster the security of the country's computer and IT networks. The RIEC programme will seek to promote collaboration between government, local, and foreign-based enterprises in developing a range of cyber-defence capabilities. The project is managed by the National Research Foundation - a body under the Prime Minister's Office - and is funded by several government agencies including the Ministry of Defence.
Singapore seeking GMLRS systems IHS Janes 360 29 Oct 2013
Singapore is seeking to procure additional Lockheed Martin Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), according to a notification published by the United States' Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The notification, published on 29 October, details Singapore's potential purchase of 88 GMLRS unitary rocket pods - each carrying six rockets - as well as a range of associated equipment and services that includes containers, spare parts, and technical support. The DSCA said the potential value of the contract, which will proceed under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism, is USD96 million. It added: "The GMLRS pods strengthen the Republic of Singapore Army's ability to defeat long-range artillery, air defence platforms, and light-armored vehicles in a precise, low-collateral damage strike.
Thailand
Pheu Thai forges cosy relationship with army Bangkok Post 10 Oct 2013
When the Pheu Thai Party rose to power in 2011, some expected it might take "revenge" on the army for its role in the crackdowns on red-shirt demonstrators in the previous year. But nothing of the sort happened. There were no removals of those in key military positions, in particular, Prayuth Chan-ocha, the then deputy army commander who had worked side by side with then army commander who had worked side by side with then army chief Anupong Paochinda. Instead, Gen Prayuth subsequently replaced his boss as head of the army, has remained in the top position for three years and will stay on until his retirement next September. Some observers believe that deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the real decision-maker in this government, has no intention of interfering with the army as he appears to have learnt some lessons after having had a tough time dealing with the military.
Peace dialogue in the south delayed indefinitely : Army chief The Nation 11 Oct 2013
The dialogue with militant group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) scheduled for late this month is delayed indefinitely, Army Commander in Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Friday. He said Thai military personnel is being reinforced in the deep south, following escalating violence in the last several days which has resulted in deaths and injuries. The military forces have been instructed to be on the offensive and work closely with government agencies to deal with militants' attacks in the region. The militants' attacks were symbolic activities to mark their important days, compelling southern authorities to be on full alert, he said. The army chief said the fourth round of peace talks with BRN, originally scheduled for late this month, would be postponed until every party is ready since the southern militants have split into several factions. Thailand will increase of number of security officials at the talks, he said, emphasising that the Thai government has not accepted any BRN proposals. BRN militants are pressuring the government to accept their five demands while the Thai authorities must be patient and avoid retaliation as this could lead to the militants further demanding territorial separation, said Gen Prayuth. He said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was reassured by her Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak during their meeting on the sidelines of the 23rd Asean Summit in Brunei that Thailand is at an advantage since it was the BRN who initially asked for the peace dialogue.
With Li Visit, Thailand, China Move to Strengthen Ties VOA 11 Oct 2013
Thailand and China have moved to further strengthen bilateral economic ties during an official visit by China's Premier Li Keqiang, who kicked off the trip by addressing parliament on Friday. The first of Li's three-day visit was also highlighted by the signing of several economic and trade agreements during talks with Thai Premier Yingluck Shinawatra. Thailand is the country coordinator for promoting relations between China and the Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN. Officials said agreements were reached on investment, infrastructure cooperation, science and technology, energy, marine cooperation, education and culture. Thailand has been building relations with China, especially during the government of Prime Minister's Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.
Thai military outline procurement shopping list IHS Janes 360 13 Oct 2013
A diesel-electric submarine and another batch of six Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen combat aircraft are expected to be high on a shopping list of items that the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) wants to purchase by 2024. An RTAF source confirmed to IHS Jane's recently that the list is being put together by RTAF Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimaprakorn following a request from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is also Defence Minister. The list is being drawn up in response to a requirement to replace a range of ageing RTAF materiel and to maintain the military balance with Thailand's peers in Southeast Asia, all of whom are pressing ahead with plans to modernise their respective military capabilities. Shopping list As well as the submarine, other military equipment expected to be on the Royal Thai Navy's (RTN's) shopping list include a multipurpose frigate from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) - a follow-on order to the frigate ordered from DSME in August 2013; offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), likely to be based on BAE Systems' River-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), one of which recently entered service with the RTN; and helicopters fitted with anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) outlined a requirement in September for at least six additional Gripen aircraft within the next decade to supplement the 12 in service. The RTAF is also looking to acquire search-and-rescue-capable utility helicopters, which is likely to centre on the purchase of Eurocopter EC725 platforms. The Royal Thai Army is expected to request more Oplot main battle tanks from Ukraine; more armoured personnel carriers, also likely to be sourced from Ukraine; as well as a range of helicopters - including Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawks, Mil Mi-17V-5s and Eurocopter UH-72A Lakotas - to replace ageing Bell and Sikorsky platforms in service.
Quest for subs we don't need Bangkok Post 16 Oct 2013
The Royal Thai Navy has increased its military power and influence considerably over the past few decades. Once consigned to the unofficial title of third military arm after the army and air force, the navy has made considerable progress. It has acquired ships and weapons that are more than threats to any potential enemy approaching Thailand. It also has directly participated in combat situations thousands of kilometres from home, most recently in the international effort to track, deter and, if necessary, repel Somali pirates. While the navy is now a professional and well-armed part of the national defence force, the admirals are dissatisfied. For years, they have sought funds and authorisation to buy submarines. This desire has found little support outside the navy, with both the public and politicians generally opposed. Now, the navy says it has devised a plan that will lead to a submarine squadron within 10 years. The brains behind the plan is Panu Punyavirocha, commander of the navy's submarine squadron.
Thai insurgency enters new phase Asia Times 23 Oct 2013
Following a surge of violence over Ramadan and further insurgent attacks since then, the Thai government's recent announcement that ill-starred peace talks between Bangkok and representatives of south Thailand's dominant separatist faction have been postponed indefinitely was almost anti-climactic. Since the woefully mismanaged peace process began in late February, propelled by the political imperatives of the ruling Peua Thai party-led government in Bangkok and the administration of Najib Razak in Malaysia, neither of the main belligerents - the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (Patani Malay National Revolutionary Front, or BRN) and the Thai military - has evinced much enthusiasm for the talks.
Thailand Looks to Restart Southern Peace Talks, Despite Little Progress VOA 30 Oct 2013
Thai authorities say they are prepared to resume talks with Muslim insurgent groups. The negotiations, which are expected to take place in Malaysia next month, have so far shown few signs of progress. Nonetheless, analysts say the prospect of a new round of talks marks a new stage in the insurgency. This week, Thailand’s National Security Council called for a fresh round of talks to follow up on negotiations that started in February aimed at laying the groundwork for dialogue. The talks are aimed at resolving an almost decade-long insurgency in Thailand’s Muslim-majority southern provinces close to the border with Malaysia. The conflict has killed more than 5,500 people and wounded scores of others. Sunai Pasuk, an analyst with the New York-based Human Rights Watch, said that even as peace talks have gone on, the violence has continued. "It's going back to the point that daily violence is going on regardless… [There are] daily attacks, and after insurgent attacks the government will carry out a raid on an insurgent stronghold, and that will afterward lead to retaliation by the insurgents. So it becomes a 'ping pong' of violence, a very deadly ping pong game," explained Pasuk.
Vietnam
India keen to foster defense ties with Vietnam Tuoi Tre News 25 Sep 2013
Chairman of the Indian Chiefs of Staff Committee and Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne said India attaches importance to boosting relations with Vietnam, especially in defense. The Indian official made the statement while receiving Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Browne also said he believes the Vietnamese army delegation’s visit will create a new boost to the two countries’ strategic partnership, including defense cooperation. Meanwhile, Sen. Lieut. Gen Ty said he highly appreciated the long-standing Vietnam- India traditional friendship, and congratulated the Indian Government and people on achievements they have made in the national construction and development. He also said he believes that India will develop more prosperously with its acclaimed position in the regional and international arenas.
US, Vietnam sign nuclear trade agreement Reuters 10 Oct 2013
The United States and Vietnam on Thursday signed a pact that would allow the transfer of nuclear technology to the Southeast Asian nation and open the way for U.S. investment in the burgeoning industry, in another sign that Washington is seeking stronger economic and strategic ties in the region. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S.-Vietnam Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement would allow U.S. firms to tap Vietnam's future nuclear power market, although the State Department said the deal will not allow Vietnam to enrich or reprocess U.S.-origin nuclear materials. "This agreement will create numerous opportunities for our businesses," Kerry told Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on the sidelines of an Asian summit in Brunei. "Obviously our nuclear cooperation is quite significant." Vietnam is working with Russia to build its first nuclear plant in 2014 for completion in 2020 in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, as demand for energy grows rapidly in response to economic growth of around 5 percent a year. It has also signed an agreement with a Japanese consortium to develop a second nuclear power plant in the same province, with two reactors to become operational in 2024-2025. Vietnam has the second-largest market after China for nuclear power in East Asia, which was expected to grow to $50 billion by 2030, according to Kerry.
Vietnam, Russia to push military technical links Vietnam Net 11 Oct 2013
Viet Nam and Russia have agreed to ramp up technical-military cooperation in an effort to deepen bilateral ties. The statement was made at the 15th meeting of the Viet Nam-Russia Inter-Governmental Committee on Military-Technical Cooperation in Ha Noi yesterday (Oct 10). It was co-hosted by Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Truong Quang Khanh and Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Services for Military-Technical Cooperation Viacheslav Karlovich Dzirkaln. Both sides praised the joint history of friendship and co-operation between their two countries, particularly in shoring up military ties in accordance with the strategic partnership. They agreed on cooperation in key areas to meet each country's demands and interests. The Russian delegation's working visit to Viet Nam began on Wednesday at the invitation of Deputy Defence Minister Khanh - who is also head of the Vietnamese Sub-Committee - and will end today.
Vietnam Vows to Boost Political Ties With China in Li Visit Businessweek 15 Oct 2013
Vietnam pledged to boost “political trust” with China during Premier Li Keqiang’s visit, as the two Communist countries focus on building economic ties and calming territorial tensions. Li, who arrived in Vietnam Oct. 13, and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung pledged to cooperate in all fields, including growth and trade, according to a posting on the Vietnam government’s website, even as they remain in dispute over waters in the South China Sea rich in fish, gas and oil. The two signed a memorandum of understanding for a cross-border economic cooperation zone and agreed to open trade promotion offices, the posting said, as the countries aim to boost two-way trade to $60 billion by 2015. Dung also accepted an invitation to visit China.
Myanmar, Vietnam vow to promote security cooperation Eleven Myanmar 15 Oct 2013
Myanmar and Vietnam have vowed to promote security cooperation between the two countries, state media reported Tuesday. The pledge was made by Myanmar Minister of Home Affairs Lieutenant-General Ko Ko and visiting Vietnamese Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang at the first ministerial meeting of the two countries on combating transnational crime and security matters held in Nay Pyi Taw, said the New Light of Myanmar. The meeting discussed matters on anti-narcotics, anti-terrorism, preventive measures against poisonous materials, trafficking of women and children and money laundering, it said. The meeting called for efforts to face challenges and threats, tackle regional issues such as democracy, human rights, especially taking Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chair by Myanmar in 2014, it added. Meanwhile, according to Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar and Vietnam signed a visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders which grants exemption for entry, exit and transit visas up to 14 days of stay in each other's territories, beyond which a formal visa is required. The exemption will take effect from Oct. 26.
Vietnam sets up artillery-missile ship brigade Tuoi Tre News 15 Oct 2013
Artillery-Missile Ship Brigade 167 under the Vietnam People’s Navy has been established under a decision by Defense Minister General Phung Quang Thanh. The brigade made its debut in a ceremony held on Monday at a military port in Naval Zone 2, at which Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, Deputy Defense Minister, handed the brigade’s flag to the brigade’s commander. Under the decision that was signed in July 2013, the brigade is a strategic unit that can operate independently or in coordination with other units in naval campaigns, Rear Admiral Mai Tien Tuyen said. Tuyen added that the new unit helps strengthen the naval forces and improve the ability to safeguard country’s sovereignty over its seas, islands and continental shelf. The brigade can join other units of the Naval Zone 2 in operations for their common talks, but it can also be deployed as an independent unit for its specific missions.
Vietnam's Nuclear Energy Plan Stepped Up Despite Safety Concerns Huffington Post 17 Oct 2013
Vietnam is pressing ahead with Southeast Asia's most ambitious civilian nuclear energy program despite safety fears over the technology following the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Foreign companies and governments are competing to get a toehold in an industry that could be worth $50 billion by 2030, according to estimates by U.S. officials. Those plans received a boost last week with the announcement that the United States and Vietnam had signed an agreement allowing U.S. firms to develop civilian nuclear power here. Once President Barack Obama and top U.S. energy officials sign the so-called "123 agreement," Congress will have 90 days to either challenge it or let it take effect. Facing an energy crunch after years of underinvestment and artificially low consumer electricity prices, Vietnam is planning to build seven nuclear plants in the coming years. "Vietnam has the second-largest market, after China, for nuclear power in East Asia, and our companies can now compete," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said last week after inking the agreement in Brunei with Vietnam's Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung.
Trade Expo Links Vietnam, Cambodia Military Firms National News Agency of Malaysia 19 Oct 2013
The 2013 Vietnam-Cambodia trade fair will commence on Nov 14 in Cambodia's capital city Phnom Penh, said a representative from the Defence Ministry at a press briefing on Friday. The trade show aims to consolidate the traditional friendship and solidarity between the two armies, as well as support Vietnamese businesses in trade promotion in Cambodia and other Asean countries, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported. According to the organising board, some 200 Vietnamese enterprises have registered with more than 300 booths to showcase high-quality products. During the five-day event, art troupes of the two countries' militaries will entertain visitors with nightly musical and dance performances. In addition, Vietnam's Military Hospital 175 in association with Cambodia's Royal Army Hospital 179 will operate on 300 cataract patients. Statistics provided by the Trade Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia showed that bilateral trade between Vietnam and Cambodia has constantly increased, reaching US$3.3 billion last year and US$2.6 billion in the first nine months of this year. The figure for the entire 2013 is estimated at US$3.5 billion USD.
Cuba and Vietnam Ratify Brotherly Ties Radio Cadena Agramonte 22 Oct 2013
Cuba and Vietnam reaffirmed on Monday the fraternity existing between the two nations, characterized as special by Colonel-General Ngo Xuan Lich, member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of that Asian nation, now on an official visit to this capital. Xuan Lich, member of the Executive of the Central Military Commission and chief of the General Department for Politics of the Vietnamese People's Army, stated that these relations were founded over 50 years ago by leaders Fidel Castro and Ho Chi Minh, and that both peoples have the duty to know how to make them grow. He stressed that millions of his countrymen have in their hearts the words by Fidel -pronounced in the most difficult times, when he said that the Cuban people were willing to give even their last drop of blood for Vietnam. Xuan Lich pointed out that it struck him to see this firm and revolutionary Cuba, which has managed to overcome the tight blockade imposed by the U.S. We have full confidence in the good leadership of the Cuban Communist Party and President Raul Castro, with which his people will overcome all difficulties, he said. He added that currently, in compliance with an agreement between the respective Ministries in the field of defense, cooperation in various fields has deepened.
Vietnam to get Russian 'black hole' sub next month Rianovosti 28 Oct 2013
Vietnam will next month take delivery of a Russian submarine dubbed “a black hole in the ocean” by the US Navy for its undetectability when submerged, a military industry source told RIA Novosti on Monday. Vietnam ordered a fleet of six Varshavyanka class diesel-electric submarines in 2009 in what has been seen as an effort to counterbalance China’s expanding maritime influence. The contract, which also includes training for Vietnamese submarine crews in Russia, is reportedly worth $2 billion. Project 636M submarines have very low noise emission and can hit targets at long distances without being detected by the enemy’s anti-submarine systems. All total of six boats are being built for Vietnam at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg. They are due for delivery by 2016. The vessels displace 3,100 tons, reach speeds of 20 knots, can dive to 300 meters and carry crews of 52 people. The submarines feature 533-mm torpedo tubes and are armed with torpedoes, mines and Kalibr 3M54 (NATO SS-N-27 Sizzler) cruise missiles. They are mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions in relatively shallow waters.