| Regional Affairs
Vietnam, Philippines Incidents Raise Sea Tensions WSJ 7th May 2014
Tensions between Vietnam and China escalated Wednesday over a Chinese oil rig placed in disputed waters in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the Philippines said it apprehended a Chinese fishing vessel loaded with hundreds of sea turtles near Half Moon Shoal, a sandbar in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, drawing swift condemnation from Beijing. The rapidly rising maritime territorial tensions underscore the high stakes in the battle for who controls the rich-resource waters. Vietnamese officials said Chinese vessels rammed into Vietnamese coast guard vessels about 10 miles, or 16 kilometers, from a site where Hanoi has sought to prevent a Chinese state-run oil company from deploying a large oil rig in contested waters. Rear Adm. Ngo Ngoc Thu, vice commander of the Vietnamese coast guard, speaking at a news conference in Hanoi, said 80 Chinese vessels were in the area, including seven military ships, and that the ship were supported by aircraft. He called the situation "very tense." Adm. Thu said Chinese vessels had rammed into Vietnamese boats trying to prevent the deployment of the oil rig also on Saturday and Sunday and said, "Vietnam will continue to take measures to protect its sovereignty."
China begins drilling for oil in disputed sea philStar 5th May 2014
Vietnam protested a Chinese decision to begin drilling for oil in disputed Southeast Asian waters, calling the move illegal Monday and demanding that Beijing pull back from the area. Beijing's deployment of its first deep sea rig was the latest in a series of provocative actions aimed at asserting its sovereignty in the South China that have raised tensions with Vietnam, the Philippines and other claimants. The United States shares many of the regional concerns about China's actions in the seas, which are potentially rich in gas and oil. Last week, President Barack Obama signed a new defense pact with the Philippines aimed at reassuring allies in the region of American backing as they wrangle with Beijing's growing economic and military might. The China Maritime Safety Administration posted a navigational warning on its website advising that the CNOOC 981 rig would be drilling in the South China Sea from May 4 to Aug. 15, in an area close to the Paracel Islands, which are controlled by China but Vietnam claims as their own. It said ships entering a 3-mile (4.8-kilometers) radius around the area are prohibited. Vietnam's foreign ministry said the area where the rig was stationed lay within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as defined by the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
U.S. Army Returns To Jungle Warfare Army Times 5th May 2014
The Army is reclaiming the lost art of jungle warfare, and soldiers who make it through the new 21-day school can earn a tab and big bragging rights. The new Jungle Operations Training Course was born out of the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division’s regional alignment with Pacific Command and the Defense Department’s rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region. “When you look at the area we operate in, from India all the way through Bangladesh, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and into the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, to East Timor and Papua New Guinea, all of them are jungle,” said Maj. Gen. Kurt Fuller, commanding general of 25th ID. But the training won’t be limited to Hawaii-based grunts. “We’re offering it up to the Army,” Fuller said. “If that’s something they’re interested in doing, we’d be happy to support it with the right resources.” The ability to operate in the jungle is important not only for troops aligned with Pacific Command, but also potentially for those working in Africa and other places around the world, Fuller said.
Back to future with US-Philippines pact Straits Times 5th May 2014
The new security pact signed between the Philippines and the United States reveals recognition of geopolitical realities that should benefit Asia. The Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) reverses the legacy of the assertive nationalism that led to the expulsion of American forces from Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Force Base in 1992. Those who warned that an American withdrawal from Asia could result in a strategic vacuum, which would be filled by a new power or powers, were sometimes seen as devotees of balance-of-power politics. Yet, the military ascendancy of China, with which the Philippines is embroiled in a heated dispute over the South China Sea, has begun to test the faith of those who believed fondly that major power transitions could occur painlessly. EDCA attests to the wisdom of treating the US as an indispensable source of stability in Asia, not only because it is a superpower but also because it has no territorial claims or ambitions in the region. China's anger over the development is understandable. EDCA gives the Philippines access to countervailing American power in its contestation of China's expansive maritime claims. This security cover is not intended to escalate the South China Sea dispute, which Manila has taken to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands. It was Beijing's rejection of arbitration, occurring in the context of displays of naval strength, which sharply reminded Manila of the great power discrepancy between the two nations. The Philippines has sought to correct that imbalance somewhat by drawing on American strategic resources. The 10-year pact is not a new bases agreement, but it will permit thousands of US troops to be rotated through the Philippines and allow the US to station fighter jets, ships and surveillance equipment there. China is now dealing with a new Philippines.
Why Obama should abandon the pivot EAF 4th May 2014
President Obama faced a stark choice when he went to Japan last week. Either he had to commit himself and his country unambiguously to supporting Japan militarily over the Senkakus/Diaoyus, or he had to accept that the ‘pivot’ — and by extension his whole foreign policy and US leadership in Asia — was no longer credible. To see why that was so, we need to understand what’s been going wrong with the pivot ever since Obama announced it in November 2011. The problem has not been that Obama couldn’t make it to APEC last year, or that John Kerry has spent too much time in the Middle East, or that the sequester has cut the Pentagon’s budget. The problem has been that Washington has been unable to quell doubts about whether America really was willing to use ‘all the elements of American power’ to resist China’s challenge to the regional status quo based on US leadership in Asia. This is, after all, precisely what the pivot is all about. And the pivot got into trouble almost as soon as it was announced when, early in 2012, Beijing set out to test it on the Scarborough Shoal. The pivot failed that test when Washington was not willing to support Manila in resisting China’s takeover there.
America in Asia The Economist 3rd May 2014
Barack Obama ended a four-country tour of Asia on April 28th with a banquet in Manila. His trip was intended as the latest affirmation of America’s vaunted “pivot” to Asia. The pivot—now more often referred to as a “rebalancing”—is perhaps the most memorable foreign-policy idea to emerge from Mr Obama’s two-term presidency. But in outline, it seems that his hosts—in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines—took rather more from the visiting American president than they offered up to him. To varying degrees, all four Asian governments were looking for beefed-up military and diplomatic commitments from Mr Obama—in view of the rise of China and, in the case of South Korea and Japan, the threat from North Korea, too. Japan and the Philippines feel most threatened by China. They are both in direct confrontation with an increasingly assertive China over disputed islands and shoals in, respectively, the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
Bases for America’s Asia-Pacific Rebalance The Diplomat 2nd May 2014
The Asia-Pacific region, central to global economic and geopolitical development in the twenty-first century, is the logical focus of the Obama Administration’s ongoing rebalancing of capabilities, relations, and presence thereto. This effort is inspired by profound challenges and opportunities emerging in the region. Aspects of China’s rapid, broad-based development fall into both categories, with challenges including increasingly potent anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) systems that threaten the viability of potential opponents’ forces with long-range precision strike capabilities. Central to American presence and influence in the vital Asia-Pacific, but facing increasing vulnerabilities, is a complex network of bases and access points that has been too long neglected by both scholars and the American public. This two-part series addresses these timely and important issues, surveys present U.S. basing infrastructure, and examines key challenges and trends that Washington confronts as attempts to preserve its capabilities and influence in the Asia-Pacific. In an address to the Australian Parliament on November 17, 2011, President Barack Obama announced that the United States, as part of a general upgrade of its security cooperation with Australia, would deploy up to 2,500 U.S. Marines at Darwin in northern Australia. Although the United States has long enjoyed a close military (and intelligence) relationship with Australia, not since World War II has any significant American military force been stationed permanently on the continent. This move, the president explained, reflected “a deliberate and strategic decision—as a Pacific nation, the United States will play a larger and long-term role in shaping this region and its future.” Together with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s late 2011 visit to Myanmar (Burma), the first by an American secretary of State in more than half a century, this is the most striking manifestation of a new determination on the part of the Obama administration to reassert the United States’ traditional interests in the Asia-Pacific region, to reassure its friends and allies there of the long-term nature of its commitment to them, and to send an unmistakable signal to the People’s Republic of China that the United States is and intends to remain a “Pacific power” fully prepared to meet the challenge of China’s rise and its regional ambitions.
The Developing India-China Maritime Dynamic The Diplomat 1st May 2014
India’s decision to send the warship INS Shivalik to participate in a multilateral naval exercise at the northeastern Chinese port city of Qingdao last week generated some curiosity among maritime watchers. The naval exercise, meant to commemorate China’s 65th anniversary, was held alongside the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) – the first time China has ever hosted the meet. Beijing had earlier cancelled a fleet-review planned to precede the exercise, citing “special conditions” occasioned by the ongoing efforts to locate the lost airliner MH370 in the Southern Indian Ocean. While the naval drill involved ships from Bangladesh, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia, it was the presence of a Pakistan Navy vessel that caused the most excitement among Indian analysts. Coming on the heels of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium in Perth last month – attended by the Chief of the Pakistan Navy – the joint appearance by naval ships of the two ostensible Indian Ocean arch-rivals was indeed a significant development. The Indian Navy and Pakistan Navy share a famously frigid relationship, and even though neither has, in a very long time, presented proof of the profound hostility that each side suspects the other harbors, the lack of strategic trust has been glaring. Qingdao, needless to say, would have presented both navies with a good opportunity to initiate some form of operational contact The thrill of seeing Indian and Pakistani naval ships in the same photo-frame, however, is unlikely to have shifted the focal point of analytical interest: the emerging India-China maritime dynamic. As “routine” as official sources sought to portray India’s participation in a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) organized maritime exercise, it came laden with symbolism and strategic possibility, making it apt for a deeper examination.
Obama’s pivot to Asia will lack firepower The Hill 30th Apr 2014
President Obama’s pivot to Asia will lack a crucial military underpinning next year, when for four months, the Navy will not have an aircraft carrier in the region. Defense cuts have helped shrink the number of available carriers, alarming GOP lawmakers who are fighting the Pentagon’s plan to permanently cut the number of U.S. carriers to 10. They argue not having a carrier in the region for months at a time will send a signal of U.S. weakness, as China seeks to make territorial claims against several U.S. allies over the South China Sea. “Symbolically, the worst thing we could do around the globe is to take one of those carriers out,” Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) told defense reporters on Tuesday. “We really need two or three carriers there.” According to Forbes and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), there will not be a carrier in the region for about 130 days next year, between when the USS George Washington leaves its base in Japan, and when its replacement, the USS Ronald Reagan, arrives there. They argue this would leave the U.S. with fewer options to respond to flare-ups. Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Nicholas Sherrouse said the Navy’s presence in the region would not be diminished. He said that, at “at any given time, there are 80 ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and approximately 40,000 sailors and Marines in the region.” Still, the U.S. would not be able to use a carrier if a show of force is needed against China or North Korea, or if a natural disaster strikes, which lawmakers say is a concern for U.S. Pacific Command chief Navy Adm. Samuel Locklear III.
Save the Carrier, Sink the LCS RealClearDefense 30th Apr 2014
Inactivate a carrier, save the littoral combat ship? It sounds crazy, but that is the current budget plan. The USS George Washington (CVN-73) is now 25 years old and due for a midlife refueling to prepare for another 25 years of operation. The project, which will cost nearly $3 billion, would normally be a routine decision involving planning, fuel procurement, updating, and the overhaul. But funds to commence necessary refueling overhaul planning have not been obligated. The chief of naval operations even removed the refueling funds from the Navy’s list of unfunded priorities list, undermining support for a the carrier fleet of 11 ships mandated by law. Navy management has declared that only planning for defueling will proceed while deferring all overhaul planning and long lead equipment procurement pending resolution of the future sequester impact. The failure to fund to the refueling and overhaul is another example of how the irrationality of sequestration has produced similarly irrational responses from the Defense Department. Critical defense priorities have borne the brunt of budget cuts while lower priority programs have survived. Retiring CVN-73 early would place undue stress on the remaining carrier fleet and Navy sailors. In decades past, ship deployments lasted six to seven months. The high operational tempo brought on by two wars as well as intermittent crises and disasters resulted in nine month deployments, taxing people and equipment and contributing to widening maintenance shortfalls. The failure to deliver the first of the new Ford-class carrier on planned schedule didn’t help matters. And now as the Navy has recently finalized a plan to standardize cruises at eight months, it is becoming clear that sequestration would unravel that plan by forcing CVN-73 out of service. Deployments could stretch to ten months.
The U.S. Army's Asia Opportunity National Interest 29th Apr 2014
1. Shift Army planning and capabilities towards land-based offensive systems. While the Army has spent the past decade focused on counterinsurgency and stability operations, it should shift more resources towards creating new, land-based ballistic and cruise missile forces. Positioning both mobile and fixed ground-based missile batteries in theatre, while also increasing the range of those systems and acquiring anti-ship missiles, will allow the Army to contribute to regional stability by both deterring adversaries from operating near partner states—subjecting enemy land- and sea-based anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) forces to greater risk. This would have to be done in partnership with regional allies, but an integrated web of A2/AD systems among allies would greatly increase the costs of any hostile action in the region. The Army’s existing expertise in missile defense and partner-capacity building make it a natural choice to spearhead the cultivation and integration of partner, land-based A2/AD networks that would constrain and deter Chinese aggression in the region by using the very same tools they are using to dissuade us from maintaining our presence and intervening in regional crises.
US Pacific Command Plans Responses for Unilateral Chinese Coercion The Diplomat 29th Apr 2014
The United States has a vested interest in maintaining the strategic status quo in the Asia-Pacific given that its position as a power in the region could be undermined should China succeed in changing the regional security landscape. As anxiety has grown about China’s intentions following an increase in tensions over the Senkaku/Dioayu dispute between it and Japan, and a host of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the U.S. military has set up several symbolic responses to possible Chinese moves. A report in the Wall Street Journal highlights the U.S. military’s broad contingency planning for responding to Chinese provocations in the East and South China Sea where territorial disputes abound with several important U.S. allies. According to the report, the plans comprise everything from a symbolic show force by flying B-2 bombers to more provocative aircraft carrier exercises in the waters around China. The WSJ‘s sources noted that the U.S. response to the Russian annexation of Crimea has unnerved important allies in the region and that this new action plan for the Asia-Pacific strives to make U.S. intentions known to China, which may continue to attempt to coercively change the status quo. The issue driving U.S. planning seems to be credibility — ensuring that the United States’ presence in the Asia-Pacific remains a credible deterrent for China as it strives to pursue its claims to territorial disputes.
U.S. In for a Long Balancing Act in Asia WSJ 29th Apr 2014
On his swing through Asia, President Barack Obama went to extraordinary lengths to signal to China that his mission to reassure allies of U.S. support was in no way aimed at Beijing. He stressed that point yet again in Manila on Monday shortly after U.S. and Philippine officials concluded a pact to open military bases to U.S. forces more than two decades after legislators voted to kick them out. "Our goal is not to counter China. Our goal is not to contain China," he said. It was a tough case to make. For the reason that America's partners like the Philippines need reassurance in the first place is precisely because they feel threatened by China. And they worry that the U.S. "pivot" to the region—their insurance policy against Chinese belligerence in territorial disputes—is losing momentum. Yet Mr. Obama appears to have sailed through without obviously offending China. Xinhua news agency, after blasting U.S. efforts to "cage" China as Mr. Obama arrived, was muted in its subsequent critique, noting that Mr. Obama hadn't sided with its Asian allies on sovereignty issues. The Foreign Ministry also seemed to give him the benefit of the doubt. "Whether or not this trip is to contain China depends on what the U.S. says and what it does," said chief spokesman Qin Gang Monday. The nuances of Mr. Obama's messages had critical meaning, too. In Japan, the linchpin of America's alliance system in Asia, he was adamant that U.S. security guarantees were "absolute"—and covered the disputed Senkaku islands. Japanese media made much of the fact that he referred to them only by their Japanese name; China calls them Diaoyu. In the Philippines, however, Mr. Obama was somewhat cagier. He called American commitment to defend the Philippines "ironclad" but stopped short of promising military help in the event of hostilities between the Philippines and China over island territory.
Obama in Philippines: 'Our Goal Is Not to Contain China' The Diplomat 29th Apr 2014
The Philippines and the United States have signed a new defense agreement that would boost the presence of U.S. troops in the Philippines. But President Barack Obama, who arrived in Manila yesterday on a state visit, claims that the new accord is not meant to contain China. After eight rounds of negotiations that took almost two years to complete, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was finally signed. It will would cover “capacity building towards (Philippine military) modernization, strengthening (the Philippine military) for external defense, maritime security, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.” The text of the agreement has not yet been released to the public but the Philippines government has published a primer on it. The holding of joint military exercises is already permitted under previous agreements signed by the two countries, but the EDCA would allow the “construction of facilities and infrastructure upgrades” and “storage and prepositioning of defense equipment.” Critics contend that this is tantamount to permanent basing, which is prohibited by the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Government negotiators retort that the EDCA is guided by the framework of “full Philippine control over facilities to be used, non-exclusivity of use of the designated areas for U.S. armed forces, and prohibition of nuclear weapons.” In other words, there would be no building of a permanent U.S. military base or a reclaiming of the former U.S. military bases in Clark and Subic.
India: Urgent Defense Reforms Needed The Diplomat 28th Apr 2014
On April 2, India’s outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, told a conference that: “As a responsible nuclear weapon state that remains committed to non-proliferation, India supports the idea of a nuclear-weapon-free world because we believe that it enhances not just India’s security, but also global security.” Less than a fortnight later, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), largely expected to lead the next government, sprung a surprise by declaring in its election manifesto that it will “study in detail India’s nuclear doctrine, and revise and update it to make it relevant to [the] challenges of current times.” That was a surprise, because India’s 15-year old nuclear doctrine that decrees “no-first use” of nuclear weapons was put in place by the last BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government. If the BJP indeed comes to power and then delivers on its promise, it would mark a major shift in India’s nuclear policy. Tweaking or changing the course of India’s nuclear doctrine will surely alter India’s foreign policy too. The challenge for the new government will be to balance India’s own national interest with the current – and fast-changing – geopolitical situation in Eurasia.
The Limits of Pacific Maritime Law The Diplomat 28th Apr 2014
Baby steps, baby steps. Last week, some twenty Pacific navies meeting at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao agreed to what participants are styling as a Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES). CUES, like the Cold War-vintage INCSEA agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union/Russia, calls on mariners to forego provocative actions on the high seas and in international airspace, and to contact one another to clear up such misunderstandings as do arise. INCSEA is ironclad, as Russian forbearance toward the destroyer USS Donald Cook in the Black Sea proves. Right? But still. Stupid things happen. Any American seafarer, and scurrilous ‘furriners as well, can relate a sea story or two about gobsmackingly dumb things he’s seen done while underway. Always by the other guy, mind you. One of mine: in the Persian Gulf many moons ago, a dhow skipper with a death wish decided it would be fun to pass fifty yards or thereabouts ahead of a 58,000-ton battleship that was traversing a narrow channel and couldn’t maneuver to avoid colliding. Imagine my relief when he reappeared on the other side of the ship after passing underneath the ship’s high bow. 1100 hours: Crunched small craft while exiting Abu Dhabi harbor is not a deck-log entry any naval officer wants to write. Some CUES guidelines would have been welcome about then. If, of course, that knucklehead abided by them.
Oil in the Hourglass: Energy Is Not Yet Fuel to the Fire in the South China Sea IPR 28th Apr 2014
The reality is that the South China Sea produces little oil and natural gas, approximately 1.1 percent and 0.9 percent respectively of the world’s supply. Furthermore, fossil fuel exploration of the sea is at such an early stage that only about 1/3 of it has been explored and documented. Based on the poor-quality data of the sea’s fossil fuel resources, historically limited exploitation, and the estimated extended timeframe necessary to exploit potential resources, there is little credibility to the argument that the conflict is driven by an energy imperative. In fact, continued exploitation of the sea’s resources requires each party to exert a degree of restraint as they jostle to maximize their hold on the sea. Too high a sense of insecurity, let alone open fighting would bring most if not all oil and gas work to a halt, jeopardize billions of dollars of infrastructure investments, and cause a withdrawal of critical foreign technical firms.
Naval Air: Chinese Carrier Out Of Action For The Rest Of 2014 Strategy Page 27th Apr 2014
After nearly two years of frequent trips to sea for training and testing, China’s first aircraft carrier (the Liaoning) has entered the shipyard for at least six months of maintenance and modifications. All this time at sea apparently produced a long list of things needing to be fixed, modified or replaced. Thus the long trip to the shipyard. Liaoning completed its sea trials on January 1st after it returned to base with its escort group after 37 days at sea. This came 16 months after Liaoning was commissioned (accepted into service by the navy) in September 2012. At that time China announced that there would be more sea trials before Liaoning was ready for regular service. Before commissioning Liaoning had performed well during over a year of pre-commissioning sea trials. During that time Liaoning went to sea ten times. The longest trip was two weeks. All this was mainly to see if the ship was able to function reliably at sea. After commissioning Liaoning carried out months of additional trials and preparations for the first flight operations, which took place in late 2012. In 2011 China confirmed that the Liaoning will primarily be a training carrier. The Chinese apparently plan to station up to 24 jet fighters and 26 helicopters on the Liaoning. But the carrier will also be used to train Chinese officers and sailors to operate as a carrier task force as the Americans and some other Western navies have been doing for over 80 years. That led to the formation of the first Chinese carrier task force in late 2013. This was essential because a carrier needs escorts. For Liaoning this consisted of two Type 051C destroyers and two Type 054A frigates plus a supply ship. All this is similar to what the U.S. has long used, which is currently 3-4 destroyers, 1-2 frigates, an SSN (nuclear submarine), and a supply ship. Chinese SSNs are few and not very good, which is why China probably has not assigned one to their escort group.
U.S. Beefs Up Military Options for China as Obama Reassures Allies in Asia WSJ 27th Apr 2014
The U.S. military has prepared options for a muscular response to any future Chinese provocations in the South and East China seas, ranging from displays of B-2 bomber flights near China to aircraft-carrier exercises near its coastal waters, officials said. The menu of options, described by officials briefed on the action plan, reflects concerns that U.S. allies in Asia have about the Obama administration's commitments to its security obligations, particularly after Russia's seizure of the Crimean peninsula. The security question has closely followed President Barack Obama in recent days during his four-country Asian trip. Washington's closest allies in Asia have told American counterparts that Crimea is seen as a possible litmus test of what Washington will do if China attempted a similar power grab in the South China and East China seas, according to current and former U.S. officials. "They're concerned. But it's not only about Crimea. It's a crescendo that's been building," a senior U.S. defense official said, citing skepticism in Asia that Washington is prepared to back up its word and carry through on its renewed strategic focus on Asia.
China’s Military Urges Increased Secrecy The Diplomat 25th Apr 2014
From U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s tour of the Liaoning aircraft carrier earlier this month to the recent release of two music videos featuring footage of Liaoning’s crew in training, we’ve been seeing a lot of what might be termed “military transparency with Chinese characteristics.” Lest anyone get too optimistic, however, those initiatives were followed up this week by an article in the People’s Liberation Army Daily extolling the virtues of secrecy. Xinhua also carried excerpts of the article in English translation, with the headline “China’s military requires tightened secrecy.” The article quoted from a document entitled “Suggestions Regarding the Work of Protecting Secrets Under New Trends,” which PLA Daily said had been issued by China’s Central Military Commission at the order of Xi Jinping. The report named military secrecy as a key requirement to fulfilling Xi Jinping’s exhortation that China’s military should be capable of winning a war. Chinese military personnel must “clearly recognize the severe and complicated situation facing the protection of secrets, always remain sober-minded, persist in strengthening knowledge of enemies and awareness of duty, and spare no effort to fight the battle of maintaining secrecy,” the report urged. The report, or at least the version carried in Chinese media, did not contain any specific details on how China would strengthen its military secrecy — such plans would naturally be themselves considered military secrets. The document did generally refer to a need to strengthen the protection of documents and other classified information as well as increasing security for computer networks and mobile communications.
INFOGRAPHIC: U.S. Forces in Asia ABS-CBN 25th Apr 2014
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Far Eastern Promises: Why Washington Should Focus on Asia Foreign Affairs 24th Apr 2014
The United States is in the early stages of a substantial national project: reorienting its foreign policy to commit greater attention and resources to the Asia-Pacific region. This reformulation of U.S. priorities has emerged during a period of much-needed strategic reassessment, after more than a decade of intense engagement with South Asia and the Middle East. It is premised on the idea that the history of the twenty-first century will be written largely in the Asia-Pacific, a region that welcomes U.S. leadership and rewards U.S. engagement with a positive return on political, economic, and military investments. As a result, the Obama administration is orchestrating a comprehensive set of diplomatic, economic, and security initiatives now known as the “pivot,” or “rebalancing,” to Asia. The policy builds on more than a century of U.S. involvement in the region, including important steps taken by the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations; as President Barack Obama has rightly noted, the United States is in reality and rhetoric already a “Pacific power.” But the rebalancing does represent a significant elevation of Asia’s place in U.S. foreign policy. Questions about the purpose and scope of the new approach emerged as soon as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered what remains the clearest articulation of the strategy, and first used the term “pivot” to describe it, in a 2011 article in Foreign Policy.
Obama’s Asian allies need to give something back FT 23rd Apr 2014
President Barack Obama will spend the next few days on an awkward mission to Asia. Essentially, he is going to try to tell the Koreans, Japanese, Filipinos and Malaysians that their lives and welfare are more precious to America than those of the Afghans, Ukrainians and Syrians to whose rescue America has recently declined to come. That may not be the truth. The White House says the president will reassure our Asian allies that they are the country’s top foreign policy priority and that America will act as a protection against the power and influence of China. It says the US will further integrate its economy with those of Asia by concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal with 11 North American and Asia-Pacific countries. This is in response to Asian leaders’ laments that they feel neglected by Washington and uncertain of its commitments to them.
Challenges for the US-Japan alliance in a changing Asia EAF 22nd Apr 2014
Tokyo will welcome US President Barack Obama this week at a key moment in US-Japan relations. The challenging nature of the current security situation in East Asia underscores the importance of maintaining and strengthening US-Japan alliance cooperation. The risk of North Korean military provocation remains ever-present, and China is becoming increasingly assertive in its maritime activities in the East and South China Seas. Tensions in Japan’s relations with China and South Korea continue to flare up over history and territorial issues. And the commitment of the United States to Japan and its other allies in Asia has also come under scrutiny as the balance of global power continues to shift. Perceptions of US decline may be exaggerated given that the United States is a highly dynamic society and possesses formidable military and economic power. However, the long campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq and the economic strain of the global financial crisis have seen the will of the United States to wield its military power unilaterally diminish, and there is no denying that its relative share of global GDP is declining as emerging market economies such as China and India post impressive gains.
Pacific Navies Agree on Code of Conduct for Unplanned Encounters WSJ 22nd Apr 2014
Asian-Pacific naval chiefs approved the region's first code of conduct for unplanned encounters between navy ships and aircraft in an effort to prevent maritime tensions from flaring into conflict. The Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, or CUES, was adopted on the opening day of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, which includes China, the U.S., Japan, the Philippines and about 20 other nations, according to the participants. The agreement follows a two-year period of rising territorial tensions and air and sea confrontations in the South China Sea and East China Sea. The code defines ways for naval ships and aircraft to maneuver and communicate when they meet "casually or unexpectedly," according to a draft seen by The Wall Street Journal. It isn't legally binding and doesn't apply to encounters within a country's territorial waters, said participants at the meeting in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao. U.S. naval officials said they hoped all members of the group would abide by the code in all areas, including the parts of the South China Sea and East China Sea where Beijing's territorial claims are contested by its neighbors. "This is an important step forward to reduce tensions at sea in the region," Adm. Harry B. Harris, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said in a speech at the Qingdao meeting.
Unintended consequences of US a lliances in Asia CSIS 22nd Apr 2014
The conventional wisdom on US alliances in Asia, at least in the West, Japan, and Taiwan (but not necessarily in South Korea), i s that they are broadly a good thing. Those alliances, we are told, provide stability. They keep China from dominating the region. They hem in North Korea and defend the powerfully symbolic South Korean experiment in liberal democracy and capitalism. They prevent the nuclearization of South Korea and Japan and a spiraling regional arms race. In short, they re - assure. They allow the US to project power into the region. They consolidate liberal democratic values in the Pacific. They help keep trade relationsh ips open and act as a restraint on behavior in an important, but potentially volatile region. This view is not universal. The Chinese disagree quite strongly. For Beijing, US ‘re - assurance’ to allies is a challenge to Chinese freedom of maneuver. Others in Asia see the US using its alliances to draw a new line through Asia, while some in the US believe those alliances encourage irresponsible behavior by allies, either through free - or cheap - riding or being unduly provocative.
Why Obama must be in Asia CSM 22nd Apr 2014
Ever wonder why American leaders travel to Asia so often? Barack Obama’s trip this week fits a pattern of frequent presidential visits going back decades. The reason is not because Asia is big, dynamic, or dangerous. Rather, the United States is the only country – at least for now – able to assist a fractious region in working toward eventual unity around common values. Largely on their own, Europe and Latin America have each created a regional unity of countries that promises to ensure peace and prosperity. Asia, which is still divided by deep rivalries, territorial tensions, and unresolved war histories, needs help. Mr. Obama, like three presidents before him, seems to embrace the task, although not always enough. Here’s a sample of what the Obama administration has done over five years: It has agreed that the US and China must find a new model of great-power relations to accommodate China’s rise on the world scene. It has tried to foster better ties between Japan and South Korea over issues of Japanese wartime aggression. It has nudged Myanmar (Burma) toward democracy. It has insisted that island disputes in the South China Sea be resolved peacefully and multilaterally. And it has begun to “rebalance” (or pivot) US resources toward Asia and away from Europe and the Middle East.
Don't Be a Menace to South (China Sea) Brookings 21st Apr 2014
As President Barack Obama prepares for his trip to Asia this week, he will face questions not just about the administration's signature rebalance, or "pivot" toward that region, but also about the crisis in Ukraine. The leaders Obama will meet in South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines will be preoccupied with what appears to them as a potential Asian parallel to the challenge Europe faces: How can the United States and its friends and allies deal with an increasingly assertive regional power? Put more bluntly -- as the leaders will surely do in their private talks with Obama -- how would the United States respond if China should resort to unilateral territorial intervention in their own backyard?
Countering Maritime Piracy and Robbery in Southeast Asia ETH 18th Apr 2014
Last year has seen a decrease in reported [2] attacks against ships in some of the world’s most piracy prone areas, such as the Gulf of Aden and – for the first time since 2009 – in Southeast Asia.[3] During the same period, however, the frequency of attacks in some parts of the latter increased substantially, most notably in the waters and ports of Indonesia. This paper argues the following: First, that the improving situation in Southeast Asia as a whole can largely be attributed to the success of multilateral counter - piracy initiatives, principally the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). Second, the accession of Malaysia and Indonesia – the only two Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states that are not ReCAAP contracting parties – could contribute to the mechanism’s greater effectiveness in Southeast Asia. The participation of Indonesia in particular could help address the rapidly increasing number of maritime piracy and robbery incidents within its jurisdiction. Third, multilateral initiatives such as ReCAAP represent an ideal opportunity for the European Union (EU) and individual European states to increase their influence in Southeast Asia and gain a foothold as security actors in the region. The paper first discusses the role of ReCAAP and its Information Sharing Centre (ISC) in countering piracy and robbery attacks against ships in Southeast Asia, continues with a brief assessment of the situation in 2012, and finally sheds light on the existing and potential role of the European Union (EU) and European states within ReCAAP.
State’s Kelly on U.S. Foreign Policy, Diplomacy in Asia State Department 17th Apr 2014
Aloha! I work in the Foreign Ministry of the United States, the U.S. State Department. I’ve been a diplomat my entire life, and so I’m usually dressed a lot more formally than I am today. If it were up to me, I’d always dress like this. For the past few years, I’ve overseen the State Department’s Bureau of Political Military Affairs. This bureau is the connective tissue between the Department of State and the Department of Defense. We work closely with the Department of Defense to make sure that the work that we do is complimentary and consistent with U.S. foreign policy goals. I know that many of you are leaders in your own nations on issues affecting defense, security, and foreign policy. So I thought that I would spend some time this morning giving you an overview of how, in our own government, we have tried to bring two distinct parts of our government – diplomats and soldiers – together so that we better serve the foreign policy and security interests of the United States. As someone who grew up on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, I’d also like to put the recent U.S. “rebalance to Asia” in proper context, and discuss with you our current security priorities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Asia-Pacific Security: A Changing Role for the United States Chatham House 16th Apr 2014
See link for article and executive summary President Barack Obama’s November 2011 announcement of the rebalancing of the United States to the Asia-Pacific made clear his intention that America would sustain its leading role in the region. However, what is less clear is how America’s allies and partners in the region see their own security interests changing and, given this, how they see the United States fitting into this new security framework. It is vital that both the demand for security (from Asia) and its supply (by the United States) are better understood in order to achieve a new status quo that meets the needs of all the players. This report considers six US allies or partners in Asia (Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea) and asks how they perceive their security interests and emerging threats – and, consequently, how they are addressing them through domestic capabilities and regional or plurilateral groups, and what role this suggests for the United States.
The Relevance of the South Korea-US Alliance The Diplomat 14th Apr 2014
More than 60 years old, the South Korea-U.S. military alliance has weathered monumental change on the divided Korean Peninsula. Since the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty at the close of the Korean War in 1953, South Korea has transformed from a poor authoritarian state to a prosperous democracy. The once poorer sibling’s economy now dwarfs that of neighboring North Korea, its primary security concern. Further afar, the Cold War has been consigned to history. Meanwhile, China has entered the international consciousness as a burgeoning superpower. Yet, fundamentally, the alliance remains little changed. South Korea’s defense continues to be the responsibility of the U.S., which retains wartime control over the local military and stations close to 30,000 troops on Korean soil. A plan to transfer wartime control to South Korea, first agreed upon in 2006, has been delayed repeatedly, most recently to 2015 – a date that itself looks in doubt due to trepidation from the conservative government in Seoul. Despite the now vast development gap between the Koreas, both Washington and Seoul insist their partnership remains essential. Marking its 60th anniversary last May, a joint statement described the relationship as an “anchor for stability, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, in the Asia-Pacific region, and increasingly around the world.”
The President’s Trip to Asia: Ukraine and the Global Context Brookings 23rd Apr 2014
As the president prepares for his rescheduled Asia trip on April 23-27, events in Ukraine continue to unfold in a dangerous way. The president’s policy in Ukraine has been met with a concern about what it reveals about U.S. power, perceived U.S. retreat and the fraught question of U.S. leadership. Do Japan and Korea and the other Asian powers view U.S. reactions in Ukraine as signifying a weakening of U.S. commitment to its leadership role? Will the president succeed in implementing his vaunted "pivot to Asia"? How can the U.S. balance the pivot to Asia with ongoing commitments in Europe, to say nothing of the Middle East?
Indonesia
Indonesia Draws a Line in the Sea Asia Sentinel 29th Apr 2014
In a little-noticed move, Jakarta now says Beijing is encroaching on its territory in the South China Sea The littoral nations of the South China Sea appear to be closing ranks against China’s territorial claims to 90 percent of the sea. With China pressing its approach through its nine-dash line on its maps and passports, there is no sign Beijing will relent on a territorial vision many find outrageous. In this atmosphere, the visit of US President Barack Obama in the past week has focused attention on strengthening US security links with both Malaysia and the Philippines. Less noticed, yet at least as important for the long run, was last month’s statement from Jakarta, subsequently reinforced by armed forces chief General Moeldoko, that Indonesia is also now in direct conflict with China over the nine-dash line. “Indonesia is dismayed,” Moeldoko wrote in an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on April 24, “that China has included parts of the Natuna Islands within the nine-dash line, thus apparently claiming a segment of Indonesia's Riau Islands province as its territory.” Overall, Obama’s trip to Asia was a mixed bag and did not convince all of the seriousness of the US “tilt” to the region that began in 2012. Japan remains as self-destructively adamant about protecting its farm lobby as about visiting the Yasakuni shrine, offering the US basically nothing in return for Washington’s commitment to its defense, including over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands dispute with China.
Military reform swept under the rug Jakarta Post 28th Apr 2014
Recently, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Moeldoko stated that “democratic transition should be concluded this year” as Indonesia had yet to achieve political stability. The commander’s responsibility is to ensure that national defense is in top-notch condition and to oversee internal military institutional reform. Does his statement mean he is eyeing a political position beyond his current defense role? Does his reference to the protracted transition and yearning for stability mean he subscribes to the New Order fixation, which insinuates that civilians are not ready to lead the country and that the military should lend a hand again? One analyst has suggested moving from questioning security sector reform to security sector “transformation”, arguing that the focus should change from making the military accountable for its conduct to arming the TNI with the latest weaponry Indonesia can afford, especially with the regional turmoil over the South China Sea.
Singapore, Indonesia must move beyond ship-naming incident: Ng Eng Hen CNA 25th Apr 2014
Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen has said Singapore and Indonesia have to find ways to move beyond the incident involving the naming of a new frigate after two marines responsible for a bombing in Orchard Road in 1965. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community event on Sunday, Dr Ng said both countries have to mend and repair ties which have been affected by the incident. Dr Ng was responding to recent clarifications by Indonesia's armed forces commander, General Moeldoko, after he had apologised about the incident in an earlier interview with Channel NewsAsia. Dr Ng reiterated that Singapore wants good relations with Indonesia. As neighbours, both countries benefit much when relations with each other are good. He said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will work with the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) to improve relations.
China's Dismaying New Claims in the South China Sea Wall Street Journal 24th Apr 2014
The South China Sea has become the focal point of maritime disputes in Asia. Two of the claimants are China and Taiwan, while the other four—Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam—are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. While Asean as a grouping is not a party to the disputes, the organization has an interest in seeing them resolved peacefully and without affecting international freedom of navigation. That is the crux of Indonesia's position as well. We are not a claimant in a dispute. But we will be affected should conflict break out in the South China Sea over interpretations of the so-called nine-dash line on Chinese maps laying claim to about 90% of that sea's 3.5 million square kilometer waters (or 1.35 million square miles). Given the economic and strategic significance of the sea, this is a pressing international issue that has come to involve the U.S. as well. Indonesia is dismayed, therefore, that China has included parts of the Natuna Islands within the nine-dash line, thus apparently claiming a segment of Indonesia's Riau Islands province as its territory. An image showing the line features in newly issued Chinese passports. The affected archipelago is off the northwest coast of Borneo.
South China Sea: Is Jakarta no longer neutral? Strait Times 24th Apr 2014
On March 12, Indonesia's Commodore Fahru Zaini, assistant deputy to the chief security minister for defence strategic doctrine, was reported to have said that "China has claimed Natuna waters as their (sic) territorial waters. This arbitrary claim ... will have a large impact on the security of Natuna waters". On March 18, however, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa contradicted him. "There is no territorial dispute between Indonesia and China," the minister insisted. He pointed, instead, to ongoing maritime cooperation between China and Indonesia at the deputy foreign minister level. One of the projects, he said, involved direct foreign investment in Natuna for fish processing and canning. But Mr Natalegawa did concede that Jakarta had rejected China's controversial "nine-dash line" in the South China Sea. It had also questioned China on the legal basis of the line without receiving any reply. But the minister insisted that all this had nothing to do with Natuna islands. However, many observers, especially in the West, believe that Indonesia's position has changed. Instead of being neutral, Indonesia has effectively sided with other South-east Asian claimants.
Construction for the Second PKR 10514 Frigate to Start in Next 3 Months Defense Studies 22nd Apr 2014
n accordance with the agreed planning in the contract for the construction of a Damen SIGMA Frigate for the Indonesian Navy, the keellaying ceremony has taken place on 16 April 2014 at the PT PAL (Persero) Shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia. The construction of the 4 modules that are going to be built at PT PAL (Persero) Shipyard Surabaya and the two modules that are being built in Vlissingen, are proceeding according to schedule The construction and testing of the modules simultaneously at two different locations signifies the unique Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding modular building strategy that is unparalleled in the naval shipbuilding industry. All modules will be assembled at the PT PAL (Persero) Shipyard under main contractorship of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding followed by Harbour Acceptance Tests and Sea Acceptance Trials.
Indonesian Navy set to have domestically built frigate in 2016 Indian Defence 20th Apr 2014
The Indonesian Navy chief of staff Adm. Marsetio holds a coin to be placed in the keel of the PKR 10514 guided-missile destroyer escort at the PT PAL Indonesia shipyard in Surabaya on Wednesday. The warship, the first of two ordered worth US$220 million, is expected to be completed in December 2016, and the second in October 2017. (JP/Wahyoe Boediwardhana) National News The Indonesian Navy will soon have its own domestically made frigate when the construction of the PKR 10514 guided-missile destroyer escort is completed in 2016. Navy chief of staff Adm. Marsetio led a keel laying ceremony for the PKR, which the navy classifies as a frigate, at the state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia in Surabaya on Wednesday. The warship is being built under the supervision of Dutch shipbuilder Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS). “The PKR frigate will have the modern surface warfare capabilities being equipped with [anti-ship] Exocet missile, anti-submarine warfare with torpedoes, anti-aircraft warfare and electronic warfare,” Marsetio said after the ceremony.
Indonesia Interested in Russian Submarine "Amur-1650" Defense Studies 19th Apr 2014
Indonesian Navy Command interested Russian diesel-electric submarines of the "Amur-1650". On this, as reported by ITAR-TASS news agency , said the director of "Rosoboronexport" roving Nicholas Dimidyuk. According to him, the Indonesian delegation announced its interest during the inspection of the Russian exposition at the international exhibition DSA-2014 in Malaysia. Do you plan to Indonesian military to begin negotiations for the purchase of ships, is not specified. Earlier, the Ministry of Defence of Indonesia led negotiations with Russia on the purchase of second-hand submarines of Project 877 "Halibut". These ships Russia has offered the Indonesian military in August 2013. Later Indonesia declared refusal from the purchase of submarines since the military did not satisfy their technical condition.
Singapore Accepts Indonesian Apology for Ship's Name WSJ 16th Apr 2014
Singapore on Wednesday accepted an apology from Indonesia's military chief for naming a warship after two marines behind a deadly 1960s bombing in the city-state, signaling a potential mending of frayed bilateral ties. Gen. Moeldoko's conciliatory comments—made in an interview aired Tuesday by a Singaporean broadcaster—came amid a monthslong spat that had prompted Singapore to suspend inter-military relations with its far-larger Southeast Asian neighbor. In a brief statement, Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen welcomed the apology as "a constructive gesture" and said the city-state's armed forces would "reciprocate Gen. Moeldoko's positive intentions by resuming bilateral cooperation and activities with the [Indonesian military]." Bilateral relations had soured in February after the Indonesian navy said it would name a frigate in honor of Indonesian marines Usman Haji Mohamed Ali and Harun Said. The two were convicted and executed in Singapore for killing three people and injuring 33 others in the March 1965 bombing of MacDonald House, a bank building in the Orchard Road shopping district. The attack was the deadliest of 37 bombings that rattled Singapore starting in 1963, when Indonesia's then-president Sukarno led an armed confrontation in opposition to the newly-formed Federation of Malaysia, which then included Singapore. The conflict ended in 1966, a year after Singapore left Malaysia to become an independent nation.
Malaysia
Sabah Waters Safe With Strong Navy Presence Defense Studies 29th Apr 2014
The Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) assured that Sabah waters was safe with the deployment of additional assets to avert any attempt by intruders to endanger the security of the country. Region Two Navy Commander Rear Admiral Datuk Pahlawan Mohammad Rosland Omar said the navy currently had 23 assets that can be deployed at any one time if needed. "I am confident that with the assets at our disposal, the security of the nation, especially Sabah is at the optimum level. We have the Kapal Tunda Diraja (KTD) Kepah and Combat Boat (CB) 90 plus the submarine," he told reporters at the 80th Armada TLDM Open Day at the TLDM Base in Teluk Sepanggar, here today.
Malaysia beats out Singapore in military strength, web report claims The Star 29th Apr 2014
Malaysia ranked 38th out of 106 countries in terms of military strength according to a report published by Global Firepower (GFP). Malaysia’s ranking placed it five places ahead of neighbour Singapore at 44. According to the survey, Malaysia also outranked Norway (which came in at 39), Ethiopia (40) and South Africa (41). In the Asean sphere, aside from Singapore, Malaysia also beat out the likes of Cambodia (at 82) and Laos (102), but lost to Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines, which came in at 23, 24 and 37 respectively. GFP’s 2014 survey concluded that the top five countries in terms of military strength are the United States, Russia, China, India and the United Kingdom. GFP explained that over 50 factors, beyond technology and a nation’s standing arsenal, were considered in determining the final ranking. Among the factors are available manpower and manpower fit for service statistics, as well as the oil production, oil consumption and proven oil reserves of a nation, calculated in barrels per day. “Despite the advances made in battlefield technology, oil remains the lifeblood of any fighting force,” said GFP in explaining its survey criteria, which also assessed a nation’s consumption and use of its natural resources.
New Aerospace Industry Blueprint Expected To Generate New Entry Point Projects Bernama 28th Apr 2014
The Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) on Monday organised a workshop with key stakeholders for the development of the Malaysian Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2015-2030. In a statement, MIGHT said participants of the workshop included leaders in the aerospace industry, regulatory agencies, education and training providers as well as related government agencies. MIGHT said the new blueprint is expected to generate new Entry Point Projects (EPP) and future national projects. The statement said that as the first blueprint is expected to end this year, the one-day workshop seeks to identify the drivers, trends, issues and challenges faced by the industry.
Belarusian BTR-50PKM Upgrade Offered for Asian Market Defense Studies 28th Apr 2014
Belarusian armoured vehicle repair, servicing, and upgrade company Minotor-Service presented several of its latest design concepts and modernisation packages at this year's DSA exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. Among those with possible potential in the Asia-Pacific market is an upgrade package for the BTR-50 amphibious armoured personnel carrier (APC), which is still in service with Indonesia. Company marketing specialists state the upgrade package will significantly extend the life of these vehicles while at the same time making them compatible with more contemporary vehicles.
Optix, Kencana Defence form Electro-Optical JV Defense Studies 26th Apr 2014
Malaysian company Kencana Defence - a subsidiary of engineering group Bintang Kencana - has formed a joint venture (JV) with Bulgarian electro-optical systems specialist Optix, it was announced at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur on 16 April. The joint venture will manufacture and assemble a range of more than 20 Optix-designed night-vision devices and thermal imaging systems for the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and for export to regional countries. The joint venture will also undertake research and development in optical technologies and systems for the military and security sectors. Officials said the joint venture was scheduled to commence production activities by the end of 2014 following the anticipated signing of a contract with the MAF.
Obama Visit Will Assure Malaysia Over South China Sea Dispute, Says Don Bernama 24th Apr 2014
US President Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia this weekend will provide assurance to Malaysia in terms of national security in regard to the territorial dispute over the Nine-Dash Line in the South China Sea, said the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia. "It think it will bring us assurance on the Nine-Dash Line in the South China Sea. Malaysia will not be pushed around by its big neighbours (on that issue)," its President, Professor Datuk Dr Woo Wing Thye, told reporters after a talk on "The US Pivot to Asia and Its Implications for the Region" today. The talk was jointly organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute and the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia. The Nine-Dash Line refers to the demarcation line used by the Chinese and Taiwanese governments for their claims of part of the South China Sea. The contested area includes the Paracel Islands, occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam, and the Spratly Islands, disputed by the Philippines, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Up to RM6bil for Fighter Jets? Defense Studies 21st Apr 2014
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), which is looking to replace its fleet of 18 Russian-made Mikoyan-29N Fulcrum jet fighters, will soon be accepting tenders for multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) from defence aviation companies. Industry sources told KiniBiz that Malaysia is going to accept proposals soon, though Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has stated that Malaysia has not made any decision on whether or not to replace the ageing MiG-29N Fulcrums in RMAF’s fleet. At an average cost of around US$100 million (RM322 million) per fighter with supporting equipment, maintenance, and training, the cost of 18 fighters is likely to be around RM6 billion, sources said.
Local Defence Companies Eager To Seize Overseas Market Shares Bernama 20th Apr 2014
Malaysia's leading armoured vehicle maker DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech) is now setting its sights on Cambodia and Myanmar, said Chief Executive Officer Amril Samsudin. "We are finalising a deal with the Cambodian government for a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract for T-55 tanks," said Amril. The project, which has an estimated worth of US$50 million to US$60 million for a five-year period, is set to commence by October, he said. "The project in Cambodia has a great potential judging from the size of its tanks for MRO services," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2014 (DSA 2014), which ended here on Thursday. Deftech is also in talks with the relevant authorities in Myanmar for similar MRO contracts, he said.
Malaysia Bought Belgian Rocket $ 12 Million Defense Studies 19th Apr 2014
The Malaysian government has concluded with Malaysian Destini Prima contract for the supply of unguided rockets FZ 90 caliber 70 millimeters totaling 40 million ringgit ($ 12.3 million), according to Jane's. These munitions were developed in the early 1990s, the Belgian company Forges de Zeebrugge and manufactured in Malaysia under license. In addition to the rocket itself Malaysian Government also ordered the suspension launch canisters for them. New ammunition is planned to equip F/A-18 Hornet fighter and trainer aircraft BAE Hawk. According to the Ministry of Defence Malaysia, rocket FZ 90 will be used to fight the rebels in the east. Cheaper ammo you plan to use instead of expensive JDAM.
China Poly Tech Signs MoU With SME Ordnance Defense Studies 18th Apr 2014
Malaysia-based SME Ordnance (SMEO) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Beijing-based Poly Technologies to supply SMEO with machinery to manufacture cases for the 5.56 mm ammunition. The MoU was signed at the Defence Service Asia exhibition being held in Kuala Lumpur on April 16. It will allow SMEO to build the cases with better efficiency, said a SMEO source. Poly Technologies represents Chinese companies that produce components for small arms ammunition and components for various calibers.
Havelsan MoU Aims to Enhance Malaysian EW Capability Defense Studies 18th Apr 2014
Havelsan has agreed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysian company Impressive Communications to collaborate on electronic warfare (EW) database management and information systems for the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). Signed on 15 April at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, the MoU is aimed at improving MAF’s EW competence and will comprise a long-term relationship to jointly develop software based on Havelsan’s existing solutions. A Havelsan spokesperson said the initiative would ‘constitute the backbone of future expansion of EW capabilities in the country’.
Malaysia Pushes Ahead with Tactical Vehicle Masterplan Defense Studies 18th Apr 2014
Deftech has agreed to a partnership with US vehicle manufacturer AM General to produce light tactical platforms for the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and law enforcement organisations, it was confirmed today. Formally signed at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition on 16 April, the tie-up comprises a co-production, supply and distribution agreement. The collaboration will see both companies as prime contractor and systems integrator to MAF and law enforcement units for the supply of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and other ‘offerings’ from AM General’s family of light tactical vehicles.
Selex to Support Malaysian Navy’s Super Lynx MK100 Helicopters Defense Studies 17th Apr 2014
Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company, has been awarded a contract by AIROD SDN BHD for the supply and support of equipment onboard the Royal Malaysian Navy's Super Lynx MK100 helicopters. The contract was signed by AIROD CEO YBhg colonel Dato' Mohammed Selamat bin Bakin and Selex ES Asia regional director Barry Anstey at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2014 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. Under the three-year agreement, Selex will supply spares and provide support for the MK100's sensors, specifically the Guardian 2500 electronic-support measures, the Seaspray 3600 surveillance radar and the multi-mission turret. Barry Anstey said: "We are committed to deliver the Malaysian Navy our best expertise and are looking forward to further develop our relationship with the industry and the Government in Malaysia."
Malaysian Navy Decision Omits UAV Capability Defense Studies 17th Apr 2014
The Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy, Admiral Tan Sri Aziz Jaafar, has confirmed that the RMN’s planned 6-ship Second Generation Patrol Vessel – Littoral Combat Ship (SGPV-LCS), will not have an integral rotary wing UAV capability as originally planned. Speaking to Shephard, Admiral Tan Sri Aziz stated, ‘it is now low on our priority list for the capabilities of the ship and unlikely to be on the ship’. He declined to confirm as to whether the cost of such a capability would put it beyond the RM9 billion (USD2.77billion) ceiling price in the contract awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyards though he stated that Malaysian Armed Forces outlook on UAVs was that it was preferable that all three services look towards long range and long endurance fixed wing UAVs for their operational use.
Malaysia Interested in the Russian Missile Systems Club-K and Club-M Defense Studies 17th Apr 2014
Malaysia and Brunei keen interest in the Russian missile systems "Club", Maria Vorobyov spokesman of "Kontsern-Morinformsystem-Agat" (manufacturer of these missile complexes) reported to ITAR-TASS at international arms forum "DSA-2014". "Negotiations with the Chief of the Armed Forces of Malaysia Mohd Zulkifli Bin Zine and Commander of the Navy of the country Abdul Aziz bin Jaafar. We discussed the possibility of delivery in Malaysia complexes "Club-K" for the Army and the "Club-M" for the defense of the coastline" - she said. Negotiations, added spokesman, held with the participation of technical experts and representatives of Rosoboronexport concern, in one of the rounds brother attended the King of Malaysia Tunku Annuar. "He was also demonstrated the capabilities of our systems in terms of tactical goals to protect the coastline and strengthen the defense of the state as a whole", - said Vorobyov.
First Four F-16C Regeneration will be Delivered to Indonesia in July 2014 Defense Studies 17th Apr 2014
April 4-5, Air Chief Marshal Ida Bagus Putu Dunia visited Hill Air Force Base to receive a program status briefing from the F-16 International Branch and a Depot Production Line status briefing from 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Putu Dunia was able to tour the F-16 production line where 13 Indonesia F-16C and D models are currently in various stages of repair and upgrade. He expressed his appreciation to the men and women in the U.S. Air Force and especially those actively working the regeneration program. The aircraft were recently shipped to the depot from long-term storage at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz. During his visit, Putu Dunia observed the enormous quantity of work being accomplished to complete new cockpit wiring, Falcon Star structural modifications, bulkhead inspections and repairs, and avionics upgrades.
Malaysia’s Military Set to Go Shopping Wall Street Journal 16th Apr 2014
The Malaysian military is looking for solutions to its most urgent capability problems, exposed in part by the disappearance last month of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. That’s likely to impact the country’s annual defense exhibition, which brings defense suppliers from around the world to Kuala Lumpur this week. The event, Defense Services Asia, or DSA, is usually something of a byway for the global arms industry, simply because Malaysia has never been a big spender when it comes to military kit. But with the country’s armed forces under scrutiny for their failure to track the Malaysia Airlines jet on the morning of March 8, and its limited ability to lead the search forcing it to cede some authority to Australia, China and the U.S., the complexion of this year’s event will likely be different. The dividend for its dented national pride could be significant defense investments, as the government comes under political pressure to fund military improvements which, critics say, it should have expedited years ago. The trick will be finding a way to make those investments happen without imposing delays on other priorities unrelated to the loss of Flight 370.
Malaysia needs to upgrade defense system: minister CCTV 14th Apr 2014
Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said here Monday that there was a need for Malaysia to upgrade its defense system to enhance its security in light of the missing plane incident. He said the move was needed in view of the necessity to disclose sensitive military radar information during the search for the missing MH370 flight. "We've made a very courageous decision to put aside national security and interests by disclosing some of our sensitive military radar information in the early stages of the search and rescue mission," he said. "The situation now requires us to relook our needs in the future and, more importantly, we're also looking in the context of the ASEAN region as a group," he added.
Malaysia must upgrade its defence system: Hisham New Strait Times 14th Apr 2014
In light of the Malaysia Airlines MH370 tragedy, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein notes there is a need to upgrade the country's defence system to strengthen its security in the future. He said such a move was needed in view of the necessity to disclose sensitive military radar information in the search for the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft which vanished on March 8. "We've made a very courageous decision to put aside national security and interests by disclosing some of our sensitive military radar information in the early stages of the search and rescue mission. "The situation now requires us to relook our needs in the future and, more importantly, we're also looking in the context of the Asean region as a group," he said. He told reporters this after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Global Komited Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Weststar Group of Companies, and Thales UK here today.
Obama wins Malaysia’s backing for ‘Asia pivot’ FT 27th Apr 2014
Barack Obama used the first visit by a US president to Malaysia since the 1960s to win support for his much-vaunted Asia “pivot”, signalling the increasing importance of the moderate Muslim country to US efforts to shore up support in southeast Asia at a time of increasing assertiveness by China. However, there was no breakthrough on persuading Malaysia to sign up to the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, widely seen as the economic backbone of Mr Obama’s Asia push.
Membership
Lockheed Martin Boosts Guidance for Year, Posts Profit Growth Wall Street Journal 22nd Apr 2014
Lockheed Martin Corp. on Tuesday raised its 2014 earnings guidance and continued its funneling of cash to shareholders as buybacks soared to $1.1 billion during the first quarter. Ongoing restructuring efforts by the world's largest defense contractor drove a 23% increase in first-quarter profit compared with a year ago, with higher margins at four of its five divisions also supported by a continuing pension tailwind. Lockheed is armed with a record order backlog from an in-demand portfolio of fighter jets and missile-defense systems that has helped insulate the U.S. company from some of the weakness in domestic and European military budgets. Profit rose to a forecast-beating $933 million in the quarter to March 31 from $761 million a year earlier, with per-share earnings climbing to $2.87 from $2.33. Sales declined almost 4% to $10.65 billion in the quarter. The company said it still expects flat sales this year, but boosted the midpoint of its 2014 profit guidance by 2.4% from the outlook provided in January, with per-share earnings forecast at $10.50 to $10.80, above analysts' expectations. It also raised guidance for operating profit and operating cash flow, with the outlook for sales and orders left unchanged. Lockheed has responded to limited organic growth opportunities and a still-sluggish deal environment with an aggressive shareholder return policy. The repurchase of seven million shares for $1.1 billion in the March quarter was just shy of its prior guidance for the whole year, much of it stemming from the settling of employee options' plans after a 60% surge in its share price in 2013. The company repurchased $1.8 billion of its own stock last year and boosted the buyback program by an additional $3 billion.
Lockheed F-35 Projected Cost Rises 1.9% to $398.6 Billion Bloomberg 17th Apr 2014
The projected cost to develop and produce Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)’s F-35 fighter, the Pentagon’s costliest weapons system, has risen 1.9 percent in the past year to $398.6 billion, according to estimates released today. The $7.4 billion increase from $391.2 billion includes the aircraft and the engines produced by United Technologies Corp.’s (UTX) Pratt & Whitney unit for an eventual fleet of 2,443 U.S. planes. At the same time, the Pentagon’s independent cost-assessment office said its estimate for operating and supporting the F-35 over its projected 55-year service life has declined $96.8 billion, or 8.7 percent, to $1.02 trillion from $1.11 trillion. The latest F-35 projection is among annual cost estimates for major weapons that the Pentagon sent to Congress today. The reports cover a portfolio of 77 weapons the Pentagon projects will cost a combined $1.62 trillion, down from $1.66 trillion for 78 programs in last year’s compilation of Selected Acquisition Reports. The increased cost of making the F-35 stems from revised labor rates for Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed and its subcontractors, a rise in engine production costs and adjusted forecasts for foreign exchange rates against the dollar, the Defense Department said in a statement. The cost of the airframe program rose $3.1 billion, while the engines’ price increased by $4.3 billion. The rising cost may give pause to other countries as they weigh whether to buy the F-35 or how many to acquire. Among eight original international partners, Italy, Turkey and Canada already have indicated that they’re re-evaluating their plans. Newer customers Israel, Singapore, Japan and South Korea also may be affected.
Google Buys Drone Maker Titan Aerospace Wall Street Journal 14th Apr 2014
Google Inc. said Monday it agreed to buy Titan Aerospace, a startup maker of high-altitude drones, as the Internet search giant adds more aerial technology to collect images and get more of the world's population online. Google didn't disclose a purchase price for Titan, of Moriarty, N.M., whose solar-powered drones are intended to fly for years. Earlier this year, Facebook Inc. had been in talks to buy Titan. But Facebook later said it was buying Ascenta, a U.K.-based aerospace company that has also been working on solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles, for $20 million. Google said the Titan team will work closely with Google's Project Loon, which is building large, high-altitude balloons that send Internet signals to areas of the world that are currently not online. Titan may also work with Makani, another early-stage Google project that is developing an airborne wind turbine that it hopes will generate energy more efficiently.
Myanmar
Burma Buddhists to Form Arakan Army onislam 7th May 2014
Meeting at a recent conference in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township, Buddhist politicians, monks and community leaders have called for the creation of an “Arakan National Defense Army” that would allegedly protect Buddhist residents from the state’s persecuted Muslim minority. “This decision came out from our analysis of the current situation in our region,” Nyi Nyi Maung, a spokesperson from Arakan National Conference, was quoted by The Irrawaddy news site on May 3.
Reluctant armed groups agree to stay at negotiating table Myanmar Times 5th May 2014
Ethnic armed groups have agreed to continue talks with the government despite concerns over the recent fighting in Kachin State and controversial demands made by negotiators from the Tatmadaw.
Myanmar expects to ratify chemical weapons convention within the govt term Eleven News 5th May 2014
Myanmar prepares to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention within the term of the present Government, a high-ranking officer from the president office says. United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon recently urged six countries including Myanmar to sign or ratify the convention. Myanmar became a signatory member of the convention on 14 January 1993. The convention has three follow-up provisions, specifying accurate and detailed procedures in undertaking examination. “After signing, we need to make amendments to the current law and procedures in advance to be in line with the convention in order to proceed to ratification. This part will be carried out within the present government’s term,” the high-ranking officer from the president office said. He said that the Ministry of Industry submitted a bill on preventing the danger of chemicals and related articles to the Lower House of Parliament in the early 2013. The bill is chiefly to be implemented in accordance with the convention Myanmar is obliged to follow. And the respective ministries are making preparations for related procedures and programs for implementation after bills were enacted.
Drop military demands or we'll quit peace process, NCCT warns Myanmar Times 2nd May 2014
The majority of armed ethnic groups will quit the peace process unless the Tatmadaw drops a demand for them to disarm and respect the 2008 constitution, a leading ethnic negotiator says. U Naing Han Thar, the head of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team, which negotiates on behalf of 16 armed ethnic groups, said the Tatmadaw's demands, made during peace talks in Yangon from April 5-9, were unacceptable. During the meeting, the Tatmadaw said the armed ethnic groups must abide by six points, including following the country's existing laws and respecting the 2008 constitution.
Ethnic Groups Concerned Over US, UK Military Engagement With Burma Irrawaddy 1st May 2014
Kachin rebel leader Gen. Gun Maw said ethnic rebels groups have doubts about US and UK military engagement with the Burma Army, as the military has yet to prove that it will end its oppression of the country’s ethnic minorities and democratic opposition. Gun Maw said ethnic armed groups understand that Western military support for Burmese military focuses on changing the mindset and behavior of the army and excludes combat skills training, but he stressed that concerns remain over any type of engagement that bolsters the army’s capabilities in their ongoing fight against rebel groups.
U MS Anawyahtar (771) Test Fired Anti-ship Missile Defense Studies 28th Apr 2014
Light-frigate Anawyahtar UMS-771 had successfully test-fired one of its Chinese-made surface-to-surface anti-ship guided missiles in Bay of Bengal on March-1. Anawyahtar was designed and built at Rangoon Naval Dockyards by Burma Navy and commissioned on September 7, 2000. It was the Flag-ship of Burma Navy for 8 long years before the locally-made Frigate Aung Zeya (F-11) was built and commissioned in 2008. Anawyahtar’s first captain was Lt. Colonel Thet Swe who is now the Naval Chief-of-staff of Burma’s Armed Forces.
Tatmadaw offensives threaten peace talks, warns UNFC Mizzima 25th Apr 2014
A key alliance of ethnic groups has condemned recent Tatmadaw offensives in Kachin and northern Shan states and warned they could jeopardise negotiations with the government on a national ceasefire agreement. The warning was issued by the United Nationalities Federal Council in a statement issued on April 23 in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, where it had convened an urgent meeting of its central executive committee on April 21 and 22. Tatmadaw operations against the Kachin Independence Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Shan State Army (North) were tantamount to strategic offensives, the UNFC statement said. “The offensives from the government side are putting pressure on us and if they continue the peace negotiations can be damaged,” UNFC secretary Naing Han Tha said in Chiang Mai on April 23. The offensives may lead to the postponement of the next round of negotiations in Yangon between the ethnic rebel groups’ National Ceasefire Co-ordinating Team and the government’s Union Peace-Working Committee on a ceasefire agreement, Naing Han Tha said.
WARDRUMS IN MYANMAR’S WA HILLS IPR 25th Apr 2014
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s armed forces, or Tatmadaw, is a man on the move. Since the beginning of the year he has traveled to Laos and Indonesia, attended large-scale war games in central Myanmar, reviewed the country’s largest ever naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal, presided over the annual Army Day parade in the capital Naypyidaw and met with a string of foreign dignitaries. A recent less publicized engagement was arguably more significant for Myanmar’s war and peace prospects. On April 6, Min Aung Hlaing flew north from Naypyidaw to the garrison town of Lashio in northeastern Shan State to hold talks with Bao You-ri, the younger brother of Bao You-xiang, the ailing leader of the United Wa State Army (UWSA). Based east of the Salween River in a self-governing “special region”, the UWSA is Myanmar’s largest insurgent group and is at present in an uneasy ceasefire with the government.
Kachin rebels renew plea for U.S. role to ensure fair Myanmar peace Reuters 22nd Apr 2014
The last ethnic insurgent group still fighting Myanmar's government has issued a new plea for the United States to become involved in peace efforts in order to guarantee future minority rights. General Gun Maw, deputy commander in chief of the Kachin Independence Army and a member of the insurgents' main political committee, said he made the request to U.S. officials during a visit to the United States that began last week. Gun Maw, thought to be the most senior KIA official ever to visit Washington, said the invitation was first extended to the United States, Britain, China and the United Nations in February last year.
KIA Ambush Burmese Army Convoys as More Troops Deployed Kachinland 16th Apr 2014
Heavy fighting has continued between Kachin Independence Army (KIA) troops and Burmese Army troops during one of the Burma’s most important Thingyan (Water Festival) holidays in Kachin State. Burmese Army’s 223rd Light Infantry Battalion troops on Tuesday attacked and seized a KIA frontline post located near Chyari Dagaw in Momauk Township at 6:15 am. This is the second time the KIA post has been seized by Burmese Army troops. KIA troops have launched a series of bomb attacks against army convoys headed towards KIA controlled territory. The KIA says these attacks are being made as Burmese Army incursion into KIA territory in southern Kachin State deepens, and attacks against KIA positions there are being made almost daily. On the morning of April 13, KIA roadside bombs destroyed 2 trucks of a 7-truck Burmese Army convoy headed for Sinlum from Bhamo, near Hka Wan Bang village. Another bomb attack was made against Burmese Army troops advancing towards Dagaw on April 14. On April 15, a 5-truck army convoy headed towards Muse from Kutkai, along the Nam Hkam Road in Shan State, was attacked near Nam Hpalun Mountain. The convoy was on its way to reinforce army troops in the KIA 3rd Brigade area. Casualties from these attacks are unknown.
Burma commander-in-chief warns of war Kachin News 14th Apr 2014
President Thein Sein recent visit to Kachin state with Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the country, in mid-March was trumpeted as a peace mission. The President said a “ray of peace” was shining in the state that has been riddled by conflict since June 2011. After there was more talking with other ethnic leaders in Rangoon he said that would build trust and bring the country closer to the signing of a nationwide ceasefire. Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) pastors were reportedly warned behind closed doors that the Tatmadaw (Burma army) will make war against the KIO if it rejects again a ceasefire pact with government in early April. The pastors say they were forced to meet with Gen Min Aung Hlaing at the Myitkyina-based Northern Regional Military Command on March 16.
The evolution of Sino–American competition in Myanmar EAF 22nd Apr 2014
For decades, China has been Myanmar’s principal international partner. In the years preceding Myanmar’s opening up, China dominated Myanmar’s foreign discourse as an important economic and military partner, and a source of international diplomatic protection due to the diplomatic isolation and widespread sanctions imposed on Myanmar by the West, especially after the 1988 coup. But it is inaccurate to portray the former military Junta as a completely submissive satellite of Beijing. In the lead up to the transfer of power in 2010, China supported the reform process on the assumption that its dominant access and influence would remain largely undiminished. Yet the direction and intensity of internal reforms and the movement towards normalisation with Washington has caught Beijing off-guard. In 2009, the Obama administration began a gradual recalibration of its Myanmar strategy towards opening limited and conditional diplomatic channels. Impressed by the level and commitment to widespread reforms, Washington drove headlong into a rapprochement with Naypyidaw by mid-2011. The United States (along with many Western partners) has not only restored full diplomatic relations but lifted most financial and investment restrictions, with the exception of targeted sanctions against certain persons, and sectors such as mining which are still largely controlled by the military. The importance of this new relationship was underscored by the reciprocal state visits made by President Thein Sein and President Obama in 2012 and 2013.
Philippines
DND to Recommend Only 2 Philippine Military Bases Under EDCA Defense Studies 5th May 2014
Department of National Defense (DND) undersecretary and Philippine panel negotiation chair Pio Lorenzo Batino on Friday announced that they are looking at the possibility of offering only two Philippine military bases for American use under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). "The direction of the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is to recommend only the usage of only two military bases, (those) agreed locations as defined under the EDCA and we believe these number of locations will already be sufficient to implement the objectives of the EDCA," he said. "And number two, the direction of the DND and the AFP when identifying the agreed locations would be to limit and delineate only a limited portion or a limited area of the agreed AFP base which would be shared to the US, it will not be the whole AFP base identified as we need that AFP base," Batino pointed out.
US, Philippines Launch Joint Military Drills VOA 5th May 2014
Thousands of Philippine and U.S. soldiers began annual war games on Monday, the first under a new security pact with the United States, focusing on maritime security in the face of China's growing naval presence in the disputed South China Sea. The joint exercises ``Balikatan'' (shoulder-to-shoulder) would test the combat readiness of the two oldest allies in this part of the world to respond to any maritime threats, including piracy and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
DND Admits Indian, French Shipbuilders to Frigate Program Defense Studies 5th May 2014
The Department of National Defense (DND) accepted the motions for reconsideration of two foreign shipbuilding firms that seek to join the bidding for Philippine Navy's frigate program, a Navy official said. India state-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Ltd. and STX France, SA from Europe joined the P18-billion project to boost the country's maritime forces with new warships, Navy technical working group head Commodore Roland Mercado said in a state news report on Thursday. DND earlier excluded the firms from the program due to deficiency in documents, but were recently reconsidered by the agency's Special Bidding Awards Committee after renewing their application. The firms now join Navantia Sepi (RTR Ventures) of Spain, and South Korean contractors STX Offshore and Shipbuilding, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. and Hyundai Heavy Industries, Inc. which have passed the first stage of the bidding process.
Philippines, U.S. begin war games focusing on maritime threats Reuters 5th May 2014
Thousands of Philippine and U.S. soldiers began annual war games on Monday, the first under a new security pact with the United States, focusing on maritime security in the face of China's growing naval presence in the disputed South China Sea. The joint exercises "Balikatan" (shoulder-to-shoulder) would test the combat readiness of the two oldest allies in this part of the world to respond to any maritime threats, including piracy and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The new security pact was signed last week just hours before U.S. President Barack Obama visited. Obama said the agreement was a testament to Washington's "pivot" to Asia and was an "ironclad" commitment to defend the Philippines. The Philippines has territorial disputes with China over the South China Sea, which is said to be rich in energy deposits and carries about $5 billion in ship-borne trade every year. The Spratlys in the South China Sea are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. "Tensions in the Asia-Pacific region have increased due to excessive and expansive maritime and territorial claims, undermining the rule of law," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said at the opening ceremony at the main army base in Manila. "The aggressive patterns of behavior aimed at changing the status quo threaten peace and stability in the region. Balikatan 2014, with its focus on maritime security, strongly supports our capabilities to address these challenges." Asked about the exercises, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said all sides needed to work "constructively" to maintain peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region. "We hope that the relevant U.S.-Philippines drills can work in this direction," she told a daily news briefing.
US-Philippines Launch War Games After Obama Pledge Defense News 5th May 2014
Thousands of American and Philippine troops launched large annual exercises Monday after US President Barack Obama vowed “ironclad” backing for its Asian ally, locked in a tense maritime row with China. Filipino Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the 10-day drills were necessary to deal with the challenge of “aggressive” neighbors intent on “changing the status quo.” He did not mention China directly, but Beijing has been robust in its efforts to assert territorial claims over most of the South China Sea, putting a strain on its relationships with neighboring countries. “In recent years tensions in the Asia-Pacific region have increased due to extensive and expansive maritime and territorial claims undermining the rule of law,” del Rosario said at the opening ceremony.
Agreement paves way for more rotations to Philippines Military Times 3rd May 2014
A new United States agreement with the Philippines is not likely to result in many immediate operational changes for troops in the Pacific region, but it clears the way for the Pentagon to invest in new construction and infrastructure there, and sets the stage for new U.S.-built facilities along the shores of the contested South China Sea. The 10-year agreement that was finalized with President Obama’s visit to the Philippines on April 28 will result in an “enhanced rotational presence” in the country, the Pentagon said. Yet the deal states that the U.S. will “not establish a permanent military presence or base” like the one maintained for decades at Subic Bay. The details of those rotations remain under development by the U.S. and Philippines, Rear Adm. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said April 29. The deal will give the U.S. greater access to Filipino airfields, ports and military bases. The rotations could, in effect, leave U.S. military assets and personnel on the ground in the Philippines for long periods if the government in Manila approves the missions. The rotational presence also may result in some troops returning temporarily to the facilities historically used by the American military, such as Clark Air Base near Manila or Naval Station Subic Bay and Naval Air Station Cubi Point, both strategically located on the northwest coast. Those facilities were a backbone of logistics support during the Vietnam War and continued to host U.S troops until the early 1990s.
DFA: Treaty obliges US to defend PH if attacked Rappler 30th Apr 2014
Manila said Wednesday, April 30, the United States had a treaty obligation to help the Philippines if it is attacked on its own territory or in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), as it rejected criticism of a security agreement. President Barack Obama on Tuesday, April 29, declared the US would support its ally in the event of being attacked, a day after his government signed an agreement allowing a greater American military presence on Philippine bases over 10 years. Obama cited a 1951 mutual defense treaty (MDT) but did not specifically mention coming to Manila's aid in the South China Sea, where China and the Philippines are in dispute over tiny islets, reefs and rocks. "Under the mutual defense treaty, the United States will come to the assistance of the Philippines if our metropolitan territory is attacked or if our armed forces are attacked in the Pacific area," Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement.
New deal seen to boost American arms sales Business World 29th Apr 2014
A new 10-year security pact between the United States and the Philippines could lead to modest increases in American weapons sales in the coming years, especially for maritime surveillance equipment, analysts said. The agreement establishes a framework for an increased US military presence in the Philippines and is part of a “rebalancing” of US resources toward the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region. The deal comes 23 years after the Philippine Senate voted to evict the US military from bases there, ending 94 years of American military presence in the Asian nation. Virginia-based defense analyst Loren Thompson noted that the deal came as China increasingly encroaches on maritime areas claimed by Manila in the South China Sea, even as a long-running Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines is abating. “What Manila needs most in the way of military technology is weapons that can help enforce its claim to areas in the South China Sea,” Mr. Thompson said. That could include P-8A maritime patrol aircraft built by Boeing, which have already been sold to India, conventional munitions such as the Standard Missile-3 built by Raytheon, and small warships built by Lockheed Martin Corp., he said.
Philippine Bases Where the U.S. Military Will Look to Gain a Footing WSJ 28th Apr 2014
Subic Bay and Cubi Point, Western Luzon Subic Bay used to be the U.S. Navy’s biggest stronghold outside the United States: More than 4,000 American officers and their dependents were stationed at what was the Seventh Fleet’s main forward maintenance station, while some 4 million U.S. sailors passed through Subic every year during the base’s Vietnam War-era heyday. Neighboring Cubi Point performed a corresponding role for the hundreds of naval aircraft in the region. Today, Subic Bay serves as a commercial shipyard and container port, while Cubi Point sits empty.In 2013 Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin announced that the government was planning to set up Philippine Naval and Air Force bases at Subic given its proximity to disputed territories in the South China Sea, notably Scarborough Shoal, the scene of a tense standoff between Chinese and Philippine vessels in 2012. Local leaders and business people in Subic Bay confirm that both Philippine and American defense officials have been there recently to examine the options. Under the terms of the new defense pact due to be signed this week, the U.S. is only allowed “rotational” access to existing Philippine facilities and cannot run its own bases. That means the Philippines will have to set up new facilities at Subic before the Americans can come in. Even so, people living around Subic Bay are already expecting U.S. warships and aircraft to become an increasingly common sight within the next couple of years.
US military pact with the Philippines gives Asia 'pivot' some military muscle CSM 28th Apr 2014
The Pentagon’s much-trumpeted strategic “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific – which US officials proclaimed a major shift in American defense policy in 2011 – has often been criticized in the years since as a bold and compelling concept with not much real military muscle behind it. That’s why the news Monday that the US has inked a military agreement with the Philippines is seen by defense analysts as a major step forward for the Pentagon’s presence in the region. The terms of the deal allow the US to rotate troops through and pre-position fighter jets and supplies at Filipino bases. It is an agreement that the Obama administration has been laboring to get signed for some time. The US naval base at Subic Bay, Philippines, was the largest US military installation in the world before the Philippine government ejected the US military in 1991, creating a constitutional amendment to ban foreign military bases
What is the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and what does it mean for PH? Inquirer 28th Apr 2014
The Philippines and the United States (US) signed on Monday the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that aims to boost the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) amid regional territorial disputes Militant groups however are protesting the agreement saying it is against the constitution because it allows for the basing of US troops in the country. They are also alleging that the negotiations have been fast tracked so that it will be concluded in time for the visit of US President Barack Obama. But what does the agreement mean for the Philippines and what changes will it bring to the country? The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released a list of 30 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the EDCA after it was signed by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
Obama focuses on security, trade Business World 28th Apr 2014
US President Barack Obama capped a week-long Asia trip with a new military pact with the Philippines, which he also urged to join a proposed trade deal that is part of a push to widen America’s engagement in the region. Philippine President Benigno S. C. Aquino III said his government was looking into how the country could join the planned Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which has met with snags during Mr. Obama’s Asia visit. Mr. Obama failed to reach an agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week on the deal, with observers noting differences over tariffs and market access, and on Sunday Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said his country was far from ready to sign given “sensitivities”. Speaking a press conference after a bilateral meeting in Malacañang yesterday, Mr. Obama said: [Mr. Aquino] and I discussed steps that the Philippines could take to position itself for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and I encouraged the President to seize the opportunity he’s created by opening the next phase of economic reform and growth.”
Philippine to Buy More Planes for Air Force Defense Studies 28th Apr 2014
President Benigno Aquino III on Friday unveiled a plan to acquire more aircraft to boost the capability of the Philippine Air Force. Presiding over the Air Force change of command in Lipa City, the President said the Armed Forces would purchase eight combat utility helicopters, six close air support aircraft, two-long range patrol aircraft, and radar systems. “We intend to buy also full-motion flight simulator to improve the training of our pilots,” he said in a speech aired over state-run dzRB radio. These are on top of the new FA-50 from South Korea that will be delivered to the Air Force next year, Mr. Aquino said. “In 2005, we retired our last F-5 freedom fighter. It’s our wish to enhance the capability of our pilots to fly this type of aircraft for military operations,’’ he said. Last month, the military signed contracts for the acquisition of 12 lead-in fighter trainer jets worth P18.9-billion from South Korea and eight combat utility helicopters worth P4.8-billion from Canada. Under the watch of Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz, who retired as Air Force chief on Friday, the PAF acquired a number of aircraft. It now boasts of three C-130 transports, eight combat utility helicopters, and 18 basic trainer aircraft, the President said.
Obama's Visit to Asia and the U.S.-Philippine Alliance Brookings 28th Apr 2014
U.S. President Barack Obama is set to visit the Philippines later this month, at the end of a trip to Asia that will also include Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia. His trip is likely to bring renewed attention to the United States’ alliance with the Philippines. The visit is likely to be dominated by discussions on defense cooperation and maritime security, especially given the Philippines’ ongoing territorial dispute with China. In keeping with the theme of this year’s Commentary series, however, it is also worth noting that non-traditional security issues play an unusually large role in this particular alliance, and will continue to shape its contours for years to come. More concretely, the unusual prominence of non-traditional security concerns provides both opportunities and challenges for the development of the U.S.-Philippine alliance. On the one hand, these issues present unusual opportunities for cooperation, and for a clear demonstration of the value of U.S. presence in the region. Regional responses to Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda showed the unique capacity of the U.S. and its Asian security partners to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the Philippine people. At the same time, however, the continued prevalence of non-traditional security issues is likely to constrain Philippine military modernization just as the country seeks to increase its capabilities with respect to external defense.
Obama: Philippine pact will improve Asia security AP 28th Apr 2014
President Barack Obama said a 10-year agreement signed Monday to give the U.S military greater access to Philippine bases will help promote peace and stability in the region and that he hopes China's dominant power will allow its neighbors to prosper on their own terms. Signed as Obama arrived in Manila, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement will give American forces temporary access to selected military camps and allow them to preposition fighter jets and ships. Although the deal is being perceived as a U.S. effort to counter Chinese aggression in the region, Obama said his message to Beijing is that America wants to partner with China in upholding international law. "Our goal is not to counter China. Our goal is not to contain China. Our goal is to make sure international rules and norms are respected and that includes in the area of international disputes," Obama said at a news conference with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at the Malacanang Palace.
U.S., Philippines Sign Defense Pact Amid China Tensions Bloomberg 28th Apr 2014
The Philippines and the U.S. signed an agreement that will boost the American troop presence in the Southeast Asian nation, as President Barack Obama said America’s strategic rebalancing to Asia isn’t aimed at combating a rising China. “Our goal is not to counter China, our goal is not to contain China,” Obama said at a briefing today in Manila, hours after the 10-year defense agreement was signed. “Our goal is to make sure that international rules and norms are respected and that includes in the area of maritime disputes.” Philippine President Benigno Aquino is strengthening military ties with countries like the U.S. as it is embroiled in a territorial dispute with China over islands and shoals in the South China Sea. Obama said the U.S., which is treaty-bound to defend the Philippines in case of attack, is “very supportive” of its efforts to seek international arbitration to resolve the matter, a process China has rejected.
U.S., Philippines to sign 10-year defense agreement amid rising tensions WP 27th Apr 2014
The United States and the Philippines will sign a 10-year defense agreement Monday, officials said, one of the clearest signs yet of renewed American engagement in the region at a time when tensions between China and its neighbors have been rising. The announcement — the biggest policy achievement to come out of President Obama’s week-long trip to Asia — is likely to generate criticism from Chinese officials, who have made it clear they oppose a heightened U.S. presence in the area. But the pact may reassure several Asian countries embroiled in territorial disputes with China, especially in the South China Sea. It also gives the United States greater flexibility to respond to threats and natural disasters in the region.
U.S. and Philippines Agree to a 10-Year Pact on the Use of Military Bases NYT 27th Apr 2014
The United States has reached a 10-year agreement with the Philippines that will give American warships, planes and troops greater access to bases in the archipelago, American officials said Sunday. The deal, which will be the centerpiece of President Obama’s visit to the Philippines on Monday, returns the United States to a visible presence in the country for the first time since the American military gave up its sprawling naval and air bases, including one at Subic Bay, in 1992. The accord will also give the United States more flexibility to project its military assets in a region that has become increasingly tense, with China and its neighbors, including the Philippines, squabbling over territorial claims in the East and South China Seas.
Aquino unveils plan to buy more aircraft Inquirer 26th Apr 2014
President Benigno Aquino III on Friday unveiled a plan to acquire more air assets, including patrol aircraft, to boost the capability of the Air Force. Presiding over the Philippine Air Force change of command in Lipa City, the President said the Armed Forces would purchase eight combat utility helicopters, six close air support aircraft, two-long range patrol aircraft and radar systems. “We also intend to buy full motion flight simulator to improve the training of our pilots,” the President said in a speech aired on the state-run dzRB. These are on top of the new FA50 from South Korea that will be delivered to the Air Force next year, Mr. Aquino said.
In Philippines, Obama Visit Stirs Critics of Plan to Boost US Troops VOA 25th Apr 2014
A pending agreement for more American troop rotations to the Philippines continues to have strong support in the country, which is facing territorial challenges from an increasingly assertive China. But in the days leading up to President Barrack Obama’s visit to Manila, some opponents are being more vocal. The Philippines military, business sector and local media generally have a favorable view of a proposal that would see more American military ships and planes stopping in the Philippines. But the mostly left-leaning groups who oppose it point to historical
Navy to Build Own Radars Defense Studies 22nd Apr 2014
The Philippine Navy is now planning to construct its own radar sets in a bid to fully secure the country's vast airspace from intruders with the assistance of the Naval Research and Development Center (NRDC). This is under the NRDC's Project "Itaas" (Filipino for high ground), PN spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said. This project is aimed at creating quality radar sets for all fleet units. He added that Project "Itaas" is one of the five priority projects of the NRDC. The other four programs include sonar equipment creation capability under Project "Ilalim" (literally meaning underwater), platforms under Project "Kuyog" (group) and the way ahead Project of NRDC, the satellite project under Project "Tuktuk" (surveillance) and Project "Putok" (explosives) for creation of modern munitions.
South China Sea on the rocks: the Philippines’ arbitration request EAF 21st Apr 2014
The overlapping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea are regularly described as flash points and sources of tension. A number of these overlapping claims do not involve China. However, it is the assertions made by China that lie at the heart of many of the disputes, as well as their possible resolution within the framework of UNCLOS. The focus of most attention regarding the South China Sea resources has been on hydrocarbons in general, and oil in particular. Oil deposits have been found in the land territory of many of the states adjacent to the waters of the South China Sea. The South China Sea region has proven oil reserves and some existing oil production (largely involving Malaysia and the Philippines). Oil has also been discovered near Vietnam and near Hong Kong. However, geographic evidence suggests that the actual prospective areas are quite small, as most of the seabed lacks the essential characteristics to be seriously prospective.
DND Sets Rebidding for 8 Amphibious Assault Vehicles Defense Studies 21st Apr 2014
Due to a failed bidding back in November, the Department of National Defense (DND) has called for a second round of bidding for eight new amphibious assault vehicles worth P2.5 billion. Assistant Defense Secretary Efren Fernandez said the pre-bid conference will be on April 29, while the deadline and consequent opening of the bids will be on May 15 at 10 a.m. Only one firm purchased bid documents last year, Samsung Techwin of South Korea. It did not tender a bid, however, because it failed to satisfy several requirements. “Bidders should have completed within 10 years, from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project,” Fernandez said. The bidding is open to both local and foreign firms. The vehicles, which will be part of the Philippine Navy assets, should be delivered within 910 days upon opening of the letter of credit.
Philippines Looking to Procure US Hamilton-class Warship The Diplomat 19th Apr 2014
To round off the week, a few defense and security links, focusing mostly on naval affairs this week: The Philippines is looking to purchase a third Hamilton-class high endurance cutter from the United States. “As far as we are now looking at it, there will be a positive action for getting a third Del Pilar frigate as we now call the Hamilton Class cutters,” Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano told Rappler. The decommissioned Hamilton-class frigates BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz are among the Philippine Navy’s most capable warships today. The Philippines is expected to procure an additional warship to aid in its patrols of the South China Sea, where it attempts to protect its disputed territorial claims from China. Plans to acquire a third Hamilton-class frigate were reported to have been canceled as recently as September 2013. Thailand may be looking to build a second littoral patrol vessel soon under a license granted by BAE Systems. According to a Defense News report, “discussions are underway for construction of a second warship after a technology transfer deal between BAE and the state-owned shipyard Bangkok Dock resulted in the first of class, HTMS Krabi, being commissioned into the Royal Thai Navy in August 2013.” The ship is expected to be a smaller derivative of the Royal Navy River-class ship. In terms of features, the ship will sport a 76mm Oto Melara gun and a helicopter flight deck “able to operate a machine the size of the AgustaWestland A139 Lynx.” Thailand may consider the ship for export pending negotiations.
Philippines Navy Asking for 3rd Warship from US Defense Studies 17th Apr 2014
The Philippines is pursuing its request for a 3rd Hamilton Class cutter from the United States, Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano told Rappler. “As far as we are now looking at it, there will be a positive action for getting a 3rd Del Pilar frigate as we now call the Hamilton Class cutters,” said Alano on Monday, April 14. Decommissioned US Coast Guard ship BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and its twin ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz are currently the Philippine Navy’s most capable warships. Both have been deployed to the patrol the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea). The Philippines acquired them from the US in 2012 and 2013, respectively, through the Excess Defense Articles program. The Philippines only had to pay for the refurbishment of the decommissioned ships.
US not satisfied with PHL counterinsurgency measures Business Mirror 5th May 2014
THE United States is not satisfied with how the Philippines military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) conduct their campaigns against lawless groups under the country’s counterterrorism operations, which are being actively supported by the US government. The view of the US government on the country’s efforts was reflected in its country report on counterterrorism released by the US Department of State on April 30. For one, the state department’s report noted that the IPSP Bayanihan, the campaign program of the military against the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), was ineffective.
US Congressional medal sought for Fil-Am war vets Philippine Star 2nd May 2014
Filipino-American community leaders and veterans advocates are spearheading a nationwide campaign to press the US Congress to issue a national proclamation and award the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino World War II veterans in recognition of their wartime service to the United States. A bill to award the medal has been introduced in Congress by US Democratic Rep. Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii with more than 56 sponsors. She said the United States was forever indebted to the veterans for their bravery, valor, and dedication.
Hong Kong Philippines reach compromise over tourist deaths Business Mirror 24th Apr 2014
Hong Kong and the Philippines reached a compromise on Wednesday over Hong Kong’s demands for an apology for the families of eight tourists killed in a bungled response to a 2010 Manila hostage-taking that soured relations. The Philippines government expresses its most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy, and extends its most sincere condolences for the pain and suffering of the victims and their families,” Hong Kong’s leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, told reporters.
‘Business as usual’ with China: officials BusinessWorld Online 14th Apr 2014
Trade between the Philippines and China will not likely be affected by the heightening territorial conflict between the two countries over portions of the South China Sea, government and industry officials yesterday said.
Singapore
Singapore’s smart army EAF 1st May 2014
Since its inception as a small city-state, Singapore has grappled with insecurity and strategic uncertainty. Traditionally, small states have experienced considerable limitations in balancing their security needs and strategic ambitions with policies directed at maintaining economic growth and social stability. These challenges have become even more acute within the context of East Asia’s changing and progressively complex security environment. East Asia’s strategic template is shifting toward a mix of asymmetric anti-access/area-denial threats, low-high intensity conventional conflicts, and a range of non-traditional security challenges. Accordingly, Singapore must devise an adaptive defence posture that takes into account factors such as its lack of strategic depth, resource limitations, changing strategic priorities, as well as external factors, such as increasing geostrategic competition between great powers in the region. Unfortunately, the range of policy options available to small states seeking to overcome their external as well as internal geostrategic limitations is not particularly wide.
Singapore Intends to Acquire Russian MANPADS "Igla-S" Defense Studies 26th Apr 2014
Singapore Armed Forces may acquire Russian-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), "Igla-S". This was stated by ARMS-TASS head of the design department Engineering Design Bureau (KBM) holding "Precision complexes" Georgy Vasilyev. "From Singapore we have long-standing ties, they are going to negotiate the possibility of acquiring Igla-S", - he said. The army has Singapore currently has an old version of MANPADS "Igla". The main differences of the modernized complex is to increase by about half power of the missile increased to 6 km range missile applications due to different decisions in the field of aerodynamics, as well as advanced algorithms breeding goals and increased noise immunity.
Thailand
Thailand’s Deep South: Living in Conflict The Diplomat 7th May 2014
With the presence of more than 150,000 military, police and armed civilian forces, life in the three provinces of Thailand’s Deep South – Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat – gives the impression of happening under occupation. Checkpoints cut the main arteries between and within cities, where military convoys on patrol whizz by civilian vehicles preceded by soldiers on motorbikes, who scout the area in advance for any suspicious items, such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Manned and unmanned checkpoints also dot the countryside in an attempt to hamper the insurgents’ movements. In Ruam Mit road, a busy commercial area in Yala city center, blast plinths line both sides of the street in order to minimize the impact of possible car bombs, which have already struck the area in the past with devastating consequences. Babo Mohammed Ramli, the head of a pondok, or Koranic school, in Bra Ngan village in Yala province shared his views in no uncertain terms: “This is a jihad against the Thai state, but it has nothing to do with al-Qaeda.” To prove his point, he reads out in Arabic an excerpt from Imam al-Nawawi’s al-Majmu‘ sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab, a comprehensive manual of Islamic law according to the Shafi‘i school – one of the four main schools of jurisprudence in Sunni Islam to which the greatest majority of people in the Deep South adhere. “The basis for the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims is peace and security, unless non-Muslims encroach on their rights, homes and properties. In that case, it is the individual duty of Muslims to fight jihad to ward off aggression.” He adds: “There is consensus among scholars about this, but no-one dares to speak out, for fear of the consequences.”
Thailand, U.S. Wrap Up Guardian Sea ASW Exercise CPF 2nd May 2014
U.S. Navy and Royal Thai Navy forces practiced coordinated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) during Exercise Guardian Sea 2014, which began April 22 and continues through May 3. "As more nations in the Asia-Pacific are operating submarines, it is a pleasure and a necessity for us to practice our ability to detect and track submarines with our oldest ally in the region," said Rear Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander, Task Force 74. Guardian Sea is the latest in a long line of exercises conducted between the two navies including Cobra Gold, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), and Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT). Focused on shallow water anti-submarine warfare, Guardian Sea 2014 included representatives from several Royal Thai Navy and U.S. Navy staffs conduct in port training and a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion aircraft and Royal Thai Navy S-70B Helicopter. Staff from U.S. Seventh Fleet Task Force 72, Task Force 73, Task Force 74, and Destroyer Squadron 7 will participated in subject matter exchanges, simulations and seminars.
Thai Navy May Build Second Patrol Boat Under BAE License Defense Studies 18th Apr 2014
Thailand may build a second offshore patrol vessel under a license granted by BAE Systems and is also starting to think about exporting the ship to other navies in the region, according to a senior executive at the British-based defense contractor. Discussions are underway for construction of a second warship after a technology transfer deal between BAE and the state-owned shipyard Bangkok Dock resulted in the first of class, HTMS Krabi, being commissioned into the Royal Thai Navy in August 2013, said Alistair Castle, BAE’s Southeast Asia regional vice president. “We are actively discussing a second of class as the customer wants to capitalize on the knowledge and skills already gained by Bangkok Dock,” said Castle during an interview at the Defence Services Asia show here this week.
Thailand: Hezbollah Tries Again Strategy Page 15th Apr 2014
Acting on a tip from Israeli intelligence police arrested two Lebanese Moslem men (one had a French passport the other a Filipino one) who had flown in as tourists and were there to kill Israeli tourists. Israel provided details of where the attack was to take place and attributed it to Lebanese Islamic terrorist group Hezbollah. The two suspects will be deported because they had not done anything illegal yet in Thailand. It’s unclear where the two will be deported to. Meanwhile there are indications that police are still searching for a third man who was part of this plot. Thailand has had problems with Hezbollah before. In 2013 a Thai court sentenced a Lebanese man (Atris Hussein) to 32 months in prison for illegal possession of explosives. This all began in late 2011 when Israeli and American intelligence warned their Thai counterparts that Islamic terrorists were in Thailand planning a bombing there in early 2012. Subsequently Thai police arrested a Lebanese man, associated with Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, who was traveling on a Swedish passport. The man had moved to Sweden in 1991, but returned to Lebanon in 2003 for three years. A second man was identified, but he had already left the country. Police then found four tons of explosives owned by the Hezbollah man they had in custody. Atris Hussein admitted that an attack was planned in Thailand, but was aborted when the Thai government began hunting for the two Hezbollah men. He later said he was being framed by Israeli agents.
U.S. urges Thailand to become hub for disaster drills Royal Thai Embassy 15th Apr 2014
The United States Secretary of Defense is urging Thailand to become the regional hub for drills and training in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, according to Thailand’s permanent secretary for Defense who attended a meeting in Hawaii last week. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed the idea during talks with Gen. Nipat Thonglek, who was attending, on behalf of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a three-day meeting which Hagel hosted for Defense Minister of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Yingluck also holds the Defense Minister portfolio, the first woman in Thailand to hold either position.
Vietnam
Vietnamese Navy Confronts Chinese Ships in Oil Rig Dispute NYT 7th May 2014
Tensions in the South China Sea intensified Wednesday as Vietnamese vessels confronted Chinese ships that were working to place an oil rig off Vietnam’s coast, and Vietnamese officials claimed that their ships had been rammed by the Chinese vessels. Vietnam said the Chinese ships also fired water cannons at its flotilla in the encounter, injuring Vietnamese sailors, although Chinese officials did not confirm the incident. The skirmishing highlighted the hair-trigger tensions in the region as Asian nations try to contain China’s more aggressive posture in pursuing maritime claims in the South China Sea. “On May 4, Chinese ships intentionally rammed two Vietnamese Sea Guard vessels,” Tran Duy Hai, a Foreign Ministry official, told a news conference in Hanoi. “Chinese ships, with air support, sought to intimidate Vietnamese vessels. Water cannon was used,” he said. The confrontation occurred just days after the Chinese state oil company Cnooc stationed the oil rig 120 nautical miles off the coast of Vietnam, in waters claimed by China and Vietnam. The placement of the rig led to protests and demands by Vietnam that it be withdrawn, and the deployment of a Vietnamese naval flotilla to the area.
Vietnam and China ships 'collide in South China Sea' BBC 7th May 2014
Vietnamese naval ships and Chinese vessels have collided in the South China Sea, Vietnamese officials say. The incident happened as the Vietnamese navy was trying to prevent the Chinese from setting up an oil rig in an area claimed by both nations. No shots were fired, reports say. But Vietnamese officials said that water cannons were used on their ships. The incident is the most serious between the countries at sea in years, with dozens of boats now in the area. Vietnamese officials said on Wednesday that the Chinese ships intentionally rammed their vessels. Several sailors were injured, AP quoted one official as saying.
Russia Offers Mi-8/17 Upgrade Package for Vietnam with Electronic Jamming Defense Studies 29th Apr 2014
Russia is hoping to be involved in upgrading Mi-8/17 helicopters in Southeast Asia by electronic jamming systems new. In the framework of the DSA 2014 defense exhibition last, Science and Research Institute of Radio Technology (KNIRTI) named Russia's Kaluga has introduced a system of electronic warfare (EW) L187AE with new hopes orders to upgrade and improve electronic warfare capabilities for the Mi-8/17 helicopters are operating in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. According to information revealed Kaluga, L187AE jamming system is a completely new, can be easily installed into the side of the line helicopter Mil Mi-8 and Mi-17, which provides the ability to protect and disable the radar-guided missiles of the enemy. Like jamming modules Mi-17GPE ago, L187AE be KNIRTI use jamming technology is traditional memory frequency of radio signals (DRFM) and use the active electronically scanned array (AESA) , but is more processor combines modern digital signal.
New fishing surveillance force formed to protect sea territory Vietnam News 16th Apr 2014
Viet Nam has set up a fishing surveillance force to ensure the enforcement of fishing laws at sea. Operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's General Department of Fisheries, the force's key tasks include patrolling the country's waters, monitoring fishing activities and detecting and handling violations. It will also assist fishermen in their work, protect the country's aquatic resources and contribute to ensuring security, order and national sovereignty over the country's sea territory. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday attended the launch of the force in Da Nang. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, also attending the event, asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with other ministries to help the force, which he said would assist fishermen.
Cnooc Oil Rig Fuels Vietnam-China Tensions WSJ 5th May 2014
Vietnam accused a Chinese energy company of operating in its waters illegally, potentially ratcheting up tensions further between the two countries. On Saturday, China's Maritime Safety Administration disclosed the location of China National Offshore Oil Corp.'s HD-981 oil rig. The area is in part of the South China Sea that Vietnam claims as its "exclusive economic zone," said Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh. "All activities by a foreign entity in Vietnamese waters without Vietnam's consent are illegal and invalid, and Vietnam strongly protests [such activities]," Mr. Binh said in a statement posted on the government's website late Sunday. The area the Cnooc rig is operating in is "only 120 nautical miles from Vietnam's shore," the statement added. At a daily press briefing on Monday, China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the rig was in Chinese waters. "As we understand it, the Chinese Maritime Safety Administration issued a shipping notice on May 3 regarding the work of China's 981 platform. The relevant work is located completely within the area belonging to China's Xisha Islands," Ms. Hua said. Cnooc didn't immediately reply to a request to comment on the situation. State-owned Vietnam Oil & Gas Group, or PetroVietnam, Vietnam's biggest energy company, on Sunday sent a letter to Cnooc executives to protest the location of the oil rig, according to the government statement. Vietnam and several other countries in the Asian-Pacific region have been embroiled in long-standing territorial disputes with China over parts of the South China Sea.
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