Current Events in Asia-Pacific

A Russia-China Alliance Brewing? (The Diplomat)

China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities (pdf, Congressional Research Service)

South Korea Selects the Taurus KEPD 350 Cruise Missile (Defense Update)

U.S. Deploys Sea-based Radar Amid North Korea Crisis (DefenseNews)

Multiple Spaces Flooded on Stranded U.S. Minesweeper (DefenseNews)

U.S. Army Learns Hard Lessons in N. Korea-like War Game (DefenseNews)

I am working on creating a new scenario and was wondering, how does China group its surface ships? Do they have groups similar to US destroyer squadron? Or carrier battle groups? I understand they just commissioned their first carrier so they probably have not completely established their naval strategy, but with other surface ships, is there any methodology the PLAN uses? Thanks for any help, this site and forum has been such a blessing

First Littoral Combat Ship Loses, Regains Power (Aviation Week)

North Korea threatens US bases in the Pacific

From Defense Aerospace Brahmos Crosses Another Milestone, Vertically Ship-Launched (Source: Press Information Bureau India; issued December 18, 2008) The BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile was launched from a Naval Warship in the Bay of Bengal today. The DRDO said the launch from the mobile platform was successful and all mission objectives have been met. This is the first time the missile was launched from a universal vertical launcher fitted in a new ship. All earlier launches of BrahMos missile were carried out from inclined launchers. With this, the BrahMos missile development programme achieved a milestone as most present day warships are fitted with …

Report: Taiwan To Aim 50 Medium-Range Missiles at China (DefenseNews)

Report: Surge in N. Korea Air Force Sorties (DefenseNews)

India To Get Soviet-era Aircraft Carrier in 2013 (DefenseNews) Maybe.

First Nirbhay Cruise Missile Test Fails (Defense Update)

A short but concise article in Mer et Marine (in French) about other Far East navies: South and North Korea, Vietnam (with a clear photo of a Gepard), Thailand, Malaysia, Phlippines and Brunei. by Bernard Prézelin, editor of Combat Fleets of the World (and from April Mer et Marine will be of pay ): http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/node/72730

A short but concise article in Mer et Marine (in French) about the Japanese Navy as fourth world navy, by Bernard Prézelin, editor of Combat Fleets of the World: http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/focus-la-marine-japonaise-la-4eme-place-mondiale

A Player, but No Superpower (Foreign Policy, Argument) Once again, Andrew Erickson nails it, imho.

China hikes defense budget, to spend more on internal security (Reuters)

Chinese attack helicopter's secret Russian roots (Aviation Week, Ares blog)

A short but concise article in Mer et Marine (in French) about the Chinese Navy, by Bernard Prézelin, editor of Combat Fleets of the World, with photos of new submarines and a consideration about the little islands dispute, the possesion of one of the guarantees to the owner a EEZ of 200 nm: http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/focus-limpressionnante-montee-en-puissance-de-la-marine-chinoise