Current Events in Asia-Pacific

Source: The Korea Herald - http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail...=20120127000919 Teaser: An underwater tug-of-war is intensifying among countries such as China, Russia and the United States in the seas around Japan. A very interesting piece that has some definite scenario potential.

From The Diplomat [excerpt]

From Air Force Magazine, Feb 2012 issue [excerpt]

Source: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/natio...es/2438160.aspx Teaser: American nuclear submarines could call Australia home if a proposal by two of Australia's leading Defence experts is included in the 2014 Defence White Paper. This WP should be an interesting read. This could provide an interesting twist for A-P area scenario design.

From Aviation Week [excerpt] CV32: Anyone hold Dassault stock?

From Aviation Week [excerpt]

From Aviation Week [excerpt]

From The Diplomat [excerpt]

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

From Naval War College Review, Winter 2012 The ROK's Counter-Asymmetric Strategy: Lessons from ROKS Cheonan and Yeonpyeong Island (PDF)

From Naval War College Review, Winter 2012 Beijing's "Starter Carrier" and Future Steps (PDF)

From Reuters [excerpt] CV32: This one might be especially relevant to your scenario ideas/plans, Greg.

From AOL Defense [excerpt]

From Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists [excerpt]

Here's something interesting, for future South China Sea scenarios: From 2013-2018, Vietnam Will Receive a New Submarine Annually The submarines will be equipped with Klub-S, anti-ship/anti-submarine missile with max range 300km. According to some unofficial sources from the Russian media, from the beginning of the month 6/2011 the Russian side has begun work on two Kilo 636M project class submarines, for the Vietnam Navy. The first will be delivered in 2013. Expected that Russia will hand over to Vietnam annually to a submarine in 2018. Source: http://nosint.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-20...eceive-new.html FWFS, Greg Emerson, DM1(SW), USN-Retired Renton, …

From Center for a New American Security: Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China Sea (PDF) One excerpt that stood out to me:

From the recent copy of Undersea Wafare: Taiwan's Project Diving Dragon Resurfaces TAIPEI - Recurring reports that countries other than the United States are helping Taiwan build diesel-electric submarines domestically go back a decade. According to various articles, it's either the Western Europeans, Russians or Indians who are clandestinely concocting a submarine plan with the Taiwanese. While the notion that any country able to build subs would choose to so profoundly snub China appears unlikely, the question arises as to why these rumors persist. An island and its mythical being Then-United States president George W Bush in 2001 approved the sale of eight c…

Full Story (h/t Alert 5)

China Daily

From DefenseNews [excerpt]