Current Events in Asia-Pacific

From Jane's Thai prime minister deposed in name of monarchy amid political uncertainty By Christian LeMiere, Jane’s Country Risk Asia Editor EVENT A military coup took place in Thailand at midnight (1700 GMT) on 19 September to depose caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was in New York at the time. The coup is a sign of military disaffection with governmental intervention and royalist fears of Thaksin's autocracy. In the immediate term, the lack of an interim prime minister poses the greatest risk. However, should a prime minister be forthcoming, the most likely short-term outcome will be democratic elections in November and a possible increase i…

From Carnegie Endowment (pdf) [excerpt]

Chinas Navy Goes Stealth (The Diplomat) Namely, the Type 056 Jiangdao FFL

From Defence Aerospace Chinese Military Buildup Causes US Concern (Source: Voice of America news; issued March 23, 2005) WASHINGTON --- Two developments are focusing renewed attention and concern in Washington toward China's military buildup. Earlier this month, China's legislature passed a law authorizing military action to take control of Taiwan, if it moves toward independence or if all other efforts at reunification fail. And at the same time, the European Union wants to lift its arms embargo against China, which was imposed after the Tiananmen massacre in 1989. A recent report prepared for the U.S. Defense Department says China is proceeding with a su…

From eDefense It took seven years, but Singapore has finally chosen a replacement for its aging fleet of A-4SU Super Skyhawks: the Boeing (St. Louis, MO) F-15T, a variant of the F-15E Strike Eagle. The Singapore Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) announced on Sept. 6 that it is now in the process of seeking final clarifications and contract negotiation with Boeing under its New Fighter Replacement Program (NFRP), under which Singapore aims to procure 20 (although perhaps as many as 24) new fighters to replace its A-4SUs, which "will soon be at the end of their operationally useful life," according to a MINDEF spokeswoman. The NFRP, with an estimated value of some $1 bi…

From Defense Aerospace India Likely to Buy More Carrier Borne Mig-29K Fighters (Source: ddi Indian government news; issued Sept. 25, 2008) India is to buy 30 more carrier borne Mig-29K (Fulcrum-D) fighters for the Indian navy and an agreement to this effect would be firmed up during the upcoming visit of Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov's to India next week. Serdyukov's tour here at the head of a high level officials and industry delegation is also likely to pave the way for signing of the new contract for acquisition and delivery of the carrier Admiral Gorshkov, according to top officials in Moscow. Russians have demanded a price escalation of …

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

China warns U.S. it will not allow violations of its waters (Reuters) The USN needs to go ahead and call China's bluff on this. To fail to do so (or, rather, to continue to fail to do so) will be a tacit (and dangerous) acknowledgement of China's ridiculous claims as legitimate.

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 …

Link to download page for ASPI's RAAF capability review 2010 (PDF)

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt]

INS Vikramaditya Deployment Options for India (Defense Aerospace)

Before and After: The South China Sea Transformed (CSIS) The environmental damage alone is terrible.

From Aviation Week [excerpt]

Russia hands over refitted Indian sub (RIA Novosti)

Full THAAD Battery in Place in South Korea After Police Clash With Protesters (Defense Tech) Hmmm. THAAD, X-37B put into orbit from Canaveral just ahead of an advancing hurricane, Reagan CSG at sea from Yokosuka, Bonhomme Richard ESG moving north from the Coral Sea, National Day tomorrow (9 Sept) in the DPRK ... Anyone watching the pizza joints in DC?

From Defense Aerospace U.S., South Korea Plan Anti-submarine Exercise (Source: U.S Department of Defense; issued September 24, 2010) YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea --- South Korean and U.S. forces will conduct an anti-submarine warfare exercise in the waters west of the Korean peninsula Sept. 27 to Oct. 1. The exercise is part of a series of combined naval training events that are defensive in nature and enhance interoperability, officials said. The exercises also are designed to send a clear message of deterrence to North Korea, they added, while improving the overall anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the U.S.-South Korean alliance. Participating uni…

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: In light of this kind of resurgence and the pace of Chinese fighter advances, the failure to offer the F-22 to the JASDF continues to be a head scratcher.

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

Russia Announces a Naval Buildup in the Pacific (The Diplomat)