Current Events in Asia-Pacific

War and Conflict Flying Tigers strike Jaffna military base Apr 24, 2007 Separatist Tamil Tiger rebels flying light aircraft bombed a military airbase on Sri Lanka's northern peninsula of Jaffna on Tuesday, killing at least six people, officials and the guerrillas said. If confirmed it would be the second air attack in two months by the Tigers, although it was denied by the defence ministry who said the rebels only fired artillery. Guerrilla spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan said two light aircraft from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) headed toward the Palaly military air field in the Jaffna peninsula just after midnight. "We have carried out o…

Today's scheduled landing of a C-130 on North Field comes six days after the first F/A-18D Hornets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121-MAG 12 landed for the first time on Tinian's West Field on May 23. Their landing established the effectiveness of the coral setup of the arresting gear. The goal was 10 arrestments in under an hour but they were able to do 12 in less than an hour. http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.asp...19293&cat=1 Out of room on Guam? Move to Tinian apparently. Ought to be interesting to see what ends up here especially since the Japanese are footing at least part of the bill.

China's Most Important South China Sea Military Base (The Diplomat) With imagery.

Indian Air Force wants out of fighter program with Russia (DefenseNews)

From DefenseNews Taiwan Finalizes Long Awaited P-3 Deal By wendell minnick Published: 23 Feb 07:25 EST (12:25 GMT) TAIPEI – Taiwan, the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin have finally settled issues over price and offset options, and are expected to soon sign a contract for 12 P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft for $1.3 billion, said sources in Taiwan. The signing will mark the end of two decades of struggle by Taiwan to replace its decrepit Northrop Grumman S-2T anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. In April 2001, former U.S. President George W. Bush authorized the sale of a major arms package to Taiwan that included 12 P-3s, eight diesel submarines and fo…

http://defence-blog.com/news/new-stealth-bomber-spotted-in-china.html

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Satellite Imagery: China Staging Mock Invasion of Taiwan? (The Diplomat)

How far can China’s long-range missiles reach in the South China Sea? (DefenseNews)

A blog centered on North Korean military hardware, mostly AFVs and SP artillery, but worth of a visit: http://koreadprk.tumblr.com/

Global Security

North Korea’s Latest Missile Test: Advancing towards an ICBM While Avoiding US Military Action (38 North)

Boeing Undercuts Rivals In South Korea Fighter Contest: Sources (Aviation Week)

From Defence Talk North Korea Pushes Japan Further Down Nuclear Path AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE October 6th, 2006, 03:29 Tokyo: North Korea's brinkmanship will intensify a debate in Japan about developing atomic weapons, a long-standing taboo in the only nation to have suffered nuclear attack, analysts said. Both the United States and South Korea predicted in official statements or reports that North Korea's plans to test a nuclear bomb will build momentum in Japan to do likewise. North Korea said Tuesday it would carry out the test to win concessions from Washington, but ironically the move also emboldened Japanese hardliners who want to shed some of the pacifism…

https://news.usni.org/2016/04/20/indias-first-boomer-leaves-on-acceptance-trials

From DefenseNews U.S. Exercises Off Guam Impressive: China By REUTERS, BEIJING Chinese military officers who observed U.S. naval exercises in the Western Pacific were "deeply impressed", state media reported June 23. China, one of seven countries attending, sent a 10-member delegation to the Valiant Shield exercises that started on Sunday near Guam, involving more than 290 aircraft, three aircraft carrier strike groups and about 22,000 U.S. forces. The invitation came from the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. William Fallon, on a visit to China in May that was aimed at improving defense contacts between the two often wary military powers. Fallon has…

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

From Jane's North Korea threatens to test an ICBM By Doug Richardson 06 May 2009 North Korea has threatened to test intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and to conduct further nuclear-weapon tests unless the UN Sanctions Committee apologises for decisions that Pyongyang sees as a violation of its sovereignty. On 24 April, the committee banned transactions with three North Korean organisations - the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation, the Korea Ryonbong General Corporation and the Tanchon Commercial Bank - and called on UN member states to freeze the assets of the two companies. This move followed the launch by North Korea on 5 April of what …

PaCom chief confident U.S. can deter N. Korea By Audrey McAvoy - The Associated Press Posted : Friday Apr 13, 2007 9:45:54 EDT SEOUL, South Korea — The new top commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific expressed confidence Friday in the military’s ability to respond to any aggression by North Korea though the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left him with fewer troops on the ground. Adm. Timothy Keating is visiting South Korea for the first time since he assumed control of the U.S. Pacific Command last month. He was expected to discuss the U.S.-South Korea alliance with Korean leaders and have U.S. commanders brief him on the North Korean threat and the status…

A Dog And Pony Show: North Korea’s New ICBM by Markus Schiller and Robert H. Schmucker Dog and Pony Show (PDF)