Current Events in Asia-Pacific

'Type 093T' sub design breaks cover (Jane's)

From DefenseNews U.S. Presses China To Install Military Crisis Hotline By JIM MANNION, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE The United States pressed China to set up a crisis hotline between their military establishments in high-level defense talks held here April 28, amid U.S. concerns over North Korea and a Chinese military buildup that has raised tensions with Taiwan, U.S. defense officials said. A senior defense official said the Chinese in the past have set aside the idea of a direct, permanently manned telephone link between the U.S. and Chinese defense ministers, but appeared to be giving it close consideration now. “It seemed to us given our experiences with t…

From Defence Talk Hopes rise for NKorea nuclear deal Agence France-Presse | May 16, 2007 Hopes rose Wednesday that North Korea will finally start shutting down its nuclear programme after Pyongyang announced a long-running financial dispute which blocked progress is close to settlement. "The statement by the North Korean foreign ministry expressed its will to implement the February 13 agreement in the most explicit and positive way that we have ever seen," South Korea's Unification Minister Lee Jae-Joung told a forum. Foreign Minister Song Min-Soon said he expected the dispute "to be settled in the near future" but did not elaborate. North Korean acco…

From Reuters [excerpt]

From DefenseTech [excerpt]

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

Chinese Carrier's Purported Air Wing Deemed Plausible but Limited Details from the article:

From Defense Aerospace New Torpedoes and Combat System for Collins Class Submarines (Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued Nov. 14, 2005) Australia’s Collins-Class Submarines are undergoing a major capability boost with work about to start fitting out the first submarine with a new tactical combat system and upgraded state-of-the-art Heavyweight Torpedoes. Defence Minister Robert Hill said the design and installation of the Replacement Combat System and Heavyweight Torpedo System are on schedule and on cost. Senator Hill said the $857 million capability investment will significantly boost the combat effectiveness of the Collins Class making…

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

Bulldogs Away 2022 Fiction Essay Contest Winner (Proceedings, November 2022)

Is it just like everything else, that since we all have more opportunity to hear/read it, the more it "appears" to be happening. Reading navytime.com today, two more skippers have either been relieved, or have a good chance, in this case ground Arliegh Burke outside of Norfolk. CO of Arliegh Burke ran around, oh soft aground, so that's ok. CO of USS Helena (SSN) CO of USS Constitution And more than one or two over the past weeks that I am not currently able to pull up on the site. What's going on? Is it OPTEMPO? I'm not saying that there are not leadership failures in both the Army and Marines, but those forces are currently "engaged".

Gleaned from recce by Information Dissemination, here's a thoughtful article on Chinese anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) development, in its entirety: From Chinese ASBM Development: Knowns and Unknowns Chinese ASBM Development: Knowns and Unknowns Publication: China Brief Volume: 9 Issue: 13 June 24, 2009 By: Andrew S. Erickson China wants to achieve the ability, or at minimum the appearance of the ability, to prevent a U.S. carrier strike group (CSG) from intervening in the event of a future Taiwan Strait crisis. China may be closer than ever to achieving this capability with land-based anti-ship homing ballistic missiles. There have been many Western re…

First P-8I touches down in India (Flight Global)

HMAS Sydney Handed Back to Navy Following Major Upgrade article (Source: ADI, Ltd.; issued April 28, 2006) Australia’s largest defence company ADI Limited has today formally handed back to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) the guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney following a major upgrade. Project directors from ADI Limited and the Defence Materiel Organisation joined HMAS Sydney’s Commanding Officer Commander Peter Quinn in a formal signing ceremony at the RAN’s Sydney fleet base to mark the occasion on Friday April 28. The hand back ceremony comes after a successful sea trials program over recent months, during which the ships new weapons systems, sens…

Is this China's second aircraft carrier? (War is Boring blog)

From Defence Talk Japan says it can go nuclear but won't Agence France-Presse Oct 31, 2006 - 5:28:02 AM TOKYO: Japan said Tuesday it has the legal right to develop nuclear weapons despite its pacifist constitution but has no intention even to consider the long-taboo idea. Prominent lawmakers have called on Japan, the only nation to suffer nuclear attack, to debate the nuclear option after communist neighbor North Korea on October 9 said it had tested its first atom bomb. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki argued that the US-imposed pacifist constitution allows Japan "the right to possess minimum capability" for self-defense. "Theoretically and…

From Air Force Magazine, August 2012 [excerpt]

Australia enters homegrown missile race — but can it really stand alone? SBS NewsAustralia enters homegrown missile race — but can it real...As Australia ramps up missile production, experts say supply chain gaps and export challenges could limit its independence.

From Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists [excerpt]

Making Sense of the Japanese Submarine Option (The Diplomat)