Current Events in Asia-Pacific

From Defence Talk North Korea Launches Wartime Alert AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Wed, 19 Jul 2006, 00:15 Seoul: North Korea has launched a wartime alert, putting its armed forces and nationals in a state of a war mobilization, an unconfirmed news report said here Wednesday. Kim Jong-Il, head of the communist country, issued an order to that effect hours before the United Nations Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea's missile tests last week, said the Joongang daily, quoting an unnamed government source. Government officials were unable to be reached for confirmation early Wednesday. North Korean soldiers on leave were told to return to their b…

PRC's new 'Type 094' submarine has no bite By Cheng Ta-cheng 鄭大誠 Taipei Times Saturday, Jul 15, 2006,Page 8 Advertising Advertising Recent reports indicate that China's Type 094 Jin-class nuclear-powered guided ballistic missile submarine is already in service. Some of the media haven't been able to avoid buying into the hype surrounding its production, calling it "the complete equal of the American Ohio-class nuclear submarine." The 094's construction process has been shrouded in mystery, even to the extent that authorities have cordoned off a restricted area extending several kilometers around the construction facilities on China's Hulu Island, strictly p…

From Defense Aerospace MND Mulls US$4b Budget for 66 Fighters (Source: Taiwan government news; issued July 13, 2006) While Taiwan is planning to increase its defense budget to cope with military threats from China, the Ministry of National Defense is assessing a plan to buy sixty-six F-16 C/D fighters from the United States for NT$130 billion (US$4 billion) in order to strengthen its air defense capabilities. The deal was proposed in response to President Chen Shui-bian's plan to increase the percentage of the defense budget from 2.4 percent to 2.85 percent of Taiwan's GDP in fiscal year 2007, a local Chinese-language newspaper quoted sources in the MND as …

From Defence Talk Taiwan To Test Fire Cruise Missile Capable Of Hitting China AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Fri, 7 Jul 2006, 01:19 Taipei: Taiwan plans to test-fire a cruise missile capable of hitting rival China despite concerns from the United States, a report here said Thursday. The cruise missile, with a range of 600 kilometers (360 miles), will be test-fired at a ceremony in September attended by President Chen Shui-bian in the south of the island, the ettoday.com online newspaper said. "The United States has voiced concerns to Taiwanese authorities as the missile has exceeded the 300-kilometer limit" under the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Chinese-la…

From Defense Aerospace North Korea Conducts Missile Tests (Source: Voice of America news; issued July 5, 2006) WHITE HOUSE --- U.S. officials say North Korea has test fired at least six missiles, including a long-range missile that failed shortly after launch. High level consultations are underway. White House officials call the series of launches a provocation, but add there is no immediate threat to the United States. All the tests occurred early Wednesday morning local time within the span of hours. Most involved short to medium range missiles that landed in the Sea of Japan. But one, the failed missile, was a Taepodong 2, the intercontinental missile th…

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…

From DefenseNews Japan’s Missile Defense System Far from Readiness By ISABEL REYNOLDS, REUTERS, TOKYO While the world keeps a wary eye on signs of a possible North Korean missile test, Japan, perhaps the most nervous of the communist state’s neighbors, remains years away from completing a planned missile defense system. Many experts have cast doubt on the effectiveness of such an interceptor system even when it is fully deployed. Unnerved by North Korea’s 1998 launch of a ballistic missile, part of which flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific Ocean, Tokyo agreed to introduce elements of the U.S. missile defense system, but the installation process is far fro…

From Defence Talk North Korea Threatens To Wipe Out US Forces In South Korea AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Mon, 19 Jun 2006, 00:32 Seoul: North Korea on Sunday threatened to "mercilessly wipe out" US forces in case of war during a national meeting to mark leader Kim Jong-Il's 42 years' work at the ruling party. The threat, in a ruling party report carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), came as North Korea was reportedly preparing to test-fire a long-range missile despite strong protests from the United States and its allies. Choe Thae Bok, a ranking Workers Party official, said Washington was "hell-bent on provocations of war of aggression" in the repo…

Japanese Mayor Drops Opposition to US Carrier By Steve Herman Tokyo 14 June 2006 VOA After initially expressing strong opposition to the U.S. Navy's plan to base a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in their community, leaders of the city of Yokosuka have reversed course, to the relief of the U.S. and Japanese governments. Speaking to the Yokosuka municipal assembly, Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya said he has concluded it would be futile to try to stop the USS George Washington aircraft carrier from being based in the port city. The mayor says Yokosuka must face the reality that having a nuclear-powered carrier at its port cannot be prevented. Nuclear-powered ai…

Hmm, does this mean a China vs India scenario is no longer "realistic" ? From DefenseNews China, India Sign Military Accord By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, BEIJING China and India signed an agreement May 30 to expand defense ties, the Chinese foreign ministry said, in a deal that is expected to see the neighbors conduct more military training exercises. The memorandum of understanding was signed during a visit by Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters. ”Military exchanges will be an important part of bilateral ties,” Liu said. ”Reinforcement of mutual trust and exchanges will be beneficial for…

From Defense Aerospace Deed of Settlement and Release Signed for FFG Upgrade (Source: ADI Ltd.; issued May 30, 2006) ADI Limited has signed a Deed of Settlement and Release with the Commonwealth of Australia formalising the Government’s decision to reduce the FFG Upgrade Project from six ships to four and resolving all outstanding commercial and contractual issues on the A$1 billion project. The deed, signed by vice president Thales Naval Australia and ADI director of naval Ali Baghaei, and Defence Materiel Organisation deputy CEO Kim Gillis on Monday May 29, is the result of several months of detailed negotiations. The signing comes one month after the fir…

From Defence Aerospace Seoul to Buy 20 More F-15Ks (Source: Korean Overseas Information Service; dated May 19, 2006) The Air Force will purchase 20 more F-15K multi-role aircraft beginning in 2009, following the scheduled introduction of 40 F-15s by 2008, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday (May 18). The $2 billion plan was approved during a meeting on Wednesday as part of the ministry's mid-term arms acquisition project between 2007 and 2011, ministry officials said. Final endorsement of the plan is to be made by President Roh Moo-hyun, they said. AND From DefenseNews S. Korea Cuts Back on U.S. F-15s: Report By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE,…

From DefenseNews Australia May Sue After Grounding U.S. Helicopters By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, SYDNEY The Australian navy has grounded a one-billion dollar ($750 million U.S.) fleet of U.S.-built helicopters over safety concerns and may sue the contractors, the defense minister said May 15. The navy ordered 11 of the anti-submarine and anti-ship Super Seasprite helicopters but none of the 10 delivered since 2001 have been in full operational service due to technical problems. Defense Minister Brendan Nelson said he had banned the Seasprites from flying and that the government was considering scrapping the fleet altogether. ”I have asked the department of defense…

As U.S. warships ply the waters, China rises on the horizon By ERIC TALMADGE Associated Press writer Friday, May 12, 2006 StarTribune ABOARD THE USS GARY -- It has been a rough few days. Steaming up the eastern coast of Japan, Cmdr. Joseph Deleon's guided missile frigate has been tossed around on heavy seas and the younger sailors, back from five months ashore, are feeling seasick. Grounded by high winds, the helicopter pilots are watching movies in the ward room. The primary mission is hunting submarines. But the Gary, like the U.S. Seventh Fleet to which it belongs, is also a showcase of American power in a region fraught with crises -- North Korea, Taiwan…

Looks like excellent scenario fodder for any Japanese "resurgence" backgrounds. :smoke: Japan Losing Military ‘Allergy’: Top Officer By ISABEL REYNOLDS, REUTERS, TOKYO DefenseNews Japanese are developing a new respect for their country’s armed forces, in stark contrast to the distrust that prevailed for decades after defeat in World War Two, the military’s new chief of staff said on May 12. Hajime Massaki, 62, was appointed to the newly created post in March in an attempt to draw together the air, sea and ground branches of what Japan calls its Self-Defense Forces and make them more effective. Massaki, a native of the southernmost main island of …

Not certain which catagory this should fit so move it you feel necessary oh worthy administrator. Looks like some littoral warfare of Sri Lanka. Civil War Looms After Sri Lanka Sea Battle Find article here COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - At least 50 rebels were killed and 17 Sri Lankan sailors missing after a sea battle Thursday instigated by the Tamil Tigers left the country on the brink of civil war. Tamil Tigers sank a navy patrol boat off the northern coast as it escorted a troop transport carrying 710 soldiers. In retaliation, the navy downed five rebel vessels and the air force launched airstrikes on guerrilla-held territory. The escalation in viole…

From DefenseNews Taiwan Plans To Buy Mini-Submarines from United Arab Emirates: MP By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, TAIPEI Taiwan plans to buy up to 12 mini-submarines from the United Arab Emirates for 1.6 billion Taiwan dollars ($50.96 million US), an opposition legislator said May 10. Lin Yu-fang from the Kuomintang party said Deputy Defense Minister Chu Kai-sheng confirmed the plan to buy the twin-seat subs for the Marines during a closed meeting of parliament’s national defense committee. The United Evening News said the deal was part of Taiwan’s efforts to secure approval for President Chen Shui-bian’s stopover in Abu Dhabi last week on his way to Latin America. …

Wargame Shows Armed Forces' Progress in Joint Operation Ability: MOFA find article here TAIPEI --- A recently concluded computer wargame showed that the armed forces have made remarkable progress in their joint operation capability, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday. MND officials made the remarks when they reported on the results of the computer wargame of the "Hankuang No. 22" series of military exercises at a meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Defense Committee. The live fire drills of the "Hankuang No. 22" exercise will be held later this year. On April 24, the MND began a five-day, round-the-clock simulation of various scenarios,…

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…

Excerpt from: Naval War College CHINA’S MATURING NAVY Rear Admiral Eric A. McVadon, U.S. Navy (Retired) Naval War College Review, Spring 2006, Vol. 59, No. 2 STARTING WITH QUESTIONS The following questions and answers may be an unusual way to begin probing the specific naval aspects of the issue, but they focus on an often neglected, but arguably the most surprising, single PLAN acquisition program—its bold move to build quickly a modern nuclear submarine force despite its troubled past in this arena. These incisive questions—posed to the author in 2005 by experts on the Chinese submarine force—are especially useful in that they take the PLA’s Ta…