Current Events in Asia-Pacific

China, Japan Set Naval Port Calls At Defense Talks By Associated Press TOKYO -- Chinese military growth isn't aimed at threatening any state, China's defense chief said in Tokyo on Thursday, as he stressed that Beijing was working to become more transparent about defense matters. Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan's assertions came as the two sides agreed on reciprocal port calls by navy ships, with a Chinese warship to visit Japan as early as November, for the first time since World War II, Japanese defense officials said. Mr. Cao met with senior Japanese officials and made a speech as part of his five-day visit to Japan, which began Wednesday and is …

From Stratfor China, the Olympics and the Visa Mystery July 29, 2008 By Rodger Baker Something extraordinary is happening in China, and we are not talking about the Olympics. Rather, Chinese officials have been clamping down on visa applications and implementing bureaucratic impediments to new and renewed visa applications under the guise of pre-Olympic security. In some ways, Beijing’s plan for a safe and secure Olympics appears based on the premise that if no one shows up, there can be no trouble. But placing restrictions on the movement of managers and employees of foreign businesses operating in China, even if for a limited time as Chinese officials have…

This story is garnering wide attention among the defence news websites and blogs. http://38north.org/2013/11/lewis-schilling110513/ (38 North)

India floats out first Scorpene submarine (Jane's)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-29/japan-vows-to-give-australia-first-access-to-mogami-warship/104868658?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

From Reuters [excerpt]

Mind the Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality (Nautilis Institute) Somewhat dated now but still extremely useful from the point of view of thinking about conflict on the Korean peninsula.

India to Launch 2nd Strategic Nuclear Sub by End of 2017 (The Diplomat)

From Air Force Times Hypothetical attack on U.S. outlined by China By Patrick Winn - Staff writer Posted : Monday Jan 21, 2008 11:51:13 EST In a hypothetical future scenario, the U.S. and China are poised to clash — likely over Taiwan. The democratic Republic of China, commonly called Taiwan — which America backs and the communist People’s Republic of China considers part of its territory — frequently irritates Chinese leaders with calls for greater independence from the mainland. But while the American military mulls its options, Chinese missiles hit runways, fuel lines, barracks and supply depots at U.S. Air Force bases in Japan and South Korea. Long-range…

US House approves frigate sale to Taiwan (The Diplomat, China Power)

Images reveal mock-up of Chinese carrier-borne AEW&C aircraft (Jane's) An Early Warning Aircraft for China's Carriers? (The Diplomat)

Probably SC-19 (sorry, previously erroneous link): http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/news/a27492/photographer-sees-secret-chinese-missile-test/

Watching this images, I was thinking if Ady Gil/Earthrace is a trimaran, and LCS-2 is a trimaran, is the bigger pretended weapon of LCS-2 the ram ? (if not, why is the anchor in LCS-2 placed in front of the bow ?) http://www.ussindependenceship.org/overview_ship.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthrace (incidentally, Sagunto is very near my home town). At least, I hope LCS-2 must be stronger than Ady Gil ...

Chinese Beidou satnav system fully operational (Aviation Week)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/philippine-ship-chinese-vessel-collide-in-south-china-sea-beijing/ar-BB1ol1TV?ocid=U507DHP&pc=U507&cvid=2e2efada942749a6a6dea6be6d3c94f6&ei=63 I think we need 'Ram' as a HC weapon?

China Launches First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (Financial Times, via RCD)

Initial 2 Kidd-class Destroyers Take Their Places in ROC Fleet (Source: Taiwan Information service; issued Dec. 19, 2005) (Edited for content) The first two of four Kidd class destroyers purchased from the United States arrived at the Suao naval base on the northeast coast of Taiwan Dec. 9 after a month-long journey from Port Charleston in South Carolina. The addition of the destroyers to the ROC Naval fleet is expected to be a shot in the arm to Taiwan's ability to defend itself against China. A formal ceremony to commission the two destroyers has been scheduled for mid-December when President Chen Shui-bian is expected to officiate in his capacity …

From DefenseNews Posted 12/07/06 11:37 North Korea Says U.S. Has Nuclear Bomb in South: Tass By REUTERS, MOSCOW North Korea believes Washington has atomic weapons deployed in South Korea and it will not halt its nuclear program as long as this threat persists, Itar-Tass news agency quoted a North Korean source as saying on Dec. 7. "(North Korea) has practically no doubts that there are U.S. nuclear weapons in the south of the Korean Peninsula," the source told Tass. "North Korea is forced, in the interests of self-defense, to enhance its nuclear capability." "Without eliminating the threat from the United States and without relevant guarantees being offered, P…

Chinas Emerging C4ISR Revolution (The Diplomat)