Current Events in Asia-Pacific

From DOD Buzz [excerpt]

http://alert5.com/2012/08/31/photo-first-shenyang-j-16-prototype/comment-page-1/#comment-267727 That looks like an Airfix model - that I've painted.

From http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/138701/lhd-begins-final-leg-of-journey-to-australia.html [excerpt]

Planning for the Future: Conditions of Combined ROK-U.S. Military Intervention in Potential DPRK Contingencies (PDF) (DefenseNews' Intercepts blog)

Significant Food Shortages Likely in North Korea (38 North)

Royal Navy's new supply fleet could be built cheap in China By Clayton Hirst 15 May 2005 Excerpt from The Independent Britain could have its first fleet of naval ships built in China under plans being drawn up by shipbuilder VT Group. The company is preparing to bid to supply the Royal Navy with up to 15 support vessels, in a contract thought to be worth £2bn. But in a bit to reduce costs, VT is exploring the possibility of making the ships' hulls in China. The move would be controversial as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) insists that all warships be assembled in Britain. However, VT believes that because the ships in the so-called Mars programme will be…

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 our good friend in the Harpoon world, Chris Carlson: Chinas Eagle Strike-Eight Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles: Designation Confusion and the Family Members from YJ-8 to YJ-8A (Defense Media Network)

NORAD Chief: North Korea Has Ability to Reach U.S. With Nuclear Warhead on Mobile ICBM (USNI News)

Defiant Chinese Admiral’s Message: South China Sea ‘Belongs to China’ (Defense One)

North Korea's New KN19 Coastal Defense Cruise Missile: More Than Meets the Eye (The Diplomat)

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

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)

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)