Current Events in Asia-Pacific

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt]

Source: US Delivers 30 Helicopters to Pakistan : Military Aviation : Defense News Air Force Army Navy News

Kopp and the gang continue to be unhappy about the impending demise of the RAAF F-111 force: F-111: Deadly strike fighter to be trashed

Japan to host nuclear U.S. carrier The Navy says the move is unrelated to efforts to base such a vessel in Hawaii By Gregg K. Kakesako gkakesako@starbulletin.com The Pentagon's decision to locate a nuclear aircraft carrier in Japan for the first time is not related to the ongoing campaign to home-port one at Pearl Harbor, Navy officials said yesterday. Pacific Fleet spokesman Jon Yoshishige said no decision has been made on whether the Navy will base a nuclear aircraft carrier in Hawaii. The Navy announced yesterday that the USS Kitty Hawk -- one of its two remaining non-nuclear carriers -- will leave Yokosuka in 2008 and be decommissioned. It will be repla…

Here is interesting fodder for scenario designers. I do not believe that it has been posted previously. A Question of Balance Pete

From Flight Global [excerpt]

From Naval Open Source Intelligence Blog (http://nosint.blogspot.com/2012/06/vietnam-to-buy-amur-diesel-submarines.html) Russia began to Vietnam to offer an upgraded version of the Kilo class submarines - Amur, this submarine is well suited for patrolling and fighting in the East Vietnam Sea. According to analysts, if Vietnam could buy a fleet of Amur submarines, submarine forces of Vietnam will truly become a powerful force in the region. Amur class submarines can also be equipped with missiles launched from submarines to attack ground targets, so it can fully protect all targets on the coast and the islands of the East Vietnam Sea South. Vietnam Navy can be a p…

From Defense Aerospace Indian Navy to Build Nuclear Submarine Base (Source: Forecast International; issued June 17, 2010) NEW DELHI --- The Indian Navy will construct a new base for its nascent nuclear submarine fleet. The project, codenamed Project Varsha, will be located on India's east coast. It will involve special features to ensure the safety of the submarines and their maintenance personnel. Reportedly the base will be modeled on the Chinese nuclear submarine base on Hainan Island, implying that it will consist of underground facilities linked to the sea by tunnels. Currently, one locally built submarine, the INS Arihant, is undergoing its criticality …

Does China’s J-20 rival other stealth fighters? (CSIS)

From Army Times March 09, 2005 Base in Korea closes Associated Press CAMP PAGE, South Korea — Thumping helicopters streamed out of the U.S. military base Camp Page Wednesday, as soldiers packed trucks with equipment to prepare for moving as part of Washington’s plan to reduce its forces in South Korea. The base is to be closed and turned over to South Korea by the end of March in line with U.S. plans to restructure its deployment of overseas forces in order to focus more on anti-terrorism operations. Some 12,500 troops will depart by 2008, leaving 24,500 soldiers in this country as part of the military presence that the United States has maintained here …

North Korea Preparing Missile Launch: Japanese Media (DefenseNews)

From Stratfor Chinese Geopolitics and the Significance of Tibet April 15, 2008 By George Friedman China is an island. We do not mean it is surrounded by water; we mean China is surrounded by territory that is difficult to traverse. Therefore, China is hard to invade; given its size and population, it is even harder to occupy. This also makes it hard for the Chinese to invade others; not utterly impossible, but quite difficult. Containing a fifth of the world’s population, China can wall itself off from the world, as it did prior to the United Kingdom’s forced entry in the 19th century and under Mao Zedong. All of this means China is a great power, but one that h…

BBC News link The new leader isn't even 30 and has next to no political experience. No wonder the South are on high alert.

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: Russkies got no money for fuel, etc, or something deeper going on?

CV32: And, as expected, Beijing is less than happy ... From Flight Global [excerpt]

Whether under her own power or under tow, Varyag left the Port of Dalian according to Xinhua News. A quick search of the various Chinese forums shows an empty bearth where Varyag was supposedly tied up. Visibility was quite poor at the time which assists in a quiet/covert departure. Xinhua reports that the initial trial won't be long and that the vessel will return to complete her 'refit' soon. Hopefully we'll be seeing some periscope photos in the near future, hopefully they'll include the tug. Later D

From http://www.defensenews.com Singapore Navy To Escort Passing Merchant Ships By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, SINGAPORE Armed escorts from the Singapore Navy will guard selected merchant ships and cruise liners plying the city-state’s busy waters as part of efforts to prevent terrorism, the defense ministry said Feb. 28. The Accompanying Sea Security Teams scheme will be launched sometime in March, a ministry spokesperson said. The Straits Times newspaper reported Feb. 28 that up to eight navy personnel capable of running a commercial vessel in an emergency will board selected ships that might be threatened because of their cargo. The team will includ…

From Air Force Magazine, August 2012 [excerpt]

From Flight International DATE: 06/10/08 SOURCE: Flight International Eurofighter gets serious about Japan's F-X contest By Siva Govindasamy The Eurofighter Typhoon is becoming a serious contender in Japan's forthcoming F-X fighter competition, with industry sources saying that Tokyo is taking the European fighter more seriously in the much-anticipated tender. "If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said that the Typhoon did not have a chance due to the close US-Japan ties. I am no longer sure of that," says a Tokyo-based industry source close to the Japanese defence ministry. "Washington's continued refusal to release information on the [Lockheed …