N. Korea Crisis - Updated as News come to hand

Sri Lanka :
Vietnam & Sri Lanka to sign economic & defence agreements

Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang will begin a three day-state visit Thursday which will see economic and defence bilateral accords being concluded, Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said.

The foreign ministry said several agreements on political, defence, investment, finance, education and training, machinery manufacturing will be signed after the discussions.

WikiLeaks cables: Americans funded groups that stalled Burma dam project

The US embassy in Rangoon funded some of the civil society groups in the Burmese region that forced the government to suspend a controversial Chinese dam on the Irrawaddy river, according to a US diplomatic cable.

"Given past evidence from foreign investments in Burma's energy sector, it is very likely, as many locals believe, that both construction of the dam and the energy it produces will primarily benefit Chinese companies and consumers, rather than Burmese," he said.

Well that should piss off China.

Chinese Military Officials visits Sri Lanka Air force Headquarters

Sri Lanka is very important strategically... right next to India... if China were to put planes and boats there, it would be a big edge in any conflict.
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Vietnam :
China, Vietnam sign accord on resolving maritime issues

China and Vietnam on Tuesday signed an agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues existing between the two countries.

Good news.

Chinese president meets Vietnam Communist Party's chief in Beijing

President Hu Jintao held talks with the visiting head of Vietnam's ruling political party Tuesday, with both sides agreeing to advance their strategic and cooperative partnership in a stable and healthy way.

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India :
Navy plans to increase manpower by 10-15 pc

The Indian Navy is all set to increase its officer and sailor strength by 10-15 per cent who would be deployed on all new ships, submarines and aircraft to be inducted in the next five years for maintaining the combative edge in the Indian Ocean region.

Really needed...
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China :
India-Vietnam oil exploration deal must be stopped

India and Vietnam inked an agreement for joint oil exploration in the South China Sea on Wednesday. Both countries clearly know what this means for China.China may consider taking actions to show its stance and prevent more reckless attempts in confronting China in the area.

By inking pacts with Vietnam, India probably has deeper considerations in its regional strategy than simply getting barrels of oil and gas.

China should denounce this agreement as illegal. Once India and Vietnam initiate their exploration, China can send non-military forces to disturb their work, and cause dispute or friction to halt the two countries' exploration.

That's dangerous talk from the Chinese government mouthpiece...

US worries over China's underground nuclear network

A leading US lawmaker who fears budget cuts could delay modernizing the US nuclear arsenal voiced concern Friday about an extensive tunnel complex designed to house Chinese nuclear missiles.

"This network of tunnels could be in excess of 5,000 kilometers (3,110 miles), and is used to transport nuclear weapons and forces," said Michael Turner, who chairs a House Armed Services Committee panel focusing on strategic weapons and other security programs.

"As we strive to make our nuclear forces more transparent, China is building this underground tunnel system to make its nuclear forces even more opaque," he added, citing an unclassified Department of Defense report.

Hmmm no. This is to have a second strike capability.

Japan :
China Military Planes Lead to Tripling of Japan Jet Scrambles

Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force has scrambled 83 times in the first half of the year to check out military aircraft from China buzzing Japan’s air space, according to the Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Council on Thursday, more than triple the amount compared to the same six-month period in 2010.

That's a LOT of provocation...

Japan's aging air force plans major overhaul

Warplanes bearing the bright red Rising Sun logo roared overhead Sunday as Japan held a once-every-three-years display to showcase one of the best air forces in Asia. The only problem — most of its fighters were grounded.
Underscoring Japan's uphill battle in an increasingly heated race to control the skies over Asia, the air review came just a week after the country's entire F-15 fleet was ordered into its hangers for safety checks following a midair accident, the second such order in three months.
But in an effort to counterbalance big strides by China and Russia toward deploying new stealthy aircraft, Japan's Air Self-Defense Forces are about to get a multibillion dollar overhaul.

With the F-22 out of the picture, Japan has set its sights on three jets as its next mainstay fighter — the Lockheed F-35, Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and the Eurofighter Typhoon. The hotly contested deal for more than 40 "F-X," or next generation, planes is worth upwards of $8 billion. The first planes are expected to begin arriving in 2016.

The growing military activity around Japan has been reflected in a sharp increase in emergency "scrambles" by Japanese fighters to respond to airspace violations. Scramble orders were issued 386 times last year — up nearly 25 percent, according to the Defense Ministry. Virtually all were Chinese or Russian incursions.

And with WHICH MONEY? Japan is not bankrupt enough it has to spend more? But you still need those planes...

U.S. seeks vow on Futenma at defense talks

The United States has urged Japan to promise during upcoming defense talks that the government will submit to Okinawa Prefecture before the end of the year an environmental assessment report on the Futenma base relocation, diplomatic sources said.

Making such a promise will be difficult, because submitting the report would be interpreted as a sign the central government intends to push through the project even though Okinawa is still calling for the air base to be moved outside the prefecture, the sources said Friday.

So basically trying to force the central government of Japan to impose on Okinawa's population what AMERICA wants against the population's will... brilliant...
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Russia :
The Revival Of The Eastern Empire

Westerners are annoyed at Vladimir Putin, in part because of his authoritarian tendencies, and the fact that he is genuinely popular with most Russians. One policy that contributes to this popularity is the Putin plan to (sort of) reconstitute the Soviet Union (which he, and many Russians, really miss) as the "Eurasian Union". This would be similar to the European Union, which some parts of the former Soviet Union are eager to join. Both these organizations are mainly economic unions, encouraging the free movement of goods and trade. The difference with the Eurasian Union is that Russia would be far more dominant that any single nation in the European Union.

The economic benefits of an economic union, however, are an attraction. Then there is the willingness of Russia to back the dictators who run many of the successor states to the Soviet Union. Finally, the Eurasian Union also includes closer, and more peaceful, economic and political ties with China. That's a big plus with Central Asian nations, especially those that border China.

Russia develops new long-range mobile radar

Russian scientists have developed and tested a new mobile radar which will soon become part of the country’s aerospace defenses.

The new radar, dubbed 55Zh6ME, is capable of detecting targets at the distance of up to 1,800 kilometers and an altitude of up to 1,200 km.

“The radar has been developed for the Russian Armed Forces, especially for aerospace defenses,”

Russia :
U.S. Warship Visits Georgia Despite Russia Anger

A U.S warship arrived Oct. 17 in Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi for exercises with the country's coast guard, the U.S. embassy said, in the latest of a series of such calls which have angered Russia.

The guided missile cruiser Philippine Sea's "regularly scheduled" port call will include "combined training exercises with the Georgian Coast Guard," the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi said in a statement.

Military relations between the US and Saakasvilli still going on, not a big surprise from Obama, who LOVES to be friend with thugs.

China :
China not seeking to top US: Lee Kuan Yew

China is in no rush to overtake the United States as the world's leading power but the two Pacific nations will need to find ways to work together, Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew said.

In his acceptance speech, Lee said that historically wars have broken out when a rising nation -- such as China in the current era -- emerges to challenge the supremacy of the incumbent power.

"This is no longer possible when both China and the US have nuclear armaments," Lee said, according to a transcript released Wednesday.

"It is my belief that the Chinese are in no hurry to displace the US as the number one power in the world and to carry the burden that is part and parcel of that position," he said.

He's totally right on all counts.

China underlines importance of safeguarding peaceful use of outer space

China on Monday underlined the importance of safeguarding the peaceful use of outer space and preventing the weaponization of and an arms race in outer space, saying that "the outer space is the common wealth of mankind as the global public space."

+1

US official rules out chance of 'cyber war' with China

A US State Department official dismissed on Tuesday the possibility of a cyber war between China and the United States, while calling for building mutual confidence to avoid such an eventuality.

"People talk about cyber war. Frankly, I don't think we've really seen it," said Christopher Painter, coordinator for cyber issues at the State Department.

Well there's a cyber war going on right now... chinese hackers stealing intel...

Obama national security aide to visit China, India

President Barack Obama's national security advisor will visit China and India this week to advance US interests ahead of the East Asian Summit in November, the White House announced Tuesday.

In Beijing, Donilon will "discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern," likely to include a row between the United States and China over the latter's alleged manipulation of the yuan

Donilon and Indian leaders will "review recent developments" in the US-India partnership, and "discuss ways to advance key elements of the relationship, including both countries' participation in the upcoming East Asia Summit," in Indonesia, it added.

Leaders aim to expand 'influence' of Chinese culture

China's leaders have agreed guidelines aimed at preserving "cultural security" and expanding Chinese soft power, state media reported at the end of a key meeting of Communist Party chiefs.

It added that it was "imperative to promote the socialist core values" by incorporating them in education, party building, and "ethical progress".

Analysts say the meeting was largely aimed at strengthening the party's tight control over the media and the Internet.

"The reform of the cultural system has to do with ensuring that the media, publications, movies, Internet, et cetera serve the partys goal of galvanising patriotic and nationalistic sentiments," said Willy Lam, an expert in Chinese politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

"This will mean even tighter control over peoples freedom of expression, especially on the Internet."

Surprise surprise... NOT.

SKorea :
Fighter Jets 'Could Respond to N.Korean Provocation'

South Korean fighter jets could fly into North Korea if the North launches another military provocation, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said Wednesday.

Kim earlier said the South "can strike not only the sources of provocation but their backup" if the North provokes again.

A military officer said, "This is a matter we need to consider carefully. If the North provokes again, we could launch a precision strike at the source of the provocation with fighter jets or missiles from areas south of the military demarcation line. But fighter jets might be shot down if they fly into North Korean airspace before the enemy's anti-air defense is neutralized."

Ya well... depending on what anti-air missiles NKorea has... publicly they don't have much. But maybe they have advanced chinese anti-air missiles that we don't know about. SKorean intelligence should know that.

Fighter jets could provide real strike power because last time, the SKorean artillery totally failed, firing about 180+ shells at at the NKorean position... not even one shell came even close to the artillery bunker.

New Defense Command to Hold First Joint Drills

The Northwest Islands Defense Command will hold its first joint military exercises with the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines near the Baengyeong Islands in late October.

It's from October 27 to November 4...

'S.Korea Mulling Ways to Open Dialogue with N.Korea'

Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik says the South Korean government is mulling various ways to open a dialogue channel with North Korea while abiding by its principles on the North.

Since NKorea won't move on anything, not weapons, not releasing political prisoners, not stopping their military nuclear program... why open dialogue really?
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NKorea :
N.Korea 'Has New Uranium Enrichment Facility'

North Korea built a new underground uranium enrichment facility in Tongchang, North Pyongan Province in 2006, separately from the existing one at Yongbyon in the same province, Liberty Forward Party lawmaker Park Sun-young claimed Wednesday.

"The Yongbyon facility is an empty structure that was built in preparation for an international inspection, but the new facility in Tongchang is the real uranium enrichment facility," she said.

This is new.

A glass factory near the Tongchang nuclear facility which leader Kim Jong-il and his son Jong-un for mysterious reasons visited three times last December and January, in fact produces nuclear weapons delivery vehicles, she claimed. "There's a uranium refinery under Mt. Chonma near the factory," she added.

Nuclear weapon delivery vehicules? Missiles? Warheads? What?

US to Hold High-level Talks with NK in Geneva on Monday

The U.S. State Department has announced that the U.S. and North Korea will hold their second round of high-level talks in Geneva next week.

Up to 200,000 political prisoners in N. Korea: UN

Up to 200,000 political prisoners are languishing in North Korean prison camps, a sharp increase from 10 years ago, a United Nations envoy said.

Compared to 2001, the latest satellite pictures of the country indicate a "significant increase in the scale of the camps," said Marzuki Darusman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in North Korea, in a report presented before the UN General Assembly.

He noted that some of the prisoners are being held just for being relatives of other detainees.

North Korean Leader Calls for Resumption of 6 Party Talks

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has called for the resumption of the six-way nuclear talks without preconditions, saying there is no change in his intention to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free.

Of course he wants no preconditions.

North Korean Air Force Left To Rot

South Korea recently revealed that North Korea had gone looking for someone to sell them new combat aircraft, and had been turned down by China and Russia. South Korean diplomats were pleased to find this out, and South Korean Air Force officers were not surprised that the North Koreans were desperate to upgrade their air force.

Kind of old news.. but still.

N. Korea questions U.S.'s sincerity toward talks

North Korea on Wednesday questioned the United States' sincerity toward bilateral talks, accusing the country of imagining a collapse of the Pyongyang regime.

Just imagining something now is bad? And if we are to talk about sincerity... what about NKorean pledges of denuclearization?

N.Korea in Frantic Preparation for 2012 Celebrations

Several North Korean spies have been arrested for plotting to assassinate South Koreans involved in anti-North Korean campaigns, National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon told a National Assembly audit Tuesday.

Won also revealed that in North Korean military exercises in June, the ground forces focused on simulating attacks on South Korea, and the navy concentrated on sea infiltration, while the Air Force trained to conquer frontline islands in the northwest of South Korea using fighter jets and helicopters.

The North has formed a committee to prepare a lavish ceremony and a massive "global" conference on the regime's Juche or self-sufficiency ideology on April 15, 2012, the day of the founder's birthday. He said the personality cult surrounding current leader Kim Jong-il is also intensifying ahead of his 70th birthday on Feb. 16, 2012.

2012 shall be interesting.

N.Korean Regime Collapse 'Could Trigger U.S.-China Conflict'

The collapse of the North Korean regime could be a trigger for a military conflict between the U.S. and China, says the California-based RAND Corporation.

Duh?
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Pakistan :
US incursion into Waziristan unlikely: Pakistan

Pakistan's army chief of staff has played down the prospects of any "foolish" US ground offensive in the militant-infested district of North Waziristan, lawmakers said Wednesday.

Any such attack by US forces from across the Afghan border would prove 10 times harder than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, General Ashfaq Kayani was quoted as saying in a briefing Tuesday with the Pakistani lawmakers.

So they think that the US won't do it because ``Pakistan is too strong``... riiiiight in a conventional war, Pakistan would get their butts kicked. We shall see in the coming weeks if there's no progress on the Haqqani network.

Cross-border attacks from Pakistan on the rise: US

Cross-border attacks emanating from Pakistan against US-led forces in Afghanistan have increased since the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, the Pentagon said Monday.

There were at least 102 "close-border" attacks against three US outposts in Paktika since May, compared to 13 such incidents during the same period last year, it said.

But US soldiers at bases in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province told the New York Times that rocket fire had dramatically increased from Pakistani territory since May.

Or a 784% increase. No biggie. The Pakistani military wants payback for the humiliation.

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Taiwan :
Taiwan ex-leaders blast China treaty proposal

Two former Taiwan presidents blasted a proposal by incumbent Ma Ying-jeou to pursue a peace treaty with China, warning it could cause the island to give up its sovereignty to the mainland.

"The peace treaty will be a surrender and unification treaty... Ma intends to turn Taiwan into a province of China," Ma's predecessor Chen Shui-bian, now in jail for corruption, said in a statement issued by his office on Wednesday.

This kind of peace treaty talk might have killed Ma's reelection chances... we shall see in January when the elections come.

Taiwan urges China to remove missiles

Taiwan said Tuesday China would have to remove 1,600 missiles targeting the island as a precondition for signing a peace treaty putting a formal end to a civil war fought more than 60 years ago.

Not gonna happen.
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USA :
For US Navy, Asia is crucial priority: admiral

The US Navy views the Asia-Pacific region as a top strategic priority even as it faces possible budget cuts that could curtail other global missions, the naval chief said Wednesday.

With China's clout rising and its military might expanding, President Barack Obama's deputies and military commanders increasingly portray Asia as a key to American national security.

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Japan :
Japan PM seeks to smooth prickly ties with Seoul

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda Tuesday started a visit to South Korea aimed at smoothing prickly relations, bringing with him a set of historic books seized by his country decades ago.

This is good, but they should be going further than that... like teaching REAL WW2 history in Japan... including Japanese war crimes in china, Korea and most of the Pacific islands. But considering Japanese's culture, I doubt this will ever be done.
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Russia :
The Baby Bust Buries The Russian Army

The Russian Ground Forces (the Army and Interior Ministry paramilitary units) are supposed to have a million personnel. But officials admit, off-the-record, that the real number is closer to 800,000 and falling fast. Conscripts are inducted twice a year, in April and October. This year, the April intake was 220,000. But this month, only 135,000 are expected. The military is hurrying to adapt by cutting the officer ranks to 220,000, increasing the number of long term professional ("contract") soldiers and trained NCOs to 420,000 and accepting the fact that they will not be able to obtain more than 270,000 conscripts a year, if that.

The basic problem is two-fold. First, military service is very unpopular, and potential conscripts are increasingly successful at dodging the draft. But the biggest problem is that the number of 18 year olds is rapidly declining each year. The latest crop of draftees was those born after the Soviet Union dissolved. That was when the birth rate went south.

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Myanmar :
The Player

Despite shutting down the Chinese construction of a $3.6 billion hydroelectric dam in northern Kachin State, the workers and equipment are still there. So are the security forces guarding the site. And some work continues, mainly that of surveyors and road builders preparing future stages of the project. Thus it appears the work is actually being delayed, not halted.

Probably till the dispute with the people living in the area is solved or the dissenters wiped out or moved out.

India :

Pakistan forces Indian helicopter to land for allegedly violating airspace; crew taken into custody - AP

Update: Indian military helicopter was 'deep' in Pakistani airspace near city of Skardu when forced to land, army official in Islamabad says

Four indian officers that was in the chopper is arrested by Pakistan Army

#Indian army helicopter was a Cheetah chopper that landed in #Skardu due to bad weather: Army sources

India PM concedes 'problems' in China relations

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has conceded that there are "problems" with New Delhi's ties with China but overall he believes "relations are quite good."

"We have problems, the border problem is a long-standing problem," Singh told reporters accompanying him home on Wednesday night from a summit of Brazil, India and South Africa in Pretoria.

Well China can't afford war.. for now.
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Taiwan :
Taiwan president's China peace plan triggers fury

A call by Taiwan's president for a peace treaty with China, made as he campaigns for re-election, has drawn a stormy response and may fail to either win votes or curry favour with Beijing, analysts say.

The high-risk strategy, which critics slammed as "surrender and unification" in disguise, already looks to have backfired, illustrating Ma's dilemma in trying to push a Beijing-friendly agenda without alienating domestic opinion.

"He unnecessarily creates suspicion about what he wants and gives the opposition a chance to accuse him of selling out Taiwan," said George Tsai, a political scientist at the Chinese Culture University in Taipei.

The non-partisan Apple Daily newspaper predicted that the peace treaty will "define" the January 14 presidential elections.

Well then if it shapes the election, MA is done. Nationalists will win... now the only question is... is China gonna do something stupid about it?

Panetta praises China response to Taiwan arms sale

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Sunday praised China for what he said was a restrained response to an arms sale to Taiwan, saying he hoped for improved military cooperation with Beijing.

"I guess I would commend them for the way that they've handled the news of that sale to Taiwan," Panetta told reporters in Indonesia, on the first stop of an Asian tour.

Of course they have been calm. The deal is a joke. The upgrades to the F-16s won't be completed till 2023! By then the fighters will be useless.
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NKorea :
US-NKorea talks seen heading off 'dangerous' Pyongyang moves

The United States and North Korea will meet in Geneva on Monday for their second round of direct talks aimed at reviving long-stalled nuclear disarmament negotiations.

While analysts expect no breakthrough during the two-day meeting, they see engagement between the two parties as a positive step as well as a way to stop Pyongyang from making rash moves.

Ya... if they talk, this is good. But if the talks bring us nowhere, it's back to square 1. Since NKorea is very unlikely to move on denuclerization, if the US-SK stay on their demand, the talks are gonna break down at some point.

US, N.Korea agree on war remains searches

The United States said it reached a deal with North Korea to resume searches for remains of Americans killed in the Korean War, after a six-year break in one of the enemy nations' only means of contact.

Chinese leader urges North Korea to better US ties

A Chinese leader is urging ally North Korea to improve its strained ties with the United States as U.S. and North Korean diplomats prepare to talk about restarting nuclear disarmament negotiations.

+1

China's trade with North Korea almost doubles

Trade shoots up 87 percent to $3.1 billion

While various sanctions have reduced North Korea's foreign investment to a dribble, China has doubled down on the pariah state.

In 2011's first seven months, China's North Korea trade shot up 87 percent compared to last year's figure, according to the China Post.

Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose

The police are backing off from an angry population up north. This is most visible in the relationship between police and unlicensed traders. The legal markets charge a fee for a stall. But there are not enough stalls to go around, producing a larger number of illegal traders, who carry their goods with them and set up business on the ground wherever they can. Police usually chase these traders away, but no longer seize their goods. The cops increasingly find that the traders will fight, literally, to the death to hang onto their goods. For these traders, doing business is a matter of life and death. Most of them are women, which makes them even scarier to the male police. There is not enough food available from the government to live on, so income from trading, or some other additional job, is essential to buy food in the market. The cops know these traders are doing business to survive, and don't want get into a brawl with someone who has nothing to lose.

As the situation grows more desperate in the north, enthusiasm for reunification declines in the south. This is mostly matter of age. Older South Koreans are more likely to still approve reunification (and the huge cost to South Korea). But for younger South Koreans, about half no longer see a united Korea (with South Korea paying the huge cost) a desirable goal.

South Korean intelligence has concluded that the North Korean armed forces are no longer in any shape to go to war. This was discovered a year ago, when North Korean artillery fired on a South Korean island.

What the South Korean intel analysts were particularly amazed by was the poor performance of the North Korean forces during this hasty mobilization. Satellite video and electronic eavesdropping showed lots of chaos and sloppiness. Fuel and other shortages prevented many vehicles, aircraft and ships from moving, and those that did move did so slowly and often unsure of what to do next.

This sorry state of affairs apparently will make the northerners even more reluctant to give up their nuclear weapons.

S. Korea keeps pressure on N. Korea to accept conditions for 6-party talks

North Korea must demonstrate its true intention to keep its promise to denuclearize when it meets with the United States next week, before a resumption of the stalled six-nation nuclear talks can take place, South Korea's foreign minister said Friday.

Good luck with that.

N. Korea cuts food rations by two-thirds: UN

North Korea has slashed food rations by two-thirds and desperately needs foreign aid to feed millions of people, the UN humanitarian chief said Friday after visiting the communist state.

Donations to United Nations programmes have dwindled because of international irritation at the impoverished North's missile and nuclear push.

UN agencies have said that some six million people in the country urgently need food but a $73 million appeal for North Korea has only been 34 percent funded this year.

Well guess what UN, just like in the 90s, the NKorean regime is gonna take all the food for themselves. NKorea have millions of tons of food hidden in their ``stash for war``. They could use that. But of course they won't. The dictatorship will rather see a million people die than to use that.
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Philippines :
US, Filipino marines hold drill near disputed area

More than 200 U.S. and Filipino marines have staged an amphibious assault on a beach as part of a combat drill near a South China Sea shoal disputed by China and the Philippines.

Really?

SKorea :
U.S. plans to maintain size of forces in S. Korea despite budget cuts: source

The U.S. plans to maintain the current size of its forces in South Korea at about 28,500 troops despite pending cuts to defense budgets, a high-ranking government source in Seoul said Monday.

Except if Ron Paul gets elected.
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Pakistan :
We Are Serious This Time, Really We Are

American leaders are dismayed as they keep encountering Pakistani politicians and military officials who believe all their troubles are caused by Indian, American and Israeli conspiracies.

The U.S. constantly points to the continuing presence of Islamic terror groups in Pakistani sanctuaries. That is difficult for the Pakistanis to deny. The major danger here is that if a big attack is made in the United States, and tracked back to a Pakistani sanctuary, this could trigger a public call for war with Pakistan. Even many senior Pakistanis recognize this danger and try to control the terrorists they host. This precarious situation won't go away as long as the terrorist sanctuaries (mainly North Waziristan and Quetta) are openly protected by Pakistani leaders. But without admitting anything to the Americans, Pakistan has apparently ordered some Haqqani personnel and bases out of North Waziristan.

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Japan :
China Closes In On Japan

The Japanese Air Force broke a record this year. From April to September, their fighters scrambled 83 times to intercept Chinese aircraft. This was the largest number of such intercepts in a six month period. It was three times the interceptions of Chinese aircraft in the same period last year. Total interception sorties were only up 17 percent this year. About half of those interceptions were for Russian aircraft, as it has been for most of the last decade. But sorties for Russian aircraft were down about 30 percent this year. The Japanese believe that cause of this shift is more electronic and maritime patrol aircraft available to the Chinese, and a desire to gather as much information as possible about the strongest potential foe in the area.

A similar situation is developing (with China) over the Senkaku Islands near Okinawa. China and Japan both claim these uninhabited islets, which are 167 kilometers northeast of Taiwan and 426 kilometers southeast of Japan's Okinawa and have a total area of 6.3 square kilometers. Taiwan also claims the Senkakus, which were discovered by Chinese fishermen in the 16th century, and taken over by Japan in 1879. They are valuable now because of the 380 kilometer economic zone nations can claim in their coastal waters. This includes fishing and possible underwater oil and gas fields.

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Indonesia :
Panetta backs developing military ties with Indonesia

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said Sunday that Washington will continue to develop military ties with Indonesia but keep a watchful eye on rights abuses, after over a decade of suspended cooperation.

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China :
Behind The Iron Mask In China

Western analysts have two, quite different, opinions of Chinese military power. The more popular analysis is that most Chinese military developments of late have displayed a keen ability to design and build very modern weapons.

Then there's the other view, usually obtained over drinks with Chinese, Japanese, South Korean or Taiwanese businessmen. All of these guys have experience with Chinese industry, and often some direct knowledge of military industries. All tell the same story. Chinese military procurement is as corrupt as they come, and the wonder weapons are much more impressive on paper than they are in reality. Western military people, especially those in the navy (who see their Chinese counterparts up close), or military intelligence (who collect all sorts of inside information on the Chinese armed forces) also tell the same story. The bottom line is that the Chinese military is much less than it appears to be, and it's been that way for a long time.

It's all about the culture of corruption that has long been present in China. Too many Chinese take it as a given that, if you get a government job, you have a license to steal. In the military, this means weapons are built in substandard ways, and equipment is not properly maintained.

The corruption in the military has been the main reason why all the money spent on the military in the last decade has not had a bigger impact on Chinese combat capabilities. Taiwan apparently realizes that corruption in the Chinese military is the best way to protect Taiwan from invasion. Some corruption deals in the Chinese military have involved Taiwanese interests making payoffs. This may not be strictly business, but rather another example of the ancient Chinese practice of weakening your military opponent with bribes instead of battles.

The Chinese government is cracking down on the corruption, not for military reasons, but to forestall a rebellion against Communist Party rule. Opinion surveys and reports from the security services indicate a major irritant for the Chinese people is the growing corruption among Communist Party officials who dominate the government bureaucracy.

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Russia :
No missile defense cooperation without guarantees – Lavrov

Moscow will not cooperate with NATO on a joint European missile defense network until it receives legally binding guarantees that this network will not be targeted against Russia, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.

Good luck with that.

Pakistan :

Pakistan forces Indian helicopter to land for allegedly violating airspace; crew taken into custody - AP

Update: Indian military helicopter was 'deep' in Pakistani airspace near city of Skardu when forced to land, army official in Islamabad says

Four indian officers that was in the chopper is arrested by Pakistan Army

#Indian army helicopter was a Cheetah chopper that landed in #Skardu due to bad weather: Army sources

Pakistan allows insurgent fire on US troops: general

Pakistani forces are allowing insurgents to launch rocket and mortar attacks on US troops across the border in Afghanistan and may be collaborating with the militants, a US general said Thursday.

Duh?

China seeks bases in Pak's tribal region

China has expressed an interest in setting up military bases in Pakistan's volatile tribal area or the northern areas close to the restive Chinese province of Xinjiang, to counter the activities of extremists, according to a media report today. China wants to contain the growing terrorist activities of Chinese rebels of the Al Qaida-linked East Turkestan Islamic Movement, The News daily quoted diplomatic sources as saying. The Chinese rebels want an independent Islamic state and are reportedly being trained in Pakistan's tribal areas. China's wish to have a military presence in Pakistan was discussed at length by the political and military leadership of both countries in recent months as Beijing has become more concerned about the Pakistans tribal belt serving as a haven for radicals, the report said.

That would be quite dangerous with the US doing drone strikes...
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South Korea :

The South Korean military on Friday conducted a large-scale exercise on a volatile border island off the west coast as the South and the U.S. reaffirmed their commitment to their joint defense against North Korea.

On the island, the South Korean forces trained under simulated battle conditions in which North Korea violated the Northern Limit Line (NLL), a de facto maritime border, and the South responded by firing its K-9 self-propelled howitzer.

S. Korea, U.S. agree to complete joint operational plan against N. Korea this year

Defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. on Friday agreed to complete a joint operational plan this year to counter potential provocations by North Korea at their annual bilateral security meeting in Seoul.

Panetta says U.S. won't cut troops in S. Korea

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday that Washington will not cut its troops in South Korea, reassuring the ally against the threat of provocations by North Korea despite intense budget woes at home.

Panetta: U.S. will boost presence against NKorea

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday called North Korea a "serious threat" and told U.S. troops that the Pentagon will strengthen its presence in this region to guard against North Korean provocations.

Except he didn't say that. He said the US isn't going anywhere. Not adding troops in SKorea. The US will boost their pacific fleet, but it's to counter China, not NKorea.

S.Korean leader stresses Chinese role

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak on Wednesday called for China to play a peace broker role, amid a flurry of diplomacy to revive long-stalled talks on North Korea's nuclear programme.

"I hope China will continue to play an important role in denuclearising the Korean peninsula and leading North Korea to reform and openness," Lee said at talks with Chinese vice premier Li Keqiang.

Since it's their biggest trading partner and only ally, indeed.

Panetta pledges 'nuclear umbrella' for S.Korea

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta pledged Wednesday to preserve a "nuclear umbrella" protecting close ally South Korea, a day after the US held talks with Seoul's hostile neighbour North Korea.

The US withdrew atomic weapons from the South almost 20 years ago but guarantees to provide a nuclear deterrent to any nuclear attack on it.

But the only way the US nukes NKorea is by using tactical nukes, using ICBM could lead to nuclear war and using SLBM is still dangerous. So the nuclear umbrella is quite just for show.

JCS Chief Nominee: “NK Will Pay for any Provocations”

Nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Jung Seung-jo said if North Korea commits any provocations, he would order a stern retaliation and make them retreat, making the North pay a bitter price for its action.

Agressive the nominee...will he be confirmed?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia :
Russia shows little interest in new US missile offer: report

Washington, keen to allay Moscow's fears over its planned missile defence system, has invited Russians to visit its Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and participate in tests, a newspaper said on Thursday.

Citing sources, the Kommersant broadsheet said Russia was sceptical about the possible results of US proposal and was in no hurry to accept the offer.

Russian Shipyards Refuse To Deliver

Russian shipyards are refusing to build submarines for the Russian Navy. This is the result of the government trying to rein in rapidly rising prices charged for military equipment. Actually, this is part of a larger battle against corruption, or suspected corruption, in Russian defense procurement. The situation has put the Defense Ministry in a difficult position.

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov is caught between conflicting orders. President Dmitry Medvedev is trying to reduce corruption in the military, and has ordered Serdyukov to make it happen. But in doing that, Serdyukov has withheld payment to many military suppliers, because these firms refuse to explain why prices have suddenly increased. That has created problems with Medvedev, who is also demanding that defense industries produce the quantities of weapons agreed on, and according to promised delivery dates. That will not happen as long as Serdyukov is putting contracts on hold to deal with corrupt practices.

Interesting... nothing like that will ever happen in the US... the corruption will continue.

Russian submarine test-fires Bulava missile successfully

Russian Navy successfully test-fired an experimental Bulava (SS-N-X-30) intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday from its Yury Dolgoruky submarine in the White Sea, the Defense Ministry said.

Finally some successful launches.

U.S. has 'nuclear superiority' over Russia

Data published by the U.S. Department of State on Tuesday indicates that the United States has some 300 more deployed nuclear weapons than Russia.

According to New START Treaty Aggregate Numbers of Strategic Offensive Arms facts sheet, posted on the State Department’s website, the United States has 822 deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers, while Russia has 516.

Russia is also at a disadvantage in the number of warheads on deployed carriers – 1,566 warheads against 1,790 American warheads.

And the US have conventionnal superiority too.

Ukraine says will let Russia modernize Black Sea Fleet

Ukraine will allow Russia to modernize its Black Sea Fleet, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhaylo Yezhel said on Tuesday.

Talks on the details of the deal are ongoing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NKorea :
No decision taken on next steps in talks with N. Korea: Campbell

Kurt Campbell, assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said Thursday that no decision has been made on the next steps in talks with North Korea over its nuclear programs, two days after the sides met in Geneva for a second round of discussions on the issue.

"I think it would be fair to say that we did make some progress," Campbell told reporters in Seoul during a brief visit at the end of an Asia tour. "There were no breakthroughs. There is a substantial amount of work that needs to be done. No decisions have been taken about next steps."

Kim Jong-un Now Simply Known as 'General'

North Korea's state-controlled media on Tuesday unanimously started referring to leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir Jong-un as "general."

The simplification to "general" suggests that his status is gradually becoming more secure.

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China :
Hackers Interfered With 2 US Government Satellites

Hackers interfered with two U.S. government satellites four separate times in recent years, according to a congressional commission report to be released next month.

Of course China is suspected..

China Steps Up

The Chinese military is becoming more international. In the last year, there have been 44 joint training operations with foreign troops. There are nearly 20,000 Chinese troops involved in overseas peacekeeping missions for the UN. A Chinese Navy hospital ship is making a world tour of places that are in need of modern medical care. China is increasingly one of the first nations to fly in emergency aid, often using military transport, to help with natural disasters throughout Asia.

Chinese State Press Belligerent Over Detention of Fishermen

An official Chinese newspaper on Tuesday sounded a belligerent note in a dispute over illegal fishing by Chinese trawlers in Korean waters, warning that unless regional neighbors back down they must "prepare for the sounds of cannons."

Warmongering by Chinese press... surprise surprise.. not.

Deny Everything And Hope For The Best

The Japanese parliament revealed that their computer network has been under attack, over the last few months, by hackers based in China. This is only the latest of a growing number of attacks on government networks in Japan, Taiwan and other East Asian nations, from computers in China. The Chinese government denies any involvement, but the evidence is piling up that there are links between the attackers and the Chinese government. As more and more security experts concentrate on these espionage efforts coming out of China, they detect patterns. One of them is what appears to be some groups of hackers consistently work with specific tech-dependent companies or branches of the government. This is believed part of a government program to encourage companies to start their own "cyber militias", with government support and approval. As a result of all this networked based espionage (and theft of commercial, as well as military technology secrets) there more talk of war, Cyber War that is, and how victims of these attacks can and should respond. This is a unique situation, because there is a lot more intellectual property (technology, and information in general) to steal (hundreds of billions of dollars' worth), and China is stealing it. The Chinese denials are wearing thin, and anger is growing. China seems content to deny everything and hope for the best.

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Taiwan :
China welcomes Taiwan leader's peace plan

China on Wednesday welcomed a proposal by Taiwan's president for a peace treaty, but dismissed calls by the island's opposition for a referendum on political talks as a "stunt".

"I hope both sides of the Strait will strengthen communications on this and build on mutual trust to gradually create conditions (for such a treaty)," he said.

Ma has repeatedly sought to reassure voters in recent days, emphasising it would only be signed if it were approved in a referendum.

However, when the opposition Democratic Progressive Party submitted a proposal to subject any political talks with China to a referendum, Ma's ruling Nationalists prevented it from being added to the parliamentary agenda.

Good old partisanship.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japan :
Cyber attacks hit Japan diplomatic missions

Computers at several of Japan's overseas diplomatic missions have been hit by cyber attacks, a report said Wednesday, just a day after it was revealed the country's parliament had been targeted.

Computers at embassies and consulates in nine countries were infected with viruses in the summer, the Yomiuri Shimbun said, citing unnamed sources.

An official for the foreign ministry said no classified information had been stolen and there appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary about the viruses.

Japan parliament hit by China-based cyberattack

Computers in Japan's lower house of parliament were hit by cyberattacks from a server based in China that left information exposed for at least a month, a report said Tuesday.

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Philippines :
Philippines launches air attack on rebels

Thousands of people have fled fighting between soldiers and rebels, a battle that included a military air attack -- the first such assault in three years -- in the southern Philippines.

Two OV-10 attack planes bombed a remote village on the edge of Payao town, Zamboanga Sibugay province, on Mindanao island, where Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels have been entrenched since last week, Philippine army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said.

So MILF are finally getting their butts pounded.

I don't see a North Korean provocation... not in the near future anyway. It depends on 3 things ...
- Ongoing talks
- Food aid
- Taiwanese elections in January

N. Korea denounces military exercises in S. Korea as rehearsal for invasion

North Korea on Saturday denounced large-scale military exercises under way in South Korea as a "very dangerous preliminary war for invasion," demanding the South halt the drills immediately or face "catastrophic consequences."

The exercises "are a very dangerous preliminary war for invasion of the DPRK (North Korea) as they may go over to an actual war anytime," the North's Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in an "information bulletin" carried by Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency.

Riiiiiiiight.

Pakistan :
Pakistan's nuclear weapons vulnerable to theft: report

Pakistan has begun moving its nuclear weapons in low-security vans on congested roads to hide them from US spy agencies, making the weapons more vulnerable to theft by Islamist militants, two US magazines reported Friday.

But instead of transporting the nuclear parts in armored, well-defended convoys, the atomic bombs "capable of destroying entire cities are transported in delivery vans on congested and dangerous roads," according to the report.

Brilliant.

US reins in drones over diplomatic concerns: report

The US spy agency has quietly tightened its rules on drone strikes in Pakistan over concerns about their impact on tense relations with Islamabad, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Well good.
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Australia :
Australia moves to ratify defense treaty

The introduction of a bill in Parliament moves Australia a step closer to cutting red tape surrounding procurement from U.S. defense businesses.

Once implemented, the treaty will create a framework for trade between Australia and the United States for certain defense equipment, technologies and services without the need for U.S. or Australian export licenses.

Call for Australia, US security pact with India

Australia and the United States should form a three-way security dialogue with India, in part to help counter any naval aggression from China, a paper released Friday said.

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China :
China hits out at US cyber spying accusations

Beijing on Friday hit out at a US intelligence agency report accusing the Chinese of extensive cyber spying, saying it was unprofessional and irresponsible.

Now that's funny. It's not only the US saying this. Russia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, etc... everybody is saying it.

Key US senators warn China on military parts

Key US senators warn China on military parts

Gee they are late to the game. Like at least 6 months late.

'Nervous' China may attack India by 2012

A leading defence expert has projected that China will attack India by 2012 to divert the attention of its own people from "unprecedented" internal dissent, growing unemployment and financial problems that are threatening the hold of Communists in that country. "China will launch an attack on India before 2012. There are multiple reasons for a desperate Beijing to teach India the final lesson, thereby ensuring Chinese supremacy in Asia in this century," Bharat Verma, Editor of the Indian Defence Review, has said.

Could be... but hopefully not.

Explosions rock China, seven killed, 200 injured

At least seven people were killed, about 200 others injured and several buildings destroyed when two explosives-laden vehicles detonated in southwest China on Tuesday, local officials said.

The accident happened at about 11:30 am (9 am IST), when two cargo trucks loaded with about 70 metric tonnes of explosives exploded in front of a motor vehicle testing station in the city of Fuquan, about 100 km from Guizhou's capital of Guiyang, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Funny how they say ``accident``... anyway, never heard anything about that in the news.

Senior PLA official holds talks with Nepalese Army Chief

Gurung, who is in China for an official visit, stressed that Nepal views China as a "friend for all time."

"Nepal has always adhered to the one-China policy and will never allow any force to make use of the Nepalese territory to engage in anti-China activities," Gurung said.

He said the two countries' militaries have cooperated well in recent years and vowed to work with China to continuously enhance Nepal-China relations.

India probably doesn't like that.

China And The Economic Espionage Act of 1996

On October 18th, Chinese-born Kexue Huang pled guilty in an American court to stealing trade secrets from his employers (Dow Chemical Company and Cargill) and sending them to China and Germany. This was the eighth time someone was charged under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, a law which made it a federal criminal offense to steal trade secrets. Most of these prosecutions have involved China.

Chinese Remote Weapons Stations

A Chinese firm is marketing a RWS (Remote Weapon Stations). This one is similar to the light (74 kg/163 pounds) model used by the U.S. Army. The Chinese RWS is apparently not meant for vehicle use, but for facility or perimeter security. The Chinese RWS is shown mounting a light (5.8mm) machine-gun and touted for "counter-terror" missions. China is playing catch-up in this area, as Western nations have been developing RWS for decades. The Chinese have developed a vehicle mounted RWS, but is described as still in development. This RWS is armed with a 12.7mm machine-gun and two anti-aircraft missiles.

No Other Nation Has Anything Like It

China continues to expand its already enormous Internet Army. The latest effort is ordering companies to organize their Internet savvy employees into a cyber-militia, and inspire these geeks to find ways to protect the firm's networks.

Less publicized is the training given to some of these company militias on how to carry out Internet based espionage.

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Philippines :
Not Our Fault, Go Away

The government has warned MILF leaders that if outlaw MILF groups (like BILF) are not stopped from launching more attacks in the south, the army and police will go in and take control of the situation (and remote bits of territory MILF claims as its own.) If this leads to more clashes with MILF gunmen, so be it. But either MILF deals with its outlaws or the government will. MILF does not punish these unruly factions, because to do so could trigger a civil war within the Islamic separatist organization. This would be more destructive to MILF than a large scale army offensive. So far, president Aquino has resisted calls for a major offensive against MILF, but this is becoming more difficult with each MILF renegade group attacking Christians in the south.

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Vietnam :
Vietnam Gets The KGB Specials

Vietnam has received the last two of four Svetlyak class patrol boats from Russia. Vietnam received the first two of them nine years ago.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NKorea :
Russia Expects N.Korea to Collapse by 2020

The Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Russia's foremost national policy think tank, takes the imminent collapse of the North Korean regime as a given in a special report published recently. IMEMO concludes that Korean reunification led by South Korea coincides with Russia's national interests.

The 480-page special report obtained by the Chosun Ilbo has five pages referring to the Korean Peninsula. It says the regime's collapse is "accelerating" and that although reunification may not be fully achieved, the two Koreas will take "actual steps" toward reunification in the next two decades.

IMEMO believes the 2012-2020 transfer of power from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to his son Jong-un will trigger the collapse of the North. The leadership crisis will lead to a power struggle between "bureaucrats" with foreign business connections and "military and security officials" with no outside links, the report said.

Then over the following decade, a provisional North Korean government would be established under the aegis of the international community so that the North comes under South Korean control, while the North's military will be disarmed and modernization get underway, the report forecast.

WFP suggests S. Korea, U.S. resume food aid to N. Korea in small amounts: former chief

- The World Food Program (WFP) believes South Korea and the United States should resume food aid to North Korea by first offering a small amount and monitoring its fair distribution, a former chief of the U.N. agency said Friday, refuting claims that the aid does not reach its intended beneficiaries.

Seoul seeks 'stable dialogue channel' with Pyongyang: minister

South Korea wants to establish a "stable dialogue channel" with North Korea that won't be swayed by recurring tensions on the peninsula, Seoul's top policymaker on the communist neighbor said Thursday.

U.S. House panel OKs bill on tougher sanctions on N. Korea

A U.S. House committee has approved a bill on toughening sanctions against North Korea, Iran and Syria with all three accused of being involved in proliferation activities, congressional sources said Thursday.

N. Korea's uranium program close to being operational: source

North Korea is close to being able to produce a small number of nuclear weapons per year through its uranium enrichment program (UEP) at the country's main nuclear plant, a senior South Korean official claimed Monday.

Authorities deny market rumors suggesting death of N. Korean leader

South Korea has no intelligence suggesting the death of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il, intelligence authorities said Tuesday, discrediting stock market rumors that hit the key index.

Aw.

This Cannot Be Good

Senior officials of the secret police (NSA, National Security Agency) have been arrested for taking bribes to enable people to escape to China. This is unprecedented, as the NSA is considered the ultimate guardian of the North Korean government.

Neat.

N. Korea in 'not much need' of fresh aid: EU legislator

The European Union has no immediate plan to offer more food aid to North Korea, because the communist country can expect to ease its chronic food shortages with the fall harvest, an EU lawmaker said Thursday after a trip to the North.

U.S. House panel OKs bill on tougher sanctions on N. Korea

A U.S. House committee has approved a bill on toughening sanctions against North Korea, Iran and Syria with all three accused of being involved in proliferation activities, congressional sources said Thursday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taiwan :
Taiwan Hawkeye aircraft head for US upgrading

Taiwan has sent two early warning aircraft for upgrading in the United States and will send two more, media and the air force said Tuesday, as part of an arms deal that upset US ties with Beijing.

Should be useful.

New pro-China candidate declares for Taiwan presidency

The leader of one of Taiwan's smaller pro-China parties hopes to run in the January presidential election in a move that could take votes away from incumbent Ma Ying-jeou and potentially open the door to an opposition victory.

If he gets enough votes, nationalists will win...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Korea :
U.S. Suspects Korea of Stealing Weapons Technology

Korean and U.S. military officers earlier this year investigated suspicions by the U.S. government that Korea illegally disassembled F-15K fighter jet equipment for low-altitude night penetration attacks.

The U.S. suspects this was done to steal the technology, since Korea is an aspiring player in the global arms market.

The Tiger Eye is a device installed under the F-15K's fuselage that helps the jet fly at a low altitude to avoid detection by enemy radar systems and launch precision attacks with precision-guided munitions at night and in bad weather. It consists of navigation systems and targeting pod devices.

Really South Korea? Stealing from your ally?

S.Korea, Russia Agree to Push Gas Pipeline Through N.Korea

President Lee Myung-bak and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday said they will push ahead with a project to build a gas pipeline linking the two countries via North Korea. The two met in St. Petersburg.

Now that's just stupid...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
India :
US-India military exercises have grown dramatically: Pentagon

Commensurate with the growing Indo-US military-to-military ties, joint exercises between the two forces too have grown dramatically, with as many as 56 cooperative events in 2011, more than India has conducted with any other country, a Pentagon report has said.

And it's gonna increase...

India lags far behind Chinese preparedness

Faced with an aggressive China across the Himalayas, India has been steadily ramping up its defences along the eastern fringes of the Ladakh plateau that forms the contentious Line of Actual Control (LAC) with its neighbour.

Recent efforts by India include creation of roads and airfields besides setting up top-of-the-line surveillance equipment like radars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and long-range observation and reconnaissance systems (LORROS). There are hundreds of trained Army personnel - serving and retired - deployed to watch any suspicious movement. One of the concerns is transgression by the Chinese into Ladakh on account of “differing perceptions” of the LAC.

New Delhi’s efforts are, however, languid when compared with Beijing’s blistering pace. China started setting up its military posts along this segment of the LAC in 2008 and has marched ahead. It has built metalled roads right till the LAC on its side, created six new airfields in Xinjiang and western Tibet coupled with massive accommodations for its Army’s comfort. From Demchok, the Chinese fortifications, including a glass and concrete watchtower, are an impressive sight.

Ladakh is a contested area in eastern India... China says it's part of Tibet so it's theirs. India disagrees of course.

The Chinese attitude on Ladakh :
China envoy tells journalists to 'shut up' on AP

Chinese Ambassador to India on Thursday told journalists to 'shut up' when questioned about map showing Ladakh and Arunachal as part of China.

China could do Kargil on India, warns IDSA

China could do a Kargil on India "to teach India a lesson", warned strategic affairs think-tank Insitute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), adding it could be a "limited war".

The Kargil hostilities were triggered by infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants into positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) in 1999.

Ahmed warns at a higher level, China could indulge in a "territorial grab" by entering an area such as Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

Indeed.

Russia loses $600 mln Indian attack helicopter tender

Russian Mi-28N Night Hunter has lost a tender on the delivery of 22 attack helicopters to the Indian military in strong competition with the American AH-64D Apache, an Indian Defense Ministry source said on Tuesday.

India getting apaches... real good stuff.

India, Japan to hold first joint naval drill in 2012
China sure won't be pleased...

Indian army to recruit one lakh soldiers for China border
That's 100 000 soldiers.

US ready to sell F-35 fighter to India: Pentagon

The United States would be prepared to sell India the new F-35 fighter jet, the Pentagon said Wednesday, after New Delhi rejected a US offer of older aircraft in a major competition this year.

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Russia :
Russian Generals Resist Buying Russian

The Russian effort to rebuild its military, while also reviving the Russian defense industry, is running into some major problems. The biggest one is price. Most Russian defense firms, survivors of the post-Cold War slump, cannot build weapons at a price the Russian military wants to pay. This is because most of these firms have survived on export sales, where more can be charged. This problem is most acute with big-ticket items like tanks, nuclear submarines and combat helicopters. Moreover, Russia exported its latest tanks largely as licensing deals, for manufacture overseas (mainly in India). Nuclear submarine manufacturing was kept on life-support, barely functioning, for nearly two decades. Helicopter gunships got few export sales, and are expensive. The cost of Russian weapons, sold to the Russian military, is complicated by two other problems. One issue is that consolidation since the 1990s has left, in many cases, a single manufacturer for many weapon types. Another issue is corruption in Russian industry, government and the military. This drives prices up, and is very resistant to anti-corruption effort. All this has resulted in the Russian military increasingly calling for the purchase of more foreign weapons. This is considered politically unacceptable. Some purchases have been allowed, but not nearly as much as the generals and admirals want.

Now that's funny.

reply to post by Vitchilo

Call for Australia, US security pact with India Australia and the United States should form a three-way security dialogue with India, in part to help counter any naval aggression from China, a paper released Friday said.

So who will protect us from India?

According to a said New Map, China has already sorted out who will protect India

news.in.msn.com...

reply to post by steaming

India, US and Japan would live to launch a joint attack and they'd fully expect Australia's support - bases.
I'd rather we steer well clear of it all.

Originally posted by squandered
reply to post by Vitchilo

 

Call for Australia, US security pact with India Australia and the United States should form a three-way security dialogue with India, in part to help counter any naval aggression from China, a paper released Friday said.

So who will protect us from India?

India is an ``ally``. For now anyways...

India :
India Forms A Fleet Of Fast Interception Craft

India is forming a high-speed patrol force to guard coastal waters near major ports. It has ordered 15 high-speed (up to 80 kilometers an hour) FIC (Fast Interception Craft) patrol boats from a French firm, for delivery next year, and another 80 of the same design from a Sri Lankan ship yard for delivery over the next few years.

Sure will be useful...
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Pakistan :
Growing voices against armed struggle in Pakistan

Pakistan’s largest and an influential relgio-political party, Jamiat-e-Ulma Islam-F (JUI-F), nullified an armed resistance inside the country. In a recently held grand conference in Peshawar, provincial capital of Pakistan’s Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province, commemorating the party’s founder and former head Mulana Mufti Mehmud, the party current chief and Mufti’s eldest son, Mulana Fazal-u-Rehman termed an armed resistance in Pakistan as unlawful and against the essence of Islamic teachings. “Instead of supporting armed struggle for fulfilling demands including enforcing Islamic law (in Pakistan), we are supporting non-violence movement,” Fazal said.

Very good news.

And They Have Nukes

Indian, and many Western intelligence analysts, believes that most Pakistani officers are anti-American and favorable to Islamic radicals. This despite the fact that many of these same Islamic radicals are trying to destroy the Pakistani government, along with the armed forces. The evidence for this is obvious for anyone who checks out the Pakistani media, and talks to a few Pakistani officers. The CIA and American military has been doing that a lot over the last decade, but still have a hard time convincing the politicians back home that our main ally is a major fan of the enemy. The Pakistani military likes Islamic terrorism because it was the military that created most of the Islamic terror groups in the region (including the Taliban) and are unwilling to admit that this was a mistake.

Yep.

US drone strikes fail to mobilise Pakistan masses

Campaigners condemn US drone strikes in Pakistan as extra-judicial assassinations that kill hundreds of civilians, but popular protests against them are conspicuous by their rarity.

Opinion polls suggest barely nine percent of the Pakistani public support the strikes, and anti-Americanism is rife in the country of 180 million people, a key ally of Washington in the war on terror.

Not a big surprise since the Pakistani people are being blown up by those extremists too...

Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable stealth missile

Pakistan said it had successfully test-fired Friday a stealth cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The military said the "Hatf VII" missile had a range of 700 kilometres (438 miles) and was a "low-flying, terrain-hugging missile with high manoeuvrability, pin-point accuracy and radar avoidance features".

Living Large Off The Mythical Threat

Pakistani generals continue to refuse to clear terrorists out of their last sanctuary; North Waziristan. Meanwhile, the Pakistanis demand more American and Afghan efforts against Pakistani Taliban based in Afghanistan. Pakistani troops have chased the Taliban out of most of the tribal territories (except for North Waziristan), forcing some of these terrorists to move across the border.

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NKorea :
N. Korean heir seen frequently at economic, foreign events

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's heir apparent has been seen expanding the realm of his public activities in recent months, according to reports from the North's news media monitored in Seoul.

Getting closer to power.

N. Korea strengthens pro-regime propaganda after Gadhafi's death

North Korea is stepping up propaganda aimed at young citizens in an effort to preempt a revolt similar to the one that recently killed Libya's longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi, sources familiar with the regime said Monday.

Won't work.
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Russia :
Russia successfully tests new long-range missile

Russia on Friday successfully test fired its nuclear-capable Bulava ballistic missile in the hope of making it into the backbone of a more streamlined but effective new nuclear force.

The latest Russian missile can travel at least 8,000 kilometres and is equipped to carry multiple warheads that can each maneuver to hit separate targets.

Tu-160 Dying From Spares Shortage

Russian efforts to maintain its revived fleet of Tu-160 long-range bombers has come up short because the Russian Air Force cannot order enough Tu-160 engines to keep the engine factory going.

Russia Revives Wet Work

During the Cold War, Russia (then the Soviet Union) was infamous for using assassins overseas to kill people, often exiled Russians, who were considered a threat. That sort of thing stopped, for a while, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. But in the last decade, the Russian "wet work" (assassination) teams are back. This is considered an intelligence operation, as it is often used to eliminate those supplying foreigners with damaging information about Russia.

The Incredible Shrinking Balance Of Terror

Two decades of budget cuts and disarmament treaties have changed the "balance of terror" between the United States and the Soviet Union (now Russia). Back in 1991, the U.S. had 1,947 delivery systems (ICBM, SLBMs and bombers) and 9,745 nuclear warheads. The Soviet Union had 2,483 delivery systems and 11,159 nuclear warheads.

Twenty years later, the U.S. has 822 delivery systems and 1,790 warheads. Russia has 516 delivery systems and 1,566 nuclear warheads.

Russian foreign minister targets NATO missile shield

Russia could take steps of "a technically military nature" if its objections to NATO's planned missile defence system are not heeded, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a Serbian daily Tuesday.

Which they have been warning for years now. A few months ago, they gave a deadline... which was around march 2012.

Russia to build up submarine task force along Northern Sea Route

Russia will increase its submarine task force in the area around the Northern Sea Route, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

"We will, of course, be building up our [submarine] task force, ensuring the country's security in the northern region," he said.

JASSM Deployed To Annoy Russia

The U.S. has agreed to sell Finland 72 AGM-158 JASSM missiles. A similar request was refused four years ago. The missile will be used by Finland's 62 F-18C/D fighters. Finland will pay $3.55 million per missile, but this will include training, maintenance and support. The earlier request was blocked by U.S. diplomats, for reasons that were never specified (but apparently to appease Russia).

The even longer range JASSM cost $500,000 (the 400 kilometers version) to $930,000 (the 900 kilometer JASSM ER) each.

The AGM-158 JASSM missiles are 1,045 kg (2,300 pound) weapons that are basically 455 kg (1,000 pound) JDAMS (GPS guided bombs) with a motor added. JASSM was designed to go after enemy air defense systems, or targets deep in heavily defended (against air attack) enemy territory. The air force and navy planned to buy over 5,000 JASSM, but there has been opposition in the military and in Congress. The missiles are ten times more expensive than a JADM bomb of the same weight. But the aviators make the argument that many aircraft and pilots would be lost if the air defenses of a nation like, perhaps China, were attacked without using JASSM.

That stuff is obviously aimed at Russia...
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Myanmar :
The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss

A year ago, elections were held for the first time in two decades. The voting was rigged, but a lot of people with no connection to the military junta got elected. Most of the generals in the junta retired, and no one stepped forward to take their place. Although a retired general was elected to run the country, most new government leaders were civilians. But many were people who worked for the previous military government. To the surprise of many observers, the new government instituted a lot of reforms. But Burma remained a police state, with the same people controlling the economy and making deals largely because of government support. Apparently the generals concluded that their half century old dictatorship was crumbling (which it was) and that last year's elections and subsequent reforms are an effort to achieve a "soft landing" (and avoid prosecution).

Al-Qaeda 'brand' growing stronger in North Africa

Al-Qaeda's local franchises in North Africa are gaining strength, and Canada should help the region combat the growing threat with military support, retired diplomat Robert Fowler said Tuesday.

"The number of attacks is larger and their reach is longer and they seem to be messing with more countries," Fowler said in an interview after the speech.

Al-Qaeda's focus on countries in turmoil is one reason why he is so concerned about Libya, Fowler added. Its interim government, tasked with implementing democracy since dictator Moammar Gadhafi was brought down and killed, is struggling to secure massive amounts of weapons.

Libya and its neighbours are "awash in weapons" and the risk of them falling into the wrong hands is high, he said.

"I am extremely worried by the fact that a staggering quantity of munitions — and some of them very sophisticated — have gone astray. And there are a lot of bad guys in the region who will use those weapons and create turmoil which is the growth medium that al-Qaeda favours, turmoil and chaos," Fowler said. "And therefore I think it behooves Canada … that we and our friends and allies care and help them deal with such threats."

Crisis in Zefra, anyone????

Seriously, take a look at the "Crisis in Zefra" handbook produced by the Canadian forces. It details futuristic war strategies for fighting urban battles in African cities against Islamic insurgencies. The book claims that it is a "work of fiction" and should not be quoted, but why the hell would they produce such an elaborate "work of fiction"? Because it isn't. Our government knew what it was getting into before we went into Afghanistan. We'll be going into Africa to "liberate" it within the coming decades from the very same "rebels" that we just bolstered in Libya.

I can't believe that my country has resolved to this...

reply to post by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi


Thanks for posting that... and what this diplomat is saying is total garbage. Screw Harper and his warmongers.

Any self-respecting Canadian don't want war. Most Canadians were against the Iraq war. Most Canadians are against the Afghan war.

CANADIANS HATE WAR. Only Harper and his warmongers have not understood that. Harper needs a boot up his butt real fast if he starts sending troops anywhere.

Originally posted by Vitchilo
reply to post by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi

 

Thanks for posting that... and what this diplomat is saying is total garbage. Screw Harper and his warmongers.

Any self-respecting Canadian don't want war. Most Canadians were against the Iraq war. Most Canadians are against the Afghan war.

CANADIANS HATE WAR. Only Harper and his warmongers have not understood that. Harper needs a boot up his butt real fast if he starts sending troops anywhere.

I think this very point is what Harper knows. Canadians do hate war... but morally, Canadians feel like they must intervene in humanitarian crises, especially if "Responsibility to Protect" is invoked.

This is why we don't have peacekeepers anymore. That was legitimate humanitarian support by our forces to the people that needed it, but in the end it benefitted only the victims of conflict, not corporations, military alliances or proxy politics.

And when Canadians are told that we will be sending combat forces to fight for humanitarian missions, the airheads eat it right up because they don't realize that peacekeeping and combat operations are two very different things.