South East Asia Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Re: ASEAN military news

During this time china talks but does not seem to do anything about. I wonder if they even have a realistic plan to break or at least minimize the efficiency of this strategy.

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I've said it before: China's government is a coward in foreign policy. They bluster and threaten, but do nothing at all to back up their words. Case in point: the Libyan civil war of last year. China opposed foreign intervention, and had a golden opportunity to actually stop it with their UN Security Council veto, but they abstained. How can anyone take their point-of-view seriously? How can any of their allies (of which they have very few) be confident China will have their back when the chips are down?

China needs some allies in SEA. I guess Laos and Cambodia are allies, but they are kind of useless. They need to win over Myanmar and Vietnam in a big way. Vietnam is a natural ally: China and Vietnam are both Communist! Vietnam actually fought a long war with America in recent memory, and only a month-long war with China. China cannot afford to lose Vietnam.

Re: ASEAN military news

Geographer said:

I've said it before: China's government is a coward in foreign policy. They bluster and threaten, but do nothing at all to back up their words. Case in point: the Libyan civil war of last year. China opposed foreign intervention, and had a golden opportunity to actually stop it with their UN Security Council veto, but they abstained.

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Is thi cowardice? May be they simply are not ambitious. They are content with the little they have today or believe they have.

China needs some allies in SEA. I guess Laos and Cambodia are allies, but they are kind of useless. They need to win over Myanmar and Vietnam in a big way. Vietnam is a natural ally: China and Vietnam are both Communist! Vietnam actually fought a long war with America in recent memory, and only a month-long war with China. China cannot afford to lose Vietnam.

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Not some allies in SEA. China must ensure fair that the "majority of countries in asia" is their ally or at least those around him directly. If any of these countries can not be an ally for some reason it must ensure that this country is neutral or too weak to pose a direct threat. I do not know how they do it by but that's exactly the opposite happenning. You'd think they have not studied the history of the last three centuries.

Re: ASEAN military news

It's not that China's Foreign Ministry is of no consquence - it is a State Organisation under the Government. The PLA - Military is under the Chinese Communist Party & its boss is the Chairman of its Central Military Commission who is usually the President of China (It could be separated - for a while at least when Jiang Jer Ming who retired from being President held on to the post, while the President Hu Jin Tao was the Vice Chairman for a year or two). What worries most of us is when an aggressive General or Military-aligned Person controls the State, Party & the Military. Can't help but recall what happened when Japanese General Tojo who became Prime Minister & boss of the Military - he was a key player that started WW II in the Far East. It's interesting to read the Japanese adventures then - history has some bearing on present day ambitions re: territorial expansion.

Re: ASEAN military news

advill said:

It's not that China's Foreign Ministry is of no consquence - it is a State Organisation under the Government. The PLA - Military is under the Chinese Communist Party & its boss is the Chairman of its Central Military Commission who is usually the President of China (It could be separated - for a while at least when Jiang Jer Ming who retired from being President held on to the post, while the President Hu Jin Tao was the Vice Chairman for a year or two). What worries most of us is when an aggressive General or Military-aligned Person controls the State, Party & the Military. Can't help but recall what happened when Japanese General Tojo who became Prime Minister & boss of the Military - he was a key player that started WW II in the Far East. It's interesting to read the Japanese adventures then - history has some bearing on present day ambitions re: territorial expansion.

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And what's the government structures of NATO countries now ? Those launching the most wars now not to mention since WW2..............

Re: ASEAN military news

advill said:

It's not that China's Foreign Ministry is of no consquence - it is a State Organisation under the Government. The PLA - Military is under the Chinese Communist Party & its boss is the Chairman of its Central Military Commission who is usually the President of China (It could be separated - for a while at least when Jiang Jer Ming who retired from being President held on to the post, while the President Hu Jin Tao was the Vice Chairman for a year or two). What worries most of us is when an aggressive General or Military-aligned Person controls the State, Party & the Military. Can't help but recall what happened when Japanese General Tojo who became Prime Minister & boss of the Military - he was a key player that started WW II in the Far East. It's interesting to read the Japanese adventures then - history has some bearing on present day ambitions re: territorial expansion.

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Japanese made the mistake in trusting their fate in the hands of those who never studied abroad and have a proper modern mindset, they thought way too high of themselves and ended up got beaten into the dirt. The Chinese people might be nationalistic and most might have stupid view of the world, but fortunately not their leadership - they're properly educated and trained.

It's not that the China turned aggressive or lean towards that direction, but it has been too lame duck for so long - if the popular opinion could have it their way, the Foreign Ministry might all be shot for high treason, if you know what I mean.

But China, however nationalistic it might get, has not the foundation that breeds militarism like in Japan, in many aspects, Confucius teaching (now once again embraced by the authorities) against militarism, and traditionally Chinese isn't that culturally martial as would the Islam or Japan or the West...

However, if and when internal woes boiled up enough the authorities might risk outward military actions, like so many states did throughout human history...that should give everyone something to think about, especially those who lean on those anti-gov't NGOs and activists.

ASEAN and the world in general should get themselves adjusted to a world that China finally come out of the closet and stretch its legs. If you don't like it, then push the Americans to the forefront and see what might happen.

Re: ASEAN military news

12 TA-50 LIFT Aircrafts will be Purchase for the PAF in 2012 ...

The Philippines air force has decided to purchase 12 TA-50 trainer jets from South Korea in a project worth nearly $360 million, a Philippines broadcaster reported Wednesday.

The aircraft produced by Korea Aerospace Industries will be delivered within next year, ABS-CBN reported citing air force officials.

The trainer jets are priced at 1.25 billion pesos ($29.8 million) each, it added.

Seoul’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, however, said that although it was working on exporting the TA-50 to the Philippines it has yet to receive any confirmation on the issue.

According to reports, the Philippine government is conducting a 70 billion peso program to update its military’s equipment, and a significant proportion of the budget is to be directed into bolstering the air force.

The TA-50 is a weaponry-equipped trainer jet with attack and operational capabilities matching those of the KF-16 fighter jets operated by the Korean Air Force.

The TA-50 is fitted with the F404-GE102 engine used in the F-18 fighter jet, and is equipped with digital flight control systems and radar.

Seoul’s Air Force currently operates 21 TA-50 trainer fighter jets, and the first batch of Air Force pilots trained in the aircraft will go into active service at the end of the year.

By Choi He-suk ([email protected])

Re: ASEAN military news

MwRYum said:

ASEAN and the world in general should get themselves adjusted to a world that China finally come out of the closet and stretch its legs. If you don't like it, then push the Americans to the forefront and see what might happen.

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That's the core issue. The rest of the world had gotten used to a weak China and a superpowerful US. The US is still superpowerful but China is no longer as weak (though still not particularly strong). Somehow somewhere China needs more 'space' in many senses of the word and everyone else is antsy about it by default. It's like a worker outgrowing their current role and want a raise and/or promotion.

Re: ASEAN military news

US Tells China and the Philippines to Settle Shoal Dispute ...

Jerry E. Esplanada
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Publication Date : 22-06-2012



The United States yesterday called on the Philippines and China to sit down and find a peaceful solution to their territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

Speaking at the US Embassy’s first news forum, called Kapihan sa Embahada, Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said Washington “has been very clear on our commitment to support a resolution of these claims in a peaceful manner at the negotiating table.”

But President Benigno Aquino told reporters on Wednesday that a military plane would fly to the area when the weather cleared and if Chinese vessels were still there by then, he would order the two Philippine vessels back to the shoal.

Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who recommended the redeployment of the two vessels to the shoal, told reporters yesterday that heavy rains and strong winds kept the government from sending a plane to the area.

Gazmin said the government still had to decide which service, whether the Navy or the Coast Guard, would send the reconnaissance plane.
Definitely, however, the Philippines will go back to Scarborough Shoal to maintain effective control in the area.

Re: ASEAN military news

The Philippines will send it's law enforcement vessels back to Scarborough Shoal after being recalled last week due to inclement weather as recent air surveilance has confirmed that Chinese vessels are still present at the disputed area .....


Philippine Ships to Return to Shoal if China Refuses to Pull Out
By Christine O. Avendano in Manila/Philippine Daily Inquirer | Asia News Network – Thu, Jun 21, 2012

Re: ASEAN military news

1 dead, 4 missing after a Philippines fishing boat was hit by a vessel from China just north of Scarborough Shoal off the west coast of Luzon ...