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

Re: ASEAN military news

MwRYum said:

*sigh the Chinese*
If only the Chinese were as tough as the Russians...

There're 3 facts to consider..
1. Japan and Russia is still - from a legal technicality standpoint - at war because they've yet sign the peace treaty;
2. Since the day the Cold War began the Japanese were living in nightmare that the Soviet (and now the Russians) would one day charge from the north - thus the majority of the Type 90 MBT (fact: Type 90 can't easily transit across Japan) on Hokkaido;
3. The Chinese never could invoke such fear in them, only contempt against whom the Japanese still view as Untermenschen.

That's why you never see the Japanese dare to do that against Russia, but with utter impunity against China...

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Well a significant difference in how the Japanese interact with the Russians vs the Chinese also has to do with the fact that there's a fractured front on the Chinese side, meaning China and Taiwan. If supposedly, it was just a single entity, the whole game dynamics would be changed. Literally, the balance of power in East Asia and Southeast Asia would be shifted.

Re: ASEAN military news

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Majority want Taiwan, China to cooperate on island row


A majority of people in Taiwan and China hope the two sides can work together to resolve a long-running territorial row with Japan on islands in the East China Sea, a survey showed.

The disputed islands, known as Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese, have long been a source of friction between Taiwan and China on the one hand and Japan on the other, as they all claim sovereignty.

In China, 85.3 percent of the 1,502 people interviewed were in favour of cooperation with Taiwan while 8.8 percent were against, according to the survey jointly conducted by the Taipei-based China Times and China's Global Times.

In Taiwan, 51.1 percent of the 1,500 people polled approved of collaborating with China while 27.5 opposed it, the survey found.

Up to 90.8 percent of Chinese support military moves, if need be, to resolve the disputes while 52.1 percent believe that such disputes could actually lead to military conflicts.

The percentage is much lower in Taiwan, with only 41.2 percent in favour of potential military actions while 40.0 percent believe the disputes could trigger conflicts.

China and Japan have a lengthy dispute over the uninhabited but strategically coveted island chain, which is believed to be surrounded by oil and gas reserves.

Taiwan also claims the islands and local activists have tried to sail to the disputed area to press Taipei's claim.

This month, coastguard vessels from Taiwan and Japan "bumped into" each other in waters near the disputed island chain, as the Taiwanese vessel was escorting activists to the area.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war but Beijing still claims sovereignty over the self-ruled island. However, ties have improved markedly since a Beijing-friendly government took office in Taipei in 2008.
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Politics gets in the way

Re: ASEAN military news

MwRYum said:

*sigh the Chinese*
If only the Chinese were as tough as the Russians...

There're 3 facts to consider..
1. Japan and Russia is still - from a legal technicality standpoint - at war because they've yet sign the peace treaty;
2. Since the day the Cold War began the Japanese were living in nightmare that the Soviet (and now the Russians) would one day charge from the north - thus the majority of the Type 90 MBT (fact: Type 90 can't easily transit across Japan) on Hokkaido;
3. The Chinese never could invoke such fear in them, only contempt against whom the Japanese still view as Untermenschen.

That's why you never see the Japanese dare to do that against Russia, but with utter impunity against China...

Click to expand...

Easy to take islands and dictate terms when you have the might of the Soviet Red Army at your back.

The Japanese were not afraid of the Russians because they came first in debate team practice, they learned to respect and than fear the Soviets because the Red Army annihilated their Manchurian army and then annexed part of the Japanese home islands - something even the Americans were not sanguine about trying.

For all the advancements we have made, we are still a barbaric and primitive race. If all you do is complain and protest and hold talks, no one will take you seriously. If anything, excessive 'civilized' protestations without force, or at least the threat of force, to back up your position will make you seem weaker to everyone else because they think there are no adverse consequences to ignoring your opinion.

However, there are still costs associated with being a scary, cranky bear - bad for business for one thing. Outside of oil and other natural resources, there is precious little foreign investment in Russia, especially from American and Europe. You might fear and be intimidated by the bad tempered drunk with a history of violence, but would you want to do business with him or be his partner? Hell, if Aliens invade, I'd like him to have my back, but in all other eventualities, I would not want my accountant or lawyer or business partner to be someone like that.

The Russians can afford to behave the way the do because they have a reputation for it, people expect it even, and also because they haven't got all that much to loose by being belligerent. It's harder to be that care free when you do have a good thing going and plenty to loose with a sudden and unexpected burst of violence.

China is trying to play a very delicate balancing act of gentle applying more and more force to better enforce and defend their interests and positions as their wealth, strength and status improve without doing it so quickly as to scare off the investors and business partners who's money, trade and expertise help to make China more wealthy, stronger and important in the first place.

Re: ASEAN military news

Japanese as early as 1939 had engaged the Soviets and it was the only defeat the Empire of Japan had faced up till that point

Really up and till battle of mid way in 1942 the Crack Japanese were invincible, no one even themselves did they believe they could be beaten

Also as per Yalta conference Soviets smashed through Manchuria, not only smashed they made the Japanese army almost non-existent on under 9 weeks of fighting and had the war not ended Soviets would have landed on Japan, it's a part of WWII history that is missed, the lighting advanced of the Soviets in Manchuria was terrifying the Japanese and a brilliant piece of military tactics


You don't become the largest country in the world by being nice, but like all powers Soviets also faced their day on he battle field, this time the war came to Afghanistan and the Mujahideen were waiting for them and they taught the Russians a lesson they would never forget

And leading the attack in the sky's was the Pakistan Airforce who with their gleeming new F16 fighting falcons downed over a dozen Soviet fighters without the loss of a single aircraft, even today Russia don't like Pakistan for its support it gave to the Mujahideen

To engage the Soveits in the Cold War required guts and hardly anyone ever dared it, but Pakistan stood firm and also engaged the Spetznaz with its own SSG commando units on the ground

Re: ASEAN military news

Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Conducts Successful Missile Firing

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) conducted a live-firing of the Barak anti-missile missile in the South China Sea earlier today as part of the 18th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise which Singapore is conducting with the United States. The missile was fired by the upgraded RSN missile corvette RSS Victory against an air drone target simulating an attacking profile. The target was successfully destroyed.

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Re: ASEAN military news

Singapore to start negotiations for 4 Scorpene SSKs with France's DCNS

According to rumors (infosdefense.com), the Republic of Singapore Navy is about to start negotiations with France for the possible purchase of 4 Scorpene class SSKs. The deal could include transfer of technologies.

Contacted by Navy Recognition however, a DCNS source refused to comment on the rumors.

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This class of SSKs is starting to get a well deserved attention and selling in various countries

Re: ASEAN military news

Taiping Island may be a base for a joint development between Taiwan and China.

Re: ASEAN military news

8 Army Scout Rangers were Killed During an Assault on an Abu Sayyaf Lair on Basilan Island , RIP ...




Philippine army clashes with rebels
Twelve People Die as Troops Attack an Encampment of Abu Sayyaf Fighters on Basilan Island.
Last Modified: 26 Jul 2012 14:47


The Philippine army has battled rebels fighting for independence for more than 30 years [Reuters]

Soldiers have clashed with al-Qaeda-linked fighters in the Philippines' volatile south, leaving eight government troops and four rebels dead, military officials say.

Army Major General Ricardo Rainier Cruz said the army struck after pinpointing an encampment of Abu Sayyaf fighters early on Thursday in Basilan Island's Sumisip township.

Sporadic fighting continued until afternoon, with reinforcement troops deployed.

Officials said the Abu Sayyaf fighters belonged to a group which had attacked rubber plantation workers in Sumisip two weeks ago. Five farm workers and one government militiaman were killed in that attack.

On Wednesday, the same group attacked a military detachment securing the rubber planters' co-operative but no soldier was killed or hurt, army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc said.

The plantation workers' co-operative operating in the area had previously received extortion letters purportedly from the Abu Sayyaf demanding payment of more than $1,000 a month in exchange for not being harmed.

For decades, Muslim separatist groups have fought for independence or an autonomous substate in the southern regions they say are their ancestral homelands.

Philippine offensives have weakened the fighters but they remain a threat. They are holding several foreign hostages, apparently in an attempt to raise funds for food and weapons in their jungle hideouts.

Abu Sayyaf has been linked to the worst attacks in Philippine history, including a ferry bombing that killed more than 100 people in 2004.

Re: ASEAN military news

PN Will Purchase 2 Italian Maestrale Class Warships at a Cost of $275 Million (P11.7 Billion) ...







Philippine Navy Buying 2 Italian Warships
02 Agustus 2012


MANILA, Philippines - Two Italian warships are set to strengthen the Philippines' maritime defense capabilities, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Thursday.

Gazmin said the Philippine Navy is buying the P11.7-billion Maestrale class-frigates , which have anti-submarine and anti-aircraft weaponry.

These frigates are warships. These have anti-air, sub-surface, they have anti-submarine (capabilities). What we are getting are really meant for war," Gazmin said.

The frigates, which were commissioned in the 1980s, are being used by the Italian Navy.

He said the Navy is waiting for the approval of contract that is expected to be signed in January 2013.

The ships will then be delivered by November after they are refurbished.

The move is part of the Armed Forces' modernization program, the defense chief said at a forum in Camp Aguinaldo.


Maestrale Class Warship

Re: ASEAN military news

"These frigates are warships. These have anti-air, sub-surface, they have anti-submarine (capabilities). What we are getting are really meant for war," Gazmin said."

As clear an attempt at saber wrattling as you are ever likely to see in modern politics. Although I somehow doubt anyone in the western press will pick up on it.

$275m for two obselete frigates nearing the end of their useful lives seems like a pretty bad deal for the Philippines tbh. You really must wonder how many years these FFGs have got left in them. The F22Ps China sold to Pakistan in contrast cost $175m each, and that's including fully TOT to allow local production of the ships.

No offence intended, but you really have to wonder just what exactly the Philippines government is playing at with such antics. Paying through the nose for antiquated ships that are of no threat to anyone yet making empty threats about getting these ships for war.