ASEAN military news

US Helps the Philippines Fortify it's Defense in Palawan ...

US helps Philippines fortify defense in Palawan | Inquirer Global Nation

US Helps Philippines Fortify Defense in Palawan
By Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:42 am | Friday, August 31st, 2012

NEW PATROL BOATS US Ambassador Harry Thomas and Police Director Samuel Diciano pour champagne on two patrol boats during the turnover of $9-million worth of equipment donated by the US government to the PNP Special Boat Unit in Palawan on Thursday. PNP-PIO

Pursuing its pivot to Asia strategy, the United States on Thursday handed over to the Philippines new equipment to improve surveillance and law enforcement operations in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) as President Benigno Aquino prepared to meet China’s leader for talks that may include territorial disputes in those waters.

Coast Watch Stations Improves PN Capability ...

PIA | Philippine Information Agency | Coast watch stations improves PN capability

Coast Watch Stations Improves PN Capability

By Rudolf Ian G. Alama
Saturday 1st of September 2012

DAVAO CITY, Sept. 1 -- The Coast Watch Stations (CWS) set up across southern and central Mindanao has greatly improved the Navy’s capability in maritime security and safety.

Captain Robert Empedrad Deputy Commander of the Philippine Navy Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao said the past year have seen the Navy interdict suspicious vessels and seacraft aside from rescuing three to four vessels with the help of the CWS.

Empedrad said coast watch stations helps the navy preserve its assets from wear and tear. He said that navy ships usually have 20-40 nautical miles radar coverage while on sea, instead of conducting intensive sea patrols CWS with its radars can monitor suspicious seaborne movements and relay these findings to the coast watch center at the Felix Apolinario Naval Station in Panacan, Davao City which will in turn feed the data to the nearest navy vessels that will in turn interdict the targets.

Vietnam Becomes the Largest Russian Naval Arms Importer ...

Vietnam to Become Largest Russian Naval Arms Importer >> Naval Today

Posted on Sep 3rd, 2012

The largest Russian-Vietnamese program in naval segment is a delivery contract for six Project 06361 Improved Kilo-class diesel submarines.

Originally Posted by ManilaBoy45

Vietnam Becomes the Largest Russian Naval Arms Importer ...

Vietnam to Become Largest Russian Naval Arms Importer >> Naval Today

Posted on Sep 3rd, 2012

The largest Russian-Vietnamese program in naval segment is a delivery contract for six Project 06361 Improved Kilo-class diesel submarines.

This is significant for several reasons, if you can tell me why I will award you with a rare, secret .gif files from my treasure trove.

If Vietnam became the largest naval arms importer, then the traditionally largest arms importer from Russia - India might had already moved away from the era of importing naval arms to design and developing of their own ships, this or the Indians had all they need at the moment.

Also, the recent large investment into new arms signal that Vietnam is rapidly modernising their naval powers, might be a disturbing sign that the ASEAN countries are in an arm race or that they are preparing for confrontation (might not be a war, but at least as a force to be reckon with). The former is more disturbing though.

Also I think from a strategic point of view, Kilo subs is the best investment Vietnam can make. They will be presenting the most challenge to China, not that I think they have a chance to win an all out war, but it will serve as very good deterrence weapons.

They just have to make sure they get a good crew, and maintain those subs well, which is something they need to work on, judging from how they are treating their Su-27.

Russia is getting ready to reassert it's influence in Far East and Southeast Asia. They long to return to Cam Ran Bay. Selling military hardware to Vietnam serves a dual purpose. It supports their military industrial complex and potentially extend their influence in SE Asian affairs. We often forget that Russia is also an Asian power.

Originally Posted by rhino123

If Vietnam became the largest naval arms importer, then the traditionally largest arms importer from Russia - India might had already moved away from the era of importing naval arms to design and developing of their own ships, this or the Indians had all they need at the moment.

Also, the recent large investment into new arms signal that Vietnam is rapidly modernising their naval powers, might be a disturbing sign that the ASEAN countries are in an arm race or that they are preparing for confrontation (might not be a war, but at least as a force to be reckon with). The former is more disturbing though.

ASEAN members nations are locked in arms race even before ASEAN's conception, just that most of the time the headlines were taken by the competition between Singapore / Malaysia / Thailand / Indonesia, who are the most active players in this race; the only difference is that now even the less active players - Vietnam and Philippines - join the "high profile club" as well, with blessings from US and Japan...

Originally Posted by Dolcevita

Russia is getting ready to reassert it's influence in Far East and Southeast Asia. They long to return to Cam Ran Bay. Selling military hardware to Vietnam serves a dual purpose. It supports their military industrial complex and potentially extend their influence in SE Asian affairs. We often forget that Russia is also an Asian power.

Yeah I doubt Russia have any grand design on Asia, pretty sure they just want to make a few buck.

If a sincere & enforceable "Code of Conduct" is agreed upon by all countries re: South China Sea & Sea of Japan/East Sea, without doubt skirmishes will escalate in due course. Can we blame rthe arm's race taking place? It's ridiculous that some Asian countries instead of aiming at economic growth are now bickering & threatening each other. We can forget about the Asia-Pacific Century. A possible theory is that WW III might start in the Asia-Pacific region if care is not taken.

US Navy to Install a Command Post on Palawan Island Facing the SCS ...

U.S. Navy to deploy command post on Philippine island closest to Spratlys: Voice of Russia

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/ind...ews&Itemid=156

U.S. Navy to Deploy Command Post on Philippine Island Closest to Spratlys
Sep 4, 2012 16:46 Moscow Time


The U.S. Navy is planning to deploy a marine command post in the Philippine island of Palawan facing the South China Sea, the Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday.

An advance command post and about 60 marines will be stationed on the island under the plan.

Palawan is the closest to the disputed Spratli archipelago claimed wholly or partially by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

The news agency quotes an un-named "senior Philippine marine officer".

Construction on the command Post is slated to begin this month ahead of the annual Philippine-U.S. amphibious landing exercise in Palawan, reports Kyodo.

Originally Posted by ManilaBoy45

US Navy to Install a Command Post on Palawan Island Facing the SCS ...

U.S. Navy to deploy command post on Philippine island closest to Spratlys: Voice of Russia

KYODO: U.S. Marines to Set Up Command Post on Palawan Island Facing South China Sea

U.S. Navy to Deploy Command Post on Philippine Island Closest to Spratlys
Sep 4, 2012 16:46 Moscow Time


The U.S. Navy is planning to deploy a marine command post in the Philippine island of Palawan facing the South China Sea, the Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday.

An advance command post and about 60 marines will be stationed on the island under the plan.

Palawan is the closest to the disputed Spratli archipelago claimed wholly or partially by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

The news agency quotes an un-named "senior Philippine marine officer".

Construction on the command Post is slated to begin this month ahead of the annual Philippine-U.S. amphibious landing exercise in Palawan, reports Kyodo.

Sounds like the US is beefing up its military encirclement of China.

It's interesting to see that China once used purchased Russian technology as quick way to modernize their naval and air forces and improve their own capabilities, and now the Vietnamese are doing the same to counter China.

Originally Posted by Finn McCool

It's interesting to see that China once used purchased Russian technology as quick way to modernize their naval and air forces and improve their own capabilities, and now the Vietnamese are doing the same to counter China.

I don't see similarities, China purchase them to counter US if things happen with TW, and at the same time they are researching their own until they can produce it.

VN on the other hand, who else will sell them weapons? Certainly not US or Europe, and I don't see them studying their inventory to produce their own weapons in the future, at most they will be just like India, a pure buyer and user. The only one benefiting from this is Russia's military complex.