USA: HSM Wing Pacific continues Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative exercise

By Lt. Adam Arndt, HSM Weapons School Pacific Public Affairs

In this file photo, Peruvian submarine BAP Pisagua (SS 33) arrives at Naval Base Point Loma in July for phase one of DESI-EX. (U.S. Navy/MC2 Derek Harkins) >>

SAN DIEGO - Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Pacific (CHSMWP) began phase two of the annual Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative Exercise (DESI-EX), an international exercise held annually in conjunction with South American naval forces, Sept. 8, 2017.

DESI-EX is an undersea warfare exercise that allows MH-60R aircraft from various CHSMWP and Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) commands the ability to practice their anti-submarine warfare (ASW) skills against a skilled, foreign adversary in a variety of challenging environments. The event was organized by HSM Weapons School Pacific (HSMWSP) in coordination with Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic International Programs and Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, and will take place on the Southern California Offshore Range and Tanner Bank operating area.

Phase one of the exercise took place July 15 - 20 and involved aircraft and crews from six CHSMWP and three MPRA squadrons that completed 29 sorties over the course of 147 flight hours. Participants trained alongside the Peruvian Navy submarine BAP Pisagua (SS 33), a German Type 209 diesel-electric submarine, to refine their ASW and tactical acumen.

News Story: DPRK condemns U.S. VP's attempt to turn LatAm against Pyongyang

PYONGYANG, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Saturday condemned U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's pressure on some Latin American countries to break ties with Pyongyang, saying this is another example of U.S. interference into other countries' internal affairs.

"This was not the first time for the U.S. to urge the countries which have friendly and cooperative relations with the DPRK to sever the diplomatic and economic relations with it," the DPRK official Korean Central News Agency quoted a spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs as saying.

On Wednesday, Pence called several Latin American countries to join U.S. efforts to isolate the DPRK.

Read the full story at Xinhua

USA: U.S. Forces Work With Partners in Numerous Military Exercises

By Terri Moon Cronk 

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2017 — Military exercises are underway between U.S. military forces and those of many other nations, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, told reporters today.

In the Pacific region, Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 involves more than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel who are participating in the biennial military training exercise in Australia, June 23 to July 25.

U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force personnel, as well as Australian forces and members of other government agencies in both countries are participating in Talisman Saber, which is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and the Australian military's Joint Operations Command.

It features 21 ships, including the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, and more than 200 joint aircraft. This year's seventh iteration of the exercise is focusing on training a combined task force of U.S. and Australian forces in a mid-intensity, high-end warfighting scenario, incorporating interagency participation, along with a command post exercise involving a transition between a three- and four-star headquarters.

"Talisman Saber provides an invaluable opportunity to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries' ability to plan and execute contingency responses, from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts," Davis said.

News Story: Expert says Pacific Alliance to serve as LatAm's tool to expand trade integration with Asia

by Carlos Acat

LIMA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Pacific Alliance, a Latin American trade bloc founded by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru in 2011, stands to outperform its regional counterparts and contribute to the continent's closer ties with Asia, Peruvian economist Carlos Aquino has said.

Acquino, an Asia expert and director of the Economic Research Institute at the National University of San Marcos in Lima, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the strength of the Pacific Alliance (AP) lies in the fact that its members not only share a common goal, but also are fundamentally similar.

The AP is holding its 12th meeting in Cali, Colombia, Thursday through Friday.

"Of all the Latin American integration blocs, such as the Community of Andean Nations (CAN) or the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), it's the one that can succeed the most, because it is a homogeneous group of representative democracies with market economies and an interest in Asia," he said.

According to Aquino, the four nations within the AP have already established free trade between each other, and 92 percent of the goods trade are duty free. "The remainder will be liberalized in 15 years at the latest," he added.

The main weakness of the bloc -- which has 52 observer countries, including China -- is that it is fairly new, the expert said, adding that insufficient transport and communication infrastructure has hindered intra-bloc flow of people as well as trade ties with Asia.

"Here, China can help," said Aquino, who pointed out that Chinese investment, the extension of the Belt and Road Initiative into Latin America, as well as increased air routes and e-commerce platforms are all needed to help local companies connect with Asia.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Related Stories:

• Australia launches free trade negotiations with Pacific Alliance
• Peru hails new associated countries with Pacific Alliance

News Report: Trump Names India, Russia Among Countries Affected by Terrorism

US President Donald Trump listed India along with Russia, China, Australia, Europe and the Middle East as victims of terror in his address to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on Sunday.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Trump's speech, which mostly focused on fighting terrorism and extremism during the summit and conveniently ignored the other issues plaguing the Middle East and Africa, has been greeted with optimism and hope in India.

Media reports on the event have also created euphoria that New Delhi is very high on Washington's agenda in the fight against terrorism. Experts noted that the US, India cooperation on terrorism has grown and both countries are sharing information and collaborating on many related fronts. But they also reminded that more concrete steps need to be taken with like-minded countries in the fight against terrorism, instead of getting into a celebratory mood over symbolic statements.

News Report: Seven Countries Mull Buying Russian Su-30MKI With BrahMos Cruise Missiles

Six countries in Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East consider buying Russia’s new Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets armed with BrahMos cruise missiles, BrahMos Aerospace representative Previn Pahtak told Sputnik.

Chief executive of the Indian-Russian joint venture, Sudhir Mishra, earlier said that the test launch of an airborne version of the Supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from an Su-30MKI was slated within the next two months.

“We have requests from seven countries in Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East, which already have Su-30s. They keep a close eye on the ongoing trials and once we are through, we are going to have many new buyers,” Previn Pahtak said.

He added that BrahMos Aerospace could simultaneously supply airborne cruise missiles for the Indian Air Force and customers abroad.

News Report: What is Behind Taiwanese President’s Visit to Latin America Amid Speculations

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen left for the United States Saturday on her way to Central America, a trip that will be scrutinized by China. Sputnik spoke with Chinese political experts in an interview about this trip and how it may be related to US-Chinese bilateral relations.

While the focus of the nine-day trip is to bolster relations with Taiwan's Central American allies, Tsai's US stopovers are being closely watched by experts amid speculation that she may make contact with president-elect Donald Trump and his team.

This is President Tsai Ing-wen’s second foreign trip. In June last year she visited Panama and Paraguay.

The political and legal status of Taiwan has been a matter of dispute between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan for many years. Due to this tension, Taiwan president’s visit to Latin America is being highly scrutinized.

In Central America, Taiwan is friends with 11 countries, in the Caribbean with 5 countries and in South America with Paraguay. It is noteworthy that on the eve of Tsai Ing-wen’s trip, the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Luis Miguel Hincapie assured that his country has excellent relations with Taiwan despite the fact that the president has not planned to visit the country.

News Report: Infuriating China - US to Allow Taiwanese President to Travel Through America

President Tsai Ing-wen (Image: Wiki Commons)

The administration of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has confirmed that she will be passing through San Francisco and Houston during a diplomatic trip to Latin America. This news has again angered China, who has warned the US not to allow the visit.

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a US mission in the island country, has said Tsai’s visit will be "private and unofficial," but it is not clear whether she will meet with President-elect Donald Trump, who angered Beijing when he spoke to Tsai over the phone in early December following his election win. 

The call caused China to question the commitment of the US to its "One China" policy. Beijing is accusing Tsai of using a US visit to push for Taipei’s independence.

Beijing has claimed rule over Taipei since nationalists fled mainland China to the island in 1949, following the victory of Mao Zedong’s Communist forces in the Chinese Civil War.

News Report: China Wants Vatican to Mend Fences With Beijing, Ditch Taiwan

St Peter's Square, Vatican City - by DAVID ILIFF. 
License: CC-BY-SA 3.0 via Wiki Commons

China is ready to engage in constructive dialogue with the Vatican and is hopeful that the Holy See will take practical steps to mend fences with Beijing, a senior Chinese official said.

Wang Zuo’an, Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, made the overture in an address to the participants of China’s National Catholic Congress.

Earlier, the Vatican held out hope for a normalization of relations with Beijing following its criticism of the recent ordainment of Catholic priests by Chinese bishop.

In an interview with Sputnik China, Ren Yuanzhe, an expert at China’s Diplomatic Academy, underscored the importance of normal relations with the Vatican.

“China and the Vatican are trying to improve bilateral ties and Wang Zuo’an statement is fresh proof of Beijing’s dersire to mend fences with the Holy See. In 2014, on his way to South Korea, the Pope sent his best wishes to President Xi Jinping and expressed a strong desire to visit China,” he said.

News Report: Furious China Reiterates Warning to US Over Taiwan President Visit

Despite protests from China, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that President Tsai Ing-wen will stop in the US on her way to a diplomatic trip to Latin America.

The visit will further provoke a China already irritated by a recent telephone call between Tsai and US President-elect Donald Trump, the first such contact between an American and Taiwanese head of state since the administration of President Jimmy Carter. 

Since 1979, the US has functioned on the "One China" principle, that holds that Taiwan is a part of China and is therefore incapable of conducting its own diplomatic relations. Beijing still considers Taipei to be a province, and Chinese officials say that Tsai’s US visit is a transparent attempt to lobby for the country’s full independence.

Increasing tensions between the two countries, a US-deployed research drone was recently intercepted by the Chinese Navy, despite Beijing being made aware that it was US property. Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told The Guardian that, "This looks like signalling from the Chinese in response to Trump’s Taiwan call…The Chinese now have much better control over the military, particularly the navy. It is in China’s interest to send signals before Trump is inaugurated, so that he gets the message and be more restrained once he is office." 

News Story: Taiwan President to Visit US Amid China's Objections - Deputy Foreign Minister

Taiwan’s president is planning to make a stopover visit to the United States in January, despite objections from China, Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Javier Hou said on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to Hou, President Tsai Ing-wen's intended stopover in the United States will be made in accordance with past practice, The Guardian reported.

The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry is looking to organize a meeting between the Taiwanese leader and members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, Hou added, speaking to the Taiwan legislature’s foreign and national defense committee. 

The president's trip, which will last nine days and begins on January 7, will include state visits to Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. The location and duration of the stopover in the United States have not yet been announced.

News Report: Beijing Calls on US to Refuse Taiwan President Entry During Diplomatic Trip

Days after President-elect Donald Trump riled Beijing by speaking to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, China has asked Washington to not let Tsai visit the US on her way to Guatemala. China maintains a rocky relationship with Tsai, as they believe she may push for full independence of the autonomous nation.

Trump’s talk with Tsai on Friday was the first communication between a Taiwanese head of state and an American President-elect or President since the Taiwan Relations Act was passed in 1979, under US President Jimmy Carter. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi blamed Taiwan for the conversation just hours after it happened, stating that, "This is just the Taiwan side engaging in a petty action, and cannot change the 'one China' structure already formed by the international community…I believe that it won't change the longstanding 'one China' policy of the United States government."

Trump balked at criticisms of his conversation with Tsai, tweeting: "The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!" 

News Story: China & Russia align strategies against US - Global Times

China and Russia are aligning their strategies to team up against the United States, according to a commentary by the Global Times, a tabloid under the auspices of the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily.

Following more than two decades of development, bilateral relations between China and Russia have reached a new phase, the July 18 commentary said, adding that China now considers Russia an irreplaceable partner for all its key strategies.

These include the Silk Road Economic Belt, the land-based component of Beijing's amibitious "Belt and Road" initiative to boost cooperation and connectivity in Eurasia; the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the political, economic and military organisation the two countries founded along with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan; and the BRICS association comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as the group's New Development Bank.

During Chinese president Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow in May, the two sides also signed off on a joint declaration detailing cooperation between the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Eurasian Economic Union, which comprises the Eurasian states of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Read the full story at Want China Times

News Story: Will First JF-17 Export Spur New Buyers?

By Usman Ansari

ISLAMABAD — Analysts say confirmation of the first JF-17 Thunder export order could encourage other potential buyers to step forward, but they acknowledge many factors could complicate a deal.

Analyst and former Air Force pilot Air Commodore Kaiser Tufail is optimistic that JF-17 will now attract further customers.

"I am sure that after the deal that has been signed with the hitherto unknown 'Asian' country, the aircraft sales will surely get a big boost, and many Asian and African countries might be interested in it," he said.

The customer in question is believed to be Myanmar, and the head of the country's Air Force, Gen. Khin Aung Myint, was in Pakistan at the end of May for a four-day visit at the invitation of the Pakistan Air Force. He met senior defense officials and toured various bases and installations, though little more was said about the trip at the time.

Details, such as cost and the number of aircraft involved, are not known, but deliveries are expected to commence in 2017, according to information made available by Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood, head of the Air Force's sales and marketing effort for the aircraft type.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Xinhua - PLA to foster new model of military ties with US

China's armed forces will continue to foster a new model of military relationship with the US armed forces that conforms to the new model of major-country relations between the two countries, a white paper on China's military strategy said Tuesday.

China will strengthen defense dialogue, exchanges and cooperation with the US military, says the document, issued by the State Council Information Office.

The document says China will also continue to improve the confidence-building measure (CBM) mechanism for the notification of major military activities as well as the rules of behavior for safety of air and maritime encounters, so as to strengthen mutual trust, prevent risks and manage crises.

Read the full story at Want China Times

Editorial: China Topples Germany in Arms Exports

By Franz-Stefan Gady

Two thirds of Chinese arms exports went to just three countries.

According (PDF) to new data on international arms transfers published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China was the third largest supplier of arms between 2010 to 2014. During that period, Chinese exports of major arms increased by 143 percent, however overall volume was still significantly behind the United States of America and Russia.

“China’s share of global arms exports increased from 3 to 5 per cent. China became the third largest supplier in 2010–14, slightly ahead of Germany and France. China supplied major arms to 35 states in 2010–14,” according (PDF) to the fact sheet of the Stockholm-based think tank. The five biggest exporters in 2010–14 were the USA, Russia, China, Germany and France.

Interestingly, the SIPRI publication notes that more than 68 percent of Chinese exports went to just three countries: Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Yet, the People’s Republic of China was also active in other parts of Asia such as Indonesia, with which Beijing signed a deal for the supply of hundreds of medium range C-705 anti-ship missiles. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Editorial: Does the JF-17 Finally Have Buyers?

By Robert Farley

The Sino-Pakistani jet could finally have found prospective buyers.

The JF-17, a joint Sino-Pakistani fighter project, is a single engine fighter developed, conceptually, as a modern MiG-21. Given how global fighter fleets have deteriorated since the end of the Cold War, the idea seemed sound; a low-cost fighter that didn’t present major technical challenges, and that could serve as a cheap option for revitalizing many air forces. Like many such low-end projects, however, the “maybe good enough” JF-17 has yet to catch on with defence ministries fixated on prestige and technology.

Recently, however, indications have emerged that a few countries might have an interest. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: China's CX-1 Missile Now Exportable

By WENDELL MINNICK

TAIPEI — China’s new CX-1 supersonic anti-ship cruise missile is ready for export to America’s friends and foes alike, with potential markets including Iran, Pakistan and African and South American countries.

On display at the recent Airshow China in Zhuhai, the missile resembles India’s BrahMos cruise missile with a large intake in the nose, referred to as the “axial symmetrical inlet” in the brochure. However, that appears to be the only similarity, according to Chinese-language media outlets, which mention differences in wing, guidance vanes and jet vanes of the two missiles.

Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation jointly developed the BrahMos, basing it on the NPOM’s Yakhont (P-800 Oniks) missile.

Vasiliy Kashin, a researcher at Moscow’s Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, disputed Chinese media reports that denied a connection. He said the CX-1 is likely based in part on the BrahMos surface-to-surface missile, “but Russia did not sell this to China or offer enough data to China to build one.” However, Russia has sold the missile to other states in the region, including Indonesia and Vietnam, “so it is conceivable one or more of those states could have provided some details to China,” he said.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Editorial: Japan Enters Global Submarine Market With Soryu Offering

By Robert Farley

With the Soryu-class submarine, Japan can compete with the best the global submarine market has to offer.

As Clint Richards noted earlier, it now appears likely that Japan will sell advanced Soryu-class submarines to Australia. In addition to strengthening the relationship between Australia and Japan, and making Australia’s submarine force considerably more lethal, this represents a major move by Japan into the global submarine market.

Germany, France, and Russia have long dominated the existing market for diesel-electric submarines. The German Type 209 submarine serves in over a dozen navies, with more than 60 boats currently in service.  While the design stems from the 1960s, the newest boats entered service in the last decade. Germany’s successor, the Type 214, is scheduled for export to Greece and South Korea, but has suffered some setbacks.  France has exported the Scorpene-class to Malaysia, Brazil, and India, and Russia continues to export its Kilo-class subs and Improved Kilos to a handful of countries, at least until Russian industry can work through the problems with the Lada-class.

The Japanese Soryus are extremely competitive with these boats. At 4,200 tons submerged, the Soryu-class is considerably larger than either the Type 214, Scorpene, or Improved Kilo, and can carry a much heavier weapons load. This size also makes them quieter and longer-ranged than the other boats on the market. At current price expectations of around $500 million, the Soryus are not wildly more expensive than the other boats. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: Japan and Brazil to make joint statement against China - Kyodo

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff are to announce a joint statement on August 1 which will include mention of counter-measures against China, reports Japan's Kyodo International News on July 27.

A leaked draft of the statement says that both Japan and Brazil respect rule of law and that China's declaration of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea last November and its growing aggression in the East and South China seas require counter measures. The draft states that "conflicts in the South China Sea should be resolved peacefully and in line with international law without the use of force or threat," according to the report. The statement also says Japan and Brazil will cooperate in their efforts to reform the UN Security Council.

Both Sankei Shimbun and Nikkei Japan Review interpreted Abe's visit shortly after Xi's visits to the same region in early July, as intended to strengthen Japan's influence in Latin America and to counter growing Chinese power there.

Read the full story at Want China Times