Japan mulls over requests for defence equipment from Southeast Asia

Japan is studying several requests from Southeast Asian governments for donations of defence equipment.

However, Japanese operational requirements will take precedence over assistance to foreign governments, a top military official has told Jane’s.

Japan is studying requests by Southeast Asian countries to donate military equipment but refuted reports that it has offered Malaysia the P-3C aircraft, two of which are pictured here. Source: JMSDF

The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) has said it is aware of several requests from countries in the Southeast Asian region for donations of excess defence equipment.

Besides military hardware, the Japanese government has also been approached by these Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to share technical knowledge and expand on bilateral military collaborations.

Japan has donated five King Air TC-90 aircraft, which were previously in service with the JMSDF’s training squadron, to the Philippine government as part of wider efforts to improve maritime capabilities of its partners in Southeast Asia.

Two of the airframes have been delivered to the Philippine Navy, while three other aircraft are currently scheduled for handover in 2018. The JMSDF is also providing training support on the TC-90 platform for Philippine Navy pilots and maintenance crew.

To strengthen its defence relationships with countries in Southeast Asia, the Japanese government has embarked on several initiatives to improve maritime of government agencies in the region in recent years, especially with those from the Philippines.

Besides the transfer of TC-90 aircraft, Tokyo has also aided the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to procure 10 new multirole response vessels from Japanese shipbuilder Japan Maritime United Corporation (JMUC). The PCG has so far received seven vessels in the programme, and is scheduled to receive the remaining hulls by the end of 2018.

Jane's

F-35B lands aboard amphib for first Indo-Pacific deployment on Navy ship

The F-35B Lightning II landed aboard the amphibious assault ship Wasp on March 5, the first time the aircraft has deployed aboard a U.S. Navy ship in the Indo-Pacific.

Pilots with the "Green Knights" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, assigned under the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are scheduled to conduct a series of qualification flights on Wasp over a multi-day period. (MC3 Michael Molina/Navy)

Assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Okinawa, Japan, the F-35B will aid the Expeditionary Strike Group in a routine patrol to strengthen regional alliances and provide rapid-response capabilities.

“Pairing F-35B Lightning IIs with the Wasp represents one of the most significant leaps in war-fighting capability for the Navy-Marine Corps team in our lifetime,” said Rear Adm. Brad Cooper, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7, according to a press release.

An F-35B lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) as part of a routine patrol in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael Molina/Released)

Its arrival supports the UP-Gunned ESG concept, which is aimed at integrating multi-mission surface combatants and F-35Bs into amphibious operations to provide lethality and survivability to three-ship amphibious ready groups.

The guided-missile destroyers Dewey and Sterett are scheduled to assist the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group on operations and training.

NavyTimes

Won't give an inch of South China Sea: China to US

BEIJING: China's foreign minister sought Thursday to downplay concerns about Beijing's global ambitions, while also hinting at consequences for countries that don't fall in line on issues like Taiwan.

As US president Donald Trump threatens a trade war with China, Wang warned that Beijing is ready to take an "appropriate and necessary response".

Pledging that China had no desire to "replace America" on the global stage, Wang Yi said the Asian nation's path "is totally different than the one that has already been taken by traditional major powers".

"The more China develops, the more it can contribute to the world," Wang said in a wide-ranging press conference.

Wang spoke as 3,000 members of China's mostly ceremonial national legislature have gathered for their annual meeting in Beijing, where they are set to grant President Xi Jinping a nearly limitless mandate to realise his vision of a resurgent China.

Xi's ambitions are not limited to home: he has clearly articulated his vision of putting China at the centre of world affairs, a position reflecting its Chinese name: "the Middle Kingdom."

The departure from the country's long-held stance of keeping a low profile had raised fears abroad of spreading Chinese influence.

On Thursday, Wang tried to strike a balance between reassurance and assertiveness, as Beijing deals with pressure from countries like the US to change its behaviour.

Here are some of the main takeaways:

As US president Donald Trump threatens a trade war with China, Wang warned that Beijing is ready to take an "appropriate and necessary response".

"China's development and rejuvenation can't be stopped," he said.

"Some Americans think that therefore China wants to replace the US's international role, but that is a fundamental strategic misjudgement."

China and the US "don't need to be rivals, they should be partners".

Nevertheless, China will not give an inch in the South China Sea, where it has built an archipelago of artificial islands hosting military facilities that the US and other nations say threaten freedom of navigation through the strategically vital waterway.

Beijing's "resolve to protect the peace and the stability of the South China Sea cannot be shaken", Wang said about the region, where it has overlapping territorial claims with the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

The problems in the region are due to "foreign forces" which "have sent fully armed warships and fighters to the South China Sea to flaunt their military might", he said, referring to operations by the US, Australia and Britain to assert their right to sail through the region.

Although China does not recognise the self-ruled island as an independent nation, Wang took questions about Beijing's relationship with Taipei, warning that the Taiwanese government must come around to China's way of thinking if it hopes to enjoy "peaceful development".

The relationship between Beijing and Taipei has soured since the election of President Tsai Ying-wen, who has refused to acknowledge the so-called "1992 consensus", which agrees that there is only one China without specifying whether Beijing or Taipei is its rightful representative.

"The person who locked the door should open it," Wang said.

Only by taking the "correct path" of recognising the consensus can "cross-strait relations restart building a promising prospect for peaceful development".

Japanese Prime Minister Abe is expected to make a visit to China after years of tense relations set off by a territorial dispute and festering disagreements over the legacy of the Second World War.

After mocking a Japanese reporter's Chinese language skills, Wang said that China "wants the Japanese side to speak credibly in its politics, to behave properly in its actions".

Wang cautiously welcomed the apparent breakthrough over the North Korea nuclear issue as an "important step in the right direction".

He urged the US and North Korea to hold talks as soon as possible after Seoul said that Pyongyang was ready to discuss denuclearisation with Washington in return for security guarantees.

"Now is the crucial moment to test the sincerity of the parties to solve the nuclear issue," he said.

The Economic Times

Interview: 'Who Wants Cambodia To Be a Province of China?'

(RFA - March 7, 2018) Sophal Ear is an associate professor of diplomacy & world affairs at Occidental College in California who has written "Aid Dependence in Cambodia: How Foreign Assistance Undermines Democracy" and co-authored “The Hungry Dragon: How China's Resource Quest Is Reshaping the World." The policy analyst gave an interview by e-mail with Sovannarith Keo of RFA's Khmer Service about Cambodia's deepening economic relationship with China and concerns about the Southeast Asian country's growing debt to its giant northern neighbor as Beijing ramps up its signature Belt-Road Initiative infrastructure plan.

Occidental University professor and author Sophal Ear, in undated photo.

RFA: What are your general observations and assessment of Cambodia's debts to China, especially since China introduced its Belt Road Initiative (BRI) projects for Cambodia? Has such an initiative induced Cambodia to take on more debt to China than ever before? If so, is the trend a good or bad sign for Cambodia's future?

Sophal Ear: $4.3 billion in debt to China is about 20 percent of Cambodia’s GDP. This is a lot to owe one single creditor: China. Belt Road Initiative projects are just a way of categorizing a bunch of lending--much of which would have taken place anyway. It's putting a nice label on something--like the same old wine in a new bottle. Of course, it sounds so impressive, globally the spending could approach $1 trillion, but if it’s loans, it’s great for China. The money lent becomes income for Chinese companies which use Chinese workers (who receive paychecks). A win-win-win for China. As for Cambodia, if it builds infrastructure that can transform Cambodia and add value to its economy, that’s good. But if it’s just white elephant projects, ghost cities, and Potemkin villages, then (it's) terrible for Cambodia. Chinese President Xi Jinping said this for China and it applies to Cambodia: 'Houses are built to be inhabited, not for speculation.' Yet that is what is happening on Diamond Island and in other parts of Phnom Penh and Cambodia.

RFA: A new report published by the Center for Global Development (CGDEV) identified Cambodia among 23 countries at 'risk of debt distress' today as a result of Chinese BRI. But the report did not classify Cambodia among eight countries 'vulnerable to debt distress' due to future BRI-related financing. Do you agree with this finding? Which such trends, can you predict when Cambodia may face debt default as a result of such Chinese BRI financing?

Sophal Ear: It’s a reasonable finding. Cambodia’s overall debt sustainability is not bad. Look, this analysis is based on debt as a percentage of GDP, export revenue, etc. Exports bring in foreign exchange, which is used to service debt. You cannot pay foreign debt in Riels. Cambodia is in the 32 percent of debt-to-GDP range, but could be inching up to 40 percent of GDP before you know it, especially if Cambodia's economy hits a bump and a recession happens or if debt grows more rapidly than GDP growth. Right now, based on existing numbers, it’s not yet unsustainable. The acceleration of indebtedness is probably what puts it “at risk”. It’s going up, but if it goes up too quickly, that’s worrisome. The U.S. has about 106 percent debt-to-GDP. Japan’s is 245%, but most of Japan’s debt is held by Japanese citizens. China and Japan own about 5% each of U.S. debt. No-one believes the U.S. or Japan could default. The risk is very small. Cambodia, on the other hand, has a painful history of banning money. This is why the dollar is used in Cambodia and the country is still only talking about issuing bonds.

RFA: What are your general recommendations so that Cambodia can escape from a Chinese debt trap?

Sophal Ear: Diversify who you borrow from. Borrow too much from one source, especially if that source is not your own people, and you become a wholly owned subsidiary of that source: China. Who wants Cambodia to be a province of China? I don't think Cambodians want that.


RFA: Prime Minister Hun Sen recently defended his government's foreign debt status, saying that it is still healthy since the entire debt-to-GDP ratio remains lower than 40 percent or so. What is your reaction to that?

Sophal Ear: Mathematically, it is correct. However, if Cambodia’s Chinese debt-to-GDP ratio is 20 percent, and we’re still below 40 percent debt-to-GDP ratio overall (as I mentioned earlier 32%), then about 62.5% of Cambodia’s current debt is owed to China. That is an incredible level of dependency on one country. If one wishes to avoid being a wholly owned subsidiary or a province of China, one had better diversify with no foreign country lending Cambodia in excess of 50 percent of its debt, and preferably a lot less than 50 percent. The African proverb applies: "If your hand is in another man’s pocket, you must walk where he walks."

Vietnam to US: US weapons sales and the needs of Vietnam - Vietnamese State media reported

On March 9th, 2018, The Vietnamese state media Tuổi Trẻ repoted that during US president Obama's official visit to Vietnam on May 23, 2016, announced that the United States had decided to lift the ban on the sale of weapons to Vietnam.

The decision to lift the ban is based on our desire to perfect a long-term process of normalizing relations with Vietnam, he said.

What does Vietnam need ?

Ben Moores, a consultant at IHS Janes, notes that Vietnam's defense budget is small but fast growing.

He said that Vietnam needed a lot of military equipments such as tanks, armored vehicles, attack helicopters, tactical helicopters, long-range radar, sea patrol aircraft,...


US Apache combat tactical helicopter

Anthony Nelson, senior fellow at the US-ASEAN Business Council, said that US defense companies could take advantage of advanced technology to offer military equipment for use in the sea, such as command and control equipment. , coastal area awareness technology and communications.

Lockheed Martin's P-3 Orion patrol aircraft, for example, can provide command and control support for submarines and Raytheon radar systems used at sea.

Defense News website assesses Vietnam's efforts to improve the capability of air defense and security. Therefore, Vietnam was interested in F-16 fighters and refurbished P-3C Orion aircraft equipped with torpedoes under the Pentagon's EDA program.

In addition, Vietnam is interested in unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles for intelligence, surveillance and maritime surveillance.

The United States has recently decided to sell Boeing-Insitu's ScanEagle Maritime unmanned aerial vehicle to Vietnam.

In May 2017, the United States handed over to the Vietnam Coast Guard six Steel Shark Defiant 75 patrol boats built in the United States with US $ 18 million in aid.

Vietnam diversifies its arms supply

Franz-Stefan Gady, an analyst at The Diplomat (Japan), said that if Vietnam increased its arms purchases, its military capabilities would not rise sharply for two reasons.

First, the necessary support infrastructure, such as the US aircraft maintenance facility, must be established. Then there is the training of pilots, ground crews, technicians for aircraft and new weapons, so American technicians must come to Vietnam.

This activity requires a multi-year commitment from the US.

He said that the process of increasing Vietnam's purchase of military equipment depends on the level of training Vietnamese pilots to use the new American military equipment and the ability of the Vietnamese air force to integrate the weapons. America's new weapons in the military that inherited the Russian and Soviet weapons.

According to Franz-Stefan Gady, Russia continues to be Vietnam's most important long-term partner in military cooperation. Vietnam has purchased six Kilo submarines, some anti-ship and ship-to-ground missiles attack.

Vietnam has upgraded its defense system with Russian long-range coastal missile defense and surface-to-air missiles in 2011 and 2012, and upgraded its coastal monitoring radar.

Vietnam is exploiting many Su-30MK2V fighter jets from Russia equipped with anti-ship missiles. Vietnam is also interested in Sukhoi Su-35S multi-role aircraft suitable for marine patrol.

Vietnam's Su-30MK2V

According to Franz-Stefan Gady, Russian military equipment provides Vietnam more effective than US arms and less demanding conditions as the US requires. Vietnam also has experience of handling Russian weapons through years of war.

US Defense News website reported on the Singapore Airshow from 6th to 11th of February 2018 in Singapore, a State Department official explained the United States continues to encourage Vietnam to buy equipment of The USA.

According to Euan Graham of the Lowy Institute in Australia, although part of US technology is still too complex and expensive for Vietnam, we are still on the verge of becoming an important customer of US defense companies...

At Singapore Airshow, Orlando Carvalho, vice president of the Lockheed Martin Group, said: "If the Vietnamese government decides to really move forward in a more serious way in our portfolio, we are happy to negotiate".

Sputnik News (Russia) reported that Vietnam is one of the largest buyers of Russian weapons in the world, but recently Vietnam has paid more attention to other arms exporters such as India, Israel and the US. Vietnam wishes to diversify its supply of weapons.

Vietnam studies how to buy US weapons

US Pacific Command reports that Vietnam needs to improve its submarine force, protect its airspace at sea, combat maritime warfare, increase regional awareness at sea, early warning and system C4ISR (command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance).

According to reports, the United States can support and coordinate programs to provide US military equipment expansion to Vietnam.

However, in February 2018, a Vietnamese Foreign Ministry official said that Vietnam is still studying two ways to buy US weapons, including the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and the Sales of US Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) by the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Department of Commerce.

Kim Luc reported via Tuổi Trẻ.

Singapore Deploys MBDA’s Aster 30 Air-Defense Missile

The Aster 30 medium-range air-defense missile (highlighted in red) is shown to have attained operational status in this graphic released March 2 by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence, five years after it placed an order. (image : Sing MoD)

Singapore has announced for the first time that it has operationally deployed the MBDA Aster 30 air defense system that it had ordered at the end of summer 2013. This is the first time that the ground-launched version of the Aster medium-range missile is deployed by a non-European nation.

Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen confirmed the delivery of the system in a speech to Parliament’s defense committee on March 2.

Ng Eng Hen had first announced the Aster’s acquisition decision in September 2013 to replace the aging American Hawk system acquired more than thirty years ago.

At the time, replying to a Parliamentary question, said “I would like to announce today that the SAF will also be acquiring the ASTER-30 Surface-to-Air Missile System. This missile defence system against airborne threats is used by advanced militaries such as France and Italy. The ASTER-30's capabilities are many times more potent than our current I-HAWK ground-based air defence system.

“The ASTER will allow us to engage multiple threats simultaneously and from a longer distance. It will complement the [Israel Aerospace Industries] SPYDER, which we have already operationalised - it is a mobile, shorter-range, quick reaction ground-based air defence system - and together, they will provide a layered air defence shield.

A fact sheet on the Aster 30 was published at the same time on the Singapore defense ministry’s website.

Also at the time, the CEO of European missile maker MBDA, Antoine Bouvier, noted that the Aster 30 had been selected over competing American and Israeli systems thanks to its "performance" and "price."

“Our skies will be better protected with advanced weapon systems,” Ng said March 2, adding that “We also recently added the ASTER-30 surface-to-air missile system.” The Aster 30 is also included in an infographic illustrating the most capable in-service weapon systems.

Although the Aster 30 was only recently delivered, it would likely already be part of the Air Force Island Air Defense (IAD) system of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). The IAD network, covering the whole of Singapore (42 kilometers long and 23 kilometers wide), connects all RSAF weapons and air defense sensors, including fighters, air-to-surface systems and radar.

The Aster 30 missile system is operated by a single unit, 163 Squadron.

China warns US and Vietnam after US carrier docks in Vietnam

Beijing accuses ‘external powers’ of flexing muscles in South China Sea after US carrier docks in Vietnam. Arrival of ‘fully armed vessel’ in disputed waterway is ‘greatest disturbance to peace and stability’, Foreign Minister Wang Yi says.

China’s foreign minister on Thursday took a veiled swipe at a US aircraft carrier’s highly symbolic visit to a Vietnamese port, saying “external powers” were showing off their military muscle and creating a great disturbance in the South China Sea region.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress – the annual session of the country’s ceremonial parliament – Wang Yi said also that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations planned to hold at least three rounds of talks on a code of conduct for handling disputes in the South China Sea, though he avoided answering a question on whether such a code would be legally binding.

The USS Carl Vinson arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam, on Monday, becoming the first aircraft carrier to dock in the country since the end of the Vietnam war in 1975. The visit was seen by some as a warning to Beijing over its military build-up in the region.

China's Foreigh Minister Wang Yi

“Now the major challenge is that there are certain external powers who are unwilling to accept the stability in the South China Sea and always want to stir up trouble,” Wang said.
“Sending a fully armed vessel and aircraft to show off its military powers in the South China Sea has become the greatest disturbance to the peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

The US aircraft carrier was accompanied on the port call by the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain and destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer. The three ships had a combined crew of about 6,500 sailors and Marines.

Meanwhile, a recent report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, said China has completed the construction of a large communications/sensor array on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands, which could be used for intelligence gathering.

The US Navy’s guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (left) and destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer accompanied aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on its port visit to Dan Nang in Vietnam. Photo: EPA-EFE

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, through which about US$5 trillion worth of goods passes every year. And despite a landmark ruling in 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that said there was no legal basis for China’s maritime claims, it has pressed ahead with island building in the disputed waterway.

The Philippine Inquirer newspaper reported last month that China has almost finished transforming seven reefs in the Spratly Islands into military bastions, with ports, air strips, lighthouses, hangars and multistorey buildings.

Despite the concerns over its rapid militarisation in the region, Wang said China remained steadfast in its commitment to maintaining peace and stability.

“The basis of our handling of South China Sea issues is that … we are responsible for the Chinese people, we are responsible for the historical facts, we are responsible for peace in the region, and we are responsible for the international rule of law,” he said.

China has been Asean’s biggest trading partner for the past nine years, with the value of bilateral trade reaching US$500 billion last year, Wang said.
China would continue to build on its relations with Asean, with the focus on increasing cooperation on political and security issues, economics and trade, cultural exchanges, and the Mekong River, he said. - SCMP

The quiet night glow of Bai Dinh pagoda

Bai Dinh pagoda in the northern province of Ninh Binh has been attracting many pilgrims during early days of the lunar New Year due to its remarkable Buddhist architectural structures and for the tranquil atmosphere and stunning beauty at night.

Bai Dinh is Vietnam’s largest pagoda. It is open to 9pm daily for visitors and is accessible around the clock during the festival.

The highlight of Bai Dinh pagoda is the night time view of 13-storey Bao Thien tower. It costs VND50,000 for each visitor to go up to the tower by elevator.

Bai Dinh pagoda festival opens on the 6th day of the first lunar month and lasts until March. Visitors have the chance to discover giant bronze Buddha statues during the night time tour of the pagoda.

Tam The temple is the highest structure in the pagoda and is home to many giant Buddha statues.

Concluding the tour, visitors can enjoy coffee on the summit of Dinh Mountain while enjoying the cool and quiet ambience of Bai Dinh pagoda at night.

VOV / VNE

India, Vietnam emphasise freedom of navigation in South China Sea

Amid increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region, India and Vietnam have underlined the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, while calling for peaceful settlement of disputes without threat or use of force.

Prime Minister Modi and President Tran had a convergence of views on various bilateral and international issues, including the regional security situation in Asia, a joint statement said.

After delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang yesterday, the two countries also resolved to deepen cooperation in the field of defence and security.

The Vietnamese side reiterated its consistent support for India's permanent membership to United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a joint statement said.

The two sides had also inked pacts for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, trade and investment, and agriculture following Modi-Tran talks.

India and Vietnam also agreed to further cooperate in maintaining peace, stability and development in the Indo-Pacific region as well as in the world at large.

"They also reiterated the importance of, and the need for complete compliance with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), including the implementation of international legal obligations," the statement said.

Read more: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-vietnam-emphasise-freedom-of-navigation-in-south-china-sea/articleshow/63158850.cms

The supercarrier USS Carl Vinson's operations in Vietnam

USS Carl Vinson and other US Navy warships entering the port of Da Nang, began a five-day visit to Vietnam.

The visit of a U.S. aircraft carrier to Vietnam for the first time since the end of the Vietnam War is a powerful symbol of the growing strategic ties between the former foes.

* More video here: https://www.facebook.com/kimluctv/videos/1413910502051573/

USS Lake Champlain at Tien Sa port. This is the Ticonderoga class cruiser, which has been in operation since 1988.

- 12:26

USS Carl Vinson has been anchored at Tien Sa port, 1 km from the shore.

- 11:50 GMT+7

USS Carl Vinson is entering the port of Tien Sa

Vietnamese navigators began to approach the USS Carl Vinson. Four ships of the border guards guard the outer of the carrier.

USS Carl Vinson is about 5 km from shore of Da Nang

At 9:30 am on March 5, an US Navy officer was on Vong Canh Hill at Son Tra peninsula to check, monitor, prepare to welcome the ships dock. About 3,000 American sailors will be present during this visit. The escort of USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier are USS Lake Champlain cruiser and the USS Wayne E. Meyer destroyer.

India, Vietnam vow to jointly work for open, prosperous Indo-Pacific

Modi and Tran make pledges that send a message to China. India and Vietnam ink three pacts providing for cooperation in nuclear energy, trade and agriculture, besides deciding to boost ties in oil and gas exploration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang before their delegation level meeting in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: AP

New Delhi: India and Vietnam on Saturday resolved to work jointly for an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific along with an efficient and rules-based regional security architecture, seen as a message to China over its growing military expansion in the region.

After wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quang, the two strategic partners inked three pacts providing for cooperation in nuclear energy, trade and agriculture, besides deciding to boost ties in oil and gas exploration.

Modi said both sides expressed commitment for an open, efficient and rules-based regional architecture and to expand bilateral maritime cooperation further. “We will jointly work for an open, independent and prosperous Indo Pacific region where sovereignty and international laws are respected and where differences are resolved through talks,” Modi said in a media statement in the presence of the Vietnamese president.

In an apparent reference to the South China Sea dispute, the Vietnamese president said it supports India’s multi-faceted “connectivity” with ASEAN and asserted that there must be freedom of navigation and over flight in the region. He said that disputes must be resolved through peaceful means.

Vietnam and several other ASEAN member countries have territorial disputes with China over the resource-rich South China Sea. While India, the US and several other world powers have been pressing for resolution of the dispute on the basis of international law, China has been favouring a bilateral framework with respective countries.

“We reaffirm our close collaboration to support India to further its relations and multi-faceted connectivity with ASEAN attaching high importance to the maintenance of security, maritime safety and freedom of navigation and over flight, settlement of disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law including ULCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea),” Quang said.

The Vietnamese president said it was important to respect the diplomatic and legal process in resolution of the dispute. He said both sides also agreed to work closely to address regional security challenges including in the domain of maritime and cyber security.

On defence cooperation, which is on an upswing, the prime minister said both sides decided to cooperate in defence production and explore opportunities in transfer of technology. During the talks, Modi said India and Vietnam have also “agreed” to deepen trade and investment ties in sectors like oil and gas exploration, renewable energy, agriculture and textiles.

He said the two sides will also look for trilateral partnership in oil and gas sector. The three pacts signed after the talks between the two leaders will provide for cooperation in areas of nuclear energy, trade and agriculture.

Earlier in the day, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Vietnamese president. Their discussions focused on steps to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership by expanding cooperation across all sectors, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Quang was also given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. - Livemint

China shows its missiles can strike covering US bases in Japan and S. Korea

China recently launched a video projecting military power, launching a series of cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, the range that covered US bases in Korea and Japan.

According to the Daily Star, state-run Chinese media recently posted video of DF-10 cruise missiles firing from ground launchers.

The missile has a range of 1,500 kilometers, covering the US military base in Korea and on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

Philippine Navy's first modern frigates to act as anti-air platforms

The state-run Philippine News Agency quoted Philippine Navy chief Rear Adm. Robert Empedrad as saying that the two frigates from South Korea will be employed as anti-air platforms.

Once completed and delivered fully functional in 2020, the two missile-armed frigates contracted from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), will serve as the Navy's first anti-air missile platform.

This was the response of Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad when asked if the PN has any "anti-access or area capability" during the Senate hearing on the Frigate Acquisition Project (FAP) last week.

"In the current inventory of the PN, we don’t have capability for aerial denial. Wala pa tayong (We do not have) anti-air missile capability na ship that can hit an incoming aerial object. But except for our frigates supposedly kung ma-deliver (once delivered), ito lang iyong (this will only be the) first time that we will have that capability for aerial denial," he added.

The frigates, now being built by HHI, will be armed with weapons capable of neutralizing surface, sub-surface and air threats aside from capable of electronic warfare.

The above-mentioned ships have a contract of PHP18 billion, including their weapons systems and munitions.

In the FAP hearing, issues concerning the brand of combat management system to be installed were discussed. (PNA)

Drunk idiot at wedding in Pakistan fires into crowd with his AK-47

A Pakistan wedding turned fatal when a drunken reveler accidentally fired his AK-47 into a dancing crowd (WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE) - RT

A Pakistan wedding turned fatal when a drunken reveler accidentally fired his AK-47 into a dancing crowd (WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE) pic.twitter.com/bjmslfWexK

— RT (@RT_com) Ngày 02 tháng 03 năm 2018

Vietnam shows video of the most powerful anti-ship missiles P-35P/ 4K44B Redut-M live fire

The Vietnamese Navy has putted in service a very dangerous anti-ship cruise missile P-35P. With a 1 tonne warhead and a range of 460km, this type of missile can completely knock down an aircraft carrier if it hits.

It is notable that Vietnam is the only foreign country, beside Russia, that owns the anti-ship missile system.

The missile of the Redut-M system of the Vietnamese navy is trying to destroy the target.

The rocket has a cruising altitude of 100-400m when approaching the target.

Especially the missile can use its radar to guide other missiles to destroy the target.

When approaching the target, the missile warhead lower the altitude below 100m to avoid radar and enemy interception system. At this point they will go at Mach 1.4 and destroy the target.

Why the Vietnam President’s India Visit Matters for Security Ties

The weekend trip attests to the logic of increased security cooperation between the two major Asian players.

In addition to the manifold story lines that have emerged in recent days, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s India visit, which kicked off on March 2 and will last till March 4, is a testament to the growing closeness in the bilateral security ties between Hanoi and New Delhi.

Quang’s visit comes at a time when momentum for bilateral ties and India’s ties with Southeast Asia in general are at a high level. This is a trip that is coming just a few weeks of the Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to India as chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January, along with the leaders from all the other ASEAN countries.

Quang’s visit also marks 45 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and India and is centered on continuing efforts to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. According to the Vietnamese Ambassador in India, Ton Sinh Thanh, the President will deliver an address on March 4, which is set to be an “important policy statement.”

On the security side, India and Vietnam share concerns about the growing Chinese power and how it might impact on their national security. Nowhere is that clearer than in the South China Sea. Responding to China’s aggressive posturing in the South China Sea, Vietnam has called on India to play a more proactive role in Southeast Asia.

India, for its part, has reiterated the importance of and adherence to international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in settling the South China Sea issue. Speaking about the Indo-Pacific waters in Indonesia in January this year, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said, “These waters must not only get better connected, but remain free from traditional and non-traditional threats, that impede free movement of people, goods and ideas. Respect for international law, notably UNCLOS, in ensuring this is, therefore imperative.” She added that ASEAN and India are maritime nations and that India will strive “to evolve a regional architecture based on the twin principles of shared security, and shared prosperity.”

Both India and Vietnam have unresolved disputes with China and have been subjected to aggressive Chinese tactics. Vietnam is one of the handful of countries in Southeast Asia that has stood up to Chinese pressure, even though how long Vietnam can hold up against China is open to question. In addition to the gross imbalance of power between the two countries, a recent RAND study concludes that Vietnam may not be able to engage in “an extended, large-scale, or high-intensity conventional conflict in the region” for a variety of reasons. Thus, it is no surprise that Vietnam is keen that states like India, Japan, and the United States help build up its capabilities, especially on the air and naval fronts.

India is clearly keen to help, and New Delhi has a comprehensive defense and security relationship with Vietnam. The growing number of high-level bilateral visits, annual security dialogues, and military-to-military cooperation are an indication of the growing convergence in security matters. The Joint Commission Meeting at the Foreign Ministers’ level and the Foreign Office Consultations, Strategic Dialogue at the Foreign Secretary level, and Security Dialogue at the Defense Secretary level are some of the useful institutional mechanisms that have propelled the relationship.

Beyond this, India has been training the Vietnamese military in operating its Russian-built Kilo-class submarines and SU-30 fighter jets. Supply of military spares, maintenance of hardware, and ship visits are also other important facets of the defense cooperation. The two sides have also signed an MoU for Coast Guard-to-Coast Guard collaboration. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Vietnam, New Delhi gave Hanoi a $500 million line of credit for defense cooperation. Sale of Brahmos missiles to Vietnam has also been reported from time to time, though it has yet to be confirmed.

While defense ties have somewhat dominated the headlines regarding the relationship because of China, there is an effort to continue to boost other aspects of the relationship as well, particularly in the economic realm. It is therefore no surprise that the visiting delegation includes the Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, ministers for trade and industry and planning and investment, as well as a large group of businessmen. During the visit, the two countries are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on nuclear energy, agriculture and trade and investment. An MoU for joint port development and a joint venture on a coal project are also likely to be signed during the visit.

To be sure, the India-Vietnam bilateral trade is a miniscule one compared to Vietnam-China bilateral trade, which is around $70 billion. But it is also true that given India’s market size and continued economic improvements and Vietnam’s rapidly rising economic profile, trade and investment should pick up in the bilateral context with India. This could in turn also give fillip to the bilateral strategic engagement, making the relationship a more comprehensive one.

Shared concerns about China have brought India and Vietnam particularly close in the recent years. Unless China mends its ways, which seems quite unlikely, expect to see Hanoi and New Delhi continue deepening their strategic and defense ties in the future. - The Diplomat

Japan invests $ 37.5 billion in a super project in Hanoi

In less than a decade, some Hanoi residents might be able to live and work in a smart town that’s built entirely with Japanese technologies.

According to an in-depth feature by Nikkei Asian Review, the Japanese government is teaming up with more than 20 companies to construct a smart town in Vietnam from scratch. Work on the project – the biggest Japan-led project overseas so far – is already underway and aiming for a 2023 launch.

The town spans 310 hectares and will cost JPY4 trillion (US$37.3 billion). Funding for the town will come from the pocket of the companies, the Japanese government’s overseas development assistance, and subsidies from the Vietnamese government.

Plans for developing the high-tech town is in line with Japan’s initiative to attract more international orders by using the Vietnam project as a platform for Japanese companies to showcase the quality and convenience of their products, from logistic solutions to subway construction to retail and services.

The 20-odd involved firms each brings their own expertise into making the town a reality. General trader Sumitomo Corp. leads the consortium while the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) helps with negotiating on the Vietnam side.

Architecture firm Nikken Sekkei will design the smart town, which will be situated just 15 minutes away from Hanoi’s downtown. In the future, urbanites can also travel to the “Japan town” via Hanoi’s Metro Line 2. There have also been talks to establish a link to Noi Bai International Airport.

Among the project partners are Mitsubishi and Tokyo Metro. The former is set to populate the future town with self-driving buses and electric charging stations while the latter will lend its expertise to subway operation. Within the new town, the consortium hopes to add a Japanese touch with scores of cherry trees.

The article revealed that the town could commence work on the first phase this October, putting some 7,000 residential and commercial structures on the map by the end of 2019. These condo units will be available at JPY10-15 million each (VND2.1-3.2 billion) and come outfitted with Japanese amenities, such as Panasonic appliances, air-conditioning from Daikin, and smart meters from telecommunication firm KDDI. - Saigoneer

In pics, Vietnamese home-made anti-ship missile X35 unveiled in a TV news

In a television news of QPVN - a TV channel of Vietnam's Defense Ministry on March 1st, 2018, Vietnam unveiled its domestically made anti-ship misile called X35.

The 3M24 or X35 anti-ship missile (export variant called 3M24E or X-35E) is a subsonic cruise missile developed by KTRV and produced with variants for aircraft, helicopters, floating ships (Uranium / Uranium-E) and the Bal / Bal-E Coastal Missile System.

The X-35E anti-ship missile has a range of 130 km to destroy missiles, torpedoes, artillery, ships up to 5,000 tons and ocean liners. Russia has developed an improved version of the X35-UE that is 2-2.5 times more powerful than the X-35E and has a range of 260 km, twice more than the X-35E.

Nowaday, Vietnam produces this kind of missiles itshelf with the suport of Russian technology.

Another variant of this type of missile is the KCT-15, which is also manufactured by Vietnam.

Putin showed in the video a nuclear strike on the US

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday used a concept video of unlimited range nuclear warheads apparently raining down on Florida.

Putin boasted about the Kremlin's resurgent military might during his annual address to his nation's Parliament, hyping weaponry that he said would render NATO defenses "completely useless."

He drew repeated applause with animation-backed claims of nuclear-capable weapons that elude air-defense systems and "invincible" missiles that travel at hypersonic speed.

"Any use of nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies, any kind of attack, will be regarded as a nuclear attack against Russia, and in response, we will take action instantaneously no matter what the consequences are," Putin said. "Nobody should have any doubt about that."

Putin, who is up for re-election March 18, used Thursday's speech to showcase his country's strides in military technology.

"Russia still has the greatest nuclear potential in the world, but nobody listened to us," he said. "Listen now."

To drive home his point, Putin spoke as a video showed multiple nuclear warheads streaking through space before showering down on what appears to be the outline of the state of Florida.

"But even this is not the end," Putin said. "We've developed new strategic weapons that don't use ballistic trajectory at all, which means that missile defense will be useless against it."

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that Putin's remarks confirmed what the United States has long known: "Russia has been developing destabilizing weapons systems for over a decade, in direct violation of its treaty obligations," she said.

"President Trump understands the threats facing America and our allies in this century and is determined to protect our homeland and preserve peace through strength," she added. "US defense capabilities are and will remain second to none."

US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said department officials watched Putin's speech with interest.

"It was certainly unfortunate to have watched the video animation that depicted a nuclear attack on the United States," she said. "That's certainly something that we did not enjoy watching. We don't regard that as the behavior of a responsible international player."

CNN national security analyst Samantha Vinograd said Putin's braggadocio was meant to rile up Trump, whose presidency has been marred by investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
"I do think Vladimir Putin was speaking to one audience," she said. "It wasn't anyone in Russia. It was Donald Trump."

"He was trying to get the President distracted from anything that Trump may be doing to hold Russia accountable for the ongoing attack on the United States," she said. "The President's inaction makes Vladimir Putin think, 'Why wouldn't I say all this? Why wouldn't I show that I can violate treaties and laws and talk about strategic attacks all around the world?' Vladimir Putin has no reason to feel constrained in any way." - CNN

Vietnam's navy equipped with the latest Israeli reconnaissance aircraft

At the 2018 Navy Training Corps of the 954th Air Force Brigade, a very modern Israeli-style reconnaissance aircraft has appeared.

The image shows the presence of an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft that is known as Israel's Orbiter 2.

In 2014, the Flight Globe magazine said that Vietnam had ordered Israel's Orbiter 2 drone system for use in airborne surveillance missions for artillery arms.

According to the product catalog of Aeronautics Defense Systems (Israel) - maker of Orbiter 2 unmanned aerial vehicles, this modern airborne scout unit has a length of 1m, wingspan of 3m, takeoff weight is 9.5kg.

Just two people are enough to operate all the features and can be deployed manually or on a mobile transportation.

In terms of technical characteristics - Orbiter 2 has a flight altitude of 500 - 600m, the largest flight ceiling is 5,400m, the range of operation 80km, the speed of flight from 55 to 130 km / h, flight time max is 4 hours.

Orbiter 2 was launched by launcher and recovered by parachute launch.

These unmanned aerial reconnaissance aircraft are capable of self-guided flight and remain operational even when GPS (Global Positioning System) interferes with or interruption of communication.

Why a First US Aircraft Carrier Vietnam Visit Matters

A closer look at the broader significance behind a much-anticipated development.

In the next few days, a U.S. aircraft carrier will make a port call in Vietnam’s coastal city of Danang for the first time since the end of the Vietnam War. Though the move has long been in the works and is just a single engagement, it nonetheless bears noting given its significance for U.S.-Vietnam ties, U.S. defense policy, as well as the region more broadly.

The idea of a U.S. aircraft carrier visit to Vietnam has been in the works since last year and first surfaced publicly in the context of the meeting between Vietnam’s Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in August 2017. Both sides have since been finalized details over several subsequent meetings and have been keeping specifics close to the chest. Before the sensationalist headlines tied to the expected visit of the USS Carl Vinson roll in, it is important to understand the broader significance of the visit on three fronts.

First, it is yet another in a series of boosts within the context of the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral defense ties which, for all their limits, have been on the uptick over the past few years as I’ve observed repeatedly. Though several other U.S. vessels have already visited Vietnam and both sides continue to work to expand efforts in this realm under a Trump presidency, an aircraft carrier is obviously a much bigger visible symbol of demonstration of American presence within the context of the relationship.

Within that context, the visit should be understood as not just a one-off event but part of a gradual integration of U.S. aircraft carriers in the relationship. Last October, Vietnam Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh became the highest ranking Vietnamese official to embark on a U.S. aircraft carrier when he boarded the USS Carl Vinson. And just a few days back, Vietnam’s Ambassador to the United States Pham Quang Vinh was given a tour of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush as part of a two-day official visit to Norfolk, Virginia. Vietnam’s hosting of a U.S. carrier would no doubt be a further step forward in this regard and would be testament to Hanoi’s growing comfort in hosting U.S. vessels as well as its increasing role in supporting U.S. efforts in the broader context of the Asia-Pacific.

Second, the aircraft carrier visit is significant in the context of U.S. regional defense strategy. As noted earlier, aircraft carriers are a way for Washington to reinforce the longstanding reality of a robust U.S. regional presence, which is particularly important in the face of anxieties over Chinese maritime assertiveness. Indeed, it is no coincidence that the Vietnam visit is part of a broader voyage for the USS Carl Vinson strike group that also included a stop in the Philippines amid other engagements that have also involved the key Southeast Asian claimants in the South China Sea disputes (for instance, the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer was also in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia for a port visit last week).

More broadly, the visit also spotlights the role of the USS Carl Vinson itself in the context of U.S. defense planning. As Washington has wrestled with the greater operational burdens for its vessels and looked for ways to manage that growing stress – as evidenced by the recent accidents and delays facing the Seventh Fleet – one of the solutions has been the greater involvement of the Third Fleet in the Western Pacific under the Third Fleet Forward initiative since 2016, which affords greater flexibility for operations including those designed to demonstrate U.S. presence. The Carl Vinson strike group is a tangible demonstration of Third Fleet Forward, carrying out its first deployment under that banner last year, and now on its second which officially kicked off last month.

Third and finally, beyond just the United States and Vietnam, the visit also bears significance in terms of the regional context as well. As I have detailed before, there remains palpable anxiety in key Southeast Asian capitals that 2018 could see some more provocative moves by China in the South China Sea after a year where there was some relative easing of tensions. There certainly is a case for this based on various factors, including the fact that China has moved past a year of domestic consolidation with the Party Congress last year and the Trump administration is set to follow through with a tougher line on China this year on several fronts that could lead Beijing to retaliate in turn.

In that context, the carrier visit is significant not only because it reinforces Washington’s current determination on the South China Sea issue, but also because such moves leave open the future possibility that it Beijing might seize on them as a pretext for rolling out moves it already had planned on doing anyway as it has been fond of doing in the past. As is often the case in the South China Sea as with international relations more broadly, though some aspects of the significance of a single event are often clear at the outset, others become more evident in relation to others that occur thereafter.

The Diplomat

Amazing drone footage captures Paris in the snow

Drone footage captures the beauty of Paris as it is covered in a dusting of snow, showcasing its famous landmarks. Report by Sarah Duffy.

China to develop its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

MELBOURNE, Australia — One of China’s largest shipbuilders has revealed plans to speed up the development of China’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, as part of China’s ambition to transform its navy into a blue-water force by the middle of the next decade.

The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning arrives in Hong Kong waters on July 7, 2017, less than a week after a high-profile visit by president Xi Jinping. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

In a since-amended news release outlining the company’s future strategic direction in all of its business areas, the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, or CSIC, said the shipbuilding group will redouble efforts to achieve technological breakthroughs in nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, new nuclear-powered submarines, quieter conventionally powered submarines, underwater artificial intelligence-based combat systems and integrated networked communications systems.

CSIC is responsible for both civilian and military shipbuilding activities in the north and the west of China.

The company release added that these breakthroughs are required for China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, to enhance its capability to globally operate in line with the service’s aim to become a networked, blue-water navy by 2025.

The original news release, which Defense News has seen and translated, has since been deleted from CSIC’s website and replaced by one missing all references to the details listed above. The updated release instead merely notes that the company “must resolutely implement (Chinese President) Xi Jinping’s thinking on strengthening our armed forces and take the building of a modern warfare system with Chinese characteristics as a guide to speed up breakthroughs in key core technologies.”

Chinese J-15 fighter jets are launched from the deck of the Liaoning aircraft carrier during military drills in the South China Sea on Jan. 2, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

CSIC was responsible for the refurbishment of China’s sole operational aircraft carrier, which was originally laid down as the Soviet Union’s Admiral Kuznetsov-class carrier Varyag. The hulk was acquired from Ukraine in the late 1990s and entered service with the PLAN in 2012 as the Liaoning.

The company is also building China’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, a slightly modified version of the Liaoning featuring various improvements. The ship is currently being fitted out at CSIC’s shipyard in Dalian, where the Liaoning was refurbished.

China is also reportedly planning a larger, conventionally powered aircraft carrier that will be equipped with electromagnetic catapults to launch aircraft, having previously claimed that it has made a breakthrough that will see the ship generating sufficient power to operate the power-hungry catapults.

The PLAN is already operating a pair of catapults — one believed to be steam-driven while the other an electromagnetic catapult — for carrier operations training at its air base in Liaoning Province where its Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark carrier-borne fighters are based.

The PLAN’s current aircraft carriers can only launch aircraft using ski-jumps, which restrict their ability to operate aircraft such as turboprop-powered airborne early warning aircraft.

That particular aircraft’s engines are unable to generate sufficient thrust to take off from an aircraft carrier without catapults, instead relying on lower-flying helicopters fitted with radars for the carrier-borne early warning mission. This in turn limits the PLAN’s carrier battle groups’ effectiveness in the fleet’s defense mission.

Collin Koh, a research fellow at the Maritime Security Programme of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told Defense News that a Chinese nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will facilitate the continued increase in China’a naval presence, with its longer endurance compared to conventionally powered aircraft carriers allowing longer “out of area” operations in distant waters such as the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

It will also allow the PLAN to respond faster to contingencies, such as showing presence at regional hot spots, or humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Koh cited the U.S. Navy’s use of an aircraft carrier during relief efforts following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

He added that the PLAN will benefit from its experience with operating nuclear-powered submarines if or when it introduces nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, despite the possibility of initial complications regarding logistics and infrastructure to support nuclear-powered surface vessels. - Defense News

China’s military flexes muscles for domestic objective: more funding

With stealth jets entering service, leaked pictures of new high-tech naval artillery and proud reports of manoeuvres, China’s armed forces are putting on a show of power as they lobby for greater defence spending

China’s defence spending is only about one-quarter that of the United States, if official figures are accurate. Photo: Reuters

Beijing: With stealth jets entering service, leaked pictures of new high-tech naval artillery and proud reports of manoeuvres that “dare to shine the sword,” China’s armed forces are putting on a show of power as they lobby for greater defence spending.

Although it is the world’s largest military, the People’s Liberation Army has been privately unhappy that it got less than double-digit funding increases the past two years. It has recently been making the case that it needs more money to deal with increased global uncertainty, diplomats and several people with ties to the armed forces say.

In the run-up to the defence budget’s release at the annual meeting of China’s parliament next week, state media outlets have been filled with coverage of military drills, advanced new equipment and thrilling tales of derring-do in a new film very loosely based on China’s evacuating people from Yemen’s civil war in 2015.

The overall message is clear: China faces serious challenges, from US President Donald Trump’s threats of force against nuclear-armed North Korea to an increasingly tense border dispute with India and what Beijing sees as efforts by self-ruled Taiwan to assert its sovereignty.

Confronting those challenges requires cash, a point the military is now trying to drive home.

“If you keep telling your people China is facing all these threats, you have to be able to back it up to show you are spending enough,” said a senior Beijing-based Western diplomat.

President Xi Jinping promised in his keynote speech to the Communist Party Congress in October to make China’s armed forces world-class by the middle of the century. The military has deployed an increasingly sophisticated propaganda machine to make sure that promise stays top of mind.

A professionally shot air force video released to celebrate the Lunar New Year this month entitled “New fighters of the great power to safeguard the new era” led with footage of the latest fighter to enter service, the J-20 stealth jet, designed as a counterpart to the radar-evading the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

“It looks like they are making the case for a large rise in defence spending,” said an Asian diplomat, speaking of the recent uptick in military-related stories in China.

Nervous neighbours

China’s defence spending is only about one-quarter that of the United States, if official figures are accurate. China has repeatedly said that it has no hostile intent, that its military is for defensive missions, and that defence spending is transparent.

Many of the country’s neighbours beg to differ, calling out what they see as Chinese sabre-rattling as it ramps up drills in the region.

Vietnam, one of the most vocal opponents of China’s South China Sea claims, has tightened its military relationship with the United States. Taiwan has pledged to grow defence spending, and wants to buy new, advanced US equipment.

The official People’s Liberation Army Daily said this month that although China was committed to a defensive military policy, it had to “dare to shine the sword” with air patrols far from China’s coast, whether close to Taiwan or over uninhabited islets disputed with Japan in the East China Sea.

Such flights, it said, protected China’s “bottom line” on strategic issues.

One person with ties to the military said another pressing area for more spending was salaries, which have not kept up with those of private-sector workers.

“Simply relying on ‘the great Xi to lead us to victory’ won’t cut it,” the person said, referring to efforts to recruit the best and the brightest into the military by appealing to national pride.

Between the lines

The defence budget will only disclose a top-line number, with a percentage comparison to the previous year. No breakdown on spending is provided.

Last year, China’s parliament did not initially release the figure, sparking questions over transparency. But when it did, the budget increase was 7%, the smallest in more than a decade.

The budgeted increase of 7.6% for 2016 was the lowest in six years and the first single-digit rise since 2010, following a nearly unbroken two-decade run of double-digit increases.

Experts say the true figure is likely much higher than what is officially reported, with money for some military projects included in ostensibly non-military spending.

“Particularly given China’s civil-military integration, it is difficult to know where defence spending ends” and civilian research and development begins, said another Western diplomat, who analyses China’s military.

Some defence experts say that China is eroding the United States’ military technology dominance and that the People’s Liberation Army could surpass the US military in artificial intelligence capabilities, which have become a spending priority for Beijing.

But in the absence of transparency about new technologies, such as an experimental electromagnetic railgun state media suggested this year was being tested aboard a Chinese warship, there is scepticism about their combat readiness.

China has not fought a war since 1979, a brief invasion of Vietnam that ended badly for China.

China’s defence ministry declined to comment ahead of the figure being released by parliament. The general percentage rise is typically given the day before parliament opens, and the raw figure the next day. Parliament opens 5 March. Reuters