Asia will see an arm race due to spratly islands claim
-
President Aquino: Ship symbol of our defense
The Philippines’ newest warship, which sailed on Tuesday into Manila Bay after a 14,679-kilometer voyage from the United States, was hailed by President Benigno Aquino III as a symbol of the country’s determination to defend its claims in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
“This is just the beginning. Expect more good news because we will not stop at one ship,” Mr. Aquino said as the refurbished Hamilton-class cutter BRP Gregorio del Pilar dropped anchor, ending a 33-day voyage across the Pacific Ocean.
“This ship symbolizes our newly acquired ability to guard, protect, and if necessary, fight for the interests of our country,” the President said.
The 3,390-ton, 115-meter Gregorio del Pilar, a decommissioned US Coast Guard vessel, is 46 years old. It replaces a World War II-era destroyer as the country’s flagship vessel.
Mr. Aquino said the “new” flagship vessel would help protect the country’s exclusive economic zone and its oil and gas exploration activities in the contested sea.
“This will upgrade our capability to guard our exclusive economic zone as well as the service contract areas,” he said in a welcoming speech.
Many of those areas are claimed by China, which insists it has sovereign rights to almost all of the disputed territory, even waters approaching the coasts of Southeast Asian countries.
Other parts of the West Philippine Sea, including a cluster of isles and reefs called the Spratly Islands, are believed to be rich in oil and mineral resources and straddle vital sea lanes. They are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Revival of Philippine Navy
The Philippine Navy chief, Vice Adm. Alexander Pama, hailed the Gregorio del Pilar as a timely boost to the Philippines’ military power.
“[It] now symbolizes the revival of the Philippine Navy,” Pama said at the welcoming ceremony.
“The Gregorio del Pilar’s ability to operate in adverse conditions… will be vital in securing our maritime nation’s territory and asserting our sovereignty in areas where our capability is now seriously needed, he added.”
US Navy impressed
Officials said the 95 crew members of the Gregorio del Pilar impressed the US Navy with how quickly they learned how to operate one of the largest ships ever built for the US Coast Guard.
Led by Capt. Alberto Cruz, the 13 officers—three of them women—and 82 enlisted personnel trained rigorously in the United States from February before setting out for the Philippines.
“They were quite impressed with our troops,” Pama said.
An initial batch that included Cruz and 20 other officers and enlisted personnel underwent rigorous training on board the USCG Boutwell, a sister ship, for two months.
The 21-member team then trained the next batch of 74 crew members.
The ship was acquired under the Mutual Defense Treaty that gives the Philippines access to decommissioned US defense equipment.
The Philippine military’s budget of about $2.5 billion this year is just a fraction of China’s published defense spending of about $90 billion.
China warning
Manila clinched the deal to acquire the Gregorio del Pilar—named after the youngest Philippine revolutionary general who fought the Spanish and died in combat against American forces—early this year before the tensions with China flared.
The United States has since promised to help upgrade the Philippine military further, but no details have been released.
China’s state-run media this month warned the Philippines it could pay a “high price” for building up its military presence in the West Philippine Sea.
But bilateral ties remain strong in other areas, and Mr. Aquino will pay a state visit to China next week.
Jets, armored carriers
Mr. Aquino spent nearly two hours in a tour of the vessel. A select group of reporters were also allowed to tour the ship.
The President has set his sights on acquiring more ships, trainer fighter jets and armored personnel carriers.
“I want everything. But what we will acquire (are) lead-in jet trainers to keep the skill (levels) of the fighter pilots,” Mr. Aquino said.
He also mentioned acquiring for the Philippine Air Force defense radars, a long-range patrol aircraft and support aircraft.
He also cited the need for amphibious vessels, offshore patrol vessels, at least three naval helicopters and Coast Watch stations.
For the Army, the Philippines plans to buy new assault rifles, armored assets and force protection equipment such as helmets, bulletproof vests, night-fighting equipment and radios, Mr. Aquino said.
“There’s a whole list of modernization items for the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and also the (Philippine National Police) and the Coast Guard,” the President added.
Defenseless in airspace
The country has been defenseless in its airspace since 2001, when the Philippine Air Force last flew a fighter jet. The obsolete F-5 jets were decommissioned in 2005.
Mr. Aquino said the country had to carefully weigh whether acquiring a submarine is “practical, whether or not it meets our needs.”
He cited the experience of a Southeast Asian country, which he did not name, that bought submarines from Eastern Europe for a “bargain” price of $12 million.
But the buyer discovered that the submarines had to be refitted for tropical purposes so it ended up spending the same amount it would have spent had it bought new submarines.
Pama said the Navy planned to acquire at least two more decommissioned ships from the US Coast Guard.
The Philippine Navy has an old and badly equipped fleet of fewer than 80 ships to protect its coastline and vast marine interests. The fleet is mostly made up of aging World War II vessels. AP News
________________________________________________________
Vietnam boosts naval power with new frigate
-
it'd be foolish to do that.
however much they spend wont be enough to fight with china. the right thing to do is sit down and talk.
and dont involve 3rd parties as they are only interested in selling weapons. we all know which countries they are.
-
phiillippino got a scrap metal for a warship???i dun see how its goin tio win wars.
-
Hope they preserve the old flagship Raja Humabon. It's a classic.
-
China military too powerful, only Russia and USA are not scared of China.
-
If Singapore got three or four new state of the art mini aircraft carriers developed DSTA, would the neighbours...<slap forehead>?
.
-
Originally posted by mancha:
If Singapore got three or four new state of the art mini aircraft carriers developed DSTA, would the neighbours...<slap forehead>?
.
err... if not wrong, Singapore itself is an aircraft carrier.. :)
-
Originally posted by Hitman Journal:
phiillippino got a scrap metal for a warship???i dun see how its goin tio win wars.
well, China didn't exactly built their aircraft carrior out of carbon-fiber..
-
All the neighbours of China are pissed(Taiwan, Japan,S. Korea,India, Philippines, Vietnam etc)
-
Originally posted by Bio-Hawk:
All the neighbours of China are pissed(Taiwan, Japan,S. Korea,India, Philippines, Vietnam etc)
all v 1... maybe also lose la.
-
Originally posted by iceFatboy:
all v 1... maybe also lose la.
Nope: Indians can keep them on hold for a while unless it becomes nuclear. But then Pakistan would join Chinese and Indians would loose. Others can make a difference in this game. Plus Americans and Russians would get in as well. -
Originally posted by iceFatboy:
err... if not wrong, Singapore itself is an aircraft carrier.. :)
too bad this 'aircraft carrier' cannot move.
-
U.S will make use of this dispute to sow discord among the south east asian states and China and try to fish in troubled waters.
-
which should band together and stand up for their own interests. so far only Vietnam is taking a serious stand.
-
Some people in right wing circles of the U.S want to use some states in south east asia as pawns to encircle China and to make trouble in our region.
The outer triangle should comprise Japan, South Korea, and Australia, all American allies, along with India, the next great rising power in the region. The basic political and social values shared by these three countries, along with their commitment to global free trade, provide a common foundation for promoting democratic governance, civil society, and rule of law throughout the region. Each is involved with numerous countries, providing aid, concluding free-trade pacts, and sometimes doing joint military exercises. Most important, each is influential among its neighbors, so all four might take leadership roles in their immediate neighborhoods, in partnership with U.S. military forces. Washington should aim at a permanent high-level forum with these four liberal nations to discuss region-wide security issues, identify common threats and challenges, and pursue a common voice when possible in regional and international institutions.
While it might be easier initially to work with America's three current allies, no realistic diplomatic and security initiative is possible without India's participation. U.S. policy should encourage all four nations to commit to shaping regional political institutions in a liberal vein and to committing resources to uphold regional security both broadly and, more specifically, in their immediate areas. Working with the U.S., each should slowly expand the range of its maritime patrols, conduct larger and more regular military exercises, enhance and share intelligence, and work with smaller nations to encourage liberal development.
While this outer triangle is focused on the grand strategy of the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. should also build an inner triangle, focused on Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. This triangle is centered on the lower South China Sea and, particularly, crucial sea lanes including the Malacca Strait, through which over 50,000 vessels and one-quarter of global trade passes every year, not to mention half of global oil shipments. This area is the hinge between the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, linking together the two halves of the Indo-Pacific. These countries are strategically located, deeply involved in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), pressed by Chinese maritime territorial claims, economically crucial, and (with the exception of Vietnam) liberalizing in varying degrees...
http://www.aei.org/article/103997
-
Tactics to surround used by both sides (and more effective by China). Eg India. China managed to surround India with Pakistan on the left (sold AEW, fighters and even gifted fighters until Pakistan now calls China an all-weather friend). China also has close relations with Bangladesh and Burma (in some cases, considered better than ASEAN). That effectively surrounded India and isolates Tibet from any secession potential.
In the west, China has bond ties with SCO + north = Russia. That is very important due to oil pipelines.
In both areas above, US has very little influence. It is only in the pacific rim that US has influence eg alliances with Japan, Korea, Philippines + Australia/NZ. Good military ties with ASEAN. TRA with Taiwan. The pacific rim unfortunately is where China territorial concerns are most at risk eg Taiwan & South China Sea.
-
U.S is also busy building up ties with India and Japan. They may want to build up a bloc there and link it up with the U.S-Japan-Australia bloc to surround China.
US-India-Japan dialogue to begin at Assistant Secy level
Trilateral Strategic Dialogue Ministerial Meeting - Joint statement by the United States, Japan and Australia
http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2009/fa-s090921d.html
-
Originally posted by mancha:
If Singapore got three or four new state of the art mini aircraft carriers developed DSTA, would the neighbours...<slap forehead>?
.
A RSN mini carrier can possibly be more effective than a chinese CV.- if it operates stealth aircraft eg F-35B, this contrast with non-stealth J-15s.
- F-35B will eventually be able to operate very long ranged weaponry eg 925 km ranged JASSM-ER missiles or 300km ranged JSM ie it can strike first with stealth missiles.
- A vstol carrier can generate more sorties than a stobar and coordinate better with helos ie more efficient even if the chinese CV can carry twice as many aircraft.
Having said that, there is no indication the RSN intends to get one. The F-35B is also at risk of being cut due to US cost pressures. And most important of all, Singapore does not own any territory claimed by China ie no reason to fight.
-
The ruling group in Singapore has always been pro-west.
-
it'll be more fun if the weaklings like Philippines, M'sia, Vietnam, etc gang up to try to take on Chinese Navy...............
-
Originally posted by Dalforce 25:
The ruling group in Singapore has always been pro-west.
Not more than pro-themselves. Above everything they want to remain in power, more than support East West or anybody. -
S'pore is pro-USA.................becoz both Zionist controlled..............
-
...
-
Despite the international aid effort in Somalia, the famine affecting millions of people deepens and the death toll continues to climb.
International organisations are calling for aid to be intensified and in Mogadishu, local officials whose districts have been swamped by new arrivals are echoing that plea.
From dawn to dusk, many work hard to keep the people of Mogadishu alive. …
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-20/food-aid-somalia/2848198 -
Just to add to this discussion. Normally, they conduct multi-lateral armed forces exercise to promote peace and harmony amongst all nations. They should further this course of cooperation to develop the natural resources of spratly islands. They (countries involved) can deploy their armed forces personnel to maintain peace & security in Spratly islands for the smooth function of its dvelopment. It will develop common understanding and sharing amongst them, and a long lasting relationship in the Guiness Record book. A glory of all leadership. The profit gained after all the operating costs, to be firstly deployed for needies, and subsequently, to develop the infrastructure of country not in order of sequence, like philippines, indonesia, Africa, India etc.
