Although collisions, confrontations, and harassment in the South China Sea (SCS) often make the headlines these days, the reach and depth of China’s strategy of intrusive patrolling as Beijing seeks to establish a persistent and dominant presence in the sea are not widely understood. The People’s...
People’s Liberation Army Navy
COLUMN | Taiwan’s first indigenously-built submarine: roles and capabilities [Naval Gazing]
Driven both by concerns over Chinese maritime expansionism and desires to enhance national prestige, many Asian countries are acquiring diesel-electric powered attack submarines. Recent years have seen Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, and the Philippines joining established submarine regional operators such as Japan and South Korea in either commissioning modern boats or enacting plans to […]
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OPINION | China’s “blue dragon” strategy in the Indo-Pacific
To compete strategically with the United States and undermine President Joe Biden’s Indo-Pacific policy, China has quietly been advancing its stealthy divide-and-conquer foreign policy agenda on four different but connected frontiers. The core of Beijing’s comprehensive plan can be described as a “blue dragon” strategy, anchored primarily between two “unsinkable aircraft carriers”, Sri Lanka and […]
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OPINION | Beijing’s plan for Taiwan challenges its offshore wind push
Military considerations are slowing China’s offshore wind energy deployment. The coastal province of Fujian, just opposite Taiwan, is critical to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command, which is responsible for major operations against Taiwan, but also where China’s offshore wind resources are most abundant. The province is a relative laggard in offshore […]
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Another stand-off in Asian waters
In recent months, long-standing tensions between the maritime forces of the Philippines and China in the South China Sea have crystallised over the disputed area of Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. In 1999, Manila deliberately grounded the old Philippine Navy landing ship BRP Sierra...
Russian-Chinese Warship Group Pulls into Qingdao
JMSDF Image
A joint Russian-People’s Liberation Army navy warship group docked at Qingdao, China on Monday. Meanwhile, the Philippines carried out a successful resupply of its outpost in the disputed Spratly Islands on Tuesday.
On Monday, a joint flotilla comprised of Russian Navy destroyers RFS Admiral Panteleyev (548) and RFS Admiral Tributs (564); corvette RFS Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339); and fleet tanker Pechenga; and PLAN destroyers CNS Guiyang (119) and CNS Qiqiha...
https://news.usni.org/2023/08/22/russian-chinese-warship-group-pulls-into-qingdao
Russian, Chinese Warships in East China Sea After Sailing Near Alaska
JMSDF Image
The joint Russian Navy – People’s Liberation Navy (PLAN) flotilla that sailed near Alaska and the Aleutian Islands in early August is now operating in the East China Sea, according to a Thursday Japan Ministry of Defense release.
The flotilla has been sailing together since July 27, when it departed from Vladivostok, Russia. At that time it consisted of 10 ships: Russian Navy destroyers RFS Admiral Panteleyev (548) and RFS Admiral Tributs (564); corvettes RFS Gremyashchiy (337) and...
Matching China’s Military Expansion Might Not Work as a Regional Deterrent, Panel Says
Amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, soldiers assigned to an army brigade under PLA Eastern Theatre Command stay on alert and prepare for landing during a ferrying and assault wave formation training exercise on May 7, 2022. PLA Photo
Matching Beijing’s military might does not appear to work as a deterrent, some experts said this week, as China’s military expansion continues to increase regional tensions.
The United States needs to work to shape Chinese President Xi Jinping’s thinking that...
Russian, Chinese Warships Operated Near Alaska, Say Senators
JSDF Image
A joint Russian and Chinese flotilla sailed near Alaska and the Aleutian Islands earlier this week, two Alaska lawmakers said on Sunday.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said in a joint statement on Saturday they were given a detailed briefing on the joint flotilla and said it comprised of eleven ships.
The pair confirmed that four U.S. Navy destroyers along with a P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft had been despatched to the location of the flotilla,...
https://news.usni.org/2023/08/06/russian-chinese-warships-operated-near-alaska-say-senators
Joint Russian, Chinese Flotilla Underway Off Japan; Recovery Operations Begin for Crashed Australian Helicopter
JMSDF Image
A group of 10 Russian and Chinese warships patrolled near Japan and sailed through the La Perouse Strait from the Sea of Japan to the Sea of Okhotsk over the weekend, the Japan Defense Ministry announced on Saturday.
The Chinese-Russian flotilla was sighted at 3 p.m. Friday, sailing northeast in an area 125 miles southwest of Rebun Island, which lies 31 miles off the northern tip of the main island of Hokkaido, Japanese officials said in a Friday statement.
The People’s Liberation...