The South China Sea's Gathering Storm
"Who knows what else they have on the stocks elsewhere."
Well this thread is full of pictures from commercial satellites showing Chinese bases being built and extended, ships under construction etc etc. I'd have thought that if a large carrier was under construction it would be spotted long before it was launched or floated out.
But your point about other vessels that are capable of carrying drones/helicopters is a good one - IIRC they have 3 LHD's and more building
Well this thread is full of pictures from commercial satellites showing Chinese bases being built and extended, ships under construction etc etc. I'd have thought that if a large carrier was under construction it would be spotted long before it was launched or floated out.
But your point about other vessels that are capable of carrying drones/helicopters is a good one - IIRC they have 3 LHD's and more building
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Not sure if this should be here or the American politics thread in Jet Blast - but, if true, these things can escalate out of control…..
Russia and North Korea may be planning a major military provocation ahead of the US election
A U.S. intelligence official told NBC News that North Korea may resort to the largest military provocation in a decade. He said Pyongyang would likely do so at the behest of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
"We do not doubt that North Korea will behave provocatively this year. The only question is how much the situation will escalate," the U.S. intelligence official said.
Russia and North Korea may be planning a major military provocation ahead of the US election
A U.S. intelligence official told NBC News that North Korea may resort to the largest military provocation in a decade. He said Pyongyang would likely do so at the behest of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
"We do not doubt that North Korea will behave provocatively this year. The only question is how much the situation will escalate," the U.S. intelligence official said.
"We do not doubt that North Korea will behave provocatively this year"
they do that every year pretty much and the Kim dynasty LOVE to see their name in headlines so , yes, I'm sure they'll do their best but they won't do anything too risky - they 're interest is the preservation of their power, not expansion - whatever they say. They're not going to risk putting all their cash on one spin of the wheel
they do that every year pretty much and the Kim dynasty LOVE to see their name in headlines so , yes, I'm sure they'll do their best but they won't do anything too risky - they 're interest is the preservation of their power, not expansion - whatever they say. They're not going to risk putting all their cash on one spin of the wheel
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
https://asiatimes.com/2024/05/us-mul...o-deter-china/
US mulls nuke cruise missiles on subs to deter China
Escalatory move would forward-deploy long-range nuke missiles on Virginia-class attack subs to close a deterrence gap with China
US mulls nuke cruise missiles on subs to deter China
Escalatory move would forward-deploy long-range nuke missiles on Virginia-class attack subs to close a deterrence gap with China
Great. 
We are back to the Cold War with a huge difference: the ability to squeeze the Chinese economically as was done to the USSR simply isn't present.
We are back to the Cold War with a huge difference: the ability to squeeze the Chinese economically as was done to the USSR simply isn't present.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
https://www.twz.com/air/land-based-v...er-makes-sense
Mounting evidence of a new land-based version of the J-35 fighter points to what could be a big boost for PLAAF modernization efforts
Mounting evidence of a new land-based version of the J-35 fighter points to what could be a big boost for PLAAF modernization efforts
Lots of alarming views on LBC radio today. China's claims on Taiwan will have to bear fruit else the claims will look weak and foolish. How those claims can be realised is in dispute but what is known is that it will cause problems for the West.
How long before war with China?
How long before war with China?
I think the probability of an actual Chinese invasion of Taiwan is pretty low given how hard amphibious ops are. A much more likely scenario is that China creates some pretext to blockade Taiwan. Cutting off all civilian maritime trade would be relatively easy and have a devastating effect on the Taiwan economy. The choice for the Taiwanese would be simple, regime change to a Chinese controlled puppet government or economic ruin.
The question is would the West be willing to directly engage PLA forces to break an illegal blockade ?
The question is would the West be willing to directly engage PLA forces to break an illegal blockade ?
Tianxia, literally 'under Heaven', is a Chinese term for a historical Chinese cultural concept that denoted either the entire geographical world or the metaphysical realm of mortals, and later became associated with political sovereignty.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
China Coast Guard seizes PH supplies for Ayungin
MANILA, Philippines — The China Coast Guard (CCG) has been accused of seizing and dumping overboard food and other supplies meant for Filipino troops stationed at a remote outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and allegedly obstructing a medical evacuation of ailing soldiers.
Both incidents took place on May 19, when the Philippine Navy performed an airdrop operation to bring the items to the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated warship grounded in 1999 to protect Manila’s claims to the shoal, according to a ranking military official….
MANILA, Philippines — The China Coast Guard (CCG) has been accused of seizing and dumping overboard food and other supplies meant for Filipino troops stationed at a remote outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and allegedly obstructing a medical evacuation of ailing soldiers.
Both incidents took place on May 19, when the Philippine Navy performed an airdrop operation to bring the items to the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated warship grounded in 1999 to protect Manila’s claims to the shoal, according to a ranking military official….
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Subic Bay
#Philippines To Reopen Subic Bay Airfield
The Philippine Air Force will create a new base on the site of a former American naval air station at Subic Bay to increase its aerial surveillance and power projection capabilities in the South China Sea according to the Naval News publication.
Joshua Bernard Espeña, vice president at the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, told Naval News that this new base at Subic Bay is a “significant leap”in the Philippine military’s efforts to develop joint operations.
“It also tells about the operationalization of the Philippines’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) with the logic of filling the gaps of defending a vast archipelago; the key is a rapid and coordinated response, hence Subic being the classic location for the FOB,” said Espeña.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has identified Subic Bay International Airport as a staging point for “Joint Air-Sea-Land Operations” under its strategic basing plan, which aims to identify points across the country’s vast archipelago to support and project forces beyond territorial waters and into Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
The Philippine Air Force will create a new base on the site of a former American naval air station at Subic Bay to increase its aerial surveillance and power projection capabilities in the South China Sea according to the Naval News publication.
Joshua Bernard Espeña, vice president at the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, told Naval News that this new base at Subic Bay is a “significant leap”in the Philippine military’s efforts to develop joint operations.
“It also tells about the operationalization of the Philippines’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) with the logic of filling the gaps of defending a vast archipelago; the key is a rapid and coordinated response, hence Subic being the classic location for the FOB,” said Espeña.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has identified Subic Bay International Airport as a staging point for “Joint Air-Sea-Land Operations” under its strategic basing plan, which aims to identify points across the country’s vast archipelago to support and project forces beyond territorial waters and into Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
But will they reopen the Cubi Point O'Club? 
China Coast Guard seizes PH supplies for Ayungin
MANILA, Philippines — The China Coast Guard (CCG) has been accused of seizing and dumping overboard food and other supplies meant for Filipino troops stationed at a remote outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and allegedly obstructing a medical evacuation of ailing soldiers.
Both incidents took place on May 19, when the Philippine Navy performed an airdrop operation to bring the items to the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated warship grounded in 1999 to protect Manila’s claims to the shoal, according to a ranking military official….
MANILA, Philippines — The China Coast Guard (CCG) has been accused of seizing and dumping overboard food and other supplies meant for Filipino troops stationed at a remote outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and allegedly obstructing a medical evacuation of ailing soldiers.
Both incidents took place on May 19, when the Philippine Navy performed an airdrop operation to bring the items to the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated warship grounded in 1999 to protect Manila’s claims to the shoal, according to a ranking military official….
No - Piracy is defined as non-state persons attacking ships and stealing them or from from them - this is state directed - its more like undeclared war
As of June 2024, the State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 144 of the 193 member states of the United Nations.
Only 11 UN states and Vatican City officially recognise Taiwan as a country (though it is represented in 122 countries in an unofficial capacity).Well done Belize, Eswatini, Guatemala, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu and Vatican City.
Time for a change, perhaps?
Only 11 UN states and Vatican City officially recognise Taiwan as a country (though it is represented in 122 countries in an unofficial capacity).Well done Belize, Eswatini, Guatemala, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu and Vatican City.
Time for a change, perhaps?
who will volunteer to go first?
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
VideoHellscape — new video of ultra long range drone deployed in the Indo-Pacific 👀
Vanilla has world record max endurance of 10 days & serves as a C2 “mothership” with air-launched swarm capabilities to deploy 40 micro-drones.
They’re low-cost, payload agnostic, force multipliers.
Vanilla has world record max endurance of 10 days & serves as a C2 “mothership” with air-launched swarm capabilities to deploy 40 micro-drones.
They’re low-cost, payload agnostic, force multipliers.