Manoj Ambat's Blog dealing with Defence, Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs and Politics

United States sea based X band radar Source- The Diplomat Author- Clint Richards Over the past week China has criticized the U.S. for deploying new missile defense radar and for considering the deployment of advanced missile defense systems in Northeast Asia. While both of these deployments can ostensibly be considered necessary in light of continued ballistic missile testing and the threat of yet another nuclear test from North Korea, their applicability toward Beijing is obvious. While China can do little to directly prevent their deployment, the moves highlight China’s growing military presence in the East China Sea, and the increasing friction encountered by U.S. and Japanese forces in the region. China reacted last week for the first time to Washington’s proposed deployment of its Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles to South Korea. The chief envoy to the six-party talks for China, Xu Bu, said the U.S. attempts to “strengthen its military presence

Image credits- Stars and Stripes When U.S. Marines stormed ashore during a beach-landing exercise in Okinawa recently, they weren’t alone. Charging alongside them was a group of Japanese soldiers assigned to live and train with the Marines and learn the basics of amphibious warfare. “When they landed on the beach, it was difficult to tell who was who, which was an impressive feat,” said Colonel Romin Dasmalchi, a Marine commander. The beach drill was just the latest in a dramatic increase in joint training activities between U.S. and Japanese forces. The goal is to broaden Japan’s military capabilities, weave U.S. and Japanese forces ever closer together and solidify the U.S. “pivot” to Asia. On almost any day, U.S. and Japanese ground troops, sailors or aircrews can be found practicing combat skills side by side or preparing for major training operations throughout the Japanese archipelago, and across the Pacific. Day-to-day coordination is up as well. U.S.

Image credits- The China Military.Net For the second time in as many weeks, Chinese fighter jets have conducted  dangerous flybys  over the East China Sea, approaching within 100 feet of Japanese surveillance planes. This is only the most recent in a string of dangerous incidents in the waters and skies on China’s periphery. Last December, a Chinese warship nearly  collided with the USS  Cowpens , cutting off the American cruiser in international waters in the South China Sea. In recent years, Chinese ships have periodically harassed unarmed U.S. naval vessels in seas off the Chinese coastline, but this was the first incident involving two armed warships. Earlier in 2013, Chinese ships used fire control radars to “ lock on ” to a Japanese destroyer and a Japanese helicopter. It is difficult to imagine a more aggressive act short of opening fire. In all of these cases, potentially deadly accidents were avoided due to the forbearance of those on the receiving end of Chinese a

RQ-4 Global Hawk ( Pic courtesy- Wikimedia commons/US Navy) With additional North Korean saber-rattling on Saturday and China  pushing against its South China Sea boundaries  last week, Japan and the U.S. have announced a plan to increase drone patrols over North Korea and the East China Sea  starting later this month . The U.S. will deploy two Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles from Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces plans to acquire three of those same UAVs from 2015. While the Japanese procurement  and the  stationing of both countries UAVs  in Misawa have been known since January this year, regional tensions have prompted officials to be more vocal about their intended use. A senior Self-Defense Force official said the drones, “will be effective in surveying the activities of North Korea and the Chinese military.” North Korea has been threatening a new round of nuclear tests since March, and on Saturday through its official KCNA

Tokyo Tower showing the Americal Flag ( Image Courtesy- Wikimedia commons/ author)  US President Barack Obama has angered Beijing by saying the uninhabited Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, which are claimed by China and Japan, would be covered by the US-Japan security treaty. He is the first US president to spell this out. He gave the assurance as he began a four-nation Asia tour in Tokyo yesterday. Watch: Imperial pomp starts Obama’s Japan visit China was quick to hit back. “The so-called security alliance between the US and Japan is a bilateral arrangement made during the cold war period, and it should not be used to damage China’s sovereignty and legitimate interest,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. “We resolutely oppose applying the Diaoyu Islands to the Japan-US security treaty.” We resolutely oppose applying the Diaoyu Islands to the Japan-US security treaty FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN QIN GANG China and Japan are engaged in a bitter territorial di

Despite its wish for a new type of relationship with the US, China will face a stronger US-Japan alliance in coming years............... http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/china-will-have-to-face-a-stronger-us-japan-alliance/

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/china-mulls-revamping-military-regions-japan-report-080327249.html

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/12/07/national/impending-japan-china-war-has-the-makings-of-a-clancy-classic/#.UqSHszztkjC

http://www.voanews.com/content/pentagon-usjapan-treaty-covers-disputed-islands/1798872.html

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/336894/news/world/us-japan-slam-china-s-destabilizing-move-on-east-china-sea-airspace