Indonesia rejects the U.S.’ proposal to land and refuel their Military Aircraft there

A P-8 Poseidon Aircraft of the United States Navy, Photo from Wikimedia Commons

In another public rebuke of the United States (US), Indonesia had reportedly rejected the US’ proposal for their P-8 Poseidon Maritime Surveillance Aircraft to land and refuel there according to anonymous Senior Indonesian Government Officials. 

Remember that back in August 2020, Indonesia had publicly rejected the idea of choosing sides between the US and China.

OUR SEA NEIGHBORS: Malaysia will not impose Sanctions on Chinese Companies, nor take Sides between the US and China

In another Public Rebuke of the United States (US) by another South East Asian (SEA) Country, Malaysia’s Ambassador to China said that Malaysia will not take sides and follow the US' lead in imposing Sanctions on 24 Chinese Companies. 

These 24 Companies were earlier accused by the US of advancing China’s Militarization of the South China Sea (SCS). The Ambassador said that Malaysia’s Foreign Policy is to have good relations with all Countries. 

He also said that Malaysia is not a "Pawn" in the bigger-power rivalry between China and the US, stating that "We certainly have the power to decide on our own. And this is what we have done" 

OUR SEA NEIGHBORS: Indonesia and Singapore Officials dismiss the idea of choosing sides between the US and China

Top Government Officials of Indonesia and Singapore recently dismissed the idea of choosing a side between China and the United States (US) during a Forum organized by the Standard Chartered Bank. 

The Singaporean Official said that choosing a side would be a trap for South East Asian (SEA) Countries and that Singapore wants good relations with both China and the US. He also said that SEA Countries each need to make decisions based on their National Interests.

The Indonesian Official on the other hand, reiterated the need not to take sides between China and the US.

US-Thailand relations as per former Ambassador Arcilla

VFA Termination: Untold Stories from Ex-Envoy to UN

Former Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Reynaldo Arcilla revealed some facts about the relations between Thailand and the United States (US):

* Up to now, any offense committed by an American Soldier in Thailand and that Soldier will be tried by a Thai Court and sent to a Thai Jail.

* No Status of Forces Agreement (SoFA) or Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the US and Thailand, just the “Rusk-Thanat Khoman Statement” which is just a Press Statement.

* Thailand got more Aid from the US than the Philippines back in the 1990s.

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I’m surprised that the US does not have a formal VFA with Thailand up to now since they do post a significant presence there. For example, the US co-sponsors with Thailand the annual Cobra Gold Exercise, one of the largest Combined Training Exercises (CTE) in the world today.

This is probably because they don’t have a MDT with Thailand like they do with us. But this brings me to the next question, and that is will the US even be able to convince any other country in South East Asia (SEA) to have a MDT with VFA with them in the first place?

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Singapore the first country in SEA to acquire the F-35, also possibly the first SEA country to commission Stealth aircraft into service

The United States (US) has approved Singapore’s purchase of four F-35B Lightning II Stealth aircraft, with the option of buying eight more. This makes Singapore not only the first buyer of the F-35 in South East Asia (SEA) but also possibly the first country in SEA to commission Stealth Fighter aircraft into service.

Delivery though is scheduled to be around 2030. Indonesia is working with South Korea for the KF-X Stealth Fighter Program and could still beat Singapore into commissioning a Stealth aircraft into service, but as of now there are some uncertainty in the program and no actual flyable aircraft is available yet.

If all goes well the first KF-X prototype will be completed in 2021 and it will start entering service starting in 2026.

SOURCES:
* Singapore gets the green light to buy F-35s
* South Korea’s future Fighter Program at risk, even as development moves along

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Myanmar’s Su-30SME Flanker Purchase

Myanmar bought six brand new Su-30SME Fighter Aircraft from Russia last year (2018) for only Usd 34 million each. However, while they may be very cheap to acquire, as I discussed in a post before, the estimated Operating Costs for these aircraft is very high, up to Usd 35,000 per hour.

Myanmar though is the fourth South East Asian (SEA) country to operate the Flanker aircraft, the others being Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. Most reports say that Myanmar bought the Su-30SM, but as far as I know that is only for the Russian Air Force and the export version is actually designated as Su-30SME.

SOURCE: Russia Building Six Advanced Fighter Jets for Myanmar Military

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Bilateral Trade between China and Malaysia to again reach at least Usd 100 billion this Year

Bilateral Trade between Malaysia and China is on track to reach at least Usd 100 billion again this year as between January to September 2019 it was already at Usd 89 billion (typographical error on the article as it was originally written there as “Usd 889.75 billion”).

In 2018, trade between the two countries was at Usd 109 billion, a new record then. There is a possibility that this record will be surpassed this year.

A total of 2.94 million Chinese Tourists also visited Malaysia in 2019 so far, 29% more than in 2017. Pati pala Malaysia ata e “sinasakop” na rin ng Tsina, LOL.

SOURCE: Msia-China Bilateral Trade to exceed US$100bil again

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RMAF Su-30MKM Flanker versus RAF Eurofighter Typhoon Simulated Dogfight

A highly entertaining account of a simulated dogfight between an Su-30MKM Flanker of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and a Eurofighter Typhoon of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Malaysia recently.

Remember that both of these aircraft are in contention for the Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) Program of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The Su-30MKM won in this case.

SOURCE: Guns, Guns, Guns over Grik

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China’s investments in Vietnam in 2019 surged to double that of 2018

And yet another piece of news that our local Press refuses to report: China’s Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to Vietnam from January to November of 2019 rose to Usd 2.28 billion, or double the amount for the same period in 2018.

China is also now the second biggest foreign investor in Vietnam for the year 2019, next only to South Korea. “Sinasakop” na yata ng Tsina ang Vietnam niyan, LOL.

SOURCE: Chinese investment in Vietnam surges

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Vietnamese Poachers apprehended off Mangsee Island

Location of Mangsee Island as per Google Maps

Another group of Poachers from Vietnam were caught off the Coast of Mangsee Island. I don’t know why these Vietnamese Poachers keep trying to intrude into our territory, some were also caught a couple of months ago.

If you look at the map, Mangsee Island not part of the Spratlys Islands, it is well within Philippine Territory, it is just south of Palawan. And again if you look at the map it is so very far away from Vietnam.

SOURCE: Vietnamese Poachers apprehended off Mangsee Island

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Malaysia could exchange Old Russian Fighter Aircraft for New Ones

The Defense Minister of Malaysia told their Parliament that the Malaysian Government is considering an offer from Russia to exchange its old Russian Fighter Aircraft for new ones.

The deal is said to include exchanging its old Mig-29 and Su-30MKM aircraft for new Mig-35 and Su-35 aircraft, and could include the use of Malaysian Palm Oil as Countertrade.

Malaysia had previously complained about having problems maintaining the Mig-29s and Su-30MKMs, but it seems that has not stopped them from considering getting newer and more advanced versions of the same aircraft.

SOURCE: Malaysia considers ‘Fighter exchange’ offer from Russia

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Highlights of the joint Thai-China “Falcon Strike 2015” Exercise

I got a copy of the May 2016 issue of Air Forces Monthly which provided some information about the joint Thailand-China “Falcon Strike 2015” Exercise, and below are the highlights of that article:

* Before the exercise, a Thai Pilot flew a J-10 Vigorous Dragon in China while a Chinese Pilot flew a JAS-39 Gripen in Thailand.

* Thailand asked permission first from the Swedish Air Force and Saab before they fielded the Gripens against the Chinese aircraft, and both agreed but sent Observers and Advisers to the exercise.