DefenceTalkSOUTH CHINA SEA: The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHR ESG) joined two guided-missile destroyers from the Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) for a series of interoperability drills in international waters, Oct. 3-4. The BHR ESG employed the capabilities of USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Decatur (DDG 73) to practice defense in depth […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-sends-reinforced-strike-group-into-south-china-sea-68308/

DefenceTalkA Russian fleet arrived at a port in Zhanjiang in south China’s Guangdong Province on Monday, with Chinese naval forces gathering for a joint drill. The “Joint Sea 2016” drill will go ahead between September 12 and 19 in the South China Sea, off Guangdong. Wang Hai, Chinese chief director of the exercise and deputy […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-russia-ready-for-joint-navy-drill-in-south-china-sea-68128/

DefenceTalkJapan’s defense ministry requested a record budget on Wednesday, with funds for an anti-ship missile system to defend islands at the center of a territorial dispute with China. Tokyo is determined to defend the uninhabited islets in the East China Sea — administered by Japan as the Senkakus but claimed by China as the Diaoyus […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-eyes-record-defense-budget-to-develop-anti-ship-missiles-68077/

DefenceTalkChinese and Russian navies conducted the third round of consultation in Zhanjiang City from August 16 to 21 for the Joint Sea-2016 joint maritime exercise and the theme of the joint exercise will be “joint maritime defense operation”. Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People’s Republic of China […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-russia-to-hold-joint-training-operations-in-south-china-sea-68070/

DefenceTalkFailure to properly handle sensitive issues between the US and China could “very likely disturb and undermine” their military-to-military relations, a top Chinese official told US National Security Advisor Susan Rice Monday. Rice is the highest-level US official to visit the capital since an international tribunal this month rejected China’s vast territorial claims in the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-says-sensitive-issues-could-damage-ties-with-us-military-67911/

DefenceTalkSoutheast Asian nations Monday ducked direct criticism of Beijing over its claims to the South China Sea, in a diluted statement produced after days of disagreement that gives the superpower a diplomatic victory. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) avoided mention of a ruling by a UN-backed tribunal in early July that rejected […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-victory-as-se-asian-nations-go-easy-on-sea-row-67909/

DefenceTalkBeijing must prepare for “military confrontation” in the South China Sea, state-run media said Tuesday, as it began naval drills in the area ahead of an international tribunal ruling over the maritime dispute. China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the resource-rich strategic waterway despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbors — raising tensions with […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-must-ready-for-military-conflict-in-south-china-sea-67790/

DefenceTalkChinese pressure was blamed Thursday for a stunning diplomatic U-turn by Southeast Asian Nations that saw them retract a statement sounding alarm over Beijing’s island building in the South China Sea. The chaotic events at the end of a meeting of foreign ministers from China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-blamed-for-asean-u-turn-on-south-china-sea-67687/

DefenceTalkChinese construction on a South China Sea islet claimed by the Philippines would prompt “actions being taken” by the United States and other nations, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter warned Saturday. Speaking at a security summit in Singapore, Carter said Beijing risks building a “Great Wall of self-isolation” with its military expansion in the contested […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-vows-action-if-china-builds-new-south-china-sea-structures-67601/

DefenceTalkIn a sign of Indonesia’s increased focus on its economic interests in the country’s Natuna Islands region, the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara, or TNI-AU) is readying the deployment of four units of its Korps Pasukan Khas (PASKHAS) special forces ground corps to the largest of the island cluster, Pulau Natuna […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indonesia-shifting-more-defense-resources-to-south-china-sea-67240/