To those who are aware of the news that PLA Navy Amphibious Task Force has reached James Shoal located about 80 kilometers off the Sarawak shores, some has shown concern that this show of force by the PRC in an area with multiple claimants seems to be infringing on Malaysia's sovereign lands.
Chinese navy vessels at James Shoal yesterday. Photo: SCMP Pictures
The fact is that the island itself has been claimed not only by the PRC but also Taiwan in addition to the most logical claimant Malaysia since it lies so near our shores. And Chinese has claimed it since early the 20th Century so who knows how the claim will actually be resolved.
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To me since the Spratlys Protocol is already there, let us allow this matter to be resolved diplomatically. To be frank I do not think the demonstration was meant to be for Malaysia as the audience. We could have escalated a response by sending aircraft and naval vessels including our submarines capable of launching Harpoons, Sea Eagles, MM40/38 and SM39 Exocets anti surface vessel missiles to warn off the task force that consisted of a LPD and escorts, even with air or undersea cover. This is despite we being pre-occupied with resolving the Lahad Datu intrusion. I believe the demonstration was meant for those nations that also has claims to the area but without satisfactory response capability, that the PRC has the means to send such a force to their claimed southernmost sea borders. But whether they can occupy and hold the area is frankly a matter of doubt as the PRC has to have a secure supply train to support such a force.
Nonetheless the PRC demo has actually been good to provide a response to our own people on why we need a satisfactorily equipped arm forces to defend our sovereignity in addition to the Lahad Datu intrusion, as we can now easily answer to this learned question by this Dr in his mind-piece in the Sun yesterday on why we need the SGPV and Scorpenes and new fighter jets that he claims is a mismatch to our defence needs just because we had to respond to an asymmetrical force in Lahad Datu.
Before the Lahad Datu incident, the main "enemies" testing the capacity of our armed forces were the pirates in the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca. There were no bigger "enemies" than those seafaring marauders. Are state-of-the-art fighter jets and submarines the appropriate defence equipment against pirates? These would likewise be inappropriate if "international terrorists" and suicide bombers choose to target Malaysia.
So, exactly how are decisions made in the Defence Ministry for the purchase of submarines, corvettes, and frigates (costing billions) instead of more effective patrol boats to guard our coastlines? Excerpt from the article "Identifying our enemies and appropriate weaponry" in the Sun Daily by Dr Kua Kia Soong who is an academic, author and social activist.
11 comments:
So far away from their land still want to claim one, ah? Tsk tsk.
Entah2 Scorpene kita dah intai dema, bidik torpedo diam2 ...
There is nothing be surprised about. Kua and his band of marauders are hell bent on ensuring national defense is weak. This serve their "bigger agenda". If only what we know can be shared....
stryker_fx
If you really want to know, one of the other reasons the Pinoys have had a bone to pick with us is that we have moved with relative impunity in the Spratlys, while they have had a most contentious relationship with the PRC min the same area.
But nay, we are not going to scrub off China!!! Not much point in taking potshots at the boss who has allowed us some measure of freedom.
Conspiracy theory joke. "GOM asked a favour from the Red Panda to visit at this time so that they can justify the big ticket items to be bought during LIMA'13". It may seem a joke to us but I am waiting for somebody to make it a serious allegation soon since it is the last gasps of the silly season.
I am still waiting an "official comment" from gov't re. the incursion of PLA and their marine in our water and also want to see our "show of force" to them PLA as we did before to Sulus ...
Whats wrong with this country?
Seriously, such a large movement in open sea cannot be detected early? Actually, some rumours already speculated that PRC already notified our govt and ATM about this exercise. Well, with our hand tied at the back since the LD incident, it's good to let the other nation scare our enemy too. Well, logically, at least a few our corvet, f-18 and su-30 can be scrambled.
China was not adequately represented at LIMA. I see this year's exhibition more as a chance for a broad section of our fighter jocks to back-seat assess the Eurofighter Thyphoon and the Dassault Aviation Rafale everytime an airshow was on. There is strong contention between the two for the next generation RMAF fighter.
If China did forewarn us, then that is an act of utter courtesy given their traditional attitude towards Veitnam and the Philippines, both who have been squibbed out of the reefs often enough. Yes, easier with the Pinoys housed in huts and thatched roofs sil vous plais!!!
Some diplomacy notes protesting the incursion should be put out by Malaysia embassy. Remember Pulau Batu Puteh?? sorry Pedra Branca? No diplomacy notes will enhance their case of putting the claim on the shoal.
Me think the absence of any note of protest from our govt is a silence attestment that China did informed of their intent to sail near James Shoal. Me don't think that our preoccupation with LD crisis meant that we let PLAN ships infringing our borders unsurveilled. Remember that our govt love to do things subtlety and currently we possess the capability to watch covertly.
sending a warship or fighter to intercept or even shadow the PLAN's convoy might send wrong a message. The last thing that we want right now is another crisis
Well according to reports, CN confirmed that they were under surveillance and KD Perak was sent to shoo them away diplomatically.
The Star actually carried a story on this event but I was very surprised by tha lack of reaction from the Malaysian side. Maybe Wisma Putra knows something the public does not. Anyway, let us imagine a Tom Clancy like simulation where the PLA gets into a tiff with our boys. I think if all our ships and planes are fully operational, I think we can give them at least a bloody nose. But beyond that, sigh, we will still lose. Yes, we have Exocets, Harpoons, Otomats and wow..even Sea Eagles, but how many of those do we actually before we run out due the sheer size of PLA Navy and not to mention Airforce (in which case we run out of Sidewinders and Sparrows). This does not include the misses owing to countermeasures and decoys from their side.
I think the long-term solution is to have some sort of military alliance within Asean most countries in the grouping has a dispute with China. If we want to go alone on this, we will go broke trying to get enough weaponary to feel safe, not to mention the bad press arms procurement gets in this country owing to the corruption issue.
Yes, a military alliance within Asean is kind of a pipe dream, given that there are also disputes among the member countries. BTW, did u see the TNI-AL launching their Yakhont ASM? Now that is also quite threatening.
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