Indo Pacific strategy

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
And after MMCA earlier this month (see post above) the 39th edition of Balikatan kicked off today. It will last three weeks and take place in Palawan and Batanes, close to Taiwan and the South China Sea. Balikatan 2024 will also have observers from 14 countries: Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

17.000 soldiers from Australia, France, the Philippines and the US will participate.

 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
The recent mooring of Chinese warships at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base marked the unofficial inauguration of China’s first overseas naval post in the Indo-Pacific region and only its second overall. The first one is china's naval support base in Djibouti.

And this is just the beginning. Earlier this year, the U.S. intelligence community warned Congress that China is pursuing other naval bases and expanded military access in Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates.
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
|"Target of the Philippine, U.S. and Australian military forces integrated land, sea and air assault was the BRP Lake Caliraya – the Philippine Navy’s ONLY CHINESE-MADE NAVAL ASSET, 15 kilometers away from the coast of Laoag.

Formerly “MT Lapu-Lapu,” the ship was an oil tanker built by Taizhou Zhongxing Shipyard in China for the Philippine National Oil Company in 2007 and was later converted by the Philippine Navy into its first-ever replenishment vessel before she was decommissioned in 2020. "|

No comment.. :-D
I am just curious to hear china's reaction.
 

koxinga

Well-Known Member
She was transfered from the Philippine National Oil Company when they shut down the shipping arm. By most accounts, she was barely used during the service, reportedly due to various problems and was largely laid up. No big lost.

The Philippines Navy might be a good candidate for Tarakan-class tanker. Their fleet size will grow in the next few years, but not yet at the stage where the need very large AOR or fleet refuelers.
 
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