China Military News

[Husky_Khan]

Another confrontation, only this time less than a hundred yards separated the Filipino Patrol Boat from the Chinese "Coast Guard" vessel. This provocation by the Chinese occurred near the Second Thomas Shoal, which is west of Palawan, administered by the Philippines and literally on the southeastern edge of the South China Sea so... very, very, very far away from the Chinese coast and very, very, very close to the Filipino Coast.



Reminiscent of confrontations that occurred involving many more vessels (including some from Vietnam) late last March just a month ago.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/30/23/chinese-vessel-shadowed-ph-vessel-near-ayungin-shoal

PCG: Over 20 foreign vessels seen around shoals near Palawan

More than 20 Chinese and Vietnamese vessels were spotted from March 16 to 21 in waters around Sabina and Ayungin Shoals, and Pag-asa Island near Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard said Thursday.

www.gmanetwork.com

 

[The Whispering Monk]

I'm wondering if China will push too far and just get their ships sunk or seized.

 

[Yinko]

I'm wondering if China will push too far and just get their ships sunk or seized.

That's the sort of thing they probably want. None of their neighbors have a large enough fleet to really do anything to them, so if they can go in and wreck some shit while yelling "they were coming right for us!" then all the better.

 

[Zachowon]

But the people who would investigate and get invovled don't trust China

 

[Scottty]

The thing is, the Chinese attitude about being found in the wrong on this seems to boil down to "So what are you going to do about it?"

Eventually the answer to this might have to be: "Well, we hope you enjoyed having a navy".

 

[Captain X]

Be a shame is someone with a submarine sunk all those fishing boats and "coast guard" ships.

 

[Zachowon]

Why submarines.
Make it obvious.
Tell them to back off, and of they do not you will escort them.
If they dint, a warning shot.
After that warning shot if they do not change course you open fire protecting your territorial waters

 

[bintananth]

Why submarines.
Make it obvious.
Tell them to back off, and of they do not you will escort them.
If they dint, a warning shot.
After that warning shot if they do not change course you open fire protecting your territorial waters

That kind of escalation is a dangerous game of chicken for China's maritime neighbours.

If the Chinese don't flinch, what next?

 

[Husky_Khan]

That kind of escalation is a dangerous game of chicken for China's maritime neighbours.

If the Chinese don't flinch, what next?

He did state Territorial Waters. If the Chinese military are launching an incursion within twelve miles to your Coastline ignoring even warning shots, it's really on them.

Obviously it's far more murky with disputed islands and sandbars.

 

[Zachowon]

That kind of escalation is a dangerous game of chicken for China's maritime neighbours.

If the Chinese don't flinch, what next?

You shoot them.
Territorial waters and such

 

[DarthOne]

Be a shame is someone with a submarine sunk all those fishing boats and "coast guard" ships.

I tell you, if I had the means, the urge to go Captain Nemo is strong.

 

[Captain X]

Why submarines.

So they rage impotently, having no target to actually direct any of their bullshit toward.

 

[Husky_Khan]

VN-20 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Most Fightingiest Fighting Vehicle!



At a thick fifty tons, the VN-20 MULTI-ROLE HEAVY DUTY Infantry Fighting Vehicle outweights the puny BMP, Bradley, and even the thick Puma and easily outclasses the anemic yet portly Namer. It (allegedly) has Level Six STANAG ballistic protection meaning even 30mm armor piercing cannon fire cannot penetrate its powerful chassis (at ranges of 500 meters or higher).

It comes with a half dozen different weapon emplacements including a 100mm cannon, a 30mm co-axial cannon, two ATGM missile launchers on the turret, abd two remote controlled rear facing heavy machine guns.

Wait two rear facing heavy machine guns?

On either side of the rear door??

*shrug*

With three crewmembers to operate and can carry six fully equipped infantrymen or twenty malnourished Red Guards.

Okay I made that last part up. But it could be true.

 

[Doomsought]

Heavy infantry carriers like that or the Merkva are good at a defensive war in a confined region, but bad if you strategic needs call for some get up and go. The more common formula for an IFV is essentially a self propelled heavy machinegun nest that is immune to small arms. Its a formula that work because it has a good balance between costs and benefits.

 

[Marduk]

Heavy infantry carriers like that or the Merkva are good at a defensive war in a confined region, but bad if you strategic needs call for some get up and go. The more common formula for an IFV is essentially a self propelled heavy machinegun nest that is immune to small arms. Its a formula that work because it has a good balance between costs and benefits.

No, that's the description of an average APC, M113, Stryker and BTR are not IFVs.
Sure, if someone can handle the cost and logistical demands of having a certain number of IFVs with the material support needs of a tank that's gonna work fine for them... if.

 

[Husky_Khan]

That's the sort of thing they probably want. None of their neighbors have a large enough fleet to really do anything to them, so if they can go in and wreck some shit while yelling "they were coming right for us!" then all the better.

One of the takeaways here is that after a few decades of military decay, the Philippines is actually finally seeing the fruits of finally modernizing their military. The Second Thomas Shoal where that latest incident took place was secured by the Philippine Marine Corps by them basically beaching an old WW2 Landing Ship Tank on the sandbar and turning it into an outpost back in 1999.

Now the Philippines Navy and Coast Guard actually has ships and patrol boats that can challenge these incursions into Philippine waters and challenge the ChiComs ridiculous claims in the area. South Korea helped them build their first frigates with actual anti-ship missile capability as well.

Most of the patrol boats recently seen in these confrontations came into service in the past few years into the Philippines Navy and Coast Guard. Plus now they have actual jet fighters, and will be getting more modern radars and missile based air defense systems. Joining the late 20th Century finally.

The Chinese Coast Guard could probably still wreck the Philippines Navy on their own atm but the Philippines has vastly improved their capabilities finally and should hopefully continue doing so under Bongbong Marcos.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Several Chinese "Maritime Militia" Vessels are apparently on a course to interject themselves with an ASEAN military exercise taking place in the South China Sea.



A ship from Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Thailand and Indonesia are participating in these maneuvers.

INS Satpura - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

KD Lekiu (FFG30) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

KDB Darulehsan - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

HTMS Pattani - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Husky_Khan]

World War Three delayed. Was impressed at how active the South China Sea is on OSINT accounts though.



No confrontation of 6-10 Chinese Militia/Coast Guard vessels with six missile armed ASEAN/Indian Frigates/Offshore Patrol Vessels. They are there to escort a Chinese "Survey" ship within the Vietnamese Economic Exclusion Zone.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Ongoing standoff between Chinese vessels operating within the Vietnamese Exclusive Economic Zone where Russian operated gas fields are located. Vietnam has repeatedly demanded the Chinese vessels leave the area and sent their own ships to challenge them but China so far has been ignoring those requests. This issue started three weeks ago and is the longest standoff between the two nations since a similar three month one was initiated by the Chinese back in 2019.

In the last weeks since May 7, the Chinese research ship, at times flanked by a dozen vessels, has been moving largely across gas block 04-03, operated by Vietsovpetr, a joint-venture between Zarubezhneft and PetroVietnam, according to vessel-tracking data shared by South China Sea Chronicle Initiative (SCSCI), an independent non-profit.

It is also regularly crossing blocks 132 and 131 that Vietnam has licensed to Vietgazprom, a joint-venture between Russia's giant Gazprom and PetroVietnam. China has launched competing bids to licence those two blocks.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has only stated that "Relevant ships of China carry out normal activities under China's jurisdiction. It is legitimate and lawful, and there is no issue of entering other countries' exclusive economic zones" and reiterating it has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Spratly Islands and adjacent waters. It would also like to work jointly with Vietnam "to safeguard the peace and stability of the South China Sea."

Chinese ships ignore Vietnam demand to leave area near Russian-run gas fields

The vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 began operating in the EE zone on May 7 – the most significant incursion since 2019 – but China claims its activity is ‘legitimate and lawful’.

www.scmp.com

 

[Husky_Khan]

Chinese J-16 Fighter Intercepts an American RC-135 over the South China Sea, maneuvering so that the American plane would fly in its wake turbulence.

Chinese J-16 Seen 'Head Butting' U.S. RC-135 In Cockpit Video

The encounter between the Chinese J-16 Flanker and the U.S Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint occurred over the South China Sea.

www.thedrive.com