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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Wargame with India not aimed at China: US |
| 2007-08-23 |
| NEW DELHI: Ahead of the biggest naval wargame to be hosted by India in the Bay of Bengal, a top American military official on Thursday scotched China's fears that the exercise involving US, Australia and Japan was aimed at isolating the communist country. US Navy's Pacific Commander Timothy J Keating observed that Indo-US military ties had become "more robust" but side stepped questions about opposition from the Left parties to the upcoming Malabar exercise, merely saying, "It is what democracy is all about." The four-day Malabar exercise beginning on September 4, which will see the biggest congregation of warships in the Bay of Bengal since the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, is a reflection of the "shared interest" of India, US, Australia and Singapore, Keating told reporters. At the same time, he said, "We want to minimise the potential areas of misunderstanding and confusion between all of us and China." The manouvres are not aimed at forming a "quadilateral front" against China, said Keating, who is on a four-day visit here to discuss ties between the navies of India and the US. "Let me emphasise, there is is no effort on our part or any of these other countries (participating in the exercises) to isolate China or put Beijing in a closet," Keating said. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #8 Supposedly rich in copper, gold etc. Area is high alitude and remote. Ecologically sensitive as well... the Indian Supreme Court has fined companies that painted their logos on the sides of hills there and ordered them to pay for the restoration. Also under Article 370 of the Indian constitution, no non-Kashmiri may purchase land in Kashmir state. |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-08-23 21:53 |
| #7 john frum---re#2 comment. The geologic layering looks interesting in the bottom pic. Wonder what the potential for minerals is up there. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2007-08-23 21:18 |
| #6 NEWS > CHINA'S NAVY/PLAN BEGINS ITS LONG MARCH ["Blue-Water SSBN's + Carrier(s)?]. *OTOH, PACIFIC STARS-N-STRIPES > Departing Japanese ambassador argues for USA to close down MCAS FUTENMA ASAP. NOSI > In response to resumption of Cold War-style bomber flights by Russia, NATO is closely watching/reconnoitering movements of Russia's latest sub design [Amur-class]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-08-23 19:32 |
| #5 Missed that... also submarines India - Shishumar US - Chicago and one other |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-08-23 14:40 |
| #4 John: the Tomcats are all retired, but i wish they were still there. only offensive aircraft is the lawn dart; all the rest are support. defense. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2007-08-23 14:33 |
| #3 Troops in the first photo are Ladakh Scouts, the 'Snow Warriors', a commando unit of the Indian army raised from Ladakh Buddhists and Tibetan refugees. |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-08-23 14:13 |
| #2 Meanwhile in Ladakh, Kashmir (just across the border from China)... |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-08-23 13:27 |
| #1 Australia - frigate Adelaide, tanker Sirius Singapore - frigate Formidable Japan - destroyers - Oonami and Udachi USA - carriers - Nimitz and Kitty Hawk, cruisers - Princeton and Higgins, destroyers - Chaffe, Pickney, Curtis Wilbur, Mustin and John Paul Jones and tankers - Ericcson and Rainer aircraft - F/A-18 and F-14, P3 AWACS, anti-submarine helicopters India - carrier Viraat, destroyers - Ranvijay and Ranjit, frigates - Kurmak and Kuthar and tanker - Aditya. aircraft - TU-142 ASW, maritime strike Jaguars, Sea Harriers, Sea King helicopters and Kamov AEW helicopters |
| Posted by: john frum 2007-08-23 13:01 |