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Vietnam 'quietly upgrades' facilities in West Philippine Sea
(UPDATED) Vietnam is not 'facing the same reaction from China's maritime militia forces as the Philippines recently has,' says the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative

https://www.rappler.com/authorprofile/paterno-esmaquel
Paterno Esmaquel II
@paterno_ii
Published 4:40 PM, April 10, 2019


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VIETNAM UPGRADES. Vietnam is quietly upgrading its facilities in the Spratly Islands, says the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Photo courtesy of AMTI/CSIS/DigitalGlobe



MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Vietnam has quietly upgraded its facilities in the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) since mid-2017, the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said on Wednesday, April 10.

"Vietnam continues to quietly upgrade its facilities in the Spratly Islands, though apparently without facing the same reaction from China's maritime militia forces as the Philippines recently has," the AMTI said in an update dated Monday, April 8, and emailed to subscribers on Wednesday, April 10.

AMTI, which is part of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that Vietnam "occupies 49 outposts spread across 27 features in the vicinity of the Spratly Islands."

The think tank said Vietnam "undertook an expansion" in the Spratlys "to extend its small runway and create a protected harbor." Vietnam "created about 40 acres of new land" through "the use of construction equipment to dredge up part of the reef surrounding the island and cover it in sand."

“This process was more time-consuming and less environmentally disastrous than the methods used for China's industrial-scale dredging and landfill at its facilities in the Spratlys, but still involved the intentional destruction of coral reef," AMTI said.

Vietnam's upgrades included the finishing touches on an airstrip, construction of communications facilities, and drainage channels.

"It seems that regardless of external factors, whether amid negotiations and relative calm or tensions and threats of violence, Hanoi is committed to a steady but modest expansion of its capabilities in and around the Spratly Islands," AMTI said.

"Vietnam has not attempted to engage in the same large-scale militarization of its features as China; there is no sign of facilities built to house attack aircraft, for instance. Instead, Hanoi's upgrades seem geared toward expanding its ability to monitor and patrol contested waters and, especially in the case of its pillbox and DK1 platforms, improve living conditions and ensure it can resupply by air if necessary," it added.

In a message to Rappler on Wednesday evening, AMTI director Gregory Poling said: "It wouldn't be surprising if Manila filed a protest against some Vietnamese activities, for instance at Spratly Island. Vietnam does the same when the Philippines does certain things in the Spratlys. That is about establishing a record of non-compliance with the other's claims."

"But again, it's a whole different issue than the changes to the status quo orchestrated by Beijing, which present a clear threat to Filipino access to disputed waters," Poling said.

He added, "It should also be noted that many of Vietnam's upgrades are in underwater areas to the southwest that are not part of Kalayaan Islands claimed by Manila. Only Beijing and Taipei pretend those underwater features are part of the Spratlys."

AMTI earlier noted "initial Philippine efforts to start runway repairs" on Pag-asa Island in May 2018. In response, the think tank said China deployed its maritime militia to the vicinity of Pag-asa Island.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said last Thursday, April 4, that he will not allow China to occupy Pag-asa Island, while the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said the presence of Chinese militia there is "illegal." Critics however said Duterte's friendliness toward China has led to an increase in China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea. – Rappler.com
 
Former naval commando arrested for pulverizing debt collectors in northern Vietnam
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https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/society...ebt-collectors-in-northern-vietnam/49587.html

VPA combat training isn’t that bad after all. Even retired, the dude still have his skill sets learned in VN army.

His combat training was a lot more useful for real life situations than competing for medals at shooting no moving targets in a relaxing environment, hein?!?
 
Former naval commando arrested for pulverizing debt collectors in northern Vietnam
View attachment 552733

https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/society...ebt-collectors-in-northern-vietnam/49587.html

VPA combat training isn’t that bad after all. Even retired, the dude still have his skill sets learned in VN army.

His combat training was a lot more useful for real life situations than competing for medals at shooting no moving targets in a relaxing environment, hein?!?

Meh. Its not the training, its the individual. No videos? Boooooo
 
Two Indian naval ships to make port call in Vietnam
Friday, 12 April 2019 | PTI | Hanoi


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Two Indian naval ships will be making a port call at Vietnam from April 13 to 16 as part of an ongoing operational deployment in the Southeast Asian region.

INS Kolkata and INS Shakti, under the command of Captain Aditya Hara, will arrive in Cam Ranh International port on Saturday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said in a statement on Friday.

During the visit, there will be professional interaction between personnel of the Indian Navy and Vietnam People's Navy.

Official calls and interaction with dignitaries of the Vietnamese government as well as guided tours and sports events for the visiting Indian Navy personnel have also been planned, the statement said.

A visit to the Indian Ships will also be organised for friends of India in Khanh Hoa province.

Following the completion of harbour phase of activities, both the navies would conduct joint exercises.

India-Vietnam relations have grown stronger in recent years due to a vibrant economic engagement and growing convergence on political, regional and security issues.

In 2016, during the official visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vietnam, the relations between the two countries were elevated to the level of 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership'.

Vietnamese Prime Ministerr Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited India in January 2018 as a guest at the Republic Day Parade and took part in the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit.

This was followed by a State Visit by the then President of Vietnam, Tran Dai Quang, to India in March 2018. President Ram Nath Kovind paid a State Visit to Vietnam in November 2018.

"These high-level visits followed by regular exchanges from defence services have added momentum into ongoing bilateral defence and security cooperation," the embassy said.

Bilateral defence cooperation is a vital component of the 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' between India and Vietnam.

The Indian Navy has extensive interactions with Vietnam People's Navy, particularly in the field of training, repairs, maintenance and logistics support aimed at capacity building.

Earlier this month, in a series of ships' port calls between two countries, an Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS VIJIT paid a port call to Danang from April 1 to 4.

"There is growing convergence between India and Vietnam on various regional and international issues. Both countries are committed to building a peaceful and prosperous Asia and the Indo-Pacific region on the basis of respect for national sovereignty and international law as well as freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded economic activities.

"The current visit seeks to enhance bilateral maritime cooperation and will further bolster the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries and contribute to security and stability in the region and the world at large," the statement added.

dailpioneer.com
 
Border defense units receive modern Vietnam-made Galil ace31 assault rifles, replacing traditional Kalashnikov.


Via QPVN.


Parts for the Galil ACE 31 and 32 are made in this factory using CNC machines.





 
Man yall a buncha lil girls n shit. I talk a little shit and bitches be like,” i dont wanna talk to you so NYaH!” Whatever.
 
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Missile frigates 011 and 015 are scheduled to attend China’s international fleet review in the Yellow Sea on April 23. Not bad if the navy has bigger capital ships in the future for such event. Destroyer or something similar.
 
Frigate 015
on route to the Yellow Sea

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Cadets sailship 286 is leaving home port Nga Trang, on route to Singapore and Indonesia.

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New digital camo
too colorful I believe
Grey is usually better.

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Cam Ranh Port is busy this time of year. A Russian flotilla just in for a 4 day visit.

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The warships paid unannounced visit. Too bad: Russia ist just a shadow of itself after the collapse of USSR. Russia/Vietnam military alliance would still exist today.

:(
 
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