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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 12-Apr-2014
12-Apr-14 World View -- Indonesia upgrades military base to confront China

Web Log - April, 2014

12-Apr-14 World View -- Indonesia upgrades military base to confront China

NATO says that Russia is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

NATO says that Russia is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine
Indonesia upgrades military base to confront China

NATO says that Russia is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine

Russian Su-33 'Flanker' military jets at Yeysk air base near the Ukrainian border -- released by Nato (Digital Globe)

Russian Su-33 'Flanker' military jets at Yeysk air base near the Ukrainian border -- released by Nato (Digital Globe)

NATO has released satellite photos, taken between March 22 and April 2, that show the extent of Russia's military mobilization on its border with Ukraine -- including fighter jets, tanks, artillery and thousands of soldiers who are prepared to invade within 12 hours if called upon. Nato estimates that there are 40,000 troops massed at various locations along the Ukrainian border, at more than 100 different site.

Russia is claiming that the photos are doctored or are old photos, which Nato says is "categorically false." According to Russia's foreign ministry:

The US and Ukraine have no reason to worry. Russia has said several times that it is not conducting any unusual or unplanned military activity on its territory near the Ukrainian border. ...
Everyday activity by Russian forces on its national territory does not threaten the security of the United States of America or other OSCE member states.
The attempts to accuse Russia of building up armed forces are groundless."

CNN and Ria Novosti

Indonesia upgrades military base to confront China

Indonesia is joining Vietnam, the Philippines and other regional countries to increase their military capabilities in preparation for an invitable military conflict with China. China has been adopting a "Lebensraum" policy of claiming all of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory, including regions that have historically belonged to Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, often for centuries. According to China, these countries have no rights to anything outside their 12-mile territorial seas, while China has the right to annex everything in sight. China has already used its vast military power to forcibly annex territories belonging to Vietnam and the Philippines, and has militarily threatened islands belonging to Malaysia. (See "29-Jan-14 World View -- China's military moves to seize Malaysia's James Shoal")

China has also claimed regions belonging to Indonesia, but Indonesian officials have avoided talking about it, for fear of upsetting the Chinese. But now Indonesia is beefing up its its military base on the Riau Islands, which borders the South China Sea, to accommodate larger fighter aircraft. China has particularly claimed the Natuna Seas, which are strategically located at the southern tip of Malacca Strait, and which are thought to contain 1.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

According to an Indonesian military official:

"China has claimed Natuna waters as their territorial waters. This arbitrary claim is related to the dispute over Spratly and Paracel Islands between China and the Philippines. This dispute will have a large impact on the security of Natuna waters."

Indonesia's government is playing down the dispute, but much of the upgrade work on the airbase has already been completed. Jakarta's strategy is to develop a "Minimum Essential Force" (MEF), which is the minimum scale of military capabilities that Indonesia should seek to deploy in response to a strategic threat. Janes Military Capabilities and The Diplomat and Jakarta Globe (3/13)

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 12-Apr-14 World View -- Indonesia upgrades military base to confront China thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (12-Apr-2014) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 12-Apr-2014 12-Apr-14 World View -- Indonesia upgrades military base to confront China

NATO says that Russia is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine

Indonesia upgrades military base to confront China

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 12-Apr-2014
12-Apr-14 World View -- Indonesia upgrades military base to confront China