Top U.S. Army General: British Defence Cuts Are Already Jeopardising US-UK Joint Operations

Photo: GEN Raymond T. Odierno, as the 38th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, 2011. Wikipedia

US Fears Over Cuts In British Defence -- The Telegraph

Defence cuts will leave the British Army “dependent” on its US counterparts, a senior American commander has warned.

General Ray Odierno revealed that he has repeatedly raised concerns with British defence chiefs that Britain’s shrinking forces will be unable to work alongside the Americans.

Gen Odierno’s comments come as ministers fight over a fresh round of spending reductions that could force another round of defence cuts.

The British Army is losing 20,000 regular posts, shrinking to 82,000 soldiers by 2015. Armoured units, including the Desert Rats, are losing their tanks.

Gen Odierno said that such cuts are already jeopardising US-UK joint operations, and leaving the British reliant on American forces.

“As the British Army continues to reduce in size we’ve had several conversations about keeping them integrated in what we’re trying to do,” he said.

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My Comment: If present trends continue .... joint U.S. - U.K. operations will be a thing of the past.

Update: Army Chief Outlines Worries About Allies, Terrorism, Budgets -- Defense News

China's Defense Ministry: No Need To Steal U.S. Military Secrets

China Says It Has No Need To Steal U.S. Military Secrets -- Reuters

(Reuters) - China's Defense Ministry dismissed as ridiculous on Thursday a U.S. report that Chinese hackers have gained access to designs of more than two dozen major U.S. weapons systems, saying the country needed no outside help for its military development.

The Washington Post cited a U.S. Defense Science Board report as saying that the compromised U.S. designs included those for combat aircraft and ships, as well as missile defenses vital for Europe, Asia and the Gulf. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng dismissed the report, which the Pentagon and other U.S. defense officials have downplayed as outdated and overstated.  

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Update: ‘We don’t need US military secrets’: Beijing slams White House theft claim. -- RT  

My Comment: No one is believing this claim from China.

How Not To Build A Submarine

Too Heavy: Engineers are addressing a design flaw with the Isaac Peral, lead ship of Spanish builder Navantia's new class of subs, that made it so heavy it would be unable to resurface if it submerges. (Navantia)

Spain's £1.75Billion Submarine Programme Is Torpedoed After Realising Near-Complete Vessel Is 70 Tonnes Too Heavy Because Engineer Put Decimal Point In The Wrong Place -- Daily Mail

* Experts fear that the Isaac Peral will not surface again if sent to sea
* The mistake will cost £9million over three years to rectify
* A US company is to present a range of options to Spanish officials
* The project could be set back two years by the error

A £1.75billion Spanish submarine project has run aground after officials realised that the vessel is more than 70 tonnes too heavy - because an engineer put a decimal point in the wrong place.

A former Spanish official has described the mistake, which has led to fears that the submarine might not resurface if sent to sea, as 'fatal'.

The Isaac Peral, the first in a new class of diesel electric submarines, was almost complete when the problem was noticed.

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Update: Navantia Gets US Help To Fix Overweight Sub -- Defense News

My Comment: Ooooppps.

Has The Pentagon Made A Mistake In Inviting China To The 2014 Rim Of The Pacific Naval Exercise?

Ships and submarines participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 exercise are seen underway in close formation during the exercise on July 27. (Chief MCS Keith Devinney / Navy)

America's China Mistake -- L.A. Times Editorial

As Beijing becomes more bellicose, Washington clings to the hope that military-to-military relations will somehow relieve tensions. They won't.

This spring, China's navy accepted the Pentagon's invitation to participate in the 2014 Rim of the Pacific — RIMPAC — naval exercise to be held off Hawaii. This will be the first time China takes part in the biennial event.

Our allies should signal their intent to withdraw from the exercise if China participates. Failing that, the invitation should be withdrawn. RIMPAC is for allies and friends, not nations planning to eventually wage war on the United States. Russia sent ships in 2012, but while its senior officers may occasionally utter unfriendly words, they are not actively planning to fight the United States. Analyst Robert Sutter was surely correct when he wrote in 2005 that "China is the only large power in the world preparing to shoot Americans."

That assessment, unfortunately, remains true today. Beijing is configuring its forces — especially its navy — to fight ours. For instance, China has deployed along its southern coast its DF-21D, a two-stage solid-fuel missile that can be guided by satellite signals. The missile is dubbed the "carrier killer" because it can be configured to explode in midair, raining down sharp metal on a deck crowded with planes, ordinance, fuel and sailors. Its apparent intent is to drive U.S. forces out of East Asia.

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My Comment: China's naval doctrine is focused on countering and defeating U.S. Pacific forces. Why the U.S. has decided to invite the Chinese to such an exercise with no quid pro quo is beyond me .... it is like inviting the fox into the hen house and hoping that it would behave.

Update: In the L.A. Times poll on this subject .... over 83% are of the opinion that this is a bad idea.

Chinese Military Think Tank Predicts Military Clashes With Japan

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Chinese Think Tank Warns Of Military Clashes With Japan -- Business Standard/Press Trust Of India

A Chinese think tank has warned that China may get involved in a military conflict with Japan over the disputed Diaoyu Islands, as "big powers" have intensified their efforts for geopolitical and military dominance in the strategic Asia-Pacific region.

An annual report released Tuesday by the Centre for National Defence Policy (CNDP), a part of the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), has stated that big powers have intensified their efforts for regional dominance and United States has accelerated its eastward shift of its strategic focus.

"Amidst the strategic competition among big powers, the fierce oceanic competition and frequent regional conflicts, the complexity, sensitivity and uncertainty of China's security environment loom large," official Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying.

The report came amid the latest flare-up in China's row with Japan over the disputed Diaoyu Islands in East China Sea.

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Update: Chinese think tank warns of military clashes with Japan -- National Turk

My Comment: This is a very ominous prediction from a top Chinese military think tank with close ties to the Chinese military and government. In short .... they are predicting a future war with Japan over territorial claims.

Why India Should be Concern About China's Growing Military

China intends to be a predominant military power in the region and will not hesitate to use its armed forces to protect its development interests. Image: Joe Chan / Reuters

Why China's Growing Military Should Concern India -- Anirudha Dutta, Forbes

India has several reasons to be wary of, and counter, China’s military build-up

China’s latest white paper on defence, a once-in-two-year exercise, was issued on April 16. It clearly underscores the importance of the People’s Liberation Army and its pivotal role in the economic development and growth of China. Its military rise is of concern for India, given its proximity to Pakistan, from where India has faced continuous threats of terrorism and military misadventures. The strategic relationship with Pakistan is evident from the number of joint exercises and training carried out in 2011-12 and economic investments.

The white paper emphasises China’s peaceful rise and its intent to “never seek hegemony... But we will surely counterattack if attacked”. China now sees itself as a world power that has arrived and it will likely intrude, even if it is not attacked, based on perceived threat or slight. The report says, “China’s security and development are closely connected with the peace and prosperity of the world as a whole.” This seems at times to be at odds with its sense of insecurity and the challenges that the report highlights in order to justify its massive military build-up.

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My Comment: The Chinese are making their intentions very clear .... and India is only now starting to pay attention.

Is An India - Japan Alliance Being Established To Check China?

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L) shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at the start of talks at Abe's official residence in Tokyo May 29, 2013. Reuters

India, Japan Draw Closer, With An Eye On China -- Washington Post

NEW DELHI — During a three-day visit to Japan this week, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed several major infrastructure and defense-technology deals, and agreed to speed up dialogue on nuclear cooperation and conduct more joint naval exercises. His host, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, called Singh a “mentorlike leader.”

But the bonhomie appeared calculated, at least in part, to send a not-so-subtle diplomatic message to Beijing in the wake of a border row between India and China last month, as well as the dispute between Japan and China over resource-rich islands in the East China Sea.

The goal, analysts say, is to isolate China with a view to limiting its territorial ambitions in the region.

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More News On The India - Japan Alliance And China's Reaction To It

Japan To Enter Indian Defense Market; Growing Indo-Japan Cooperation Worries Regional Giant China -- International Business Times
India, Japan join hands to break China's 'string of pearls' -- Times of India
Indo-Japan ties should worry no one, says Salman Khurshid -- Times of India
China angry and nervous as Japan joins arms with India -- One India
Chinese daily calls Japanese leaders 'petty burglars' for trying to turn India against China -- Times of India
China slams Japan for attempting to turn India against it -- NDTV
Japan trying to 'encircle' China by cozying up to India: Chinese media -- NDTV
India's Love Affair With Japan Fueled By Disputes With China -- Donald Kirk, Forbes
A New Configuration To The East – Analysis -- Gateway House/Eurasia Review
The reason for Japan’s new found love for India is China -- Rajeev Sharma, First Post