Chinese peacekeepers deployed to seven UN missions



Over the past 20 years, China has deployed thousands of peacekeepers to war-torn regions around the world. Nowhere has that presence been more acutely felt than in Africa. Chinese troops are active in seven United Nations missions -- their contribution going a long way to not only ensure civilians' safety but also to boost the overall security in many countries.


In The Army Now Documentary Series (Trailer)



Journalists Pavel and Anna are in the army now – the Russian Army. Normally, it’s out of bounds to civilians, but they’ve found a way in. Their goal is to try and test every myth there is about military service in Russia and find out whether they have any basis in truth or are merely invented.

Kemhan Siapkan Jalur Kereta Api untuk Penggeseran Tank Leopard




Tank Leopard di Jawa akan Diangkut ke Perbatasan, Perlu Jalur KA yang Mantap

TRIBUNNEWS.COM, TANJUNG SELOR - Hadirnya jalur kereta api di Pulau Kalimantan ke depan, diharapkan Kementerian Pertahanan bisa memudahkan proses pengangkutan Alutsista seperti tank-tank tempur yang beratnya mencapai puluhan ton. Sekaligus nanti memobilisasi pasukan TNI.

Dihadapkan pada kondisi tanah yang gambut di Kalimantan, kecil kemungkinan tank berat seperti Leopard seberat 60 ton bisa dimobilisasi tanpa moda angkutan yang cepat dan efisien, seperti kereta api.

"Dalam pertempuran modern, sudah sangat lazim tank melawan tank. Tank berat seperti Leopard atau yang medium sekitar 20 ton itu bisa jalan di jalur biasa."

"Olehnya pembangunan jalur kereta api kami harap bisa mengangkut tank-tank ke daerah yang nanti diskenariokan sebagai daerah pertempuran," kata Kapuslitbang Strahan Balitbang Kementerian Pertahan RI Laksamana Pertama TNI Agus Rustandi saat berada di Gedung PUPR Perkim Kalimantan Utara, Kamis (3/8/2017).



Ketika jalur kereta api siap, Kementerian Pertahanan dan atau TNI bisa dengan mudah mengumpan tank-tank dari Pulau Jawa ke sepanjang perbatasan mulai Kalimantan Barat hingga Kalimantan Utara.

"Konsepnya ketika terjadi kedaruratan, maka tank diangkut dari Jawa melalui pelabuhan. Setiba di Kalimantan, selanjutnya diangkut kereta api ke perbatasan. Jadi ketika darurat, Kalimantan mendukung infrastrukturnya untuk mendispersi pasukan dan Alutsista," ujarnya.

Belum lagi Presiden Joko Widodo yang meminta agar pasukan TNI di Pulau Jawa diumpan ke perbatasan untuk memperkuat wilayah-wilayah terluar negara. Kementerian Polhukam lanjut Agus Rustandi juga sudah merencanakan hal ini.

"Akan ditempatkan di mana saja dan berapa banyak, masih tahap pengkajian. Pengkajian itu sebenarnya dalam 1 tahun sudah bisa direalisasikan."

"Dari Kodam juga sudah menyebutkan bahwa sudah mulai didirikan pos-pos baru di perbatasan. Tetapi kembali lagi ke persoalan anggaran dan SDM yang diperlukan," sebutnya.


Can KTM transport msian tanks?

Time for ASEAN to unite against the threat of homegrown terrorism?


Philippine soldiers patrol a lake near the frontline in Marawi, on the southern island of Mindanao, on June 19, 2017 AFP/Ted ALJIBE

MANILA: On May 23, Militants from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups stormed into the city of Marawi in Mindanao and occupied large parts of it.

Claiming allegiance to Islamic State (IS), they laid siege to buildings, homes, places of worship and took hostages. Three months on, there is no clear end in sight for the Philippine troops who continue to battle the militants.

And the siege is no longer just seen as a local threat. Local militants, joined by foreign fighters from Malaysia, Indonesia and other ASEAN countries, are using the city as a staging post to declare Islamic State's first "province" in Southeast Asia.

Marawi – still under martial law - is now at the epicentre of the region’s homegrown terrorism threat

"The problem has now come into ASEAN with the situation in Marawi. But it is clear that even if the situation is contained, other provinces are at risk," said Ng Eng Hen, Singapore’s defence minister.

"IS-linked elements plus other extremist groups, have formed networks and intend to advance their plans to turn Southeast Asia into a situation similar to Iraq and Syria."

This issue is not new. Southeast Asia has long been a fertile ground for the expansion of Islamic terror networks. Various international extremist groups have had a continued presence in ASEAN countries including the Jemaah Islamiyah, Al Qaeda and now IS.



WORKING TOGETHER TO TACKLE TERROR THREAT

In 2001, ASEAN leaders expressed their determination to address the threat of terrorism through the ASEAN Declaration on Joint Action to Counter Terrorism. They resolved to intensify their efforts to prevent and suppress the activities of terrorist groups in the region.

Recently ASEAN has made more concerted moves to address the new threat.

On Jun 19, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines agreed to fight trans-border terrorism activities on the Sulu-Sulawesi-Celebes Sea by launching maritime patrols.

And on Jun 22, foreign ministers, police and military chiefs from the same countries gathered in Manila, with one concern: How to combat the rise of terrorism in the region?

"No country is immune from terrorism, this threat is beyond border," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in her opening remarks. "Your challenges are Indonesia’s challenges and also the challenges of the region."

The meeting concluded with attendees agreeing to enhance effort and cooperation in addressing the root causes and underlying conditions of extremism including poverty, narcotics, crime and social injustice.

The countries agreed to enhance the intelligence and information sharing amongst all security and intelligence agencies and review and implement all of the existing agreements on terrorism and violent extremism to make a cross-analysis comparison of each country’s laws on terrorism with a view to enhancing legislation.

"Let’s just remember if other countries have nationals in Marawi or Mindanao who are extremists, they are as much a threat to their home country - it is the same thing with what happens in Iraq and Syria," said Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.



"Jihadi extremists from other countries - some stay to fight, some stay to organise. We discussed the different nationalities involved: How to keep them out of Southeast Asia and how to ensure they will not cross borders."

OFFERS OF HELP

The Philippines has admitted it is not equipped to deal with the threat on its own and other ASEAN countries have showed their concern by offering humanitarian and other assistance in the Marawi siege.

Singapore, for example, has offered to deploy drones for intelligence and surveillance, and provide urban warfare training.

“(Philippine Defence Secretary) Lorenzana expressed the need for training in urban settings and it just so happens we have been preparing for this,” said Dr Ng.

“We have an urban training village to train our soldiers to do counter insurgency in built up areas. So this is very suitable for the operating environment that the Philippine armed forces now finds itself in Marawi and in other places in Mindanao, and in the future too."



Malaysia and Indonesia have also offered to help, but it has been suggested that more can be done in terms of defence cooperation.

"The conflict in the Philippines serves as a 'honey pot', attracting the wild bees in Malaysia and Indonesia and even Singapore," said Boogie Mendoza, president of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research.

"Therein lies the challenge … the response must be joint collaboration not only in intelligence but in joint operations as well."

GOING AGAINST PRINCIPLE OF NON-INTERFERENCE?

But the sharing of troops could cut to the heart of the regional bloc's principle of non-interference.

"I would consider it as a boon and bane," said Chester Cabalza, military and defence analyst. "There are some strengths where you see the ASEAN way working because there are some issues where you have to use non-interference in terms of policy making and in terms of decision making."

He added: "But in terms of terrorism, which is real and which affects civilians, there should be some degree on how to address the issue and there should be some flexibility when it comes to sovereignty issues in addressing terrorism."



As ASEAN turns 50 on Aug 8, the battle for Marawi and the security of Southeast Asia continues to be threatened.

The Philippine constitution prohibits foreign forces from directly engaging in actual combat on Philippine soil, except when asked to do so by the government. But the experience from the Asian tsunami in 2004 could prove to be a learning point.

The scale of the destruction caused by the tsunami made ASEAN countries realise the need for their militaries to work together to tackle regional crises.

The member states rushed to draft the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response, but took a considerably longer amount of time to adopt this agreement.

Marawi can now be seen as the litmus test to see if defence cooperation among ASEAN member states can be taken to another level.
Source: CNA/rw
Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapa...megrown-9089272

Malaysia inaugurates new maritime base near disputed island with Singapore



The Malaysian government has inaugurated a new maritime base approximately 500 m southeast of Pedra Branca, an outlying island under the jurisdiction of Singapore that Kuala Lumpur believes is part of its territory.

The installation – which has been constructed across two uninhabited features at the eastern opening of the Singapore Strait known as Middle Rocks – was inaugurated by the Sultan of Johor, Ibrahim Ismail bin Iskandar, on 1 August. Accompanying the sultan at the inauguration was chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman bin Ahmad Badaruddin.



The maritime base's construction was initiated as a national security project that seeks to secure Malaysia's territorial waters, according to a video statement from the Sultan of Johor's office. Facilities on the installation, which Malaysia refers to as the Abu Bakar Maritime Base, include a 316 m jetty, a lighthouse, and a helicopter landing pad.

Agencies expected to use these facilities include the RMN, the Malaysia Coast Guard, and the maritime component of the Royal Malaysian Police – all of which were represented by their respective senior officials during the inauguration ceremony.

https://www.aerotime.aero/en/military/19547...-su-35-contract

Russian Army vehicles take home first place in Intl Army Games



The Russian Armed Forces took home first place after defeating teams from Egypt, Venezuela, and Kazakhstan during the inaugural Masters of Armored Vehicles competition as part of the 2017 International Army Games in Russia.

Each team had to negotiate a 10-km, 20-obstacle course, driving in formation, overcoming anti-tank ditches and water obstacles without making any mistakes.



Siberian vacation: Putin takes short break to spearfish, hike & sunbathe



Vladimir Putin has spent more than two hours chasing a giant pike in one of the lakes in Tyva Republic during his brief Siberian vacation in the form of an intense 2-day hiking and camping trip, where the Russian president once again showcased his bare torso.

South Korea first submarine export to Indonesia KRI Nagapasa-403.



This post has been edited by azriel: Aug 5 2017, 08:50 PM

3 Marines missing after Osprey aircraft 'mishaps' off Australian coast





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Indonesian Navy second DSME Type 209 Submarine KRI Ardadedali-404 seen at DSME Shipyard with her sister submarine KRI Nagapasa-403 in the background. Delivery of KRI Ardadedali-404 is scheduled for this September.



This post has been edited by azriel: Aug 6 2017, 07:49 AM

Frontliners - Level 3: Fight



Fight or Flight? For NSmen on the ground, there is only one choice. See how Shakir, Angus and Masood “fight” to keep Singapore safe and secure.


Previous episodes;

Aussie military targets diversity in latest recruits


In its latest effort to sign up new soldiers, the Australian Defence Force has dispensed with enticing recruits with the promise of "action, adventure and comradeship" as was traditionally done.

Instead, its latest series of advertisements has taken a domestic approach, featuring serving personnel at home, chatting with their parents in the garden or on the couch.

In one of the advertisements, a Chinese-born mother admits to being "worried sick" about her daughter joining the military.

"I didn't expect her to pursue this path," says the mother, named as Lihua. "However, I later realised that she has her own dreams, which do not have to concur with my plans."



SIGN UP
The daughter, Vivienne, a serving personnel capability officer, says: "When I first joined, I think I was the only Chinese girl on the base… Everyone went out of their way to help me."

Personnel featured in the eight advertisements belong to various ethnic and religious minorities, including those from Indian, Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese or indigenous backgrounds.



The aim is to boost recruitment from these communities, and address the Australian military's ongoing struggle to properly reflect the nation's multicultural character.

28%
Percentage of Australians born overseas.

5.4%
Percentage of permanent military personnel born overseas.

Even though Australia is one of the world's most culturally diverse countries, its military - which is non-conscription - has had a hard time attracting those from minority and immigrant communities.

The Australian Defence Force currently has 57,000 permanent personnel, of whom just 3,000 - or 5.4 per cent - were born overseas, even though more than 28 per cent of Australians were born elsewhere.

Defence officials have long insisted that the military needs to expand its membership, both to deepen the available talent pool and to attract soldiers who speak various languages and who are familiar with the cultures of the country's regional partners.

"We want to make sure we are recruiting from right across the Australian population," the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, said last month.

"Not only for the capability, but to make sure we are representing the community we defend," he added.

In 2013, the military launched a plan to boost its diversity, noting that only 5.4 per cent of its personnel in 2012 came from non-English-speaking backgrounds. The figure rose to just 5.7 per cent in 2015.

The federal government said that the latest campaign was aimed specifically at persuading parents to allow and encourage their children to enlist.



GREATER UNDERSTANDING


Our roles are primarily offshore. We need linguists and we need cultural understanding.

PROFESSOR PETER LEAHY, a former Chief of Army, on why the Australian military's efforts to attract migrant communities would help improve its effectiveness.
"The Australian Defence Force should reflect the diverse society that is Australia today," Defence Minister Marise Payne said in a statement on July 30.

"A diverse workforce provides a greater range of ideas and insights to challenge accepted norms, and will help strengthen our capability and our operational effectiveness."

Professor Peter Leahy, a former Chief of Army, said he welcomed the effort by the latest campaign to try to "overcome the concerns of mum and dad".

"In some communities, the military is not seen as an obvious career choice," Prof Leahy, now at the University of Canberra, told The Straits Times.

"Often, negative attitudes towards the military are something that migrant communities have brought with them from their home countries. The military might be seen as a repressive force and a force that does not act in the best interests of the community."



In recent years, the military has tried to address some of the factors behind its failure to attract Australians from migrant communities, for instance, by attending community events and by catering to people with special religious needs or who speak English as a second language.

Prof Leahy, who retired from the army in 2008 after 37 years as a soldier, said he had seen first-hand the benefits of having Iraqi-heritage and Afghan-heritage Australian troops during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Our roles are primarily offshore," he said. "We need linguists and we need cultural understanding."

He added: "If you are going to be a national institution, it should represent the demographic nature of the nation."

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australia...?xtor=EREC-16-1[ST_Newsletter_AM]-20170807-[Aussie+military+targets+diversity+in+latest+recruits]&xts=538291

uuu the Vintags

SAF delivers humanitarian supplies worth S$100,000 for Marawi evacuees




MINDANAO, Philippines: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) delivered humanitarian supplies worth S$100,000 to the Philippines on Monday (Aug 7), meant for civilians displaced by the conflict in Marawi.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying the supplies landed near Mindanao's Iligan city where many Marawi residents have fled to. The aid supplies were then handed over to representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Office of Civil Defense.



The supplies, which are part of Singapore’s offer of assistance to the Philippines last month, include tents, blankets, medical supplies, food items like rice and pasta as well as bottled water and water filtration devices.
Marawi has been under siege by pro-Islamic State fighters since May 23, prompting the Philippine military to launch an offensive to take back the city. Martial law is in place in the entire southern region of Mindanao.



Nearly 700 people have been killed, including about 500 militants, according to the Philippines military. More than 400,000 people have been displaced in the intense fighting.
The humanitarian supplies that Singapore delivered to the Philippines on Monday will take about a day to reach civilians in about 20 evacuation centres in Iligan.



During Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen’s visit to the Philippines last month, he had also offered the use of the SAF’s urban training villages for Philippine troops, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singap...-marawi-9098922

In the Army Now Series E1: Russian Army in the Arctic Circle




Journalist Pavel and comedian Anna are in the army now – the Russian Army. Normally, it’s out of bounds to civilians, but they’ve found a way in. Their goal is to try and test every myth there is about military service in Russia and find out whether they have any basis in truth or are merely invented.

To start, they join the newest addition to the Russian Army, its Arctic Regiment. Based in the Arctic Circle, the Regiment consists of over 1,500 soldiers. To serve here, they need to know how to survive in extreme conditions of the tundra, be able to cover 30 km skiing cross country, and operate the most advanced armoured vehicles.

Here, Pavel and Anna will see with their own eyes whether the hardships of military life have been exaggerated, whether soldiers have to dress in 45 seconds during a drill, and whether reindeer and husky dogs are really used as means of transport.

In the first episode, they try on Arctic military uniform, undergo gruelling outing skis, and learn what attracts women to serve in this remote regiment.

Large-scale police operation nabs suspected terrorists and passport-forging syndicate in KL



KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Police picked up a total of 409 foreigners and busted a passport-forging syndicate masterminded by a Pakistani man in the first large-scale joint operation led by Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division.

About 200 law enforcement officers hit the streets on Sunday (Aug 6) to nab foreigners linked to international terror groups, those without valid documents and those suspected of illegal activities.

Counter Terrorism Division head, Deputy Commissioner Datuk Ayob Khan, later confirmed that the operation was held as part of preparations for the 2017 SEA Games, which starts on Aug 19.

Concentrating on the city centre around Jalan Masjid India, security personnel in full tactical gear were not only armed but also equipped with radionuclide identification devices (RID) to detect radioactive material.

Counter Terrorism Division officers, along with their comrades from other units such as the Special Action Unit, General Operations Force Tiger Platoon and Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, took part.

Other agencies involved were the Immigration Department, Atomic Energy Licensing Board, National Registration Department and Interpol.



Weekenders flooding the streets were initially shocked to see such a huge deployment of manpower.

Public buses were also stopped for checks and in one instance, a Nigerian man ran so fast to escape that bystanders commented that he was faster than Usain Bolt. Police personnel managed to catch him, although it took five of them to overpower him.

In a raid on the Menara City One condominium in Jalan Munshi Abdullah, multiple enforcement teams made their way from the top and lowest floors simultaneously, with armed officers at stairwells to block escape routes.

Most residents cooperated when the authorities came knocking, with documents in hand for verification.

Those who ignored the knocks soon had their doors and locks broken.

Some units where the occupants refused to cooperate were found to be full of foreigners with incomplete papers or none at all.



Police also detected fake passport-makers and seized some RM54,000 (S$17,154) along with 70 passports, including 67 Indian passports, and a machine used to forge immigration stickers.

Resident Annuar Amin, 43, said he was shocked to see dozens of suspects tied up at the apartment courtyard as they awaited processing.

"I was about to go back upstairs, but I saw people being rounded up," he said. "Then I heard loud noises, so I decided to just wait below until everything was over."

Deputy Commissioner Ayob said the 409 foreigners detained were brought back to the police headquarters for further screening.

"They were from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Myanmar, Oman, Yemen and Nigeria, among others," he said.

"We held those suspected of being involved in terrorism activities. The others were handed over to Immigration for offences under their jurisdiction.



"(The op) is focused on the Klang Valley. Our top goal is to nab foreign terrorist elements.

"We are being proactive in dealing with possible threats."

Deputy Commissioner Ayob also said the operation did not detect any radioactive material, but his division will continue to use RID in future operations.

"Given that terrorists are becoming more creative in using radioactive devices, we have to be equipped with the right tools," he said.

This post has been edited by Fat & Fluffy: Aug 7 2017, 10:54 PM

Turkey 'seeks' to boost military presence in Qatar



Qatar's armed forces have concluded a joint military exercise with Turkey as the two countries seek stronger relations.

Qatar has been under land, air and sea blockades by four Arab countries, which are making many demands including the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the country.

But Ankara is apparently looking to boost its military presence in Qatar.

Read more: http://www.janes.com/article/72905/indones...untertrade-deal

This post has been edited by azriel: Aug 8 2017, 12:07 PM

PILOT KILLED, ANOTHER CRITICALLY INJURED IN APACHE CRASH IN SOUTH ISRAEL





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