Sponsored by Bertin Exensor
www.exensor.com
————————————————————————-
24 Nov 23. China ties on the line as Taiwan opposition splits in dramatic feud. Taiwan’s opposition parties, which seek closer China ties, registered separate presidential candidates on Friday after a dramatic split, potentially easing the way for the ruling party, which has defied Beijing’s pressure, to stay in power.
The Jan. 13 election is taking place as China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, steps up military and political pressure to force the island to accept its sovereignty claims.
The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and much smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), both campaigning to forge better ties with China, had agreed to work together against the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) but made no progress on plans for a united presidential ticket.
China, which has framed the election as a choice between “peace and war”, believes the DPP and its presidential candidates are dangerous separatists and has rebuffed offers of talks.
Late Thursday, the KMT walked out of last-ditch talks with the TPP held in front of reporters in a hotel conference room and shown live on television, after failing to reach agreement.
The talks were brokered by the billionaire founder of major Apple supplier Foxconn (2317.TW), Terry Gou, who had been running as an independent candidate.
In one of the most dramatic moments, the KMT’s presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, read a private text message from TPP candidate Ko Wen-je in which Ko said Gou needed to “find a reason” to drop out of the presidential race.
Hou and Ko both announced their running mates on Friday morning – Hou choosing the fiery media personality Jaw Shaw-kong, while Ko from the much smaller TPP selected one of its lawmakers, Cynthia Wu, whose family is a major shareholder of conglomerate Shin Kong Group.
Gou, who was widely expected to withdraw from the race to be president after the opposition talks collapsed, confirmed he was doing so just three hours before the deadline to register his candidacy with the election commission.
‘STABILITY TO TAIWAN STRAIT’
Hou, introducing Jaw, pledged to bring “stability to the Taiwan Strait and safety to Taiwan, which will assure the entire world”.
By contrast with the chaos in the opposition camp, a united DPP has been charging ahead in its election campaign, registering its presidential and vice presidential candidates on Tuesday.
Huang Kwei-bo, a professor of diplomacy at Taipei’s National Chengchi University and a former KMT deputy secretary general, said the opposition would hope for “favourable changes” such as internal DPP scandals before election day they can seize on.
“There will be a big uphill battle for the two opposition parties,” he told Reuters.
The DPP’s Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s vice president, has consistently led in the polls.
His campaign team on Friday called on the opposition to “quickly submit detailed policies” so the election can “return to normality”.
Speaking at an election event late Thursday, Lai talked about his team’s busy schedule, discussing policy with voters and the media, and poured scorn on the opposition’s disunity.
“Should we dare to hand over the business of running the country to these people?” Lai said. “Of course this is not OK.”
But he said he was not resting on his laurels despite the opposition’s disunity, mentioning the 11 events he had attended that day.
“Is this getting elected while lying down?” Lai added, referring to previous comments by opposition politicians that their failure to unite would ensure Lai’s easy victory.
Taiwan’s stock market mostly brushed off the impact of the ongoing political drama, though travel-related plays dropped on concerns that relations with China would not improve and Chinese tourists would not return to Taiwan. The tourism and hospitality sub-index (.THOI) closed down 3.2% on Friday, compared to a flat benchmark index (.TWII). (Source: Reuters)
23 Nov 23. RoK, Britain Sign MOU on Joint Defense Exports. South Korea and Britain have signed an initial agreement to push for joint defense exports, Seoul’s arms procurement agency said Thursday, as the two countries seek to boost security cooperation.
Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Eom Dong-hwan and Kemi Badenoch, Britain’s secretary of state for business and trade, signed a memorandum of understanding in London on Wednesday (local time) as President Yoon Suk Yeol is on a state visit to Britain this week.
Through the MOU, the two sides are expected to jointly seek opportunities for arms industry exports and make efforts to enhance cooperation between their defense companies, according to DAPA.
DAPA also signed a separate statement of intent with Britain’s defense ministry to deepen defense cooperation.
It said the signing will pave the way for strengthened cooperation in the arms industry, such as joint research and development efforts and personnel exchange.
The signings came as Yoon and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed the Downing Street Accord on Wednesday, raising the two countries’ security and economic ties to the highest level. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Yonhap News Agency)
23 Nov 23. Australian Industry seeks clarity on Defence Trade Controls changes. Research institution representatives have sought further clarification regarding proposed amendments to the Australian federal government’s Defence Trade Controls laws.
The government began legislative manoeuvres into creating an export licence-free environment between domestic defence industry, the United Kingdom, and the United States earlier this month with public consultations opened for feedback on an exposure draft of the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023.
Under future potential amendments, the government would aim to reform respective defence export control frameworks to streamline the flow of defence trade between the AUKUS partners, promote collaboration and create an export licence-free environment to support industry, higher education, and research sectors of all partners.
The bill would also provide a national exemption to the UK and the US from Australia’s export control permit requirements under the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012.
“The Australian government will be consulting with stakeholders on additional exceptions to be included in the Defence Trade Controls Regulation 2013 and DSGL from December 2023 to early 2024,” according to a public statement from Defence.
“These proposed reforms would create an export licence-free environment to support industry, higher education, and research sectors in all three countries, including by reducing barriers to technology transfer and costs of trade.
“The reforms are designed to promote cooperation, collaboration, and innovation between Australia, the UK, and the US and are a critical step in building a seamless industrial base between AUKUS partners.”
Earlier this month on November 13, Australian Academy of Science president Professor Chennupati Jagadish said although a more seamless collaborative environment with AUKUS partners is welcome, he was also concerned about the negative impact this legislation might have on research collaborations with all other countries, which also serve the national interest.
“Efforts must be made by government to facilitate critical scientific and technological collaboration with countries other than the US and UK,” Professor Jagadish said.
“To successfully overcome the global issues we are facing; climate change, pandemic, energy transition, protection of the environment and space. These challenges all depend on technological innovation and solutions that only global scientific collaborations can provide.
“Presenting science purely as a competition among groups of nations ignores the reality of our interconnected global science system and its interconnected networks.”
Further clarification was also sought in a submission from the Group of Eight, comprising the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University, the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland, the University of Western Australia, the University of Adelaide, Monash University, and UNSW Sydney.
“The Go8 strongly supports the intent of the bill to create an export controls framework that will streamline the flow of defence trade between AUKUS partners, by creating an export licence-free environment to support higher education, research and industry in all three countries,” the submission said.
“We acknowledge that changes to our current defence export environment will be critical if Australia is to maximise the opportunities offered by the AUKUS agreement, especially in relation to Pillar II.
“However, our broader research and knowledge networks, especially those with critical partners across the Indo-Pacific, also help contribute to regional stability and furthering Australia’s strategic goals. This makes it critical that we strike a carefully calibrated balance between ensuring the necessary legislative protections while not damaging our ability to engage more broadly where it is in the national interest.”
The submission outlined potential conflicts with researchers who hold dual Australian citizenship, a self-censoring effect on university innovation, disruptions to university campuses held overseas and impact on strong collaborative research with educational institutions in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, India, and China.
The changes would also seek to keep pace with emerging challenges in Australia’s security environment by creating new criminal offences in the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012.
The offences include supply of Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL) technology to a foreign person within Australia, and/or supply of DSGL goods and technology, that were previously exported or supplied from Australia, from one foreign country to another foreign country.
Greens defence and science spokesperson, Senator David Shoebridge, said given the sensitive, controversial and complex nature of the bill, the public consultation period from 7 to 17 November was a sham.
“This is a ridiculously short period for public comments, effectively opening for submissions on Monday and closing Friday. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Senator Shoebridge said.
“The draft bill, if implemented, will have far reaching impacts on Australia’s international scientific collaboration and that surely deserves more than a week’s thought.
“Australia has some of the brightest scientific minds on the planet, but collectively they account for only 4 per cent of global scientific output.
“Without effective international collaboration, we will become an international scientific backwater.
“There are definitely scientific positives by easing cooperation with UK and US counterparts but this must not come at the expense of walling us off from the rest of the world.
“A critical issue is that the boundary of what is and is not dual use military equipment is full of uncertainty and under this draft bill, if a scientist makes a wrong call, then they face jail. This is a serious concern already raised by researchers.”
Senator Shoebridge requested an immediate extension of the consultation period to a minimum four weeks. (Source: Defence Connect)
23 Nov 23. North Korea scraps military deal with South, vows to deploy new weapons at border. North Korea said on Thursday it would deploy stronger armed forces and new weapons on its border with the South, a day after Seoul suspended part of a 2018 military accord between the two Koreas in a protest over Pyongyang’s launch of a spy satellite.
North Korea’s defence ministry said in a statement carried by the KCNA news agency that it would restore all military measures it had halted under the deal with South Korea, which was designed to de-escalate tension along their shared border.
“From now on, our army will never be bound by the September 19 North-South Military Agreement,” the statement said. “We will withdraw the military steps, taken to prevent military tension and conflict in all spheres including ground, sea and air, and deploy more powerful armed forces and new-type military hardware in the region along the Military Demarcation Line.”
Tuesday’s satellite launch was the North’s third attempt this year after two failures and followed a rare trip by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia, during which President Vladimir Putin vowed to help Pyongyang build satellites.
South Korean officials said the latest launch most likely involved Russian technical assistance under a growing partnership that has seen Pyongyang supply Russia with ms of artillery shells.
Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals but have promised deeper cooperation, including on satellites.
South Korea on Wednesday suspended part of the inter-Korean deal in response to Pyongyang’s launch and said it would immediately step up surveillance along the heavily fortified border with the North.
North Korea accused South Korea of scrapping the deal, known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), and said Seoul will be held “wholly accountable in case an irretrievable clash breaks out” between the two Koreas.
NORTH FIRES MISSILE
North Korea’s statement came hours after it fired a ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast late on Wednesday. South Korea’s military said the launch appeared to have failed.
A U.S. Department of State spokesperson said South Korea’s decision to suspend part of the CMA was a “prudent and restrained response,” citing North Korea’s “failure to adhere to the agreement.”
“The ROK suspension will restore surveillance and reconnaissance activities along the ROK side of the Military Demarcation Line, improving the ROK’s ability to monitor DPRK threats,” the official said, referring to South Korea and North Korea respectively by the initials of their official names.
South Korea resumed the use of crewed and uncrewed reconnaissance aircraft in the border area on Wednesday, Yonhap news agency reported.
The suspended North-South pact was signed at a 2018 summit between Kim Jong Un and then South Korean President Moon Jae-in, one of the most concrete measures to come from months of diplomacy that stalled out by 2019.
Moon Chung-in, a professor at Yonsei University who served as a special adviser to President Moon during the talks with Kim, said that although North Korea had not been following all elements of the agreement, the CMA’s demise could increase the risk of confrontation along the border.
“Accidental clashes can escalate into full-blown conflict, including nuclear strikes,” he said. “We have every reason to try to reduce risk and tension and instead the South is going in the opposite direction.”
Critics have said that the pact weakened Seoul’s ability to monitor North Korea, and that Pyongyang had violated the agreement.
“The CMA was a good agreement in theory, since risk reduction and confidence- and security-building measures are beneficial to both sides by reducing the risk of tactical clashes and inadvertent escalation,” said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA analyst now with the U.S.-based Heritage Foundation.
However, with further measures stalled, the measure came at the cost of curtailing allied surveillance and military training and did not reduce the North Korean military threat, he said.
Although it has remained publicly noncommittal, Washington had been privately urging Seoul to maintain the CMA, Klingner said.
North Korea said on Tuesday it placed its first spy satellite in orbit, drawing international condemnation for violating U.N. resolutions that bar its use of technology applicable to ballistic missile programs.
South Korea has said the North Korean satellite was believed to have entered orbit, but it would take time to assess whether it was operating normally. (Source: Reuters)
22 Nov 23. Korean Peninsula: Military agreement suspension after spy satellite launch will drive tensions. On 22 November, South Korea announced the suspension of elements of the 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) with North Korea in response to Pyongyang’s claims that it launched its first spy satellite on 21 November. The suspension enables South Korea to resume reconnaissance activities in border areas, activities which were limited under the CMA. The 2018 CMA, established to minimise the risk of inadvertent border clashes, included agreements to cease military drills near the border and to establish no-fly zones. However, the agreement was compromised by recent violations, including North Korean artillery fire in a designated maritime buffer zone. South Korea’s suspension specifically targets Article 1, Clause 3 of the CMA concerning no-fly zones, with further actions contingent on North Korea’s future conduct. The suspension will likely drive regional tensions and increase strains in inter-Korean relations. These tensions will possibly escalate into more frequent flare-ups along the border. (Source: Sibylline)
22 Nov 23. Russia-Tajikistan: Uranium co-operation proposals aim to defend Russia’s position in Central Asia. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on 21 November during talks with his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon, that Russian firms are interested in joint uranium exploration and production in Tajikistan. Putin added that Russian companies are also interested in rare metals, including lithium. Tajikistan is mineral-rich and has several uranium deposits, though it also has substantial issues with legacy waste from past uranium mining and milling. The Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom announced on 3 October that its specialists had completed work to revitalise the Taboshar industrial site (Sughd province, Tajikistan), where uranium was mined under the Soviet Union. In early November, French President Emmanuel Macron visited neighbouring Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, partly in a bid to secure new sources of uranium. Amid growing economic competition in resource-rich Central Asia, Russia is set to double down on economic co-operation with its strongest regional allies (namely Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) while other players openly court European investment. (Source: Sibylline)
22 Nov 23. Colombia: Fatal clashes in Antioquia underscore sustained risk of fighting between guerilla groups. On 21 November, the Sumapaz Foundation reported that three farmers were killed in Briceno (Antioquia department) during a clash between FARC dissidents and the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia (AGC). The incident, which includes reports of kidnappings, highlights an escalation in fighting between illegal armed groups across the region. Historically, northern Antioquia has been a hotbed of violence and territorial disputes, exacerbated by the absence of state security forces. This year, human rights groups have denounced clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN), Clan del Golfo and FARC dissidents in northern Antioquia. These have led to the forced displacement and killings of local social leaders. Ongoing turf wars will raise the risk of further clashes between armed groups, sustaining a high level of instability in the medium term. The risk of organised crime is likely to remain elevated; further incidents are likely in the near term. (Source: Sibylline)
22 Nov 23. US-Middle East: Strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq highlight sustained tensions despite ceasefire. On 22 November, US forces launched a round of airstrikes against two facilities in Iraq used by Iran and Iranian-backed groups. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the strikes were in response to attacks on 21 November by Iran-backed militias targeting US and coalition forces at the al-Asad Air Base in al-Anbar Governorate (Iraq). While it was confirmed that the US strikes resulted in fatalities, no exact number has been provided. The strikes follow an increased number of attacks against US military personnel and assets across the Middle East since mid-October. These attacks have been conducted by Iran-backed proxies due to Washington DC’s support for Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas. Despite the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas earlier on 22 November, heightened regional tensions will be sustained. The risk of attacks targeting US military personnel and assets will remain elevated in the short-to-medium term despite the cessation of hostilities in the Palestinian Territories. (Source: Sibylline)
21 Nov 23. Falkland Islands in focus following Argentina election. The UK and Argentina both declare “non-negotiable” rights to the Falkland Islands after election results in Argentina brought a right-wing candidate to power. The election victory of Argentine President-elect Javier Milei on 19 November has prompted a reaction from the UK Government, with UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps stating on social media that the Falkland Islands “are British”, a stance that was described as “non-negotiable and undeniable”. Making the statement on X, formerly Twitter, Shapps recalled that a 2013 referendum result on the Falkland Islands resulted in “99.8% of islanders voted to remain British”, with the UK committed two defending Falkland Islands residents’ “right to self-determination”. Shapps also noted that the Batch 2 River class offshore patrol vessel HMS Forth had arrived within the Falkland Islands area of operations to replace sister ship HMS Medway as it rotated out. Lightly armed, the Batch 2 River class displace around 2,000 tonnes and typically used for maritime security operations far short of warfighting.
Comments attributed to the far-right populist Milei during the election campaign said that the country had a “non-negotiable” sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
The UK and Argentina both have historic claims to the Falkland Islands, which is a collection of islands in the South Atlantic around 300km east of Argentina’s Patagonia region. The two countries fought a war in 1981 following Argentina’s invasion of the UK-controlled islands, resulting in hundreds of military deaths on both sides, and the UK retaining sovereignty.
The UK also holds sovereignty over South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands some 1,500km further east of the Falkland Islands.
Following the war, the UK moved to increase its permanent defence presence on the Falkland Islands, recently clarified in a series of parliamentary written responses on 17 November, outlining a fixed military aviation force of four Typhoon jets, supported by one transport aircraft (typically an A400M Atlas) and one A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft.
The aforementioned HMS Forth is tasked as the permanent Falkland Islands patrol ship and is supported by UK military presence in the West Africa region. It is thought that Royal Navy nuclear-powered attack submarines make frequent deployments to the South Atlantic in support of UK sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
There are around 1,500 UK military personnel stationed on the Falkland Islands at any one time.
Argentina’s defence aspirations progress in 2023
According to GlobalData’s analysis of defence spending in Argentina, published in March this year, the country recorded $2.4bn (854.55bn pesos) in military expenditure in 2023. Over the next five years, Argentina is forecast to register a compound annual growth rate of 6.4% to value military defence spending at $3.2bn in 2028.
Analysis indicated that sovereignty disputes over the Falkland Islands and the modernisation of its armed forces have been the major drivers of Argentine defence expenditure. However, the turbulence in the Argentine economy, which was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has affected Argentina’s ability to spend on its armed forces.
That said, historical struggles in Argentina’s defence modernisation have moved some way towards being resolved in recent years, with progress being made in areas such as military aviation. A post on X from the US State Department earlier in October his year revealed officials had approved the transfer of F-16 fighters from Denmark to Argentina.
“The transfer reaffirms our close defence ties and steadfast support for Argentina’s air force modernisation efforts,” the US State Department post read. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
21 Nov 23. UK and Republic of Korea to enforce sanctions against North Korea through joint sea patrols. A new Accord signed between the UK and Republic of Korea will strengthen our joint ability to enforce sanctions against North Korea.
- A new Accord signed between the UK and Republic of Korea (ROK) will strengthen our joint ability to enforce sanctions against North Korea, and work to prevent development of its illegal weapons programme.
- The Accord will be signed by the Prime Minister of the UK and the President of the ROK during his state visit to the UK.
- The Accord demonstrates the increased ambition of the already strong UK-ROK diplomatic partnership, which marks its 140th anniversary this year.
A new Accord signed between the UK and Republic of Korea (ROK) will include a defence agreement between the UK and Republic of Korea (ROK) that will see both nations jointly enforce United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea (DPRK) for the first time.
The agreement, which forms part of the Downing Street Accord, will be signed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President Yoon Suk Yeol during his State Visit this week. The Accord affirms that the UK and the Republic of Korea will work closely on defence and security, collaborating in science and technological innovation, and boosting trade and investment opportunities.
The DPRK relies on smugglers in order to bypass international sanctions, many of which were introduced to block imports and exports which could be used to support its nuclear weapons programme.
A significant amount of this smuggling takes place in the East China Sea, where Royal Navy ships have previously deployed and captured evidence of this activity.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The UK is leading the way in supporting our Korean friends in countering North Korea’s aggressive posturing and ensuring the safety and security of the Indo-Pacific. Deepening the ties between the Royal Navy and Republic of Korea Navy, our bilateral defence relationship has never been stronger. The agreement will support closer relations between the Royal Navy and ROK Navy during future cooperation to counter this activity, and will support the security of the Indo-Pacific region.”
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: “The UK and the Republic of Korea have built a strong relationship of trust and respect over many years – this year we celebrate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries.”
And Britain has a long history of standing with the ROK in its commitment to democracy in the region.
This agreement – signed 70 years after the Korean War Armistice – is a truly unique step in the strengthening of our work to secure the security of the Korean Peninsula and the region. We are proud, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to be at the forefront of international sanctions enforcement activity.
This includes upholding international commitments to curtail North Korea’s illegal weapons programmes.
The UK is fully committed to meeting its obligations as a permanent UNSC member to enforce sanctions resolutions, and routinely conducts maritime monitoring operations focused on vessels which could be involved in the illegal transfer of goods and resources. The Royal Navy maintains a persistent presence in the Indo-Pacific, as reaffirmed through this year’s refreshed Defence Command Paper, with two offshore patrol vessels – HMS Spey and HMS Tamar – deployed in the region.
Further activity involving both the Royal Marines and British Army is also currently being planned for 2024. After a highly successful Ex IMJIN WARRIOR in October of this year at the Korean Combat Training Centre, the UK will further expand its commitment to this bilateral exercise in 2024, while the ROK-led Exercise Ssang Yong will see a significant uplift in the number of Royal Marines taking part.
The UK and ROK will commit to a breadth of security and defence cooperation as part of the Accord, which will also include sharing information to more efficiently tackle maritime threats in the Indo-Pacific, and the signing of a Strategic Cyber Partnership committing our nations to working together to tackle cyber threats.
The Accord will also deliver an important milestone in UK-ROK defence relations, with the signing of a joint Ministerial Statement Of Intent to establish a new Defence Partnership for Industrial and Capability Cooperation.
The partnership will open a detailed dialogue between our Defence and procurement officials, enabling greater integration between our export and capability requirements, including industrial collaboration and supply chain integration. It will strengthen our future joint defence exports, with British and Korean industry working together on projects with selected third countries, and will allow for greater collaboration on shared industrial development and R&D.
During the State Visit, the President will be joined by The Duke of Gloucester to lay a wreath at the Korean War Memorial in London, in memory of those who gave their lives in the conflict – with 2023 marking 70 years since the armistice was signed. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
21 Nov 23. AC-130 Strikes Iranian-Backed Militants Following Missile Attack. A U.S. military AC-130J Ghostrider attacked an Iran-backed militant group after the group used a ballistic missile to attack U.S. and coalition forces on Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq, the deputy pentagon press secretary said today.
The ballistic missile attack resulted in non-serious injuries to U.S. and coalition forces, as well as minor damage to infrastructure on the installation, said Sabrina Singh during a briefing at the Pentagon.
“Immediately following the attack, a U.S. military AC-130 aircraft in the area conducted a self-defense strike against an Iranian-backed militia vehicle and a number of Iranian-backed militia personnel involved in this attack,” she said. “This self-defense strike resulted in some hostile fatalities.”
Singh said the AC-130 gunship was able to mount a response so quickly because it was already in the air at the time of the missile attack.
“We were able to identify the point of origin of these attacks because an AC-130 was up already in the area and therefore was able to respond,” Singh said. “They were able to take action because they saw the militants. They were able to keep an eye on the movement of these militants as they moved into their vehicles and that’s why they were able to respond.”
Since Oct. 17, U.S. forces have been attacked 66 times in both Iraq and Syria, said Singh. She also said this is the first time a ballistic missile similar to the one used in this attack has been employed.
Since the start of those attacks in October, the U.S. has mounted three other strikes, Singh said. But those strikes were pre-planned and targeted specific facilities and infrastructure known to be used by militias affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This most recent U.S. response was different in that it was unplanned.
“These groups have targeted our forces both Iraq and Syria,” Singh said. “We feel right now that we’ve taken appropriate action to decimate some of their facilities and some of their weapons … We always reserve the right to respond at a time and place of our choosing.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
22 Nov 23. Military agreement fractures as tensions rise with North Korea. South Korea said on Wednesday it would suspend parts of a 2018 military agreement with North Korea designed to curb the risk of inadvertent clashes along their shared border, in response to Pyongyang’s claim to have successfully launched a spy satellite.
Among the concrete steps stemming from the move, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said South Korea would immediately resume reconnaissance of the North’s forces in border areas. Such surveillance had been curtailed under the pact, South Korean officials said.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2018?
The so-called Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) signed between the two Koreas in 2018 was the most substantive deal to result from months of historic meetings between leader Kim Jong Un and then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
On Sept. 19, 2018, South Korea’s defence minister and his North Korean counterpart signed the CMA in the North’s capital, Pyongyang, accompanied by polite applause from the onlooking leaders.
Under the CMA, both countries agreed to “completely cease all hostile acts against each other” that are the source of military tension and conflict, by implementing military confidence-building measures in the air, land, and sea domains.
The measures included the two sides ending military drills near the border, banning live-fire exercises in certain areas, the imposition of no-fly zones, the removal of some guard posts along the Demilitarized Zone, and maintaining hotlines.
On the ground, both sides agreed to completely cease artillery drills and field training within 5 kilometres (3 miles) of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) between the countries.
At sea, the two sides installed covers on the barrels of naval guns and coastal artillery and closed gun ports in a buffer zone along the sea border.
MILITARY DEAL AT RISK
With inter-Korean and denuclearisation talks long stalled, recent drills and shows of force along the fortified border between the Koreas have cast doubts on the future of the measures, which were meant to reduce tensions.
South Korea had accused Pyongyang of violating the agreement after North Korean artillery shells fell into a maritime buffer zone that was supposed to be free of live-fire drills under the agreement.
The North then said South Korea had resumed the use of propaganda loudspeakers at the border in violation of the agreement. South Korea denied the accusation.
Kim Myung-soo, nominee for South Korea’s chairman of joint chiefs of staff, said last week that the 2018 agreement limited his military’s surveillance of North Korea and live-fire drills near the maritime border.
WHAT PARTS OF AGREEMENT WILL BE SUSPENDED?
South Korea’s national security council said on Tuesday it planned to “suspend the effect of Article 1, Clause 3” of the 2018 military agreement, enabling Seoul to restore reconnaissance and surveillance activities along the border.
Under that clause, both countries agreed to establish no-fly zones close to their border.
South Korea’s military will restart aerial surveillance in border areas, which had been conducted before the agreement was signed, the defence ministry said.
South Korea said, however, its decisions on whether to take further actions to pull out of the military agreement would depend on the North’s follow-up moves. (Source: Reuters)
21 Nov 23. Yemen’s Houthis hijack “Israeli ship” in the Red Sea. Armed Houthi rebels seized the British-owned, Japanese-operated ship for its alleged ties with an Israeli businessman.
Yemen’s Houthi rebel group on Sunday (19 November) seized a cargo vessel in the Red Sea, which it claims belongs to Israel. The militia had warned it would attack Israeli ships in the Red Sea.
In footage of the hijacking released by the Houthis yesterday (20 November), armed Houthi fighters jumped aboard the moving Galaxy Leader ship from a helicopter. The 25 crew members were held at gunpoint as Palestinian and Yemeni flags were raised.
“The Yemeni armed forces deal with the ship’s crew in accordance with the principle and values of our Islamic religion,” Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sare’e said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
The exact whereabouts of the Galaxy Leader are unknown. It was believed to be en route from Turkey to India.
How has Israel responded?
The Israel Defence Forces said that the hijacking was an “Iranian act of terrorism” and “a very grave incident of global consequence”. It also maintained that “it is not an Israeli ship” in a statement on X.
The Houthis hijacked the Galaxy Leader because it is partially owned by Israeli bnaire Abraham “Rami” Ungar, Sky News and Lebanese media outlet Al Mayadeen reported.
Sare’e added that the Houthis will continue to target ships operated or owned by Israeli companies. The Houthis claimed the hijacking was “in solidarity with Palestinian people in the wake of the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza”.
The Japanese Government yesterday (20 November) confirmed that the captured ship is operated by Tokyo-headquartered Nippon Yusen.
Japan has said it is appealing to the Houthis while calling on authorities in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iran for assistance in releasing the vessel and its crew.
Two ships connected with Nippon Yusen have since diverted their routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, according to Reuters.
The Houthis control vast swathes of Yemen in defiance of a Saudi Arabia-backed coalition government, including the capital of Sana’a. The group has declared war on Israel, launching missile and drone strikes on key Israeli targets including the Port of Eilat, Israel’s third-busiest port.
(Source: army-technology.com)
20 Nov 23. Australia: Incident involving Chinese warship and Australian diver drives renewed bilateral tensions. On 20 November, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared that a Chinese warship had acted dangerously and unprofessionally during a 14 November incident with the Australian navy vessel HMAS Toowoomba in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, resulting in injuries to an Australian military diver. The incident, involving the Chinese ship’s disregard of warnings and risky sonar use, occurred as HMAS Toowoomba was clearing fishing nets from its propellers. Albanese emphasised that the Chinese navy’s actions were a safety hazard and had adversely affected bilateral relations. This development comes amid recent improvements in Australia-China relations, marked by Albanese’s visit to China earlier in November, the first such visit by an Australian leader in over seven years. The incident has been formally raised through diplomatic channels. Although the incident has sparked renewed tensions in the short term, it is unlikely to significantly affect the thawing of the China-Australia relationship in the medium term. (Source: Sibylline)
20 Nov 23. Taiwan: Opposition parties struggle to unify as candidate registration deadline approaches, undermining election prospects. On 19 November, Taiwan’s opposition parties, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT), announced they were encountering difficulties in agreeing on a joint presidential candidate. The parties planned to announce a unified nominee on 20 November but failed to reach a consensus on whether TPP’s Ko Wen-je or KMT’s Hou Yu-ih should lead. The disagreement comes ahead of the 24 November deadline for candidate registration. Current polls indicate that a fragmented opposition will likely benefit the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate, Lai Ching-te, who currently leads in polls. The DPP announced on 20 November that Lai Ching-te’s running mate will be Hsiao Bi-khim, who has been Taiwan’s representative to the US since 2020 and has extensive connections in Washington. If unresolved, the TPP and KMT’s separate candidacies will likely weaken the opposition’s chances in the January 2024 presidential election. (Source: Sibylline)
21 Nov 23. China rebuffs ‘reckless and irresponsible accusations’ of HMAS Toowoomba incident. The People’s Republic of China has described recent accusations by the Australian government as “reckless and irresponsible” after Royal Australian Navy divers were injured in international waters.
The crew of Anzac Class frigate HMAS Toowoomba suffered minor injuries after being exposed to sonar pulses from hull-mounted sonar on the People’s Liberation Army-Navy destroyer operating inside of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, on 14 November.
Diving operations were being performed in order to clear fishing nets that had become entangled around HMAS Toowoomba’s propellers when a PLA-N destroyer (DDG-139) approached the operation, ignored communications to keep clear of the vessel, and operated its hull-mounted sonar. Medical assessments conducted after the divers exited the water identified they had sustained minor injuries likely due to being subjected to the sonar pulses from the Chinese destroyer.
PRC Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Australian claims are “completely untrue” and the country has lodged formal representations with the Australian side.
“We urge the Australian side to respect the facts, stop making reckless and irresponsible accusations against China, do more to build up mutual trust between the two sides, and create a positive atmosphere for the sound development of relations between the two countries and two militaries,” he said.
The Chinese warship CNS Ningbo was tracking, monitoring, identifying, and verifying the Australian frigate HMAS Toowoomba in accordance with international laws and regulations. The vessel maintained a safe distance from the Australian ship and did not engage any actions that could have interfered with diving operations, he said.
In addition, PRC military activities did not take place within or enter Japan’s exclusive economic zone, he said.
People’s Republic of China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that both countries should continue to work on improving international relations.
“The Chinese military is strictly disciplined and always operates professionally in accordance with the international law and international common practices,” she said during a regular press conference held on 20 November.
“We hope relevant parties will stop making trouble in front of China’s doorsteps and work with China to preserve the momentum of improving and growing China–Australia ties.”
The incident occurred while HMAS Toowoomba was deployed to the Indo-Pacific region in support of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Under Operation Argos, the vessel and an embarked MH-60R helicopter, Valkyrie, were tasked with monitoring and deterring illegal ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods.
Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said Australia is committed to enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea until it takes concrete steps towards denuclearisation.
“This operation is Australia’s contribution to a multinational effort, alongside Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, all of which conduct operations in support of UN Security Council resolutions,” LTGEN Bilton said.
“These deployments demonstrate Australia’s commitment to a global rules-based order as part of an international pressure campaign on North Korea to denuclearise.”
Commanding Officer Toowoomba Commander Darin MacDonald said Argos was an important part of the ship’s regional presence deployment.
“We are proud to contribute to the 10th iteration of the RAN’s support to this operation on behalf of Australia,” he said.
“The crew’s hard work is testament to Australia’s continued commitment to regional security and stability.”
After supporting Operation Argos, Toowoomba will continue conducting activities, exercises, and engagements with regional partners during the regional presence deployment.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the entire incident is “regrettable” and the government has put very strong objections, very clearly, and very directly to China via appropriate channels.
“This was dangerous, it was unsafe and unprofessional from the Chinese forces,” he said during a televised interview on 20 November.
“Our major concern, of course, is always for the safety of our Australian Defence Force personnel … and in this case, one person suffered an injury as a result of the actions of China.
“This is a sort of incident that I’ve spoken about when I addressed the Shangri-La Dialogue in June of why we need communication guardrails and we need to avoid a reckless event such as this.
“What I said when I was in China is that we will cooperate where we can but disagree where we must. And this is one of those times where we disagree with the action of China.
“We’ve made it clear that we disagree with what occurred, that we have the strongest possible objection, and that this sort of event should not occur. The frigate involved clearly had out a sign that there were divers below. They were freeing up a fishing net from the equipment that was required under the water. And they should have been allowed to undertake this normal activity without this sort of intervention from the Chinese.
“There’s no misunderstanding as to Australia’s view on this.”
(Source: Defence Connect)
20 Nov 23. Moldova: Runoff local elections key indicator of pro-EU sentiment ahead of 2024 presidential vote. On 19 November, Moldova held runoff local elections across 273 localities. The ruling pro-West Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) now controls around a third of the country’s nearly 900 councils. The speaker of Moldova’s parliament, Igor Grosu, said regions that voted for mayors with clear pro-Europe views will be the first to benefit from support from EU member states. Almost 60% of voters in Moldova’s second-largest city, Bălți, cast their ballots to elect Alexandr Petkov, a candidate from the populist, somewhat Eurosceptic and Russia-friendly ‘Our Party’ (PPPN). Renato Usatîi, the former mayor of Bălți and the party’s chairman, announced in July that he intends to run for president in 2024. As such, the local elections almost certainly represent a key test for determining the popularity of PAS’ pro-EU drive ahead of the presidential vote. Moscow will highly likely intensify its efforts to undermine the pro-West central government in Chișinău ahead of this election. (Source: Sibylline)
20 Nov 23. Armenia-Azerbaijan: Persistent territorial disputes will impede peace process. On 18 November, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed concerns over statements by Azerbaijani sources allegedly calling Armenia ‘Western Azerbaijan’. Pashinyan said he has proposed negotiations over exclaves and enclaves within the framework of peace talks. However, he stressed that although both parties have agreed on the basic principles of a peace treaty, they are ‘still speaking different diplomatic languages’, reflecting persistent disagreements. The Armenian Artsvashen exclave in Azerbaijan, occupied by Baku since 1992, remains a point of contention between both countries. While Azerbaijan has three enclaves on Armenian territory, it has been pressuring Yerevan to allow the establishment of the Zangezur corridor to connect itself with its Nakhchivan exclave. Meanwhile, on 18 November, an Armenian soldier was reportedly injured in a cross-border shooting with Azerbaijani forces, underscoring the volatility of the border between both countries. Due to persistent territorial disputes, the prospects for a settlement remain low in the short term. (Source: Sibylline)
————————————————————————-
Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need. A CNIM Group Company
————————————————————————-