19 Aug 15. U.S. proposes U.N. Arms Embargo on South Sudan. The U.S. is proposing that the U.N. Security Council impose an arms embargo on South Sudan after its president shocked rebels and observers by refusing to sign a peace deal. The U.S. circulated a draft resolution to council members Wednesday evening, and diplomats said they expected a vote soon. “Imminent, I think that was the word,” New Zealand Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen told reporters. The draft, seen by the Associated Press, says that if South Sudan’s government doesn’t sign the peace deal by Sept. 1, additional people “including the senior political leaders of South Sudan” will face sanctions. The text circulated shortly after South Sudan President Salva Kiir told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a phone call that he would sign the peace deal after “a couple of more days of consultation.” Rebel leader Riek Machar signed the deal Monday. The U.S. called Mr. Kiir’s refusal to do the same “outrageous.” Previous peace agreements to end South Sudan’s conflict, which has killed thousands since late 2013, have failed. (Source: glstrade.com/WSJ)
25 Aug 15. PLAN task group embarks on global deployment. The 20th Counter-Piracy Task Group of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) handed over its role to the ships of the 21st Task Group on 23 August and has now embarked on a global deployment, according to the Chinese Ministry of National Defence. The 20th Counter-Piracy Task Group had been on patrol since 22 April and comprises the Type 052C Luyang II-class destroyer Ji’nan (pennant number 152), Type 054A Jiangkai II-class frigate Yiyang (548), and Type 903 Fuchi-class replenishment ship Qiandaohu (886). Chinese media report that the group is now starting a 30,000-mile global deployment, crossing the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Pacific and transiting the Suez, Kiel, and Panama canals. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
26 Aug 15. Rafale, Mistral on Agenda for Le Drian in Malaysia, India. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is due to visit Malaysia on Sunday, with talks expected to cover the Rafale fighter jet and Mistral helicopter carrier, website La Tribune reported.
“During a visit of the defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, to Kuala Lumpur, where he will land this Sunday, the Malaysian air force could privately tell the minister a preference for the Rafale in the tender for 18 aircraft,” the website reported on Aug. 25.
France has made good progress on negotiations on the Rafale with Malaysia, particularly on the industrial offset, the report said. Le Drian is to go on to India after the Malaysia visit.
The French defense minister is due in India on Tuesday, an Indian Defence Ministry official said.
La Tribune reported the French minister “could attend the signing of the contract for 36 Rafales,” although some observers are highly cautious in view of the slowness of the Indian process.
India has said it wants to buy the 36 fighters off the shelf and on a government-to-government basis. Dassault Aviation, the Rafale prime contractor, hopes to sign a contract by the end of the year.
The French minister is also expected to discuss with Malaysia a sale of the two Mistral warships that Paris has bought back from Russia, the website reported. Malaysia is building six warships based on the DCNS Gowind corvette, sails two Scorpenes, and the French shipbuilder is keen to sell two more of the attack submarine to Kuala Lumpur.
India is also interested in the Mistral, La Tribune reported. As New Delhi is close to Moscow, that political link could help France sell the Mistral to India, unless Russia decided to hinder a deal, the report said. The defense ministry was unavailable for comment. Dassault Aviation, prime contractor of the Rafale, and DCNS, the Mistral prime contractor, declined comment. (Source: Defense News)
25 Aug 15. North and South Koreas sign agreement to resolve tensions. North and South Korea have reached an agreement that aims to resolve e