SHAH ALAM: All is well. It was widely reported last week that the RMN together with RMAF had stopped a botload of Rohingyas from entering the country from the Andaman sea. One of the ships involved, KD Kasturi, handed over food and water to the boat before ensuring that the boat, likely manned by crews from one of the many human smuggling syndicates, likely operating out of Bangladesh or Myanmar, sailed back towards the Andaman, instead of beaching the boat into Langkawi.
As this was playing out in the local media, in the South China Sea, our own subforce quietly returned into service KD Tun Razak.
A screenshot of the video.
The return into service of Tun Razak, likely sailing separately with its sister submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, came as news reports about a China survey vessel escorted with a number of China Coast Guard vessels had sailed into the Malaysian Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). A number of PLAN vessels are also reportedly in the vicinity of the area including a type 52B destroyer, Wuhan, according to the New York Times.
The Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), left, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) transit the South China Sea. US Navy
American warships have sailed into disputed waters in the South China Sea, according to military analysts, heightening a standoff in the waterway and sharpening the rivalry between the United States and China, even as much of the world is in lockdown because of the coronavirus.
The America, an amphibious assault ship, and the Bunker Hill, a guided missile cruiser, entered contested waters off Malaysia. At the same time, a Chinese government ship in the area has for days been tailing a Malaysian state oil company ship carrying out exploratory drilling. Chinese and Australian warships have also powered into nearby waters, according to the defense experts.
It must be noted that the Muhyiddin government has not make any public announcements on the stand-off since it started early last week. Note that this was the same stance taken by both previous governments in regard to the South China Sea issues though early this year the previous administration did filed its intention in regards to the EEZ. I am guessing that China has not taken kindly to that stand.
–Malaysian Defence
View Comments (23)
Marhalim do you think our Scorpenes will be upgraded with AIP someday?
And why wasn't both boats (yes submarines are classified as boats, not ships) built with AIP as part of the package back in 2003?
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I don't think so, the AIP technology back in 2003 were still in the infancy and with the navy being so conservative, I don't think it would have happened
DCN back in the 2002 period was offering MESMA to customers. It is an AIP module that can be inserted between the hull.
Certain navies have embraced AIP but some were late. Japan is an established and mature sub operator but was late into the AIP business. Some navies also feel that AIP is more useful for ocean going deep water boats than for shallow water littoral ones.
"Malaysian state oil company ship carrying out..." The West Capella was chartered by Petronas, not owned by Petronas, Panama flagged. Actually where are these ships ( West Capella+RMN vsl unknown + MMEA vsl unknown+China Haiyang Dizhi 8 Flotilla+ USN America Expeditionary Strike Group) recently? Off Sarawak coast? Off Sabah coast? Off Terengganu coast?
"...guessing that China has not taken kindly to that stand." That is expected and consistant to their response all this while.
BTW China is also a major buyer of Malaysia's LNG, why want to "disrupt" Petronas?
nimitz - “BTW China is also a major buyer of Malaysia’s LNG, why want to “disrupt” Petronas?””
Because from a Chinese perspective Malaysia and anyone else who performs exploration in the area are illegally doing so in an area which is irrefutably a part of China.
The Chinese are more than happy for others to explore but only if they acknowledge China’s sovereignty in the area, perform explorations with China’s blessings and ignore attempts by others (read the U.S. and subservient allies like Australia) to interfere in matters that don’t concern them.
I don't really think all is well, especially with the prolonged Chinese intrusion. The Navy is having its full hand dealing with them as well as those PATIs. I really hope that this is wake up call that the government must really take defence matters seriously and overhaul the defence procurement entirely.
IMHO, Dr M really screwed our Armed Forces big time. Feel free to disagree I'm looking for reasons to not dislike him even more
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Of course it is not all well but the way the government is handling the matter harks to the saying all is well
"The Chinese are more than happy for others to explore but only if they acknowledge China’s sovereignty in the area..." This is tantamount to surrender IMO. Imagine the cost/benefit analysis, we have too much too lose. One is update Wiki entry "Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with PRC, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. East Malaysia shares land and maritime borders with Brunei and Indonesia and a maritime border with the Philippines, PRC and Vietnam."
nimitz- “this is tantamount to surrender IMO. Imagine the cost/benefit analysis”
Do you have an alternative?
We have no choice but to tread carefully when it comes to dealing with bigger countries like China. We have to strike a balance between security issues and the economy; realpolitik.
On the maritime boundaries we have overlapping claims with almost everyone. With Indonesia it’s in the South China Sea and Melaka Straits
ASM,
He introduced a various policies which places emphasis on the country as a whole; not the armed forces. Defence buys were based on political factors like it would improve the local economy as well as bilateral relations. It proved to be an absolute disaster.
Azlan,
Yes that's what I observed. National security is politicised, for his own benefit and not the nation. Actually we could have a decent defence industry if we put the proper people and have a proper policy. Oh god you're making me disliking him even more instead.....
With the current Covid situation I suppose all defence related procurement is put on hold?
ASM,
In principle the idea was sound. After all there should be overall benefits for the country.
In actual practice/implementation however it resulted in the MAF getting stuff suited for its requirements with all the associated penalties. Today we have an MAF which should have better overall capabilities after all we’ve spent and one we can’t afford to adequately fund or equip.
I have no idea how the current government will go about things but under a policy we’ve had for a long time a future aircraft purchase will be determined by factors such as offsets /TOTs; whether the OEM or home country is willing to invest in the country; whether Malaysian companies get opportunities in that country, whether MAS gets extra landing rights, a Malaysian being sent to space, etc.
Which is why we had Fulcrums and have MKMs and various other things.
"On the maritime boundaries we have overlapping claims with almost everyone. With Indonesia it’s in the South China Sea and Melaka Straits."
I think maritime border disputes is with all respective neighbours, recent flare-up was with Singapore & Indonesia. Then for Indonesia I add the disputes in Celebes Sea and Straits of Singapore. Land border with Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei too have disputes but can be trashed out due to working techical committee with these nations. All is well?