Pakistan Navy's Chinese Submarines.

Pakistan Navy has recently announced a deal for eight variants of the Type 039 Yuan Class submarines from China, which shall be an addition to the Pakistan Navy Fleet. With some older submarines retiring, this seems a wise acquisition, but is there a slight oversight by the Navy in this deal?

With 4 submarines reported to be arriving in 2022-2023, and 4 more to be constructed in Karachi and handed over by 2028, the deal represents a tactical failure. With the world and technology moving apace, the submarines are in danger of being well out of date by the time all eight are operational. While they do represent an improvement for the Pakistan Navy, they are by no means the only subs needed. In a similar time frame, India is expected to add 15-20 Submarines, which means that the Naval Battle will not be any easier.


The Type 039A is China's first AIP powered submarine, and has the advantage of being one of the quietest submarines of its class, meaning it is significantly harder to detect. One of the greatest advantages for Pakistan is that construction at KSEW (Karachi Shipping and Engineering Works) means that great technical expertise will also be obtained, which will help Pakistan in furthering their own indigenous submarine ambitions.

The time frame though, could be better, and it is that alone which means that the deal turns from a good one, to one that might potentially be good.


Have any further knowledge? Please contribute by commenting below.

Ladakh: China troops intrude into Indian territory

In a deep incursion,Chinese troops have entered the Indian territory in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in eastern Ladakh and erected a tented post, setting the stage for a face-off with Indian troops.

A Platoon-strength contingent of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) came 10 km inside the Indian territory in Burthe in DBO sector, which is at an altitude of about 17,000 feet, on the night of April 15 and established a tented post there, according to highly placed sources, which said that a Chinese Army Platoon usually consists of around 50 men. 

Troops from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have also established a camp approximately 300 metres opposite the location, the sources said.

ITBP has asked for a Flag meeting with the Chinese side but there has been no response as of now, sources said.

When contacted, the spokesman of Udhampur-based Northern Command Col Rajesh Kalia said," due to differences in perception of the Line of Actual Control(LAC) a few face-offs take place in the eastern Ladakh side. These are resolved amicably through existing mechanism." He refused to elaborate.

The Ladakh Scouts, an Infantry regiment of the Indian Army and specializing in mountain warfare, has also moved towards the area where the situation was described as tense.

The place has not been known to have any permanent civilian population.
    
DBO, located in northernmost Ladakh, is an historic camp site and located on an ancient trade route connecting Ladakh to Yarkand in Xinjiang, China.

It lies at the easternmost point of the Karakoram Range in a cold desert region in the far north of India, just 8 km south of the Chinese border and 9 km northwest of the Aksai Chin LAC between China and India. Temperature plummets as low as minus 30 degree Celsius in the winters.

Other than Siachen Glacier military base, it is India's northernmost built-up area. The nearest inhabited town is Murgo to the south, which has a small population of Baltis who primarily depend on apricot farming and yak rearing.

Indigenously-built warship commissioned by Pakistan

Karachi

A ceremony for the commissioning of fourth F-22P ship PNS ASLAT, indigenously built at the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, was held Wednesday.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila was the chief guest of the ceremony, which was attended by high ranking officials and dignitaries from China and Pakistan, including Ambassador of People’s Republic of China Liu Jian and the vice president China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

The commissioning of the PNS ASLAT and its handing over to Pakistan Navy fleet culminated the 2005 contract signed for the construction of three F-22P ships in China and the transfer of technology for indigenous construction of the fourth ship at the Karachi Shipyard.

The timely and successful delivery of all ships, including the indigenously built fourth ship, speaks volumes of cooperation and commitment between the CSTC/HZ Shipyard, the Karachi Shipyard and the Naval Headquarters.

The PNS ASLAT is fitted with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, which makes it a highly potent warship capable of operating under multi-threat environments.

Inclusion of this unit in Pakistan Navy’s Destroyer Squadron will further strengthen and augment its capabilities to defend sea frontiers.

The chief guest congratulated all those who participated in the project, especially the workers and the management of the KSEW as well as the Chinese engineers and technicians for their support, cooperation and untiring efforts.

Construction of the PNS ASLAT has certainly enhanced the capabilities of the Karachi Shipyard in the indigenous construction of warships.

Construction of warship and other platforms like Fast Attack Craft (Missile),

Small Tanker cum Utility Ships, Tugs, etc at the Karachi Shipyard reflects the indigenisation policy of the government, especially in attaining self-reliance in defence capabilities.

China’s Defense Paper Stresses New Military Employment

China on Tuesday issued a white paper on national defense elaborating on its new security challenges in peacetime and the employment of armed forces to cope with them.

The document, the eighth of its kind issued by the Chinese government since 1998, warns that the Asia-Pacific region has become an increasingly significant stage for world economic development and strategic interaction between major powers.

“The United States is adjusting its Asia-Pacific security strategy, and the regional landscape is undergoing profound changes,” the paper said.

The paper warns that China still faces multiple and complicated security threats and challenges.

The issues of subsistence and development security and traditional and non-traditional threats to security are interwoven, the document says.

“Therefore China has an arduous task to safeguard its national unification, territorial integrity and development interests,” it says.

MAIN SECURITY CONCERNS

The paper lists several major security concerns of China.

Some country has strengthened its Asia-Pacific military alliances, expanded its military presence in the region, and frequently makes the situation there tenser, the paper says.

On the issues concerning China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, some neighboring countries are taking actions that complicate or exacerbate the situation, and Japan is making trouble over the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, it says.

The threats posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism, are on the rise while serious natural disasters, security accidents and public health incidents keep occurring.

“Factors affecting social harmony and stability are growing in number, and the security risks to China’s overseas interests are on the increase,” it says.

COMMITMENT TO PEACE

In face of such challenges, China reiterates its commitment to peaceful development.

China advocates a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, and pursues comprehensive security, common security and cooperative security, the white paper says.

“China will never seek hegemony or behave in a hegemonic manner, nor will it engage in military expansion,” the white paper says.

According to the document, China will build a strong national defense and powerful armed forces which are “commensurate with China’s international standing and meet the needs of its security and development interests.”

The basic duty of the armed forces is to fight wars and its peacetime mission is to prepare for wars, said Wu Xihua, a senior officer with the PLA General Staff Headquarters, at a press conference held here Tuesday morning, adding that no army can be exempted from this duty.

“Chinese armed forces focus on protecting the country’s sovereignty and security when it highlights capacity building under the principle of being able to fight a war and win a war,” Wu said. “This is a reasonable and normal move.”

But the country always sticks to peaceful settlement of international disputes and solving problems with neighboring countries through dialogue, he said.

PEACETIME MISSION

The paper elaborates on the country’s diversified employment of the armed forces to cope with new security challenges at times of peace.

Besides implementing a defensive military strategy and winning local wars under the conditions of informationization, the armed forces are employed to effectively conduct military operations other than war and fulfill international obligations, according to the paper.

“China’s armed forces adapt themselves to the new changes of security threats, and emphasize the employment of armed forces in peacetime,” it says.

The employment of armed forces responds to China’s core security needs and aims to maintain peace, contain crises and win wars, according to the paper.

Chinese armed forces are employed to safeguard borders, coastal and territorial air security and they will strengthen combat-readiness and combat-oriented exercises and drills, it says.

And they will readily respond to and resolutely deter any provocative action which undermines China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

TRANSPARENCY MOVE

In this paper, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for the first time reveals the actual number of army, navy and air force servicemen, designations of its army combined corps and the main missile lineup.

China now has about 850,000 army servicemen in 18 combined corps and additional independent combined operational divisions (brigades), according to the paper.

The combined corps, composed of divisions and brigades, are respectively under seven military area commands.

Currently, the PLA Navy has a total strength of 235,000 officers and men, and commands three fleets — the Beihai Fleet, the Donghai Fleet and the Nanhai Fleet.

The PLA Air Force now has about 398,000 officers and men and an air command in each of the seven military area commands of Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Chengdu. In addition, it boasts one airborne corps.

The PLA Second Artillery Force, the country’s core force for strategic deterrence, is composed of nuclear and conventional missile forces and operational support units, according to the paper.

It is equipped with a series of “Dong Feng” ballistic missiles and “Chang Jian” cruise missiles.

It also has under its command missile bases, training bases, specialized support units, academies and research institutions.

India-France to Hold Major Naval Exercise

India and France will be holding a joint naval exercise off the Goa coast on April 17, which is mainly aimed at honing the skills of Indian Navy in tackling anti-piracy and anti-submarine operations.

"The 30-hour exercise would begin on April 17 morning", said Commander Guillaume Fontarensky, commanding the anti-submarine Destroyer 'FNS Montcalm', currently docked at Goa's Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), before initiating exercises with the Indian Navy.

The exercise is the part of a larger naval drill held annually between the French and Indian navies.

"Such kind of smaller exercises are held to increase the understanding between the two navies in between the larger drill", said Fontarensky.

"The exercise, scheduled off the Goa coast, would hone the skills of Indian Navy in anti-submarine and anti-piracy operations", the commander said, adding a common procedure would be developed by both the navies to fight against submarines of hostile nations.

He said the details about participation from Indian counterpart would be known only after the session on Monday.

Meanwhile, Francois Richier, French Ambassador in India, told reporters that such an exchange was crucial for ensuring safety of the Indian Ocean.

"The threat can come from anywhere, even from under the sea. This is very important for ensuring safety of the Indian Ocean", the Ambassador said, adding the threat of piracy in Indian Ocean has diminished to a great extent on the back of crackdown on the sea brigands by various navies.

"The number of attacks by pirates has decreased of late, compared to the past", Richier said.

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