F-22 Raptor : Economics versus Technology The US Department of Defence has been contemplating whether to lift the ban on F-22 exports, the fifth generation stealth aircraft. This would mean that many of the US allies namely Japan, Israel and others might become interested in procuring the aircraft. For Japan it would provide much needed air superiority to the Japanese Air Force concerned at North Korean long range missiles and nuclear capabilities (even though the US has stationed a dozen F-22s at Kadena air base in Japan since May 2009). Israel would like to get the aircraft to launch any pre-emptive strike on Iran. Pankaj K Jha | July 13, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Emerging East Asian Security Architecture Security in the traditional sense of the term constitutes only a partial facet of its overarching depiction. A comprehensive concept, a holistic view of security must include social cohesion, emotional integration, well being of the people, inclusive development and not the least any more, collective progress in the world and a more humane, pluralistic, equitable and just international order. It is argued that East Asian security architecture would be more sustainable if the lead nations of the region work collectively towards attainment these objectives. V. P. Dutta | July 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
Counter Bio-Terror Modern Nation States are complex systems that today suffer from the affliction of terrorism, which can attack its vital centers and connective tissue. Even as nation’s try to counter, terrorists… Continue reading Counter Bio-Terror Peter Garretson | July-September 2009 | CBW Magazine
Countering the Naxalites: Is there a need to ‘bring in’ the Army? As the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister emphasized in the Chief Minister's Conference on Internal security in August and again in the Conference of the Director Generals of State Police Forces in September 2009, on the need to modernize the Police force of the country as an anti-dote to the problem of terrorism/ insurgency/ left-wing extremism, the task remains enormous and Herculean. Shanthie Mariet D'Souza | July 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
Developments in Major Arms Producing Countries The global defence industry has undergone serious restructuring since the end of Cold War. Military production has increasingly become concentrated in the hands of fewer but larger defence firms. The 1990s also saw mergers and acquisitions within the defence industry across the national boundaries. The resulting mega-defence firms especially in the United States dominate several sectors ranging from aerospace to shipbuilding to land systems, The European arms industry, on the other hand, has been under stress as the national markets are too small to support a heavily rationalised market. Richard A. Bitzinger | July 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
China’s eagle eye on Arunachal Referring to India’s recent troop deployment in Arunachal Pradesh and the construction of a new airbase at Tezpur, Assam, Zhang Haizjou writing in China Daily on June 10, 2009 states that “India is attempting to extend its control over a disputed border area…” Similarly, Li Hongmei writing in the People’s Daily has held India responsible for hiking tension over Arunachal Pradesh by harbouring “awe, vexation, envy and jealousy – in the face of its giant neighbour” China. Jagannath P. Panda | July 10, 2009 | IDSA Comments
China’s Xinjiang Problem It all started on 26 June in the toy factory owned by the Hong Kong-listed Lacewood International in China’s Shaoguan city of Guangdong province. An official news agency wrote "Six Xinjiang boys raped two innocent girls at the Xuri Toy Factory." It was found to be a hoax, but the rumour spread quickly through the Internet sparking a deadly clash between the Uighur workers and Han Chinese who fought each other with knives and metal pipes in which two Uighur labourers were reportedly killed and 118 injured. P. Stobdan | July 09, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Indian Naval Strategy in the Twenty First Century Construed as expanding rings of expanding circles, India's maritime environs exhibit varying degrees of complexity and competitiveness. Each successive ring bears its own characteristics, opportunities, challenges and distinctive nuances. As India looks farther offshore, beyond its coastal or near-seas environment, it will encounter actors and forces that will neither bend wholly to its will nor reflexively push back. Contingency and context will thus characterise India's interactions with fellow maritime powers. Rahul Mishra | July 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
The central debate in India’s civil military relations Critics have it that the last bout of reforms in India’s defence sector in the wake of Kargil has not been taken to its logical conclusion. There are two key areas over which there is considerable debate. One is the continuing absence of a Chief of Defence Staff, and the second is the cosmetic integration between the Ministry of Defence and the Service Headquarters. It is asserted that the latter is the result of bureaucrats protecting their turf in a perverse interpretation of civil control. Ali Ahmed | July 06, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Securing South East Asia: The Politics of Security Sector Reform Mark Beeson, who authored articles on Asia Pacific institutions and regional security along with Alex J. Bellamy who has written books on Kosovo and Security Communities, has written this book which discusses a very important subject of civil military relations in socio-political context. The authors have reservations for the book being classified under civil military relations because it comprehensively discusses the issue under Security Sector Reforms (SSR). Pankaj K Jha | July 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
