August 30, 2024 |
SOUTHEAST ASIA ROUNDUP

 

By API Desk | Date 08-30-2024

 

 

Thailand favors Swedish fighters over American F16s

A local newspaper has reported that the Royal Thai Air Force has recommended acquiring a squadron of Swedish Gripen E/F multi-role fighters to replace its aging fleet of American F-16 fighters.

The Bangkok Post said an air force selection committee has chosen to acquire 12 Saab’s Gripen JAS 39 E/F fighters over Lockheed Martin’s F16 block 70/72, after putting into consideration the acquisition costs and other deals such as technology and training.

The selection committee also noted that the Swedish fighters has the capability to “match the demand of the military doctrine and the Air Force’s strategy.”

The Royal Thai Air Force already has 11 older models of JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. It also has dozens of American F-16 and F-5 fighters, some of which have operated since the late 1980s.

 

 

China tells US not to meddle in sea disputes

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has asked the United States not to meddle in the South China Sea dispute, refraining from supporting the Philippines’ provocative activities.

Wang held discussions with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Beijing where the two officials talked about future talks between the two countries’ leaders.

Manila and Washington have a mutual defense treaty and the US has vowed to aid the Philippines against armed attacks on its vessels and soldiers in the South China Sea.

Both sides had also agreed to hold video calls between their military theater commanders who hold responsibility for hot spots in the Indo-Pacific region. The White House said the talks would happen in the “near future”.

“The two sides held candid, substantive, and constructive discussions on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues,” the White House said.

 

 

China, Vietnam Coast Guard hold talks

The Chinese and Vietnamese Coast Guards had agreed to cooperate and improve working relations in border areas during the first-ever consultation meeting in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s Political Commissar of the Vietnam Coast Guard, Lieutenant General Bui Quoc Oai said that cooperation between the Vietnamese and Chinese Coast Guard forces in recent years, cemented the memorandum of cooperation signed in 2016 through practical activities. 

At the talks, Gen. Bui Quoc Oai shared several contents related to the organization and activities of the Party and political work within the Vietnam Coast Guard, seeing the conduct of Party and political work as a fundamental principle and an important content in the leadership of the Party over the force.

Deputy Political Commissar of the China Coast Guard Major General Liu Houjie stressed the importance of the exchange on Party and political affairs between the two forces, considering this as a chance for them to foster cooperation intensively. 

The two sides also discussed the direction for organizing the second exchange program on Party and political work between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard.