Joint India Indonesian Army Exercise Garud Shakti Concludes.

[Ray]

Joint India Indonesian Army Exercise Garud Shakti Concludes. Pics inside.

The Armies of India and Indonesia concluded a week-long joint military exercise today. The operational part of the first-ever platoon-level joint training exercise, Exercise ‘Garuda Shakti’, was conducted at the Indian Army’s elite 'Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School’ (CIJWS), Vairengte in Mizoram.

Training together to counter the scourge of insurgency in various contemporary scenarios including jungle warfare, Chakravyuh, the three-day outdoor validation exercise, tested the weeklong training, imparted at various Counter Insurgency (CI) modules and at the plethora of firing ranges in the guerrilla warfare school. Chakravyuh ended with the busting of a simulated insurgent hideout in Mizoram’s Lushai Hills, in the wee hours today, after a grueling nightlong march.

The Indonesian National Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Darat, TNI-AD, in short) troops led by Lt Col Gatot Heru Puana of KOSTRAD (Indonesian Army’s Strategic Reserve Command) belonging to the 13th Infantry Brigade comprised of five officers, six Non-Commissioned Officers and 14 Privates. Troops from the 19th Madras Infantry Battalion, of 21 Mountain Division under Eastern Command, currently deployed in CI operations in the northeast sector, comprised the Indian side.

“They are very sincere, devoted, well-prepared and eager to learn,” said CIJWS Commandant, Maj Gen AK Sen, talking about the Indonesian troops while observing from close quarters the ‘slithering’ and ‘special heliborne operations’ from an IAF Mi-17 flown in from nearby Kumbhirgram airbase in Silchar, Assam. “The visiting troops were put through a rigorous initiation process, and they fared as good as their Indian counterparts,” he added.

The exercise which began on February 20, is aimed at building closer military-to-military ties, among its many other objectives. “This training has actually helped us to know each other’s procedure and drills including firing tactics,” said Gen Sen, adding that the firing ranges at CIJWS particularly interested the Indonesian troops, just as they did to the Bangladeshi, Polish and Israeli troops who trained here in the recent past.

CIJWS Vairengte has over 13 different types of firing ranges catering to every conceivable indoor and outdoor scenario, ranging from urban, semi-urban to rural settings. Bringing in realism in training, Infantry Weapons Effect Simulation System (IWESS) and Small Arms Training Simulators (SATS) are also extensively used. The landscape and the inimitable replicated settings here in CIJW make it the most preferred destination to train for several armies of the world.

For proper assimilation of the nuances in CIJW operations for the Indonesian troops, all training and attack drills were coordinated by having two mixed platoons (comprising around 30 soldiers each) of KOSTRAD soldiers and the Indian Infantry troops, overseen by senior military observers.

Praising the professionalism of the Indian Infantry soldiers, the leader of the Indonesian troops, Col Gatot observed that the Indian troops are very well equipped to fight the insurgents. While finding some of the training tactics very similar, he said that the concept of ‘Buddy’ system was something they would like to emulate. “Back home we operate in big groups,” he says.

A conglomeration of more than 17,500 islands on either side of the equator, the Indonesian Republic whose national fabric represents ‘Unity in Diversity’ as much as it is avowed here in India, has also been besieged with terror-related attacks in recent times. “Our counter-insurgency related operations are mostly in the border areas,” the Colonel apprised, adding that the training would come in good stead upon their return.


The formal closing of ‘Ex-Garuda Shakti’ will take place tomorrow, with both sides exchanging feedback and mementoes, and rounding off with a military-style campfire with gourmet meals, comprising both Indian and Indonesian delicacies, including cultural exchanges.

DPR MoD

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/i...tml#post438562

[Ray]

It appears that the 'containing China' mantra of the US is being taken seriously.

[Dayuhan]

I'm not sure that "training together to counter the scourge of insurgency" necessarily equates to "containing China". Joint naval or air defense exercises would be more oriented toward that goal.

PS: Even if the Indians and Indonesians were to hold exercises specifically aimed at countering potential Chinese threats, would that necessarily be a response to an American mantra? The Indians and the Chinese don't need the US to tell them what's over their near horizon. It's entirely possible that the Indians and Indonesians could act on their own initiative.

[Ray]

Making friends

Strengthening a network of alliances around China is the other pillar of the strategy. "We will emphasise our existing alliances, which provide a vital foundation for Asia-Pacific security. We will also expand our networks of co-operation with emerging partners throughout the Asia-Pacific region."

Already the US has close defence relationships with South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Australia. It is working to build ties with Vietnam, Indonesia and is "investing in a long-term strategic partnership with India".

What all this amounts to is a very robust message of deterrence to China. The US will contest any challenge to its dominance. It will cement core alliances with China's neighbours and protect its interest in East Asia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16446401

[Ray]

Sustaining US Global Leadership

Project Power Despite Anti-Access/Area Denial Challenges. In order to credibly deter potential adversaries and to prevent them from achieving their objectives, the United States must maintain its ability to project power in areas in which our access and freedom to operate are challenged. In these areas, sophisticated adversaries will use asymmetric capabilities, to include electronic and cyber warfare, ballistic and cruise missiles, advanced air defenses, mining, and other methods, to complicate our operational calculus. States such as China and Iran will continue to pursue asymmetric means to counter our power projection capabilities, while the proliferation of sophisticated weapons and technology will extend to non-state actors as well. Accordingly, the U.S. military will invest as required to ensure its ability to operate effectively in anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) environments........

Provide a Stabilizing Presence. U.S. forces will conduct a sustainable pace of presence operations abroad, including rotational deployments and bilateral and multilateral training exercises. These activities reinforce deterrence, help to build the capacity and competence of U.S., allied, and partner forces for internal and external defense, strengthen alliance cohesion, and increase U.S. influence. A reduction in resources will require innovative and creative solutions to maintain our support for allied and partner interoperability and building partner capacity. However, with reduced resources, thoughtful choices will need to be made regarding the location and frequency of these operations......

Over the past ten years, the United States and its coalition allies and partners have learned hard lessons and applied new operational approaches in the counter terrorism, counterinsurgency, and security force assistance arenas, most often operating in uncontested sea and air environments. Accordingly, similar work needs to be done to ensure the United States, its allies, and partners are capable of operating in A2/AD, cyber, and other contested operating environments. To that end, the Department will both encourage a culture of change and be prudent with its ““seed corn,”” balancing reductions necessitated by resource pressures with the imperative to sustain key streams of innovation that may provide significant long-term payoffs.

http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_...c_Guidance.pdf

[Ray]

China's official defence spending to rise by 11.2% in 2012

China's official defence spending will rise by 11.2% in 2012, pushing it above $100bn (£65bn) for the first time, the government has announced.

Beijing's defence budget has risen each year for two decades to become the world's second-biggest, behind the US.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17249476

[KingJaja]

China's official defence spending will rise by 11.2% in 2012, pushing it above $100bn (£65bn) for the first time, the government has announced.

Beijing's defence budget has risen each year for two decades to become the world's second-biggest, behind the US.

They can afford to increase their budget without borrowing money .

[davidbfpo]

A platoon level exercise involving infantry is hardly awesome. In fact IIRC there is a post on a similar level exercise between India and PRC, in China - now that was significant politically given their history of hostility.

Indonesia has had little international military co-operation for a long time, the only exception I am aware of is limited military engagement with Australia; there has been significant Australian Federal Police engagement with Indonesia for many years.

Not sure whether Indonesia contributes or has contributed to UN missions either, although I recollect a presence in Cambodia many years ago. Ah, just checked they currently have just under 2k committed (police & military) and mainly with UNIFIL.

If this tiny step develops, especially with naval exercises then I'd be impressed.

[Bill Moore]

Indonesia participates in a number of regional military exercises, and has participated in multinational Naval exercises with India. Indonesia is a nation to watch as it is an up and coming regional economic power that is making significant investments in modernizing its military (long overdue). As the world's largest Muslim majority nation its potential to be major regional actor in the next few years if their economy continues to expand has implications because it can demonstrate that a Muslim nation can succeed economically without huge reserves of oil (though Indonesia is an oil producing nation) and democratic government. In addition to their peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon they sent sent observers to the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border region. I believe they sent peace keepers to Sudan also. I don't think they're part of the multinational counter piracy task force off Somalia, but their Navy did resolve an incident there last year.

[Dayuhan]

Ray, how do any of these quotes and links suggest that a small infantry exercise focused on insurgency is related to "containing China", or that any South/Southeast Asian military cooperation is caused by a US policy position?

Of course SE Asian nations, and India, are keeping a wary eye on China's military emergence. That's not because the US tells them to, it's because they're neighbors and naturally concerned. Not necessarily fearful, yet, but concerned. That does not mean, of course, that this specific exercise had anything to do with "containing China"... the nature of the exercise suggests that it didn't.

It's fairly obvious that countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam or the Philippines cannot compete with China in the acquisition or deployment of conventional military forces. That doesn't mean they have no options. I'd think they'd be well advised to look closely at the asymmetric naval model employed by the Iranians: focus on small, fast, missile-equipped patrol boats and land-based missiles. They wouldn't be able to defeat the Chinese, just as the Iranians can't defeat the US navy, but they could pose enough of a threat to commerce and to the straits of Malacca that to provide a real disincentive to conflict.

[Ray]

The Nations are not doing at the US bidding but definitely, like it or not, there is a convergence towards the US' strategic vision in Asia Pacific.

The commonality of interests, spurred by the sudden change from the Peaceful Rise philosophy of China to the current aggressive hegemonic posture, has encouraged the closing of ranks amongst the nations. These exercises, though small in size, is basically to establish the core groups, which will impart instructions back home. Therefore, though small in outward appearance is contributory to training the soldiers back home. There is where the importance of these interactivity lies.

Singapore, for instance, extensively uses Indian Armed Forces assets to keep themselves fighting trim.

[Bill Moore]

Posted by Ray,

The Nations are not doing at the US bidding but definitely, like it or not, there is a convergence towards the US' strategic vision in Asia Pacific.

I like it

The commonality of interests, spurred by the sudden change from the Peaceful Rise philosophy of China to the current aggressive hegemonic posture, has encouraged the closing of ranks amongst the nations.

Agreed, but also think we're in a time where alliances are more likely to shift with changes in the wind. The regional states will adapt a hedging strategy to minimize the hegemonic influence of the regions three powers (U.S., China and India). This will force the regional powers to moderate their behavior and act in a way that is non-threatening if they want to maintain influence in the region. In the long run this may be good for all concerned. Unless the Chinese are stupid, and I suspect that is NOT the case, I think they'll be forced to moderate their behavior once they realize acting like the regional bully isn't working.

These exercises, though small in size, is basically to establish the core groups, which will impart instructions back home.

Multinational exercises have implications well beyond the small scale engagement. There are diplomatic discussions and agreements between the countries that facilitate these exercises, and these excerises, even small in scale send a message to the international community. At the tactical level the knowledge gained is often valuable, and as you said the knowledge is further proliferated when the exercise participants return.

[Dayuhan]

The Nations are not doing at the US bidding but definitely, like it or not, there is a convergence towards the US' strategic vision in Asia Pacific.

Is it really "The US's strategic vision" or are a number of nations developing their own strategic visions that overlap in various ways... and not in others. Indonesian participation in a COIN exercise with India, for example, might be aimed largely at demonstrating independence from the US and Australia, the traditional military supporters. That may or may not be part of an American strategic vision.

The commonality of interests, spurred by the sudden change from the Peaceful Rise philosophy of China to the current aggressive hegemonic posture, has encouraged the closing of ranks amongst the nations.

"Aggressive hegemonic" would be an overstatement... it's not like they're emulating the US and sending troops into faraway countries. Still, a more assertive posture than before and one to which regional states will respond in their own ways, which will sometimes overlap. More a continuing round of pushing and shoving around the edges than desperate resistance to a hegemonic power.

[davidbfpo]

An Indonesian former defence minister has commented, under the headline 'China’s Military Buildup No Cause for Concern: Juwono':

Former Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono says he believes China’s move to boost military spending by 11 percent this year won’t jeopardize East Asia’s stability as it merely represented an “annual ritual” reflecting “the tussle between the government and the military.”

Link:http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/...-juwono/502965

Hat tip to Lowy Institute (Australia)

[Ray]

"Aggressive hegemonic" would be an overstatement... it's not like they're emulating the US and sending troops into faraway countries. Still, a more assertive posture than before and one to which regional states will respond in their own ways, which will sometimes overlap. More a continuing round of pushing and shoving around the edges than desperate resistance to a hegemonic power.

China has a long way to go before they can emulate the US.

Indeed there will be pushing and shoving, but the nations are getting ready not to be pushed too far.

The manner in which Vietnam, an old enemy of the US, readily took the US help and conducted naval exercises with the US in the South China Sea, as also the manner in which Philippines took the US help and allowing the US troops to 'rotate' US troops being stationed in the Subic Bay base (from where they forced the US to quit) is indicative of the 'concerns' these nations have towards the Chinese moves.

What makes the Nations wary is that China has scant regards for what the world order feels. They do exactly what they want and that to many is scary!

[jmm99]

I suspect (pure gut reaction) that the end game is a South & East Asian Nation Group, continental-insular, that would look something like this (inside the orange-brown perimeter):

World Map US Limits S&E Asia.jpg

Should the US "put together" this Group ? Not in my Worldview. Should the US be a member of this Group ? Not in my Worldview. But, the US and that Group could Cooperate in Friendship, as they say.

Just a couple of comments on my map. Australia-NZ are in a separate blue box. Why ? They are colonialized nations where the predominant culture relates back to Europe, but adapted to local conditions and a mix of immigrant groups. The same might be said of the Americas. However, Australia-NZ have obvious direct links to the South & East Asian Group. So, Australia-NZ would be expected to have a different Worldview from, say, the US; but, the common cultural links are still strong (so blue lines for them as well).

The South & East Asian Group either were not colonized by European states, or the colonizations did not take; thus, in the latter case, sovereignty came back to the indigenous peoples.

My take and mine alone.

Regards

Mike

[Dayuhan]

Indeed there will be pushing and shoving, but the nations are getting ready not to be pushed too far.

This is true, but I think the scale of Chinese assertiveness and the degree of threat posed by China to anyone is often substantially exaggerated.

also the manner in which Philippines took the US help and allowing the US troops to 'rotate' US troops being stationed in the Subic Bay base (from where they forced the US to quit) is indicative of the 'concerns' these nations have towards the Chinese moves.

There are no US troops stationed at Subic, not any publicly announced plans to station any there. Stepped up port calls are expected.

What makes the Nations wary is that China has scant regards for what the world order feels. They do exactly what they want and that to many is scary!

That sounds like they're emulating the US!

[Ray]

But, the US and that Group could Cooperate in Friendship, as they say.

That is exactly what is happening.

[Ray]

This is true, but I think the scale of Chinese assertiveness and the degree of threat posed by China to anyone is often substantially exaggerated.

In a world of diminishing resources, every nation is jockeying to get the maximum out of the seas.

It is natural for China to grab what it can since its long term aim is to rule supreme and even overtake the US as a superpower. I would be surprised if it is canvassed that China is merely doing what she is doing just to keep herself afloat.

In such a scenario, the Chinese activities prove to be a threat to the interests of the neighbouring nations and those who share the waters with her. The threat is more real since the neighbouring nations are in no position to counter the Chinese forays with any conviction.

One has to be a neighbouring nation to realise the threat China poses.

There are no US troops stationed at Subic, not any publicly announced plans to station any there. Stepped up port calls are expected.

Two decades after evicting U.S. forces from their biggest base in the Pacific, the Philippines is in talks with the Obama administration about expanding the American military presence in the island nation, the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at China.

Although negotiations are in the early stages, officials from both governments said they are favorably inclined toward a deal. They are scheduled to intensify the discussions Thursday and Friday in Washington before higher-level meetings in March. If an arrangement is reached, it would follow other recent agreements to base thousands of U.S. Marines in northern Australia and to station Navy warships in Singapore.

http://www.astheworldsleeps.org/node/4149

That sounds like they're emulating the US!

Nothing wrong to realise that US sometimes can be right!

[Dayuhan]

One has to be a neighbouring nation to realise the threat China poses.

I haven't the burden of being a nation, but I live less than 60km from the South China Sea and less than 800 from the China mainland, which I suppose makes me a neighbour of sorts. I can't say I feel threatened at this point.

Two decades after evicting U.S. forces from their biggest base in the Pacific, the Philippines is in talks with the Obama administration about expanding the American military presence in the island nation, the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at China.

Although negotiations are in the early stages, officials from both governments said they are favorably inclined toward a deal. They are scheduled to intensify the discussions Thursday and Friday in Washington before higher-level meetings in March. If an arrangement is reached, it would follow other recent agreements to base thousands of U.S. Marines in northern Australia and to station Navy warships in Singapore.

I was in Subic a few months ago, much discussion of this. Certainly there will be more port calls (the US Navy has put out a tender for a tank farm and fueling station, among other signs), but for a whole host of reasons a permanent presence or actual stationing of ships or personnel looks quite unlikely.