Interesting article from Andrew Korybko (The Voice of Russia): All theories aside about what happened to Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, the military consequences of its search and rescue operation in the already-contested South China Sea deserve to be addressed. Over ten countries are using their planes and ships to help find the missing aircraft, thereby increasing the military presence in the region. The assistance of certain out-of-region actors, with their efforts undoubtedly performed with the best and most noble of intentions, may also have a convenient dual military and intelligence purpose. The quarrelling between normally friendly ASEAN members Vietnam and Malaysia also shows that regional unity is not as close knit as previously thought, which moreover has implications for the entire ASEAN regional structure. As of 12 March, there were 43 ships and 40 aircraft partaking in the search and rescue efforts. BBC reports that the majority of the units are from Malaysia, with China, Vietnam, and the US also contributing important elements. Most of the passengers were from China, the plane originated in Malaysia, and it was originally believed that it may have crashed near Vietnam, hence those countries involvement. The US incidentally happened to have two destroyers already training in the South China Sea (in all likelihood, related to the Pivot to Asia plan), and have flown in a surveillance aircraft from Japan. Speaking of Japan, that country has sent four military aircraft to the region to assist. With the US revelation five days after the plane went missing that it has now come across an undisclosed indication (perhaps via questionably ethical electronic intercepts?) that it could be in the Indian Ocean, India has decided to send three planes and three naval units to its Andaman and Nicobar island chains. Rounding up the total, Australia and New Zealand have sent a few surveillance planes, and Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand have naval forces actively involved. full: voiceofrussia/2014_03_17/The-Malaysian-plane-mystery-and-maritime-militarization-1178/
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 08:56:27 +0000
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