Surprise! Japan Still Has Strongest Navy, Air Force in Asia

Breaking Defense reports that at an event in Washington this week, defense analyst Larry M. Wortzel said, “Japan has the strongest navy and air force in Asia except for the United States,” prompting one astonished audience member to inquire, “You said Japan?” According to the report, Wortzel did warn that China is the most dangerous military power in the region, owing to its history of launching preemptive and preventive “counterattacks” in the name of self-defense, along with its current “active defense” doctrine.

Breaking Defense also has an exceptional overview of the strengths and limits to Indo-U.S. defense cooperation, ahead of Prime Minister Singh’s meeting with President Obama at the White House today.

An NK News investigation finds that North Korea-Burmese military ties are alive and well, which may complicate efforts to advance U.S.-Burmese ties, which were already encountering some resistance in the U.S. Congress.

Following the sinking of the INS Sindhurakshak submarine last month, India’s Navy announced this week that it plans to repair and upgrade four similar submarines in an effort to stave off a gap in its undersea capabilities. Two of these subs will be overhauled by Russia, according to RIA Novosti.

China’s J-20 fighter jet was spotted with a new (no longer mysterious) missile this week. Defense News has the story.

Bloomberg Businessweek reports that South Korean President Park Geun Hye appointed the head of the ROK Navy as the country’s next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This will be the first time a navy official will have served as the chairman.