Scuffle in the South China Sea #70

China carried out military exercises in the South China Sea with a focus on search and rescue.

China is enjoying Duterte's twist to them, but will it last?

The Chinese have allowed Filipino fishermen back to the disputed shoal after Duterte's last visit.  Originally Manila claimed the Chinese had left and the US & Philippines were looking to confirm.

The future of American-Philippines military exercises is to be determined in the next month (Duterte stating they are over).

The US chastised Duterte again.

Some are saying the US-Philippines alliance is stronger than most realize.

Philippines is attempting to get Japan to invest in Filippino defense industries.  

Duterte lashed out at the US again and wants to have joint military exercises with the Japanese.

The US COngress blocked the sale of guns to the Philippines over the rights abuses for Duterte's drug war.  Duterte referred to the congress as monkeys but stated he'd consider sticking with American weapons all the same.

Philippines' new frigates will primarily be used to hunt subs.

The Philippines special envoy to China has quit.

Australia and Indonesia are considering joint patrols of the South China Sea.

Indonesia is considering placing passive radar stations on the Natuna Islands.

Here are some general updates to the South China Sea dispute.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #67

A geographer claims China doesn't have much on stand on for the South China Sea dispute.

Some are saying the world needs to chill out over the Sino-Russian exercises in the South China Sea. 

The Sino-Russian exercises ended with an amphibious assault on islands.

Others are stating Chinese artificial islands are a bigger deal than advertised.  They have a strong antiship capability.

Some are advising a stronger stance against China in the South China Sea.

Indonesia may use American funding to build bases in the South China Sea.

US/Philippines military exercise will go forward.

Philippines President Duterte claims to want alliances with China and Russia.

The President of the Philippines has stated the exercises with the United States in the future will not be held.

Philippines DOD has shifted its procurements.

The US has stated its alliance with Philippines is iron clad.

Here are some recent developments in the South China Sea.

Taiwan wants Google to blur bases in the South China Sea.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #66

China claims nothing has changed with respect to the Scarborough Shoal. 

China also wants outside interference with the South China Sea to stop.

China and Russia first prepared for and then started the exercises in the South China Sea.

What Chinese ships are involved?

The Chinese amphibious warfare can be viewed through the past.

China feel confident it can improve its relations with Philippines. 

China came under pressure at the recent summit.

China is making decisions that get it cornered over the South China Sea.

The recent developments in the South China Sea.

The US Navy's Chief of Naval Operations has stated the US must continue to engage China.

Indonesia has problems with Chinese weapons.

Japan will start patrolling jointly with the USA.

Obama discussed the South China Sea on the way back from a summit and warned the arbitration ruling was binding.

Philippines' President is rejecting joint patrols between the US and Philippines navies.

Philippines has requested a clarification from China as to what they are doing with the Scarborough Shoal.

Philippines' President...oy.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #64

China is increasing its capability to attack the US base on Guam.

Here are some thoughts on China's strategic thinking. 

China has threatened Japan and Australia over the South China Sea dispute.

SecState Kerry stated there is no military solution to the South China Sea dispute and reiterated the US stands by its allies in the dispute.

The US military is stating Australia must choose between the US and China.

What are the implications of the ruling on China and the freedom of navigation acts?

Indonesia is actively trying to resolve the South China Sea disputes.

The Philippines is increasing its defense budget by 15%.

The President of the Philippines is stating talks will begin with China within a year and the dispute has not shifted its ties with the US or China.

The President also stated China must observe the tribunal ruling.

Three Taiwanese officers have been indicted for launching the antiship missile earlier this year.

Paleolithic Papers #8

Genus Homo:

How China's hominin fossils are rewriting what we know about human evolution.

Robustness in limb bones can effect when we think Pleistocene and Holocene hominins died.

Modern humans are the ultimate super predator.

Modern Humanity (Homo sapiens):

Cultural and technological change was not driven by climate change for humanity.

Human cultural paleodiversity gets examined.

The impact of humans on the environment since the Pleistocene.


Neandertals (Homo neanderthalensis):

The first evidence of cannibalism in Neandertals has been found.

Paranasal sinuses are a bad sign of climate adaptation.

Neandertal brain development was similar to modern humans.

Hobbits (Homo floresiensis):

Evidence of fire in Indonesia's home of the Hobbits dates from 41,000 years ago. Is this a sign of modern humans on the island? or...?  (paper link)

Homo erectus:

H. eretus walked like modern humans.

Genus Australopithecus:

A. africanus:

A. africanus feet were not like modern human or ape feet.

An A. africanus pelvis was reconstructed with an eye to both locomotion and obstetrics. 

META:

Variation in bones for populations needs to be taken into account for fossil hominins.

Viruses have greatly influenced human evolution.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #59

A long document on the Chinese response to the South China Sea ruling.

China's path forward is very unclear at this point to the rest of the world.  They may expand their claims.

However, the Chinese Ambassador to the US blasted ruling and laid out China's position.  China vowed a decisive response to the 'provocations' by other countries.

Chinese civilian airliners have begun landing at two of the reclaimed reefs. 

China and Taiwan are likely to increase patrols in the South China Sea.  Remember!  Taiwan has the same claims as China.  The difference is the ability to enforce them.

Taiwan is sending ships down to the South China Sea now.

A fourth Type 052D destroyer has joined China's South Seas fleet.

The Chinese flew H-6K bombers over Scarborough Shoal.

China protested an Australian comment on freedom of navigation acts in the South China Sea.

Some pertinent questions are asked about what the next US President will face in the South China Sea.

The US is pushing diplomacy, quietly, to keep the South China Sea from boiling up.

US & Chinese admirals are meeting to try to help with the situation.

A defense analyst POV on the Manila win over Beijing in the South China Sea arbitration.  

Manila celebrates. 

The Philippines will send an envoy to China to negotiate.

However, could the victory be hollow?

ASEAN will keep quiet over the ruling it seems.

Indonesia will now press its own claims with fishermen in a reflection of China's Little Blue Men.

Vietnam protested the Chinese actions after the ruling and China is seen as just going to defy the ruling.  

China has called on Vietnam to help keep the peace in the disputed waterways..

Silence by the EU about the decision is seen as due to internal divisions.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #54

China has stated the Hague has no jurisdiction over the South China Sea disputes and will not accept the arbitration.

Mapping China's rise with regards to its blue water navy.

The Chinese Maritime Militia gets profiled.

The US has countered it does support the arbitration.

The USS Coronado, an Independence class LCS/corvette, has been fitted with Harpoon antiship missiles and is being deployed to the Western Pacific.  It will, in part, patrol the South China Sea.

Philippines hopes for a 'soft landing' in the arbitration.

The Economist's take on Indonesia's annoyance over the South China Sea issue.

This is the Indonesian F-16 that intercepted the Malaysian C-130 over the South China Sea.

Scuffle South China #53

China is going on a media offensive over the South China Sea.

China is using its fishing fleets to expand its claims to the South China Sea. 

China conducted its own exercises in the South China Sea.

China ranted about the US carrier op.  Consider it a message received on their end then.

A bit more about China's plans to have civilian cruise ships tour the contested Spratley Islands.

The US Navy's carriers practiced 'high end' combat exercises in the above ranted about deployment.

The US called on all sides to be calm when the UN ruling about the South China Sea is issued.  This is expected to happen in the next several weeks.

Indonesia has been fighting those Chinese fishing boat incursions by destroying them.

Indonesia's president visited their claimed islands to help assert Indonesia's ownership.

Sometimes it is easy to forget the other nations of the South China Sea have their disputes over territory, too: its not just China vs everyone else.  Indonesian fighters intercepted a Malaysian C-130.

Vietnam acquired more armed patrol boats for its Coast Guard.

Vietnam may be buying the P-3Cs it wants from Japan rather than second hand from Lockheed.

Europe is considered irrelevant for Asian security issues including the South China Sea.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #52

China is apparently willing to pay the price for defying the international community in the South China Sea.

China has started shadowing US Navy ships.

China will be launching passenger cruises through the South China Sea.

The US Third Fleet is expanding its roles based in part due to increased Chinese aggression.

US Navy fighters have arrived in Philippines for drills.

Two US aircraft carrier battlegroups are exercising in the South China Sea near the Philippines.  The admiral in command of the groups used to fly together in A-6 attack planes.  Chinese warships are shadowing the US carriers.

B-52s are also involved in the exercise apparently.

Should the US Coast Guard patrol the South China Sea?

Here's one take on how to step up US presence and activities in the South China Sea.

The US ought to prepare for China's reaction to the UN ruling because the ruling itself might make the situation worse..

Vietnam lost an Su-30 in the South China Sea. China has sent naval ships to help in the search.  The body of the pilot has been recovered.

Here's more on the US lifting its arms embargo.

Boeing is pretty cool to the ending of the arms embargo for Vietnam.

Indonesia's navy has started major drills in the South China Sea.

Indonesian ships fired on Chinese fishermen.  Indonesia vows to stand firm on its claimed corner of the South China Sea.

ASEAN was released and retracted an anti China statement over the South China Sea. Chinese pressure is seen as the root cause for the retraction.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #47

The Chinese intercept of the EP-3 violated the agreement about conduct between the nations for aircraft.

The Chinese UAV reported earlier has been confirmed with pictures.

After the spats with Indonesia over the South China Sea, China is pledging closer ties.

China is considering turning some of the disputed islands into resorts.

China states the Vietnam-American ties better not be aimed at them.

SecState Kerry has stated the ties are not.

Here's more on the closer ties between the US and Vietnam.

Vietnam is possibly going to ask for P-3 sub hunting planes and F-16s.

McCain is pushing for closer ties between the Vietnamese Navy & the US Navy.

The closer ties between Vietnam & the US will give China headaches.

The US Navy feels the US Army's rockets & artillery will have the squids' back in the South China Sea.

Are the Chinese are being increasingly constrained by the growing US-Indian relationship?

The US SecDef expresses his worries about the South China Sea.

Philippines has stated some of its fishermen were detained by the Malaysian Navy.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #43

China is planning on more military exercises in the South China Sea. 

China has been creating the Little Green...fishing boats?  And how should they be dealt with?

China has been seeking global support for its policies in the South China Sea.

China has been sending singers to the islands to entertain the troops there.

China has been stating American criticism of its South China Sea policies will boomerang.

Has the US successfully signaled to China turning the Scarborough Shoal should not be turned into a base?

Aircraft from the USS Stennis approached a Taiwanese aircraft in the South China Sea.

Indonesia, Malaysia & Philippines are increasing military cooperation.

Japan will be providing military aircraft to Philippines.

Can the US army learn from the Chinese bases?

The denial of the US aircraft carrier port call to Hong Kong by China is not the first time China has done so.

Taiwan has no plans to place anti aircraft missiles in the South China Sea.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #38

Vietnam has ordered China to remove an oil rig.

Indonesia is now deploying air defenses to the South China Sea due to its disputes with China.

Philippines has received surplus C-130s from the US.

Philippines and the USA conducted war games.  China warned about 'outsiders.'

Japan is sending its mini carrier to the South China Sea.

Here's a podcast about the scuffle.

Scuffle in the South China Sea #36

The HQ-9 antiship missile emplacements by the Chinese are upping the ante in the South China Sea's tensions.  Pictures and video are here.  China has defended its placement of the missiles now.

The clashes of China and Indonesia are looked at here.

The positions of Australia and China with regards to the South China Sea are explored here.

The US has stated the air strips made by the Chinese on their reclaimed islands are definitely intended for military aircraft.

The Philippines is considering purchasing submarines due to the tensions in the South China Sea.

Vietnam has expressed interest in the Su-35s and also S-3 Vikings from the US.

Even the Hobbit's Skull Shows its NOT Homo sapiens

What do cranial bones of LB1 tell us about Homo floresiensis?

Authors:

Balzeau et al

Abstract:

Cranial vault thickness (CVT) of Liang Bua 1, the specimen that is proposed to be the holotype of Homo floresiensis, has not yet been described in detail and compared with samples of fossil hominins, anatomically modern humans or microcephalic skulls. In addition, a complete description from a forensic and pathological point of view has not yet been carried out. It is important to evaluate scientifically if features related to CVT bring new information concerning the possible pathological status of LB1, and if it helps to recognize affinities with any hominin species and particularly if the specimen could belong to the species Homo sapiens.

Medical examination of the skull based on a micro-CT examination clearly brings to light the presence of a sincipital T (a non-metrical variant of normal anatomy), a scar from an old frontal trauma without any evident functional consequence, and a severe bilateral hyperostosis frontalis interna that may have modified the anterior morphology of the endocranium of LB1. We also show that LB1 displays characteristics, related to the distribution of bone thickness and arrangements of cranial structures, that are plesiomorphic traits for hominins, at least for Homo erectus s.l. relative to Homo neanderthalensis and H. sapiens. All the microcephalic skulls analyzed here share the derived condition of anatomically modern H. sapiens. Cranial vault thickness does not help to clarify the definition of the species H. floresiensis but it also does not support an attribution of LB1 to H. sapiens. We conclude that there is no support for the attribution of LB1 to H. sapiens as there is no evidence of systemic pathology and because it does not have any of the apomorphic traits of our species.

Carbon Emissions From Indonesian Fires Depends on the Fire Type

Carbon emissions caused by burning tropical peatlands in Indonesia vary considerably depending on if the fires are initial or recurrent, according to new research conducted at the University of Leicester.

The study, which was co-authored by Professor Susan Page and Dr Kevin Tansey from the University of Leicester's Department of Geography, also found that peatlands closer to canals have a higher probability of high frequency fires, which release harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

The study, 'Variable carbon losses from recurrent fires in drained tropical peatlands', which was conducted with researchers at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich (LMU) and published in the journal Global Change Biology, presents the first spatially explicit investigation of fire-driven tropical peat loss and its variability, suggesting that there is a strong relationship between burned area depth, fire frequency and distance to drainage canals in tropical peatlands.

link.

Indonesian Wild Fires, Palm Oil Trade Linked to El Nino?

A fire with global connections

Author:

Gross

Abstract:

The 2015 wildfires in Indonesia are possibly the largest environmental disaster of the century so far. They connect and highlight important global issues including climate change, El Niño, and deforestation driven by the booming global trade with palm oil.

Indonesia Confirms Ordering Su-35s

Indonesia's defense minister had finally signed the official document approving to acquire Russia-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets to replace the would-be decommissioned F-5 E/F Tiger II operated by Indonesian air forces.

The document had been submitted to the National Development Planning (Bappenas) for the follow up.

Indonesian Air Forces Marshall Agus Supriatna has said recently that before the signing, the air forces has submitted the characteristics of fighter jets eligible to replace the F-5 E/F Tiger II which was in service since 1980.

According to Agus, the air forces proposed two options to replace the light attack F-5 E/F Tiger II. One is Sukhoi 35, the other is F-16 Viper produced by the United States producer Lokheed Martin.

"As the final user, the Indonesian Air Forces only submitted the technical specifications of fighter jets that we desire, capable to accomplish our missions," Agus was quoted as saying by a local media on Thursday.

link.

Russia has Submitted its Offer of Su-35s to Indonesia

link. (in Indonesian)

Stealth Saga #15

J-20:

A new prototype, 2017, of the J-20 stealth fighter has taken flight.  

KF-X:

Indonesia and South Korea worked out more details on how they will work together on the KF-X project.

There is a further delay for the transfer of technologies from the US to South Korea for the KF-X program.

UCLASS:

The Navy has set up an unmanned vehicle office to manage the UAVs, UCAVs, USVs and UUVs.  The stalled UCLASS has been assigned to this office.

Long Range Strike Bomber: 

An opinion states the US Air Force made the right decision for the LRS-B contract award.

US Air Force is investigating the data breach in a Forbes article describing the costs for development.

F-35 Lightning II:

Canada's participation in the F-35 is now completely up in the air.

The Brits have announced they will be increasing their total buy of F-35s.

Denmark is likely to confirm an order for 30 F-35s.

Belgium is likely to release its RFP for its F-16 replacement soon and the F-35 is a contender.

The F-35 will be entered into the Canadian recompete for the replacement of the Canadian CF-18s.

The US Marines F-35B squadron, VMFA-121, has been declared ready for combat deployment.

Based on Jaws & Teeth, Homo floresiensis ('Hobbit') Was a Separate Species

An ancient, 3-foot-tall (0.9 meters) human whose diminutive stature has earned it the nickname "hobbit" has puzzled evolutionary scientists since its little bones were discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores. Some have suggested the individual was a Homo sapiens with some miniaturizing disorder.

Now, teeth from the hobbit suggest it belonged to a unique species rather than a modern human with a growth disorder. The new research also suggests hobbits may share a direct ancestor with modern humans.

The 18,000-year-old fossil remains of the hobbit were discovered in 2003. Since then, scientists have suggested that the hobbit, which had a brain about the size of a grapefruit, was a unique branch of the human lineage Homo, dubbed Homo floresiensis. However, other researchers have argued the hobbit was really a modern human with microcephaly, a condition that leads to an abnormally small head, a small body and some mental retardation.

To learn more about the hobbit, scientists have now performed the first comprehensive analysis of the ancient human's teeth. The researchers compared the 40 known hobbit teeth with those from 490 modern humans from Asia, Oceania, Africa and Europe, as well as from a variety of extinct hominins, such as Homo habilis, which is suspected to be among the first makers of stone tools. (Hominins consist of humans and their relatives dating after the split from the chimpanzee lineage.)

The researchers found hobbit teeth were as small as those from short modern humans. However, other features of these teeth looked completely dissimilar from those of modern humans.

The hobbit teeth displayed a unique mosaic of primitive traits seen in early hominins mixed with more-advanced traits seen in later hominins, the researchers said. For instance, the canine and premolar teeth looked primitive, whereas the molar teeth looked advanced, or as if they had emerged later in the evolution of Homo sapiens, the scientists said.

link.