SCMP: No fears about China navy build-up – even after near miss, USS Ronald Reagan commander says
* Rear Admiral Karl Thomas says a close call between warships of the two navies was a rare event
* Hong Kong port call by American aircraft carrier strike group a sign that Beijing wants to ease tensions before Xi-Trump meeting at G20, analysts say
The commander of a US Navy aircraft strike group said he was “not worried” about China’s naval build-up, despite an “aggressive” near miss between vessels from the two countries in the South China Sea two months ago.
Rear Admiral Karl Thomas made the comments aboard the USS Ronald Reagan after it sailed into Hong Kong at the head of a strike group on Wednesday, following training exercises in the contested waters.
“Certainly I’m aware that other nations are also building their navies,” he said. “The good thing is that navies are able to operate around one another, it doesn’t really matter what is going on around the world, so [I’m] not worried.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- November 21, 2018
USS Ronald Reagan docks in Hong Kong amid military tensions -- NBC
US Navy to make Hong Kong port call after earlier refusal by China -- Navy Times/AP
US aircraft carrier in Hong Kong a sign of easing tensions? -- Brad Lendon, CNN
US bombers fly near South China Sea islands militarized by Beijing -- Stars and Stripes
China Has More Nuclear Subs Than the West Believed -- Defense One
The End of U.S. Naval Dominance in Asia -- Robert Ross, Lawfare
Navy Attack Subs Lost More Than Two Decades Worth Of Operational Time To Maintenance Delays -- Warzone/The Drive
The U.S. Navy Can’t Fix Its Submarines -- War Is Boring
US Navy DDG 1001 destroyer and HMS Queen Elizabeth perform PHOTOEX -- Naval Technology
'Catastrophic Damage' to US Naval Shipyard For Nuclear Subs Predicted -- Sputnik
A new report shows the US Army struggled to get its troops, and even generals, ready to deploy -- Business Insider
It has cost $72 million so far to deploy active-duty troops to the border, Pentagon says -- Military Times
Why Auditing The Pentagon Isn't Turning Up A Windfall Of Waste -- Mark Cancian, Forbes
So we’re celebrating the Pentagon’s failed audit? -- Jill Aitoro, Defense News
Next Presidential Helicopter Passes First Test Landing at White House -- USNI News
Deal awarded for first permanent US F-35 jet facilities in Europe -- Stars and Stripes
Canadian watchdog sounds alarm over F-18 purchase, military priorities -- Defense News
Canadian Auditors Slam Surplus Aussie Hornet Buy, Describe Fighter Force In Collapse -- Warzone/The Drive
From cyber to military mobility: EU members endorse new defense objectives -- Defense News
Top NATO leader warns against competition amid talk of a European army -- Stars and Stripes
Meet the Russian Army's Super 'Gun' That Can Destroy a City -- National Interest
Ukraine’s War With Russia Poised to Escalate in Azov Sea -- US News and World Report
Where Did North Korea’s Cyber Army Come From? -- VOA
How safe is Indian Army's firepower? -- Times Of India
India OKs $1.5 billion purchase of Russian missile system -- Defense News
Iran unveils Mine Resistant Ambush Protected military vehicle -- Press TV
Israel’s Only High School Teaching Farsi Preps Teens for Military Intel Work -- VOA
What’s standing in the way of an Arab NATO? -- Agnes Helou, Defense News
It’s Time to Fill Asia’s Arms Control Void -- Tanya Ogilvie-White, Interpreter
Germany doesn’t really want an EU army -- Leonid Bershidsky, Stars and Stripes/Bloomberg
Why 'Starship Troopers' is on every military reading list -- We Are The Mighty
