Ballarat, one of two warships dispatched by Australia to assist in the search for the missing Indonesian submarine. Photo: Australian Department of Defense It is expected that the Ballarat warships of the Australian Navy equipped with sonic radar and multi-role helicopters MH-60R will arrive in the search area on April 23. The second ship, Sirius, operating in the area off the coast of Brunei will arrive on April 27. In particular, according to the Australian Department of Defense, Sirius can provide fuel, drinking water and many essentials for ships participating in the search. Australia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced earlier that it would do whatever it could to assist Indonesia in finding the submarine in distress. Meanwhile, the country’s Defense Ministry confirmed that it would keep close contact with Indonesia in case it could provide additional assistance to the search. Submarine KRI Nanggala-402 of the Indonesian Navy, along with its crew of 53, went missing on April 21 while participating in a torpedo launch exercise. The Indonesian army, along with the help of the navy, of some countries are working all out to find the ship in distress in the context that the amount of oxygen used on the ship is only enough until the morning of April 24.

[Global Times Special Correspondent Li Qiang]The Taiwan authorities will start a new round of Taiping Island expansion plan in 2020, which is expected to be completed in 2023. Recently, due to the public discussion of Taiwan’s “legislators”, the expansion plan of Taiping Island has once again attracted attention. Some media reported that after the expansion of Taiping Island is completed, it will be able to dock 4,000-ton frigates. The former “Secretary of Defense” even stated that there is US influence behind this and that US ships may be docked in the future.

Taiping Island Wharf is built and built again, what do you want to do

Taiwan’s “Liberty Times” website reported on the 15th that the Marine Patrol Agency has promoted the new construction of the Taiping Island terminal in the South China Sea last year, but it is only five years before the new terminal was built during the Malaysian government era. Luo Zhizheng, a “legislator” of the DPP, said that the expansion of the wharf is obviously in response to changes in the regional situation, but it also appears that the Malaysian government’s planning is short-sighted and conservative.

The “Marine Inspection Agency” responded that the current expansion is to respond to the recent South China Sea situation and related service needs. The Marine Patrol Agency stated that in the South China Sea arbitration on July 12, 2016, all the islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands were identified as non-island “rocks”, which severely damaged the “rights to the South China Sea islands and their related economic waters.” On the 19th of the same month, Taiwan announced the creation of Taiping Island as a base for humanitarian rescue, international transportation and scientific research. Only the “Marine Patrol Agency” will cooperate to promote the “Nansha Taiping Island Port Side Dredging and Wharf Renovation Project Plan” from 2020 to 2023. The expenditure is NT$1.648 billion.

Taiwan’s “United Daily News” reported on April 7 that the Tsai government clearly declared the “South China Sea sovereignty policy” for the first time. The “Ocean Commission” stated that the situation in the South China Sea is treacherous, and neighboring countries are actively constructing various transportation infrastructures and deploying large-scale various types. For ships, in order to effectively enhance Taiwan’s patrol energy in this area, Taiwan is expanding the Nansha Taiping Wharf, strengthening the Taiping Island Wharf’s “typhoon avoidance” function, and dredging existing berths to strengthen Taiping Island’s operations. According to the report, the Taiwan authorities will strengthen the patrol of the “inherent territory of the South China Sea” in the economic waters and the high seas, enhance the patrol capability of Taiping Island in Nansha, and strengthen the control of the South China Sea region.

Taiwan’s “Legislative Yuan’s Internal Affairs Committee” reviewed the 2021 “Ocean Committee” budget unfreezing case on the morning of the 7th, and the schematic diagram of the Taiping Island Pier dredging project was exposed for the first time. In addition to strengthening the existing simple dock facilities, the newly-expanded Taiping Island Wharf will “have a port in the port”, set up a new vertical inner embankment, and provide special seats for 100-ton boats with surge gates. Both sides of the dock will also be dredged to 7 meters, it can accommodate 4000 tons of frigate ships at the inner wharf, reducing the probability of being attacked by swells.

What does the 5,000-ton class mean?Taiwan’s main frigate can dock

Before this round of expansion, Ma Ying-jeou’s authorities had expanded Taiping Island. According to the “Free Times” website report, the Malaysian Government era began to promote the “Nansha Taiping Island Traffic Foundation Reconstruction Project” in 2013, and newly built two sections of gravity caisson wharves with a total length of 318 meters, which can accommodate up to 3000-ton frigates. In addition, the Taiping Island Airport runway navigation related facilities were improved. The “Marine Patrol Agency” prepared the budget, and then the “National Engineering Bureau of the Ministry of Communications” was responsible for the agency. The expenditure was NT$3.374 billion. The Taiwan military stated in April 2016 that the Taiwan Navy’s “Kangding” “Xingang” “Success” class ship and the nearly 5,000-ton class “Zhonghe” class ship have all passed the verification of docking operations at the Taiping Island Terminal.

According to the report, Zhao Tianlin, a member of the National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan, said that the Malaysian government’s reconstruction of the Taiping Island wharf and related equipment at that time is now very short-sighted. DPP “legislator” Wang Dingyu stated that the expansion of the Taiping Island wharf is mainly to strengthen the berthing performance of the wharf. Although the current three to four thousand-ton frigates can be berthed for a short time, the stability of the wharf is insufficient. The boat is berthed for a long time.

American ships will dock on Taiping Island?

Regarding Taiwan’s intention to expand Taiping Island, Taiwan media reported that it mainly responded to the situation in the South China Sea, but the former “Minister of Defense” of the Taiwan authorities had different views. The “United Daily News” website reported that the “Council of the Sea” stated that this expansion plan will strengthen the Taiping Island wharf’s “typhoon avoidance” function, and deepen the existing wharf, and use 100-ton patrol boats to station in Taiping Island for a long time. The newly built 4,000-ton frigate performs patrol missions in the South China Sea to enhance the patrol capabilities of the sea area, effectively deter the surrounding fishing boats from crossing the border and illegal fishing, and actively safeguard Taiwan’s “sea and territorial sovereignty.”

The “IOC” also stated that in recent years, extreme weather has produced super typhoons, strong winds and large waves have not only caused serious threats to ships operating in the sea, but also caused severe disasters in neighboring countries in the South China Sea. Therefore, it provides medical assistance for overseas humanitarian and disaster relief for rapid response. , It is necessary to cooperate with the new 4000-ton frigate equipped with advanced medical facilities, and strengthen the existing terminal facilities to facilitate the berthing of the 4000-ton frigate. The Air Crew Corps “Dolphin” and “Black Hawk” helicopters and the Navy’s S-70C anti-submarine helicopter can land on the flight deck of a 4000-ton frigate and temporarily stationed on the ship. The “Marine Guard” will complete the landing of the first 4000-ton “Chiayi” ship and “Black Hawk” helicopter by the end of 2021.

However, Yang Nianzu, the former “Chief of Defense” of the Taiwan authorities, said in a recent interview with the media that there must be US factors behind the expansion plan of Taiping Island and that US ships may be docked. Yang Nianzu said that Taiwan does not have “diplomatic” relations with the United States. Although the United States has passed some resolutions and hopes that the U.S. Navy will send warships to visit the ports of Taiwan, since it cannot rely on Taiwan ports, rely on Taiping Island. This is considered a flexible method in the United States. . He believes that if the expansion of Taiping Island takes shape in the future, some large ships, such as sea cruisers, may be docked, “this is equivalent to a side-by-side shot.” Yang Nianzu also said that Taiping Island used to be controversial whether it was the development, expansion, or extension of the airstrip, but now suddenly everything has been resolved, “I believe there will be American influence.”

State news agency Anadolu said both deployments, scheduled for April 14 and 15, were canceled as Ankara has not been informed of any possible plans from the US side.

Last week, Turkey announced that it had been informed through diplomatic channels that two US warships “would head towards the Black Sea” and remained in the area until 4-5.

There was no confirmation from Washington of planned rollouts or cancellations.

Washington was obliged to notify Ankara at least 15 days before passing warships through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles under the terms of the 1936 Montreux Convention.

The Strait of Bosphorus in the Black Sea – Photo: AFP

The treaty provisions allow foreign warships to stay in the Black Sea for 21 days.

US Navy ships have regularly operated in the region to support Ukraine, which has been fighting against forces in its east since the pro-Moscow leader in Kiev was overthrown in 2014.

Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea at the same time, setting up a confrontation with the West that continues to this day.

Last week, the announcement of the US warship deployment came amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Kiev due to the reinforcement of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border.

These deployments came amid new clashes between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

News on April 14 about the cancellation of the deployment of US warships comes a day after US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

During that conversation, Biden proposed a summit with Putin in a neutral country and urged Russia to “reduce tensions,” according to the White House.