Australia invierte mil millones en la ampliación de un base aérea para llegar a la cuenca Indo-Pacífica

Received $1.1 billion Upgrade, Tindal AFB Expanding Reach into the Indo-Pacific

ABC


Most of the money will be spent on extending RAAF Base Tindal's runway (photo : RAAF)

Federal Government spends $1.1 billion on Northern Territory air base, expanding reach into the Indo-Pacific

The Federal Government has announced a $1.1 billion upgrade to the Northern Territory's RAAF Base Tindal in a bid to expand Australia and the United States' air force capabilities into the Indo-Pacific.

The base outside Katherine will be home to a number of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) 72 new F-35 joint strike fighter jets, and the expansion project is slated to be finished by the end of 2027.

Most of the money, $737 million, will be spent on extending the runway and building new fuel storage facilities so that the base can deal with larger aircraft, including US long-range bombers and Australian refuelling aircraft.

"It will be integral to our alliance with the United States, and [will] increase the reach of Air Force capabilities in the Indo-Pacific," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement.

"As part of these upgrades, RAAF Base Tindal will be able to deliver enhanced air-to-air refuelling and air support capabilities, ensuring we can support critical ADF operations — everything from air combat missions through to responding to natural disasters both at home and throughout our region."

RAAF Base Tindal is regarded as one of the nation's most strategically important defence precincts and first opened in the 1940s.

The latest announcement is indicative of the Federal Government and the Department of Defence's push to develop its capabilities in the north of Australia, given its renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific.

All eyes are on China, which continues to expand its strategic footprint in areas such as the South China Sea.

Planning is underway for a new port facility to be built near Darwin, which could eventually help US Marines operate more readily in the region.

The Northern Territory has hosted contingents of US Marines since 2012 after then-US president Barack Obama and former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard signed off on a plan for Australian and US personnel to increase joint training exercises.

Close to $500 million has already been spent at the base, readying it for the arrival of the joint strike fighter aircraft.

Láseres interceptan a pilotos militares americanos y tienen las bolas por el piso

US military pilots in the Pacific are being targeted by lasers after similar incidents in Africa
John Haltiwanger  |  Business Insider




Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber aircraft fly with a Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-2 fighter jet over the East China Sea on July 7, 2017. Reuters

Pilots of US military aircraft operating in the Pacific Ocean have reportedly been targeted by lasers more than 20 times in recent months, US officials told The Wall Street Journal.
This report comes not long after the Pentagon accused the Chinese military of using lasers against US pilots in Djibouti.
The US officials said they do not currently believe the Chinese military is behind these incidents, but also couldn't totally rule it out given the recent issues in Djibouti.

Pilots of US military aircraft operating in the Pacific Ocean have reportedly been targeted by lasers more than 20 times in recent months, US officials told The Wall Street Journal.

All of the incidents occurred near the East China Sea, the officials said, where Chinese military and civilians often operate in part to buttress their nation's extensive claims.

This report comes not long after the Pentagon accused the Chinese military of using lasers against US pilots in Djibouti. The pilots suffered minor eye injuries as a result, but China denied any involvement.

It's unclear who is behind these activities in the Pacific and the officials said the lasers used were commercial-grade, such as laser pointers often used for briefings and even playing with cats, as opposed to the military-grade lasers used against the US pilots in East Africa.

The lasers were reportedly pointed at the US aircraft from fishing boats, some of which were Chinese-flagged vessels.

The US officials said they do not currently believe the Chinese military is behind these incidents, but also couldn't totally rule it out given the recent issues in Djibouti.

They added it's possible Chinese fisherman or people from "other countries in the region" could simply be doing this to harass American pilots.

It's also not clear what type of aircraft were targeted.

After the incidents in Djibouti, the Pentagon in May issued a formal complaint to China and called on its government to investigate.

In response, China's Defense Ministry said, "We have already refuted the untrue criticisms via official channels. The Chinese side consistently strictly abides by international law and laws of the local country, and is committed to protecting regional security and stability."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying added that the government had performed "serious checks," adding: "You can remind the relevant U.S. person to keep in mind the truthfulness of what they say, and to not swiftly speculate or make accusations."

¿Consecuencia del fallo de La Haya? Los chinos van por el pescado de Perú

Transnacionales asiáticas buscan comprar más pesqueras peruanas
Tras la adquisión de Copeinca, compañías chinas ahora estarían interesadas en comprar las pesqueras Diamante y Hayduk


Marienella Ortiz / @MarienellaOrtiz

Un buen precio. Esa es la respuesta final a la que llegan los dueños de las principales firmas pesqueras del país a la pregunta sobre qué los motivaría a vender. En un inicio, siempre la respuesta es "no estamos en venta".

Sin embargo, una posible decisión de salir del negocio está hoy muy presente, debido a la reciente aparición de compañías transnacionales, sobre todo asiáticas, dando vueltas con los bolsillos llenos –y si no, con acceso a la liquidez financiera presente en el mercado global–, muy interesadas en hacerse de un gran porcentaje de cuota de captura de la anchoveta.

Luego de la consolidación del negocio pesquero en manos de unas siete u ocho empresas, producto de la ley de cuotas individuales (2009), la feliz convivencia entre estas parecía eterna.

La lista la lideraba Tecnológica de alimentos (Tasa) del grupo Breca, seguida por Copeinca (fundada por la familia Dyer), Pesquera Diamante (los hermanos Ribaudo), Austral Group (grupo noruego Austevoll Seafood ASA), Hayduk (Martínez Baraka), China Fishery Group, Exalmar (familia Matta) y Centinela (Grupo Romero y asociados).

Como se observa, estas empresas están, mayoritariamente, en manos de empresarios peruanos. Existe otro 40% de cuota difuminado entre empresas que tiene cada una menos de 1% de cuota.

El punto de quiebre vino el 2013 con la inesperada compra de Copeinca, la entonces segunda del mercado, por parte de China Fishery Group (CFG), ya presente en el país desde el 2006.

¿Qué se viene ahora? Por lo pronto, en los corrillos pesqueros se especuló, las últimas semanas, que empresas chinas estaban interesadas en comprar las pesqueras Diamante y Hayduk, y que había ofertas en blanco y negro. Según pudimos constatar, eso es verdad, en parte, como veremos más adelante. Lo que parece un hecho es que este año habrá movidas importantes en el sector. El mar viene picado con olas grandes y agresivas.

Fuente: El Comercio