For your Eyes Only......

Really liked this pic.The color composition is awesome.The model..her pose ,expression.. the setting are perfect. The shot was almost flawless although I think that the photographer tried to do some “extras” on the pic ...look at the top portion....seems like the water-paint effect of photoshop. The focusing is just perfect comparing the water in the front and the water at the back. But I think the edges are unusually diluted.

I did like to have a original print of this pic.
Cheers to the photographer...Nice Job!!!

M-MRCA Deal: JAS-39 Gripen

The last contender of the competition is JAS-39 Gripen (Saab, Sweden; marketed by Britain’s BAE).
The Gripen is a true 4th+ generation lightweight fighter and significantly more capable than category competitors like the F-16 and Mirage 2000, though the MiG-35 may give it a run for the money because of the Zhuk AESA radar and extreme maneuverability and agility.Grippen electronic suite is higly complex and effective.In the last Red flag exercise Gripen surprised Red force aircrafts with the electronic suite. Other strengths include a wide choice of integrated weapons and pods; reasonable purchase cost; the fact that it has also been designed for exceptional cost of ownership; and the ability operate from roads instead of runways if necessary. It has colour cockpit displays, an On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) and in-flight refuelling capability. The electronic suite contains Ericsson PS-05 long-range multi-purpose pulse Doppler radar which has air-to air operating modes covering long-range search, multi-target track-while-scan, multiple priority target tracking, air combat quick search modes, raid assessment and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile mid-course updates.The air-to-surface modes include long-range search/target identification, multiple priority target tracking, high-resolution, real beam mapping, air-to-surface ranging and Doppler Beam Sharpening (DBS).The aircraft is equipped with a Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor and will have the Saab IR-Otis Infrared Search and Track system (IRST). The JAS-39’s drawbacks include its short range; the fact it’s a new aircraft type for the IAF; and a low volume of international orders to date that raises questions about the platform’s ability to modernize over the next 30-40 years. The fact that it is build by a country which does not have considerable air combat experience is also making it hard to pitch against giants like Lockheed, Boeing, Dassault and MiG.
As an interesting side note, the JAS-39 A-D models’ use of a modified GE F404 engine indicates that it could be modifiable to use India’s Kaveri engine. After all, the Tejas LCA will also use F404 engines until Kaveri is ready as a substitute, if indeed it ever is. The next-generation Gripen Demo model Saab is now offering prospective customers uses the GE F414G engine as its base, however, and is likely to need a higher level of engine performance than the existing Kaveri project can deliver. Gripen Demo also begins to address the aircraft’s range limitations, and would include an AESA radar among its other enhancements.
With respect to industrial offsets, Saab usually handles industrial offsets via its automotive group, which could represent either a difficulty or a market opportunity for the company. The Gripen’s acceptance carries no spin-off geopolitical benefits, however, and that last weakness may prove to be the plane’s most critical hindrance in this competition.

M-MRCA Deal: F-16IN

The fifth contender for this competition is not a new aircraft but will emerge in a different form.
Presumably, Lockheed’s “Block 70” or to be specific F-60IN offering would be an upgraded version of the F-16E Block 60 “Desert Falcon” currently serving with the UAE.In addition to that F-16IN will also incorporate supercruise abilities.The exact technical details of F-16IN are still in the hands of Lockheed and IAF, so I will try to explain IN version with the help of Desert Falcon’s configurations. Strengths include the widest multi-role capability among lightweight fighters; its AN/APG-80 AESA radar; the addition of integrated IRST capability; the widest choice of proven avionics and weapon systems; a long record of proven service so all issues are known; and widespread compatibility with potential allies in Asia and the Middle East who also fly F-16s. The combination of an AESA radar on a less expensive platform is also good news for cruise missile defense efforts, if that’s considered a priority. The F-16 Block 60, also known as the Desert Falcon (and F-16E/F in some circles), is the most advanced F-16 ever produced. An internal, forward-looking infrared navigation sensor mounted as a ball turret on the upper left nose distinguishes the Block 60 from previous F-16s. Other distinguishing external characteristics include a targeting pod with faceted windows, no pitot tube, strip lighting on the wings and vertical tail, an air scoop on the forward right tail root, a small exhaust on the forward left tail root, and two other exhaust ports—one on either side of the lower rear portion of the engine inlet. Both single- and two-seat aircraft carry the conformal fuel tanks.These external differences don’t detract from the F-16’s renowned aerodynamic performance. The increased thrust GE-132 engine helps compensate for the increase in weight and payload over the basic F-16. Internal differences, on the other hand, add up to a huge improvement in capability over previous-generation F-16s and place the Block 60 at the leading edge of fourth-generation fighters.These internal differences are most apparent in the cockpit, which is dominated by three large five- by seven-inch color multifunction displays. Onboard computers collect and process information from the various sensors and off-aircraft sources and transmit the results to the pilot in straightforward color graphics. The all-glass cockpit features hands-on throttle and sidestick switch controls, a color moving map, picture-in-picture digital display technology, night vision goggle-compatible lighting, and a standard head-up display.The Desert Falcon has many automated modes, including autopilot, auto-throttle, and an automatic ground collision avoidance system. The electronic warfare system, produced by Northrop Grumman, is the most sophisticated subsystem on the aircraft and provides threat warning, threat emitter locating capability, and increased situational awareness to the pilot. A new data transfer cartridge holds thirty gigabytes of information. A fiber-optic databus handles the throughput and speed needed for many of these systems. The maintenance system is laptop based.But as far as Indian Air force is concerned , The system will be more complex and mixed.IAF will surely press for best of avionics from Indian agencies,American agencies as well as from Russian,French and Israeli agencies.

Even so, the Indian Air Force has never seemed very interested in the F-16. Weaknesses include the fact that Pakistan also flies F-16s; and it has not performed well in USAF-IAF cope series exercises.The fact it’s a new aircraft type so the entire support infrastructure would have to be developed; and the difficulty Lockheed would have complying with industrial offset provisions given their lack of penetration in India.But Lockheed is inclined to set up a full assembly line here in india. The MMRCA RFP’s delays may have helped Lockheed Martin by allowing them ample time to find arrangements with Indian firms, and there are reports that the USA is pushing this option because of the reassurance factor. While an F-16 E/F Block 60+ would have a number of important advantages over Pakistan F-16 A/Bs and even its new Block 50/52 aircraft, the common underlying aircraft type would probably take some of the edge off of the deal from Pakistan’s point of view.

M-MRCA Deal: EuroFighter Typhoon

The Fourth competitor in the line is EADS’s EuroFighter Typhoon.

Eurofighter Typhoon is a multinational defence project with active participation by Britain, Germany, Italy and spain. It is a fourth plus-plus generation aircraft currently optimized for the air-air role through its performance characteristics and what is by all accounts an excellent pilot interface. It has “supercruise” capability of being able to exceed Mach 1 without using afterburners, though some analysts have cast doubt on how sustainable that is. Some observers believe that aside from the F-22A Raptor, the Eurofighter is the next-best in-service air superiority aircraft world-wide, though the 2007 Indra Dhanush exercise that matched it up against the SU-30MKI makes that a rather debatable claim. More Over the ability of Super Cruise can only be used when the aircraft is clean ie; without any payload. Mean while, Tranche 2 upgrades are giving it more multi-role capability, and India’s delay has given those developments more time to mature.New Air-to-Ground missons and Air-to-Sea missions are added and developed to strengthen it’s multi role abilities. The aircraft is constructed of carbon fibre composites, glass-reinforced plastic, aluminium lithium, titanium and aluminium casting. Stealth technology features include low frontal radar cross-section, passive sensors and supercruise ability.The foreplane / delta configuration is intentionally aerodynamically unstable which provides a high level of agility (particularly at supersonic speeds), low drag and enhanced lift. The pilot controls the aircraft through a computerised digital fly-by-wire system which provides artificial stabilisation and gust elevation to give good control characteristics throughout the flight envelope.But the most impressive is the aircraft’s cockpit technology.It cockpit employs high degree of automation through voice commands. The pilot's control system is a Voice-Throttle-and-Stick system (VTAS), which is a complete new system. The stick and throttle tops house 24 fingertip controls for sensor and weapon control, defence aids management, and inflight handling. The direct voice input allows the pilot to carry out mode selection and data entry procedures using voice command.The quadruplex fly-by-wire flight control system has an Automatic Low Speed Recovery System (ALSR) which provides the pilot with visual and audio low speed warning and will, if necessary, automatically take control of the aircraft and return to safe flight.This is also a new thing which may not find popularity with “maverick-type” fighter pilots.The BAE System’s Striker Helmet Mounted Symbology System (HMS) and head up display show the flight reference data, weapon aiming and cueing, and the FLIR imagery. BAE Systems TERPROM ground proximity warning system is used for terrain avoidance. Depending on role, the fighter can carry the following mix of missiles:
Air-superiority - six BVRAAM (Beyond Visual Range)/AMRAAM air-to-air missiles on semi-recessed fuselage stations and two ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missiles on the outer pylons
Air interdiction - four AMRAAM, two ASRAAM, two cruise missiles and two Anti-Radar Missiles (ARM)
SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) - four AMRAAM, two ASRAAM, six anti-radar missiles
Multi-role - three AMRAAM, two ASRAAM, two ARM and two GBU-24 Paveway III/IV
Close air support - four AMRAAM, two ASRAAM, 18 Brimstone anti-armour missiles
Maritime attack - four AMRAAM, two ASRAAM, six anti-ship missiles
With respect to industrial offsets, BAE already has an order from India for 66 BAE Hawk trainers, 42 of which are being built in India. EADS Airbus might also be able to contribute on that front if it can provide some goodies for civial aviation sector.
Weaknesses include the aircraft’s expense, which may stretch India’s budget; the fact it’s a new aircraft type for the IAF so the entire support infrastructure would have to be developed and it lacks an AESA radar(CAPTOR AESA Radar is still under trails); its lack of naval capability( currently under develpoment; and the non-existent geopolitical benefits of selecting it. Given the Eurofighter’s performance and cost range, simply buying more SU-30MKIs would appear to make far more sense.

M-MRCA Deal- Dassault's Rafale

The Third competitor is Dassault Aviation's Rafale

Rafale is a twin-jet combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short- and long-range missions, including ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance, and high-accuracy strike or nuclear strike deterrence. Rafale is the only aircraft in the competition which has a declared nuclear deterrence capability. Advantages of this aircraft includes demonstrated carrier capability in the Rafale-M, which could be a very big factor if the RFP includes that as a requirement, just to make a follow up acquisition plan for Indian Navy. The aircraft offers exceptional ordnance capacity for its size -The Rafale can carry payloads of over 9t on 14 hardpoints for the Air Force version, and 13 for the naval version. The range of weapons includes: Mica, Magic, Sidewinder, ASRAAM and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; Apache, AS30L, ALARM, HARM, Maverick and PGM100 air-to-ground missiles; and Exocet / AM39, Penguin 3 and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. For a strategic mission the Rafale can deliver the MBDA’s ASMP standoff nuclear missile. In December 2004, the MBDA Storm Shadow / Scalp EG stand-off cruise missile was qualified on the Rafale As you can see most of the armament is of Western Origin. Dassault have to do lot of integration testing for Israeli and Russian origin weapons if it wishes to play tough with Super Hornet or MiG-35. It can have its range extended via conformal fuel tanks. It also offers superior aerodynamic performance over the F/A-18 family. The Rafale claims “super cruise” capability, but observers are skeptical and it has been challenging to demonstrate this with the Snecma R88-2 engine.But personally I feel that Rafale cannot perform “Sustained Super Cruise”. France is also more than willing to help Develop the Kaveri Engine for LCA programme. This would give India’s indigenous jet engine project a broader fleet of aircraft that would amortize its costs better – albeit at a likely performance penalty. The Rafale also offers some equipment, maintenance and spares commonalities with existing Mirage 2000 fleet, which would probably increase if India’s Mirage 2000s are modernized in future. It will also ease out few maintenance and upgrade problems.
Weaknesses include the fact that the Rafale has yet to win a single export competition worldwide and the need for additional funds and work to integrate many non-French weapons if one wishes to use them on the Rafale; and the biggest disadvantage is that it lacks an AESA radar. The Rafale’s failure to win export competitions means more than a perception of “also-ran” status –(the Rafale lost to the F-15SG Strike Eagle during Singapore Coverage), it is already forcing cuts in future Rafale procurement to pay for modernization, a dynamic that could get worse over the next 30 years. Another Disadvantage is it’s price tag. Rafale is the costliest aircraft among all the competitors for the M-MRCA deal.

M-MRCA Deal: F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet

The second Contender is F/A-18 Super Hornet

F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet from the stable of Boeing is a highly upgraded version of the F/A-18 A-D Hornet. Super hornet is much more enlarged and given new engines and avionics. Strengths include its powerful AN/APG-79 AESA radar, which has drawn significant interest from India. The Performance of AESA radar is really impressive and the results have prompted large air forces to induct different varieties of the radar on the older and newer fighter aircrafts. The APG-79 radar could allow Super Hornets to play a unique role in India’s fighter fleet as versatile “quarterbacks” (or better yet, “cricket captains”) due to their radar’s performance and information sharing abilities. Other advantages include carrier capability; a very wide range of integrated weapons; a design that is proven in service and in combat; and complete assurance in its future upgrade spiral given the US Navy’s commitment to it. The existence of a dedicated electronic warfare variant as of 2009 in the EA-18G Growler may also be a potent motivator, as long-range strike and carrier strike will increasingly require this unique capability.If Indian Air Force considers super hornet ,it would be natural to think about Growlers also for ECM conflicts. Last but certainly not least, this choice offers an opportunity to create an early “win” which would strengthen India’s new alliance with the USA and prove its new status in the world. After all, when clearance for the aircraft was given, no other nation had even been offered the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. The aircraft is also being fitted with new mission computers, fibre-optic network, Raytheon AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR targeting pod, Boeing joint helmet-mounted cueing system.The aircraft will also mark the introduction of American Air armaments like Raytheon’s AIM-9X next generation Sidewinder air-to-air missile. Talking About weapons payload capacity, the Super Hornet has 11 weapon stations which include two additional wing store stations and will support a full range of Western armaments including AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, guided air-to-ground weapons such as Harpoon, SLAM/SLAM-ER, GBU-10, GBU-51, HARM and Maverick; and free-fall air-to-ground bombs, Mk-76, BDU-48, Mk-82LD, Mk-82HD and Mk-84. The aircraft can also carry the GPS- / inertially guided JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition), JSOW (Joint StandOff Weapon) and JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile).Of Course IAF will press for a greater flexibility in weapons payload since it already operates weapons of Russian, French and Israeli Origin. If Successful, Boeing will make a whole new variant of fighter which can be armed with almost any Air Armament. The cockpit in the F/A-18E/F is equipped with a touch-sensitive control display, a larger multi-purpose liquid crystal colour display, which shows tactical information, two monochrome displays and a new engine fuel display. The E/F version of the aircraft retains the mission software and a high proportion of the avionics found in the C/D models. The cockpit also has a colour digital map and the pilots are equipped with night-vision goggles for round the clock deployment. The zero/zero ejection seat is the SJU-5/6 from Martin Baker Aircraft Company, which is standard for most of the fighters of western origin.

Boeing’s planned $1.5 billion investment in India’s aerospace market may help deal with industrial offset issues; the Super Hornet’s Boeing connection adds many options in the civil aircraft market as well. And this point makes sense also since Indian Civilian AirTravel Industry is looking aggressive and are expected to undertake huge expansion projects.
Weaknesses of the Super Hornet platform include the aircraft’s expense; given the costs to other customers so far, it seems unlikely that Boeing can deliver 126 F/A-18 E/F Block II aircraft for just $10.2 billion, let alone aircraft plus lifetime support. The Super Hornet also offers poorer aerodynamic performance than the Eurofighter or Rafale due to inherent airframe limitations.Indian Air Force like Israeli Air Force emphasizes on High degree of aerodynamic strengths for their Fighter Aircrafts and Training for Close quarter Air-Combats. Finally, it’s a new aircraft type for the IAF, so the entire support infrastructure would have to be developed from the ground up.
Personally I feel that this aircraft has good chance of becoming the winner of the deal if it can beat MiG-35 in evaluations and price tag.

M-MRCA Deal: MiG 29OVT/35

Here's the First contender of the M-MRCA deal

The super manouverable MiG-29OVT aka Mig-35.Two years ago, the MiG-35's prototype, the MiG-29-M/OVT, was displayed at the MAKS-2005 aerospace show in the town of Zhukovsky near Moscow. In January 2007, the MiG-35 was rolled out for the first time ever; and it stole the limelight during the MAKS-2007 show last August. And those of you who have wathched that flight video will know why it was the star of the MAKS-2005 "party".Last year russia unveiled the MiG-35 at the Aero India airshow in Bangalore, amid Moscow's keenness to sell these planes to India. It was reported that the MiG-35 made its way from Moscow to Bangalore in less than three hours, assisted by in-flight refueling on the way and flying at supersonic speeds.The MiG-29 and MiG-29M warplanes are, in fact, fourth-generation and generation four-plus fighters. Indian Air Force Already operates MiG-29 with few indigenous modifications in its avionics. The MiG-35's specifications and performance match the requirements of the Russian Air Force and most foreign customers. The low-risk and inexpensive MiG-35 program will help produce more export-oriented versions.The version was essentially build around IAF M-MRCA deal and Indian Navy's requirement to arm the future aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" and "Air Defence Ship".As far as the evaluations are concerned the MiG-35 must outperform fourth-generation fighters and equal fifth-generation aircraft to be chosen as the new lead-in fighter for Indian Air Force.MiG-35 designers moved to upgrade the fighter's radio-electronic equipment, while heeding the impressive potential of the MiG-29's aerodynamic concept.
Due to cooperation between RSK MiG and the Fazotron-NIIR corporation, the MiG-35 became the first Russian fighter to feature the Zhuk-AE fifth-generation electronic-scan phased-array radar. As the name suggests Zhuk is a Active Electronic Scanned Array(AESA) radar with multiple target aquisition,identification and attack capabilities.The Zhuk-AE, which has a longer range than the radars of foreign generation plus-plus fighters, can calculate the exact number and type of enemy targets, and facilitates successful beyond-the-horizon attacks.
By increasing the number of its transceiver modules by 50%, the radar's range and target-acquisition parameters can be enhanced considerably. The Zhuk-AE operates in conjunction with two optronic target acquisition and identification systems featuring infrared and laser channels. They detect, identify and automatically track several targets, calculate their coordinates and provide data to the fire-control system. One optronic system tracks aerial targets, and the other one detects ground and naval targets and also provides navigation data. Optronic devices enable the fighter to escape detection by the enemy, facilitate round-the-clock operations and make it possible to hit visible and beyond-horizon targets.The Optronic summary of the aircraft is-



In air combat, the optronic suite allows:
Detection of non-afterburning targets at 45 km range and more;
Identification of those targets at 8 to 10 km range; and
Estimates of aerial target range at up to 15 km.
For ground targets, the suite allows:
A tank-effective detection range up to 15 km, and aircraft carrier detection at 60 to 80 km;
Identification of the tank type on the 8 to 10 km range, and of an aircraft carrier at 40 to 60 km; and
Estimates of ground target range of up to 20 km.



The MiG-35's defensive systems warn the pilot in case of danger and automatically activate ECM (Electronic Counter-Measures) systems and also launches heat and radar decoys. The defensive system equipment consists of radar reconnaissance, electronic countermeasures, and optical systems — notably the laser emission detector on each wingtip — which are able to detect and evaluate the approaching danger and operate decoy dispensers to counteract the approaching threat in the radar and infrared ranges.Moreover, the pilot is notified if the plane is being tracked by enemy radar or targeted by a laser range finder. The system also detects approaching enemy missiles and shows their direction. The optronic systems have the comparable potential as those of american APG series of AESA radar(Excluding APG-81,aboard F-22 Raptor) and can be installed on fifth-generation and generation four plus-plus warplanes.
The MiG-35's most impressive feature, which is not present in any other fighter aircraft in this world is the RD-33OVT thrust-vector engine that was previously tested on the MiG-29. Its intersecting nozzles can point in any direction, enabling the plane to perform breath-taking stunts.This means that the thrust vectoring has an effective angle of full 360 degrees. The engine ensures 100% controllability at maximum and zero speeds and even allows the MiG-35 to fly backwards and performing those exclusive and trademark manouveres like Pucachev's Cobra and kulbit-The aircraft stalls in mid-flight, nose at 90 degrees like a cobra ready to strike, and slides backwards.Complete this manouvre upto 360 degrees and you are head-on-head with the pursuing fighter. In a real dogfight, such a move can turn the hunted into the hunter. The fighter's designers believe that it embodies engineering solutions typical of a fifth-generation fighter and is therefore better than any European aircraft. The MiG-35's design is similar to that of the MiG-29 and makes it possible to increase the internal fuel load by 50% and the ordnance load by over 100%. Unlike the MiG-29, the MiG-35 is now classed as a medium-weight aircraft because its maximum take-off weight has increased by 30%. Drop tanks and a mid-air refuelling system allow it to fly long-range combat missions. R&D, production, operating and recycling expenses have been reduced considerably. Using computer systems to identify faults and target maintenance and repairs where and when it is needed allows engineers to save time. The plane's airframe, engines and equipment also have a longer service life.



There's a strong case with MiG-35 since it has high rate of compatibility with indian aircraft complex ,so there won't be any problem in industrial offset rules.The aircraft also has an upper edge because the MiG-29M version will join the Indian Navy with carrier ship "Vikramaditya".But the aircraft still needs a through evaluation since it is a low cost transformation of an cold war era aircraft.

M-MRCA Deal: Introduction

Last August India released the Request For Proposal(RFP) to replace Indian Air Force’s aging fleet MiG-21 and Mig-23. As per plan, India will acquire 126 new generation Multi-role Combat aircrafts and will also raise 2 supplementary squads of LCA Tejas. The RFP has already raised the temperature in international arms market and competitors are pitching in with new technologies, new support system and new weapon configurations to woo Indian Air Force.This deal is the biggest arms deal since early 1990's.The deal which started to seek and aquire light weight fighters to replace Mig-21 frontline fighters has changed considerably, suggesting the change in india's operational needs and refined demand over high tech military technology.The selected aircraft along with Sukhoi-30MKI and LCA tejas will make up the main fighter squads of IAF. The main competitors for this deal are F-16 Falcon from Lockheed Martin, F-18 Super Hornet from Boeing, Grippen from SAAB, Eurofighter Typhoon from EADS, Rafale from Dassault Aviation and Mig-35 from Mikoyan Gurevich. IAF is fourth largest air force in the world and it is a widely accepted fact that the combat doctrines and operational parameters of IAF are the toughest to match. It is also by the fact that the operational area of IAF ranges from Himalayan ranges to Thar desert and from Bay of Bengal to Rann Of Kutch. It is a time when India is aggressively trying to influence issues on global platform and seeking a “Strategic-Military reach” to deal with "out-of-area" contingencies.

This RFP is quite late and it's because of good amount of reasons.The change in Operational needs by the air force, the changes of clauses in the "Industrial Offset Rules", and the option to order 3 more squadrons(approx. 64 aircrafts...That brings the number close to 180-190). This deal will also pave the way for Navy's Fighter aircraft deal to arm the Indigenous aircraft carrier.Ther's an interesting fact that only 2 aicrafts can hold a good follow up for the navy deal-F/A-18 Super Hornet and Dassault Rafale. It will take good amount of time to completely evaluate these aircrafts in “IAF style”. Many online communities are cooking the discussion about this deal and I had made huge amount of contributions in orkut communities and defence column communities. But things are better sketchy now so I thought of putting a assessment of each aircraft in my blog.

I Will write about each type of aircraft which is competing for the deal.
And You are free to comment .

Taiwan Vs PRC: A David Vs Goliath Story

The roof of World is boiling again after almost 2 decades. In response to the strict Chinese hold on the social, economical n religious life of Tibet, thousands of monks and local youths “marooned” the streets of Lhasa- the caital of Tibet. Native people and communities are protesting against strict laws on practicing Buddhism, setting up Trade and many other basic Rights. The Migration of Han-Chinese people into tibet and implementing major changes in and around the land is causing huge amount of agitation and it’s clearly evident from the magnitude of the protests. While Chinese forces are aggressively marching this “peaceful” part of world attracting lot of diplomatic and religious attention, I think there’s another aspect which is equally disturbing , both in terms of politics and military affairs. The attitude of Chinese communist government towards Taiwan is a pretty long stand and as a matter of fact complicated also.It all started when Kuomintang (KMT) armies of Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan in 1949 after their defeat at the hands of the Communists. Chinese red army was going great guns with this win, setting up diplomatic relations and ties with neighboring communist countries and against anything which is “pro-capitalist”, but the plucky island nation has seen many unique transformations. The KMT had ruled it in its traditional dictatorial way, with the larger than life image of Chiang stamped on Taiwan. But Taiwan progressed economically to become a world centre of excellence in computer technology,biotechnology and modern business methodologies. Taiwan is way different from mainland china.Taiwan is a modern industrial megalopolis with the fringes of old culture.If u step out from chaotic Taipei you will know why it is known as “IIho Formosa” aka “The Beautiful Island”. Sitting beside Siouguluon river and enjoying bunon dance is a nice way to experience the beauty of this island nation. It’s mountainous terrain in the east and gradual slope towards the west strangely echoes it’s geo-political policies which are widely pro-west.
After the US repudiated diplomatic links with Taiwan in a reversal of policy towards the mainland — mid-wifed by Henry Kissinger in 1971 — leaving a military lifeline for the island, the KMT lived by its wits. It’s different thing that under the table and out of media’s attention US remained the main arms supplier and diplomatic back for this tiny but gutsy island nation. The “grand old man of Taiwan”, Lee Teng-hui, the father of the island’s independence movement, helped install Chen Sui-bian in office as President as the island took a dramatic turn towards democracy. Chen’s greatest gift has been the sharpening of the Taiwanese identity, and, except for China, most countries are reasonably happy with supporting a majority of Taiwanese who feel comfortable with its virtual independence. China has not taken off the table the use of force to bring Taiwan into the Chinese State. The United States has accepted Beijing’s "one China" policy but retains an agreement to come to the island’s rescue in times of distress and is the main supplier of arms.
In 1996, the Chinese had lobbed missiles into the Taiwan Strait to discourage the island’s voters to support Lee Teng-hui, a tactic that badly misfired, apart from provoking the US to send a massive naval armada towards the island and installing permanent bomber and tactical air force activity on the Taiwan strait and Indian ocean.The incident also changed the activities of US navy’s Seventh Fleet, Indian Navy and NATO forces stationed at Japan. Today mainland China have become more sophisticated in terms of economy, social structure , wooing Taiwan with promises of lovely future although a formidable array of missiles facing Taiwan remains in place on the mainland. This is a strategy and principle china has been adopting for long- A “White rose” bouquet in one hand and a “Rifle” in another hand.
For one thing, the Taiwanese are in no mood to accept the "one China, two systems" formula under which Hong Kong and Macau became part of the mainland. Taiwan’s transition to democracy has become a new hurdle to the island becoming part of a one-party state, but the Taiwanese identity chiseled by Lee and Chen has encouraged a sense of nationalism, Beijing will find hard to dent. Taiwan has enjoyed de facto independence for close to 50 years and its background as a Japanese colony had kept it out of mainland Chinese mainstream for many years. So there’s less probability of integration, atleast in near future.
Taiwanese Government promises to try to make peace with the mainland by promoting a better security relationship through military confidence-building measures, but it is in effect putting "reunification" on the back-burner for at least some decades. Thus far, Taiwan’s efforts to gain international recognition have become a game and a ritual. The island is recognized by few countries; those that do are small Caribbean, African or other island nations. Every year, Taiwan seeks entry into the United Nations – it was replaced by China in the UN Security Council after the United States transferred its recognition to Beijing – and its application is routinely shot down at the procedural stage. At regional economic group meetings, its representation is pegged at bureaucratic, rather than political levels in deference to Beijing’s sensitivities. In international sporting events, it must compete as Chinese Taiwan.For Taiwanese, these rituals serve a purpose, however hopeless the island’s prospects of wider recognition in the face of strong opposition from Beijing.
It is strengthening the feeling of being Taiwanese. The key question remains: will Beijing have the patience to smother Taiwan in an economic embrace over several decades – an embrace it cannot leave because the two economies will become fused? Or Perhaps Beijing will make a gesture by removing inland some of the intimidating missile batteries aimed at Taiwan.