Saturday, January 5, 2019

Vitol's "all Christmases at once" deal with Petronas makes one wonder if Petronas has become a charitable organisation


by Ganesh Sahathevan

The Star reported on 29 November 2018 quoting Bernama:

Petronas, through its subsidiary, Petronas LNG Ltd (PLL), signed a binding heads of agreement on Oct 1, 2018, with Singapore-based Vitol Asia Pte Ltd for a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply deal.

“The primary supply to Vitol will come from LNG Canada and other PLL's global LNG supply portfolio. LNG Canada is a major LNG project located in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada, where Petronas is one of the joint venture participants with an equity holding of 25%,” it said in a statement today.

Reuters reported the same but included this additional bit of information:

Royal Dutch Shell decided in October (2018) to construct the export terminal. It was the first major investment decision in a new North American LNG export project for two years and was expected to launch a new wave of such projects in the region.


Petronas, the Malaysian oil and gas company that bought a 25 percent stake in the project in May, will supply Vitol with 0.8 million tonnes per year (mtpa) of LNG starting from 2024 for 15 years, Vitol said in a statement.

Vitol joins Asian utilities Tokyo Gas, Toho Gas and Korea Gas Corp (Kogas) as buyers, committing to offtake around 2.4 mtpa collectively.

Such long-term agreements normally underpin project finance and are critical before a final investment decision is taken.

But because Shell and partners Petronas, PetroChina, Mitsubishi and Kogas are such large players in the LNG market, they can absorb the output into their global portfolios without needing to find significant other buyers.
erm contract
Under previously announced deals, Toho Gas will buy 0.3 mtpa, Tokyo Gas 0.6 mtpa and Kogas 0.7 mtpa from LNG Canada.

In other words, Petronas has agreed to put-up the massive capital investment that
will enable  Vitol, a trader, to secure its supplies of LNG under a long term contract. In contrast, the other investors in the project have invested to secure long term supplies for their long-term customers, to whom the cost of the investment will be passed on. 

Which makes one wonder, is Petronas a charity,and is its management in competition with Santa Claus?

END



SEE ALSO








Friday, November 30, 2018


Petronas & Vitol: Why, How Much, And Petronas Must Make Contracts Public



by Ganesh Sahathevan


Petronas recently announced that it entered into a 15 year LNG  sale contract with Vitol, one of 

The deal seems odd for Petronas as a national oil company (NOC) has rights ,access and financing that the likes of Vital and even the majors can only dream of. The LNG will come from Petronas' long delayed Canadian Kitimat project, where Petronas' JV partners have rights to product in exchange for their investment. 

Petronas has a 25% stake, and it is hard to understand why Petronas needs the likes of Vital to sell the LNG.Quite apart from direct contact with NOCs around the world, Petronas has trading hubs in ,among others, Singapore and the UK.

In the spirit of New Malaysia, Petronas needs to explain why this deal with Vitol is necessary.
END

















Petronas, Vitol Asia inks LNG supply deal

OIL & GAS


Thursday, 29 Nov 20188:05 PM MYT

Saturday, December 29, 2018

AIAC funded by Malaysia,and directors have immunity from prosecution for stealing from it?

by Ganesh Sahathevan

The Edge reported in January 2012:
It has been over 18 months since the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre of Arbitration (KLRCA) had a new director, Sundra Rajoo - a former lawyer, chartered arbitrator, architect and town planner.
We have the full support of the Malaysian government, the legal fraternity and the judiciary, who understand the important role that arbitration can play in the legal system. Their strong support is evidenced by the funding that the government has given us-Professor Dr Sundra Rajoo director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC),as the KLCRA is now known.


The Edge reported in November 2018:
Professor Dr Sundra Rajoo has resigned as director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) following a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation into his alleged misconduct including the use of public funds to influence ministers to get his term extended.

Sundra spent a night at the MACC lock-up but was released yesterday after Putrajaya magistrate Khir Nizam denied the graft busters a seven-day remand application and ruled they had no jurisdiction to detain him as he was protected under the International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1992 (Act 485).
Moreover, his lawyer Philip Koh said he was protected under the Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act 1966. “He is no longer under arrest or remand. The judge agreed that Sundra Rajoo is protected under the International Organisation Act and is not liable for any form of arrest under diplomatic privileges ... he is released without any condition.”

END (but do read on,it gets worse....)



Friday, December 28, 2018

Former AG Apandi Ali's diplomatic immunity may stand in way of any prosecution,investigation

by Ganesh Sahathevan

Bungling AG Gives Away MORE EVIDENCE At Press Conference Meant To Clear Najib!  EXCLUSIVE
Bungling AG Gives Away MORE EVIDENCE At Press
 Conference Meant To Clear Najib:Sarawak Report


There has been  plenty of commentary about the possibility of  former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali being investigated and perhaps charged for his part in the 1MDB theft and cover-up.

However, Apandi was,while AG,also  a director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) and may have had diplomatic immunity for that period of time.The recent decision in the case former AIAC director Professor Dr Sundra Rajoo may well be precedent ,regardless of how wrong that decision appears to be (see article below).
END

Friday, December 28, 2018

Former AG Apandi Ali's diplomatic immunity may stand in way of any prosecution,investigation

by Ganesh Sahathevan

Bungling AG Gives Away MORE EVIDENCE At Press Conference Meant To Clear Najib!  EXCLUSIVE
Bungling AG Gives Away MORE EVIDENCE At Press
 Conference Meant To Clear Najib:Sarawak Report


There has been  plenty of commentary about the possibility of  former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali being investigated and perhaps charged for his part in the 1MDB theft and cover-up.

However, Apandi was,while AG,also  a director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) and may have had diplomatic immunity for that period of time.The recent decision in the case former AIAC director Professor Dr Sundra Rajoo may well be precedent ,regardless of how wrong that decision appears to be (see article below).
END












Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Asian International Arbitration Centre is a Malaysian entity, its directors have no immunity from Malaysian or other laws.

by Ganesh Sahathevan


The Edge reported:
Professor Dr Sundra Rajoo has resigned as director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) following a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation into his alleged misconduct including the use of public funds to influence ministers to get his term extended.
Sundra spent a night at the MACC lock-up but was released yesterday after Putrajaya magistrate Khir Nizam denied the graft busters a seven-day remand application and ruled they had no jurisdiction to detain him as he was protected under the International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1992 (Act 485).
Moreover, his lawyer Philip Koh said he was protected under the Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act 1966. “He is no longer under arrest or remand. The judge agreed that Sundra Rajoo is protected under the International Organisation Act and is not liable for any form of arrest under diplomatic privileges ... he is released without any condition.”
(http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/aiac-director-resigns-over-macc-investigation)

The AIAC however is a local Malaysian creation:
Laws of Malaysia Act 646 
Arbitration Act 2005 
An Act to reform the law relating to domestic arbitration, provide for international arbitration, the recognition and enforcement of awards and for related matters.
According to Section 3(1) of the Arbitration (Amendment) Act 2018 [Act A1563] and the Ministers’ appointment of the date of coming into operation, gazetted on 27th February 2018, the name of Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (the “KLRCA”) was changed to the Asian International Arbitration Centre (Malaysia) (the “AIAC”) starting from 28th February 2018. Any reference to the KLRCA in Arbitration Act 2005 (as amended in 2011) published by the KLRCA, in any written law or in any instrument, deed, title, document, bond, agreement or working arrangement shall, after the 28th February 2018, be construed as a reference to the AIAC. All approvals, directions, notices, guidelines, circulars, guidance notes, practice notes, rulings, decision, notifications, exemptions and other executive acts, howsoever called, given or made by the KLRCA before 28th February 2018, shall continue to remain in full force and effect, until amended, replaced, rescinded or revoked.

As for immunity ,this is all the immunity that its officers have:
48. Immunity of Arbitral Institutions The Director of the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration or any other person or institution designated or requested by the parties to appoint or nominate an arbitrator, shall not be liable for anything done or omitted in the discharge of the function unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith.

The Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act 1966 has no application, and even if  it does it is overruled by the specific  provisions of the later and specific provisions of the 
The good professor and the other directors are not immune from anything.
END

Mr. Vinayak Pradhan

DIRECTOR (ACTING)
Vinayak Pradhan was appointed as Acting Director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) on 21st November 2018. He is a Consultant with SKRINE, an Associate Member of Littleton Chambers, London and is on the panels of Conciliators and Arbitrators of ICSID, a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Vinayak is currently Vice Chair of the ICC Commission on Arbitration.
Vinayak is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration.
View full profile

ADVISORY BOARD

The Advisory Board advises AIAC on its strategic direction in its aim to be the preferred arbitration centre in the Asia Pacific region as well as in positioning Malaysia as an arbitration-friendly destination.
The Chairman of the Advisory Board is by convention the Attorney General of Malaysia.The Board consists of renowned and respected Malaysian and international arbitrators. They are Professor Philip Yang, Honorary Chairman of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre,YBhg Tan Sri Dato' Cecil Abraham, Senior Partner, Cecil Abraham & Partners; Mr Sumeet Kachwaha, Partner, Messrs Kachwaha & Partners, India,Mr Vinayak P Pradhan, Consultant, SKRINE,Professor Robert Volterra, Messrs Volterra Fietta, UK.
Professor Robert Volterra, United Kingdom


Thursday, December 27, 2018

US wants Australia & allies to step up South China Sea patrols-Meanwhile ,Australia considers Malaysia irrelevant for the purpose,and continues to undermine Mahathir

by Ganesh Sahathevan




Mapping world oil transport





The Australian has reported this morning :

The Pentagon’s top Asia official has urged Australia and other US allies to boost their military ­presence in the South China Sea, to send a signal to China that its behaviour in the region is un­acceptable.


Malaysia which encloses part of the South China Sea (SCS) and has control of the Of Malacca which feeds into the SCS has made clear it will not accept Chinese control of the SCS.

Malaysia's recently elected prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has ,despite public pronouncements, always preferred the US presence in the SCS. Malaysia is also a member of the
Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), which Mahathir has never opposed, even at the height of the Buy British Last policy.


Australia is a member of the FPDA but has decided that Malaysia is irrelevant to the defence of SCS. This writer has been told so, by a senior member of the current government who was asked why Australia is not doing more to work with Malaysia in order to counter China's moves in the SCS.

References








Pentagon urges allies to step up South China Sea patrols


EXCLUSIVE
The Pentagon’s top Asia official has urged Australia and other US allies to boost their military ­presence in the South China Sea, to send a signal to China that its behaviour in the region is un­acceptable.
Randy Schriver, the Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Affairs, also warned that China’s interest in the South Pacific region signalled it may have ambitions one day to establish military bases there.
He said the US welcomed the fact Australia had recently stepped up its naval activities in the disputed South China Sea.

READ NEXT

But Australia and other US allie­s could exert even more pressur­e on Beijing if they further lifted their presence in the South China Sea, at a time when the US had stepped up its own naval patro­ls to challenge China’s claims to disputed islands.
“I think what could potentially bring more pressure on the Chin­ese is other partners and allies joining in these activities,” Mr Schriver said in an exclusive intervie­w in Washington.
“If not freedom-of-navigation operations … just joint patrols, presence operations.
“There have been several publi­c accounts of Australian activiti­es in the South China Sea and some of the assertive challenges (to Australia) from China, so I think that is characteristic of what we are seeing from Australia and certainly we welcome that.”
Mr Schriver said any decision to boost military presence in the region was a sovereign one for Australia and the US “feels good” about the way Australia and the US were approaching the challenge in the region.
The US has stepped up its freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea, where Beijing has angered the international community by militarising islands that are also claimed by other region­al countries, as the Trump administration challenges China on a broad front, including a tariff trade war and condemnation of Beijing’s espionage operations against the US and its allies.
In August, a Chinese warship almost collided with a US destroy­er when it challenged it near the disputed Spratly Islands.
An Australian navy warship, HMAS Melbourne, transited the Taiwan Strait in late September — a move that usually displeases Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory.
The Australian understands that more Australian naval transits through the Taiwan Straits are under active consideration.
Although Australia has not joined the US Navy in conducting freedom-of-navigation patrols within the 12-nautical-mile zones of disputed islands in the region, it has stepped up its military activity in the region.
In late February, then defence minister Marise Payne said Aust­ralia had made a “quite significant increase” in its military presence in the South China Sea and elsewhere in the region during the previous 18 months, including exercis­es and port visits with Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and The Philippines.
The moves have angered Beijin­g, which has accused Aust­ralia of acting as Washington’s “assistant police”. China’s military issued “robust’’ challenges in April to three Australian warships­, HMAS Anzac, HMAS Toowoomba and HMAS Success, as they travelled through the South China Sea to Vietnam.
Mr Schriver said other US allie­s, including Britain, France and Canada, had lifted their own military activities in the South China Sea. “We’ve seen a lot more ­activity from other interested ­parties because I think there is recognition that an erosion of international law and norms in the South China Sea has implications globally,” he said.
Mr Schriver said the US and Australia had significantly stepped up co-operation in the South Pacific in the face of China’s attempts to establish closer ties with small island nations. He warned that China’s growing interest in the region could lead to it establishing military bases there.
“We certainly see a lot more investment, in some cases debt financing, (and) they (China) are appointing defence attaches in more of these places so as a minimum they are seeking greater influence,” he said. “They may have ambitions beyond that, for example military access or maybe even military bases.
“(In) my consultations with Australia and New Zealand, all three of our governments are very seized with the need to increase our own engagement and our own investments as a way to prove ourselves a better and reliable partner to these countries.”
Mr Schriver said the rise of China was a generational strategic challenge for the US and Australia.
Cameron Stewart is also US contributor for Sky News Australia
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
Cameron Stewart is an Associate Editor of The Australian who combines investigative reporting on issues of foreign affairs, defence and national security with feature writing on a wide range of topics for the W... 

See also

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Asian International Arbitration Centre is a Malaysian entity, its directors have no immunity from Malaysian or other laws.

by Ganesh Sahathevan


The Edge reported:
Professor Dr Sundra Rajoo has resigned as director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) following a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation into his alleged misconduct including the use of public funds to influence ministers to get his term extended.
Sundra spent a night at the MACC lock-up but was released yesterday after Putrajaya magistrate Khir Nizam denied the graft busters a seven-day remand application and ruled they had no jurisdiction to detain him as he was protected under the International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1992 (Act 485).
Moreover, his lawyer Philip Koh said he was protected under the Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act 1966. “He is no longer under arrest or remand. The judge agreed that Sundra Rajoo is protected under the International Organisation Act and is not liable for any form of arrest under diplomatic privileges ... he is released without any condition.”
(http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/aiac-director-resigns-over-macc-investigation)

The AIAC however is a local Malaysian creation:
Laws of Malaysia Act 646 
Arbitration Act 2005 
An Act to reform the law relating to domestic arbitration, provide for international arbitration, the recognition and enforcement of awards and for related matters.
According to Section 3(1) of the Arbitration (Amendment) Act 2018 [Act A1563] and the Ministers’ appointment of the date of coming into operation, gazetted on 27th February 2018, the name of Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (the “KLRCA”) was changed to the Asian International Arbitration Centre (Malaysia) (the “AIAC”) starting from 28th February 2018. Any reference to the KLRCA in Arbitration Act 2005 (as amended in 2011) published by the KLRCA, in any written law or in any instrument, deed, title, document, bond, agreement or working arrangement shall, after the 28th February 2018, be construed as a reference to the AIAC. All approvals, directions, notices, guidelines, circulars, guidance notes, practice notes, rulings, decision, notifications, exemptions and other executive acts, howsoever called, given or made by the KLRCA before 28th February 2018, shall continue to remain in full force and effect, until amended, replaced, rescinded or revoked.

As for immunity ,this is all the immunity that its officers have:
48. Immunity of Arbitral Institutions The Director of the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration or any other person or institution designated or requested by the parties to appoint or nominate an arbitrator, shall not be liable for anything done or omitted in the discharge of the function unless the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith.

The Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act 1966 has no application, and even if  it does it is overruled by the specific  provisions of the later and specific provisions of the 
The good professor and the other directors are not immune from anything.
END

Mr. Vinayak Pradhan

DIRECTOR (ACTING)
Vinayak Pradhan was appointed as Acting Director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) on 21st November 2018. He is a Consultant with SKRINE, an Associate Member of Littleton Chambers, London and is on the panels of Conciliators and Arbitrators of ICSID, a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Vinayak is currently Vice Chair of the ICC Commission on Arbitration.
Vinayak is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration.
View full profile

ADVISORY BOARD

The Advisory Board advises AIAC on its strategic direction in its aim to be the preferred arbitration centre in the Asia Pacific region as well as in positioning Malaysia as an arbitration-friendly destination.
The Chairman of the Advisory Board is by convention the Attorney General of Malaysia.The Board consists of renowned and respected Malaysian and international arbitrators. They are Professor Philip Yang, Honorary Chairman of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre,YBhg Tan Sri Dato' Cecil Abraham, Senior Partner, Cecil Abraham & Partners; Mr Sumeet Kachwaha, Partner, Messrs Kachwaha & Partners, India,Mr Vinayak P Pradhan, Consultant, SKRINE,Professor Robert Volterra, Messrs Volterra Fietta, UK.
Professor Robert Volterra, United Kingdom


Saturday, December 15, 2018

Predicting Chinese submarine technology using Russian technology as a proxy in a Dempster Shafer framework-Part 2

by Ganesh Sahathevan
Continuation of a compilation of material from open sources.First see:

Predicting Chinese submarine technology using Russian technology as a proxy in a Dempster Shafer framework-Part 1







July 30, 2018  Topic: Security  Region: Asia  Blog Brand: The Buzz 

China Is Studying Russia's Robot Submarines—and Is Building One of Their Own

Chinese naval strategists have watched the development of Russia’s Status-6 large-scale UUV with considerable interest.
These are surely interesting times for those tasked with watching Chinese military modernization. Ideas once considered far-fetched, such as a Chinese aircraft carrier or anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM), now seem rather normal. New and capable Chinese platforms, ranging from the Type 055 cruiser to a highly anticipated next-generation long-range bomber, are certain to have an impact on the balance of power in the western Pacific in the coming decades. Additionally, every few months Beijing seems to roll out a new type of missile, with more and more impressive capabilities.
In this series of articles, your Dragon Eye has tried to keep a focus on developments in the undersea realm, since that is an area of strategic competition where the U.S. competitive edge has seemed to be most secure. Given that assumption, the latest bombshell, appearing in the South China Morning Post on July 23 will be making some waves on the Potomac and well beyond. Relying apparently on an interview with the director of marine technology equipment at the Shenyang Institute of Automation, the article claims that the Chinese Navy is now building “a series of extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles, XLUUVs.”
As that impressively detailed article is in English and readers may peruse it on their own, here we will just briefly review some highlights. The South China Morning Post article uses the term “robotic submarines” or “AI subs,” suggesting that these vessels are indeed substantially larger than the unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) that many nations, including China, are known to have been working on. Among the missions that the new Chinese unmanned submarines will take up include “… reconnaissance … mine placement … [and] even suicide attacks against enemy vessels.” The article mentions that they can set up ambushes for enemy vessels at “geographical chokepoints.” They could “work with manned submarines as a scout or decoy to draw fire and expose the position of an adversary. If necessary, they can ram into a high-value target.” Furthermore, these “giants” will be capable of receiving instructions from ground-based control centers and “will start with relatively simple tasks,” when they are fielded in the early 2020s. Among the most interesting, if ambiguous sentences, in the piece is the statement: “Their energy supply comes from diesel-electric engines or other power sources that ensure continuous operation for months.”
It is perhaps not coincidental that this revelation follows after months of intensive writing in the Chinese defense press about Russia’s “Status-6” large-size UUV that is both nuclear-powered and also apparently armed with a massive nuclear warhead. The intention here is not to suggest that the Chinese and Russian programs are directly related. Indeed, there seem to be rather distinct differences based, at least in part, on their respective goals. Nevertheless, Chinese commentary regarding Russia’s Status-6 [状况-6] could perhaps help to reveal certain “coming attractions” from Beijing’s robotic submarine program.
A brief note in the January 2018 edition of the Chinese Navy magazine Navy Today [当代海军], described Russia’s Status-6 as a “doomsday [世界未日]” weapon. The March 2018 edition of the naval magazineNaval and Merchant Ships [舰船知识] offered a schematic drawing of the Russian weapon for its Chinese readership. Besides citing the weapon’s extraordinary range (10,000km), depth (1,000m) and speed (100 knots), that schematic also notes that the Status-6 carries a nuclear warhead with the explosive power that is “twice the force of the ‘Tsar’ hydrogen bomb [‘沙皇氢弹’ 的两倍],” which was the largest nuclear explosion ever witnessed by humanity. The illustration depicts a Type 09851 Khabarovsk-class (Belgorod) submarine that is configured to carry six of these ominous weapons. Along with the exceedingly debilitating radiation poisoning that would accompany the use of the weapon, the graphic also projects that the weapon is designed to create a “500 meter tsunami [500米海啸]” that would obliterate shore targets, including obviously port cities. Also quite disturbing is a July 2018 note in the Global Times [环球时报] that vividly illustrates with Russian-language diagrams how Status-6 is equally effective against surface ship targets [надводная цель], as against a shore targets [береговая цель], thus forming an “assassin’s mace weapon against aircraft carriers [航母杀手].”
Yet, Chinese defense media did not just start writing about this unique Russian weapon system in 2018. Quite to the contrary, a somewhat detailed analysis already appeared in China Defense Report [中国国防方报] in late 2015. And a rather specific report also appeared in fall 2016 (issue no. 209) in the Chinese magazine Weapon [兵器]. That report had provided a full picture of the development process for the T-5 Soviet nuclear torpedo, including detailed diagrams of test results (not available at link regrettably) and differentiating between various tests undertaken at Novaya Zemlya Island [新地岛] in the fall of 1957. That particular article may imply a very close Chinese study of the Soviet development of naval tactical nuclear weaponry, especially torpedoes.
A more recent and related Chinese-language article from the magazine Ordnance Science and Technology[兵工科技] from spring 2018 (no. 8) also deserves a moment of reflection. The title of that article about Russian UUVs, mini-subs, and torpedoes may indeed convey the trend: "Going toward Nuclear Power [走向核动力]." That article does explain that "given technological breakthroughs in the miniaturization of nuclear reactors over the last few years, that the nuclear propulsion question has not been difficult to resolve [以及近年来在核反应堆小型化技术上的突破核动力技术不难解决]." This analysis appraises the Status-6 and suggests that its speed (reaching 100 knots) is "quite shocking [非常惊人]." The article posits that the most likely explanation is that Status-6 relies on Russia's hyper cavitation drag reduction technology [超空泡减阻技术]. Much of the rest of that article is devoted to explaining the likely significant impact of hyper cavitation technology on the future of naval warfare.
It is unknown whether the Chinese robotic submarines mentioned in the South China Morning Post article will employ either nuclear reactors or hyper cavitation technology. Nor is it clear, as indicated in the introduction, that Beijing and Moscow are cooperating in this ultra-sensitive area of technological development. Although China, like Russia, has been extremely perturbed by U.S. development of missile defenses, there is no direct evidence (as of yet) to suggest that China is seriously considering employing UUVs or robotic submarines as "doomsday devices" in the Russian style. Still, these possibilities cannot be ruled out either. As current American foreign policy appears to apply strategic pressure against both Russia and China simultaneously, there should be no particular surprise in learning that Beijing and Moscow could well be exploring ever greater military synergies, including in the undersea domain.
Lyle J. Goldstein is a research professor in the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) at the United States Naval War College in Newport, RI. In addition to Chinese, he also speaks Russian and he is also an affiliate of the new Russia Maritime Studies Institute (RMSI) at Naval War College. You can reach him at goldstel@usnwc.edu. The opinions in his columns are entirely his own and do not reflect the official assessments of the U.S. Navy or any other agency of the U.S. government.
Image: Russian submarines Rostov-on-Don and Stary Oskol sail during a rehearsal for the Navy Day parade in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, Crimea, July 27, 2017. REUTERS/Pavel Rebrov