South East Asian Navies: Challenges and Priorities

摘要

ASEAN states only allocate limited funding to their naval forces. The result is that in a war these would be one-shot navies, where submarines might be critical. For constabulary tasks though, the navies are steadily improving and they will progres- sively irritate - but not impede - China as it expands its grey zone activities across the South China Sea. Given this, ASEAN states generally support extra-regional navies becoming more active in the South China Sea. The US, India, Japan and Australia now exercise more frequently with ASEAN navies and increasingly send naval task groups through the area. France and Germany are becoming active while the United Kingdom's new carrier, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, will deploy into the region later this year. Even so, ASEAN states will remain careful to placate China. After COVID-19 passes, naval exercises with the PLAN will probably resume while purchasing new ships and weapons from China will continue.