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Post by No longer identifiable on Jun 9, 2018 17:02:15 GMT 12
A Peoples Liberation Army Air Force Ilyushin 76 has landed at Whenuapai to take part in Exercise Skytrain 18 with NZ defense forces. I had a good look at it soon after it landed and by the number of Chinese personnel milling around it I would guess they brought over at least 2 crews, perhaps even more. Worth a look if you're in the area, but it's parked around the back of the hangars beyond the Orions.
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Post by saratoga on Jun 9, 2018 17:14:19 GMT 12
Defence
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Post by mcmaster on Jun 9, 2018 20:30:36 GMT 12
Thats curious, google that exercise and its all over Chinese media but strangely quiet at the NZ end.
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Post by No longer identifiable on Jun 9, 2018 20:52:24 GMT 12
Arrrrrghhhh! I bloody wrote "defence" initially and then remembered a recent post where someone got it wrong, so I changed it. Bugger - should have checked, thanks. |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Jun 9, 2018 20:57:35 GMT 12
Will this strengthen the NZ/China political relationship criticisms? Specifically regarding USA defence concerns
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 9, 2018 21:36:16 GMT 12
"RNZAF Base Auckland is hosting EX SKYTRAIN 09-22 June and will be hosting the PLAAF
(Chinese Air Force). This will have two impacts for our club:
1. A NOTAM is being raised to close the following airfield services for the period 090001Z-
220001Z JUN18
a. TWY H
b. RWY 08/26
c. RWY 08/26 GRASS
2. The Base’s guests will be offered the use of the Power Section buildings as a base of
operations while they are here. We will still have access to the club over the weekends
in this period, but we have been asked to minimise our use of the buildings,
particularly 13-15 and 18-19 June. Depending on maintenance requirements, the
buildings may be in use outside of these windows."
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jun 10, 2018 9:07:25 GMT 12
I hope they have the P-3s well secured! I'm really surprised that we would allow them onto Whenuapai. A very silly move in my opinion and one I'm sure the US and Australia won't be too happy about. I bet there will be plenty of intelligence gathering specialists amongst the "crew"!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 10, 2018 9:29:38 GMT 12
It's OK Don, Jacinda said there are no Chinese spies in New Zealand.
I guess they are not 'spies' if you give them full access.
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Post by saratoga on Jun 10, 2018 10:28:05 GMT 12
Probably a Chinese state sponsored airlift for the 200 'workers' 'required' to build that Chinese hotel in Auckland.
Maybe we could resurrect the transport replacement thread an throw the Il76 in the mix...
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 10, 2018 10:56:05 GMT 12
NO!!
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Post by mcmaster on Jun 10, 2018 13:32:52 GMT 12
Aside from the security concerns above the optics are not ideal with China uninvited to RIMPAC but doing this ex with the RNZAF alone.
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skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 83 
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Post by skyman on Jun 10, 2018 14:34:20 GMT 12
To allow the PLAAF to take part in the exercise is a bad move by the Minister of Defence and not a good look for New Zealand. It will not go down well with our allies, especially not with four of the Five Eyes countries.
Al.
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Post by harvard1041 on Jun 10, 2018 15:03:42 GMT 12
Bl-00-dy nuts letting / inviting the Chinese to an RNZAF exercise ... positively weird & naive. What next, training on the updated P-3 .... ? Here in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a few days ....and the Vietnamese here have a more balanced view of their neighbors intentions.... some street protests downtown as people express their opinion of letting their Govt get too close to the Chinese (that would be ordinary Vietnamese citizens protesting against the Communist VN Govt granting Special Economic Status to the Chinese in three VN cities) www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2149785/vietnamese-see-special-economic-zones-assault-chinaCheers Hvd1041 |
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Post by McFly on Jun 10, 2018 16:06:08 GMT 12
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Post by saratoga on Jun 10, 2018 16:21:16 GMT 12
I believe a recent ex in Australia had Chinese combat aircraft participation.
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Post by mcmaster on Jun 10, 2018 19:22:36 GMT 12
I believe a recent ex in Australia had Chinese combat aircraft participation. Keen to hear more about this recent ex ... |
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Post by madmax on Jun 10, 2018 19:30:38 GMT 12
Don't know anything about that one and by the way the present Aussie govt is reacting to interference in its universities, news media and up-coming by-elections it seems doubtful to me.
New tough anti-spying laws were passed in parliament there only a week or so ago after ASIO warned about unprecedented spy activity
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Post by beagle on Jun 10, 2018 20:04:15 GMT 12
Wonder how close S&S can get to it to zap it
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Post by nige on Jun 10, 2018 20:05:14 GMT 12
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Post by ErrolC on Jun 10, 2018 22:09:13 GMT 12
To allow the PLAAF to take part in the exercise is a bad move by the Minister of Defence and not a good look for New Zealand. It will not go down well with our allies, especially not with four of the Five Eyes countries. Al. Well the Aussies can't be that upset, they let it transit through Cairns. mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2018/06/highlight-of-2018.html |
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