Courcy’s Intelligence Brief

*** Israeli space fears.  Brigadier-General Hayim Eshed, who founded Israel’s Defence Ministry Space Division 30 years ago, stepped down last week.  On retiring he issued a warning about Israel being in danger of losing its qualitative edge in space.  Eshed said: “Today, we have a qualitative edge over the rest of the region and parts of the world in certain space capabilities, some of which other countries are trying to copy.  If, however, we do not increase our investments in the next two years we stand the risk of losing our edge”.  Eshed said the government had refused to release funds pledged last year and intended to turn Israel into a space superpower.

*** India worries about Chinese projects in Pakistani Kashmir.  On 5 September, India’s Defence Minister AK Antony voiced fears about China’s activities in Paksitani-occupied Kashmir (PoK).  He told parliament: “The government is aware that China is undertaking infrastructure projects in PoK.  We have conveyed our concerns to China about their activities in PoK and asked them to cease such activities.”
Antony compared China’s projects in PoK with similar infrastructural developments in Tibet.  He said: “China is carrying out construction of strategic roads, railway lines, and airfields close to the LAC, which has improved its military capability.”

The defence minister added: “Necessary steps have been initiated for ensuring that national security concerns are adequately addressed through development of infrastructure, including rail, roads, and forward airfields, as well as operational capabilities of the armed forces to secure desired national security objectives.”

*** New Japanese foreign minister begins with a warning on China.  On 3 September, Japan’s new Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba expressed concern about China’s activities in the East and South China Seas.  He said: “We all know that China’s maritime expansion is becoming visible.  It is important to ask China to improve transparency.”

Interestingly, while Gemba said that the US would remain at the core of Japan’s defence policy, among the countries he listed for better relations was Russia.

Analysts have long thought that Russia and Japan would make natural allies, but progress in this direction has always been stymied by the ongoing dispute over the Kurile Islands, seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II.  The other country Gemba specifically mentioned for improved ties was South Korea.
Before becoming foreign minister, Gemba was national strategy minister.