Pallets holding munitions are transported off an aircraft cargo loader into a Boeing 747 at Travis Air Force Base, California, on April 26, 2022. US Air Force Photo
The United States has “been unmistakably clear” in warning China against providing Russia with lethal weapons in its war with Ukraine, the American ambassador to Beijing said Tuesday.
“What we need to see from China is to push Russia to remove its troops” from Ukraine and put an end to the Kremlin’s missile and drone attacks on...
BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4402)
A People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette challenged two Philippine Coast Guard cutters during a patrol in the South China Sea, according to officials in Manilla.
The Philippine Coast Guard ships also reported aggressive maneuvers by China Coast Guard vessels, in addition to identifying over 100 Chinese Maritime Militia ships operating in the area of its patrol, according to the release.
PCG patrol vessels BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4402) and BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4403) patrolled...
The following is the Jan. 23, 2023, Congressional Research Service In Focus report, Chinese Nuclear and Missile Proliferation.
From the report
The U.S. government has continued to express concerns about China’s record concerning the proliferation of nuclear- and missile-related technologies to other countries, with more recent focus on the threat of Chinese acquisition of U.S.-origin nuclear technology. (See CRS In Focus IF11050, New U.S. Policy Regarding Nuclear Exports to China, by Paul K. Kerr...
https://news.usni.org/2023/01/24/report-to-congress-on-chinese-nuclear-and-missile-proliferation
Taiwanese Marines on Jan. 11, 2023. Taiwan Ministry of National Defense Photo
A senior Republican on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence questioned several allies’ willingness to come to Taiwan’s aid if China invaded the island.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Monday at the American Enterprise Institute that debating if the United States should drop its strategic ambiguity stance if the island democracy was attacked is a “moot point.” While Chinese President Xi Jinping expects the U.S....
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Saturday for more effort and unity as the country enters a “new phase” in its approach to combating the pandemic, in his first comments addressed to the public on COVID-19 since his government changed course three weeks ago and relaxed its rigorous policy of lockdowns and mass testing, reports the Guardian.
Xi Jinping urges unityIn a televised speech to mark the New Year, Xi said China had...
https://mfame.guru/xi-calls-for-unity-as-china-enters-new-phase-of-covid-policy/
Taiwan’s indigenous fighter. CNA Photo
The U.S. military must be able to deter China from taking over Taiwan by force, a provision in the compromise Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act stipulates.
In accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. must “maintain the ability of the United States Armed Forces to deny a fait accompli against Taiwan in order to deter the People’s Republic of China from using military force to unilaterally change the status quo with Taiwan,”...
The following is the Nov. 25, report from the Japanese National Institute For Defense Studies, China Security Report 2023: China’s Quest for Control of the Cognitive Domain and Gray Zone Situations.
From the report
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the Party’s army. It follows the Party’s command and defines its most important role as protecting the Party’s regime. Until President Xi Jinping’s military reforms, the Party exercised control over the military mainly through the PLA’s political...
https://news.usni.org/2022/11/27/japanese-mod-report-on-chinese-gray-zone-influence-operations
Taiwan’s indigenous fighter. CNA Photo
The U.S. needs to show Beijing that it can stop China if Chinese President Xi Jinping were to risk a cross-strait invasion to bring Taiwan under Chinese control, a congressman involved with military innovation this week.
The United States must realize that it cannot rely on the Taiwanese people to be the only fighters, as is the case in Ukraine, if China invades Taiwan, Rep. Seth Moulton, (D-Mass.) and co-chair of the congressional Future Defense Task Force,...
https://news.usni.org/2022/11/23/u-s-needs-to-demonstrate-ability-to-assist-taiwan-congressman-says
Xi Jinping President of the People’s Republic of China speak’s at a United Nations Office at Geneva on Jan. 18, 2017. UN Photo
Washington should pay attention to Xi Jinping’s rhetoric when he talks about invading Taiwan, an Indo-Pacific security expert said last week.
Xi “has a very deliberate timeline” on resolving the Taiwan issue, said John Hemmings, a senior director at the Hawaii-based Pacific Forum, speaking at a Hudson Institute online event.
Hemmings added that there is a danger in...
Chinese DF-41 missiles in 2020.
As China builds up its nuclear weapons arsenal and expands its conventional military forces, United States allies in the Pacific are asking Washington for an extended deterrence alliance in the region, three security experts said Wednesday.
Toshi Yoshihara, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic Budgetary Assessment, said China has played up the idea that extended deterrence “tends to be very fragile” when a crisis arises. Beijing believes it could split...