THURSDAY PDB – Testing Biden – ‘Only pirates do this': Philippines accuses China of using bladed weapons in major South China Sea escalation. The Philippines, a staunch U.S. ally, has accused China's Coast Guard of launching a “brutal assault” with bladed weapons during a South China Sea clash earlier this week.
MEANWHILE – China Deploys New Amphibious Warship Near the Philippines. It is operating near a disputed South China Sea feature that has been the site of a standoff between Chinese and Philippine Coast Guards.
An unidentified People's Liberation Army Navy Type 075-class landing helicopter dock was first seen by a ship spotter in satellite photos in the South China Sea on June 12.
On Friday, the 36,000-ton warship stopped near Subi Reef, a reclaimed feature that now hosts a Chinese military base. By Sunday, the amphib was spotted near Sabina Shoal.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? – China is inching closer to acts of war in the seas near the Philippines, according to experts, who say Beijing's amplified hostile moves may soon cross red lines that could force the treaty-bound United States to intervene and defend the Asian nation.
China attacks on Philippine boats are to provoke US, prep for Taiwan war, experts warn.
“The Chinese are intentionally taunting the Philippines… which Beijing needs to justify an escalation,” says Andrew J. Masigan, a Philippine Star columnist and special consultant to the Middle East Media Research Institute's (MEMRI) Chinese Media Studies project.
“Every time the Philippines makes a move, China escalates… for instance, when the Philippines adds two Coast Guard vessels, the Chinese will add six.”
But Masigan says his nation will not “fall into this Chinese trap,” and will continue to follow international law while working to strengthen the U.S.-Australia-Philippines-Japan alliance and increase cooperation with Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here's a roundup of today's other top defense stories from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President's Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
BULLS**T – The military was combating racism — then Congress stepped in. The U.S. military will continue to dwindle in size and diminish in quality if it does not fix its racism problem. WOKENESS IS KILLING RECRUITMENT NOT RACISM.
POLITICS
GO FIGURE – Poll: Majority of Americans support preserving Confederate history. A slim majority of Americans (52%) support efforts to preserve the legacy and history of the Confederacy, while 44% oppose such efforts.
ISRAEL WAR AGAINST TERROR
Leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah terror group warns archenemy Israel against wider war. Lebanon's Hezbollah has new weapons and intelligence capabilities that could help it target more critical positions deeper inside Israel in case of an all-out war.
Israel's air defense caught off guard by Hezbollah's low-tech drones. As Hezbollah uncrewed aircraft hit military sites and homes, they are resurfacing debates over Israel's decade-old air defense system, which many worry provides an imperfect shield.
US POWER OVERSEAS
BIDEN BOONDOGGLE – US humanitarian pier re-anchored to the coast of Gaza. This, less than a week after detaching it ahead of high seas.
US strike in Syria kills senior ISIS official.
Carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) arrives in Guam after Valiant Shield exercise. This, as the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet began drills with the joint command of troops and forces in the north-east of the Russian Federation.
A look at where the Navy's 11 nuke-powered aircraft carriers are now. Generally, they are getting ready to deploy, are deployed or have come off deployment and have gone in for maintenance and repairs.
CHINA THREAT
China's Xi says army faces ‘deep-seated' problems in anti-corruption drive. This, in the Chinese military's politics, ideology, work style and discipline.
Chinese military's rifle-toting robot dogs raise concerns in Congress. It is worried that robot dogs with machine guns will be bounding onto the battlefield in the near future.
IRAN THREAT
BIDEN FAILURE – Iran signals a major boost in nuclear program at key site. A major expansion underway inside Iran's most heavily protected nuclear facility could soon triple the site's production of enriched uranium and give Tehran new options for quickly assembling a nuclear arsenal.
Canada lists Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist group. This, after years of pressure from opposition legislators and some members of the Iranian diaspora.
A US carrier has repelled Iran-backed Houthi attacks for months. Will it hold up? The combat markings emblazoned on the F/A-18 fighter jet tell the story: 15 missiles and six drones, painted in black just below the cockpit windshield.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
RIGGED – US soldier convicted of theft in Russia sentenced to nearly 4 years. A ‘court' in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok on Wednesday convicted a visiting American soldier of stealing and making threats of murder, and it sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison.
As Whelan marks 2,000 days in Russian custody, family blames Biden team's ‘false promises.' Ex-Marine Paul Whelan's a grim milestone comes as his family criticizes the Biden administration for “false hopes” that they would soon secure his release.
Putin in Vietnam calls for strengthening “strategic partnership.” Vladimir Putin said during a state visit to Vietnam on Thursday that strengthening strategic ties is “one of his priorities” as he continued a swing through Asia seen as a show of defiance.
Ukraine open to inviting Russia to attend next peace summit, adviser says.
Ukrainian units want sneakier battlefield e-scooters, Latvian firm says. The scooters have received “very positive feedback” from soldiers who are using them for “combat tasks.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Japan, New Zealand agree on intel sharing pact amid growing regional security concerns. This, as their leaders shared concerns over the increasingly challenging security environment in the region, including closer ties between Russia and North Korea.
Far-right leader Bardella backpedals on taking France out of NATO strategic military command. Bardella is angling to become prime minister after France's upcoming parliamentary election.
Somalia asks peacekeepers to slow withdrawal, fears Islamist resurgence. This, as neighboring countries fretting that resurgent al Shabaab militants could seize power.
Islamist Jihadists from Africa's Sahel have crossed into Nigeria's north — a lot is at stake. This, after crossing from neighboring Benin – the latest trend in the militants' movements to wealthier West African coastal nations.
A massacre threatens Darfur — again. A civil war is ripping apart Sudan, one of Africa's largest countries.
Sudan accuses UAE of fueling war with weapons to paramilitary rivals — UAE calls claim ‘ludicrous.'
Surging gang violence in Haiti has displaced nearly 580,000 people, new UN reports says. This is a sobering figure that underscores the magnitude of the Caribbean nation's crisis.
Small drones will soon lose combat advantage, French Army chief says. The advantage now enjoyed by small aerial drones on battlefields including in Ukraine is but “a moment in history.”
US MILITARY
Massive underwater drone skates off California coast. An animal-like uncrewed underwater vehicle dubbed Manta Ray can be seen maneuvering off the California coast in new footage.
B-52 bomber crews could get more comfortable under House legislation. The Air Force's strategic stalwart may finally see its onboard amenities revamped.
END of PDB
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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