(Non-Russia) PDB – NYT Blames International Trucker Protests on US ‘Disinformation’ and China Claims US Creating Panic Over Russia Aggression

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Today's PDB includes a variety of critical, global national security issues.

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READ TODAY'S PDB BELOW:

NATIONAL SECURITY 

BLAMING GLOBAL FREEDOM MOVEMENT ON US ‘DISINFORMATION? SERIOUSLY? – New Zealand protest, an echo of Canada's, digs in and turns ugly. An occupation in the capital demonstrates the dangerous influence that American disinformation is having on otherwise stable democracies.

Are we ready for war in the infosphere? How can the U.S. and rule-of-law democracies counter increasingly sophisticated and weaponized disinformation? How should they wage “information warfare” during a period of putative peace? Can rule-of-law democracies compete successfully against those hyper empowered by technology?

CHINA THREAT 

China says US creating ‘fear and panic' over Russia's attack on Ukraine. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China is opposed to new unilateral sanctions imposed on Russia, reiterating a longstanding Chinese position. 

China says Taiwan is ‘not Ukraine' as the island raises alert levels. Taiwan is “not Ukraine” and has always been an inalienable part of China, China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday, as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called for the island to beef up vigilance on military activities in response to the crisis. 

Australia accuses China of using ‘military grade' lasers against P-8A aircraft. Australia's Defense Department said the incident happened after a pair of Chinese military vessels were encountered in the Makassar Strait on Feb. 11 by a Royal Australian Navy frigate and then again in the Arafura Sea by a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A on Feb. 12. 

COPY CAT – China sanctions Raytheon, Lockheed over Taiwan deal. China said Monday it will impose new sanctions on U.S. defense contractors Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin due to their arms sales to Taiwan, stepping up a feud with Washington over security and Beijing's strategic ambitions.

HOMELAND SECURITY 

Pentagon approves National Guard assistance for DC truck convoys. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved requests for National Guard assistance with traffic flow in the nation's capital, in the face of planned protests against pandemic restrictions beginning next week. 

BECAUSE IT WAS A RIOT NOT INSURRECTION – Military is ‘no place for extremism,' says Guard leader. But he's powerless to boot Capitol rioters. Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard, said Tuesday that taking part in the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, was antithetical to the Army's values and there's no room for those soldiers who participated to continue their service. 

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

US Navy plans launch of Mideast drone force alongside allies. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said he hopes the drone force using artificial intelligence would be operational by the summer of 2023 to put more “eyes and ears on the water.”

Israel successfully tests naval version of Iron Dome. Israel on Monday said it successfully tested a new naval air defense system, intercepting a series of threats in what officials called a key layer of protection against Iran and its proxies in the region. 

IRAN THREAT

To stop Iran's proxy terrorists, stop Iran. Recognizing that Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis have the same benefactor and share many of the same goals, methods, and weapons is an essential prerequisite for developing a more cooperative and effective regional response. 

Iran appears ready to swap prisoners with US; nuclear deal near. Talks on restoring a deal to curb Iran's nuclear program and ease sanctions are near conclusion, a Russian envoy said on Tuesday, and sources close to the negotiations said a prisoner swap between Iran and the United States is expected soon.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

S Korea test-fires missile interceptor a month after N Korea launches. South Korea on Wednesday test-fired a long-range surface-to-air missile, Yonhap news agency reported, a month after North Korea tested a record number of increasingly powerful missiles potentially capable of evading defenses in the South. 

MILITARY AND SPACE

New ‘vision' document combines space activities of US military, 6 countries. The United States, citing “the increasingly comprehensive and aggressive counter space programs of other nations,” alongside six partner nations, has released a vision for future space operations focused on interoperability and responsible use of the space domain.

END of PDB

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