MONDAY PDB – It’s mostly about war – and power – Why is China strengthening its military? It’s not all about war. China’s rapid military modernization has spurred considerable fear that the country could provoke a war with the United States. During his service, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Cameron Holt stated that China was acquiring weapons at “five to six times” the rate of the United States.
AND DESPITE THIS AUTHOR’S VIEWS, WAR OVER TAIWAN IS LIKELY.
THE REST OF ASIA IS PREPARING FOR WAR, TOO. An anxious Asia arms for a war it hopes to prevent. Doubts about both China and the U.S. are driving an arms race in the Indo-Pacific with echoes of World War II and new levels of risk.
This growing military and economic power is also the backbone of China’s diplomatic rise. PODCAST – China’s diplomatic ascent: Key observations. John “Slick” Baum talks with China expert Daniel Rice about how the Asian superpower is gaining increased influence around the globe.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is barely playing catchup as Pacific forces wish list seeks $3.5 billion more than Biden budget. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is asking Congress for a $3.5 billion over the president’s budget request as it seeks to bolster its presence in the region to deter China.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of other developing stories.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
The cost to rename 9 Confederacy-honoring Army bases has doubled, an Army official told lawmakers Thursday.
NATIONAL SECURITY
EUROPE NEEDS TO STEP UP – AND BIDEN NEEDS TO PUSH THEM TO DO IT – Ukraine smolders as Europe comes slowly awake. A pair of news items last week encapsulate what Europe is doing, and failing to do, to provide for Ukraine’s defense — and for its own.
The melting Arctic gets a US ambassador and an influx of military cash. As the Arctic warms, the Pentagon is expanding its mission to meet a new territorial conflict.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Putin taking Belarus as ‘nuclear hostage,’ Ukraine official says. Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 397. After Putin announced the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to ally Belarus, Ukraine has called for an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council to “take decisive measures” to prevent Russia’s use of nuclear weapons.
Ukraine offensive takes shape, with big unknowns. The outlines of Ukraine’s planned counteroffensive against the Russian invasion are beginning to emerge, after months of weapons deliveries from the West.
Watch Ukraine use Soviet-era helicopters in fight against Russia. Skimming the treetops, three Soviet-era attack helicopters bank and swoop down on a field after an early-morning mission to the front lines in the fight against Russia’s invaders.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
Makin Island ARG docks in Busan, 3 LCS now underway in Indo-PACOM. The Makin Island Amphibious Group (ARG) docked at the port of Busan in the Republic of Korea (ROK) as part of the U.S.-ROK Exercise SsangYong this week.
North Korea launches at least two unidentified short-range ballistic missiles into waters off eastern Korean peninsula. They are the latest in series of missile firings as South Korean and U.S. forces engage in their largest military exercises since 2017.
US troops test THAAD missile-defense system’s remote control during South Korea drill. They fired their top-shelf missile-defense system for the first time during a large-scale military exercise, according to U.S. Forces Korea.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Al Qaeda closes in on a stalwart US ally in Africa. In a city in Ghana, a fight between ethnic groups is the kind of bitter local dispute Islamist militants often exploit.
House Democrat says US troops ‘have to stay in northern Syria’ in wake of Iranian-backed attacks. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) said on Sunday that the U.S. military will not leave Syria after a string of attacks from Iran-backed militias on American bases in the country last week left one U.S. contractor dead and five service members wounded, saying “we’re not going anywhere.”
A look at the US military mission in Syria and its dangers. American troops have been in Syria since 2015.
Marine rotational force returns to Australia for its 12th training season. U.S. Marines have boots on the ground in northern Australia again to begin a seven-month training rotation.
Netanyahu fires defense minister who urged a halt to overhaul of Israel’s judiciary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister on Sunday, a day after the former army general called for a halt to the planned overhaul of Israel’s judiciary that has fiercely divided the country.
SPACE THREAT
Air Force CROWS wants to expand cyber defenses within Space Force. The office focused on making sure aircraft and weapon systems are hardened against cyber intrusions, wants to expand its reach within the Space Force.
Space Force asks Congress for classified funding boost in wish list. The mostly classified fiscal 2024 wish list includes $434 million for six unnamed programs.
US MILITARY
OOPS! – Army pulls ‘Be All You Can Be’ ads after on-screen narrator arrested. Actor Jonathan Majors’ arrest for alleged assault, strangulation and harassment derailed the Army’s rebrand project.
Air Force conducts hypersonic test, but full results are unclear. It revealed it conducted a test launch of its hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, earlier this month, but didn’t say if the test was a success.
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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China wants war since 1953 after Korean War
We adults ahve known this scam was going on long ago. Thanks general for trying to wake up the children.
US plays catch up?
How about to little too late.
Biden/Milley lost control of billions in Assets in Afghanistan and now can’t account for deployment and assets in the Ukraine (being sold on the back market)
And now these “Woke Wastes of Life” are going to catch up to China which now has a larger navy than America…
It’s called too little to late.