MONDAY PDB – The fallout from the Taiwanese president's visit with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy continues, as China uses any excuse to justify its belligerent path. And that path includes squeezing Taiwan militarily, using intimidation and gray zone warfare.
The path also includes beefing up its already massive armed forces – the People's Liberation Army (PLA) for the bigger fight against the U.S.
CHINESE COVER STORY TO CONTROL THE VITAL WATERWAY – China warns of rocket debris in area northeast of Taiwan. China's local maritime authorities have issued a warning for possible rocket debris in waters northeast of Taiwan, saying ships would be banned from entering the area on April 16.
CHINA RAMPING UP ‘WARTIME” MILITARY RECRUITING – China rolls out fresh wartime recruitment rules, with veterans a priority. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, especially in the Taiwan Strait, Beijing expands wartime military draft to include veterans and college students.
It is unclear how many fighting-age men China's latest policy changes would add to its more than 2 million-strong PLA ranks.
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:
NATIONAL SECURITY
A reorganizational road map for DoD to deter China, win in Ukraine. The U.S. is supporting a proxy war with Russia while attempting to deter a China cross-strait invasion of Taiwan.
China defense minister to meet Russian counterpart in Moscow. Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu will meet with Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu and other military officials.
HOMELAND SECURITY
CLOSING BARN DOOR AFTER HORSES GOT OUT – Deputy defense secretary to troops: Don't share classified information. A memo reminding the force of their classified information responsibilities was sent out Wednesday by Kathleen Hicks.
IF HE TALKED ABOUT HIM/HER PRONOUNDS, SATANISM AND TRANS RIGHTS, THE NEWS MEDIA WOULD IGNORE – Guardsman suspected in leak probe talked of God, guns and war secrets. Jack Teixeira, who served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested Thursday in connection with the leak investigation.
CHINA THREAT
HOW DO YOU SAY LIAR IN MANDARIN? – China vows not to sell arms to any party in Ukraine war. China won't sell weapons to either side in the war in Ukraine, the country's foreign minister said Friday.
See US, Philippines stage Balikatan military exercise. U.S. and Filipino forces have blasted vehicles with anti-tank missiles in combat-readiness drills in the Philippines that are part of a show of American firepower that has alarmed China.
AS I REPORTED LAST WEEK – Taiwanese Air Force pilot's ‘Winnie the Pooh patch' causes international controversy. Punching a Pooh bear causes a stir.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
US's gloominess on the war in Ukraine is now clear to see. For months, U.S. officials have privately conveyed their concerns over the course of the war in Ukraine.
US, Ukraine say many war secrets safe from intel leaks. Ukraine's leaders say they don't see a major U.S. intelligence leak as gravely damaging future offensives.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 415. Kyiv and Moscow announced separate investigations into a disturbing video showing the alleged beheading of a Ukrainian soldier and believed to have been filmed by Wagner Group mercenaries from Russia.
Russia jams US GPS-guided weapons given to Ukraine. GPS provides US military with a great advantage, but it can be taken away.
Russia races to pass tough new military draft rules, banning conscripts from leaving. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is expected to sign a new law that cracks down on draft dodging.
Biden Must Resist Calls to Send Cluster Munitions to Ukraine. Transferring the weapons may bring tactical benefits but would be a strategic disaster. Designed to blanket an area with “bomblets” that disperse in midair, these unguided munitions, that often fail to detonate immediately, pose a unique threat to civilians.
Russia's Pacific Fleet put on high alert for snap drills. Entire Russian Pacific Fleet was put on high alert on Friday for snap drills that will involve practice missile launches in a massive show of force in the Far East.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
North Korea tested new solid-fuel long-range missile. It successfully test-launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile powered by solid propellants.
SPACE THREAT
Saltzman: Space Force has to better define relationship with commercial industry. More work needed to ‘clearly identify the various ways that commercial capabilities, like Elon Musk's SPACE-X, can augment.'
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Imran Khan Fights the Army for Control of Nuclear-Armed Pakistan. The stability of Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 230 million, rests on an election duel between the country's most popular politician and the head of its most powerful institution.
In historic first, USAF deploys B-1 bombers to India for exercise. A pair of B-1B Lancers from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., will participate in a joint exercise with the Indian Air Force this week—the first time the BONE has participated in an exercise there.
Iran and Nicaragua discussed military cooperation, leaked report says. The two rogue states are in cahoots to bolster their military cooperation to undermine American influence in Latin America, according to electronic intelligence intercepts apparently gathered by the CIA.
US MILITARY
Army short-range air defense laser prototypes take down drones at Yuma. Downed drones littered the battlefield at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a live-fire test of the Stryker-based Short-Range Air Defense system prototypes with 50-kilowatt lasers.
Navy begins long haul to inactivate second nuclear-powered carrier Nimitz. Meanwhile, the decommissioned Enterprise remains at Newport News Shipbuilding awaiting its final disposal.
Army picked pricier Black Hawk replacement over ‘unacceptable' losing bid, GAO says. It found Sikorsky-Boeing's offering too vague.
Marine Corps is standing up its second F-35C squadron in California. It is slated to activate its second F-35C Lightning II fighter jet squadron during a ceremony Friday at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
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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Biden does Zero
Let’s see: it’s Iran, China, N. Korea, Russia and possibly India vs. the Woke U.S. forces, wearing pastel camouflage uniforms. One-half of the world’s population vs. the sissy Biden U.S.
And sissy Biden is on their side, not on our side.