US And Philippines Marines Join Forces To Defend Against China

MONDAY PDB – Latest flashpoint for war – US and Philippine Marines practice defending island as defense chiefs meet. They practiced their defense of a beach Thursday on the island of Palawan, close to disputed sea territory where Philippine and Chinese vessels have clashed in recent weeks.

Members of Marine Rotational Force–Southeast Asia are taking part in the annual Kamandag exercise involving 2,000 troops, mostly from the two countries, that concludes Monday after 12 days on Palawan and the Philippines’ main island of Luzon.

The exercise takes place during a period of increased tension between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea. In recent months, Chinese coast guard and maritime militia have tried unsuccessfully to block Philippine vessels resupplying the BRP Sierra Madre. The grounded World War II-era vessel serves as a territorial outpost at Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

While Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met Wednesday in San Francisco, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, got together in Jakarta. The defense leaders “denounced the recent harassment” of Philippine coast guard and supply boats by China’s coast guard around the shoal, part of the Spratly Islands.

The shoal, claimed by both China and the Philippines, is 710 miles from China’s Hainan Island but 122 miles from Palawan.

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:

ISRAEL’S WAR AGAINST HAMAS TERROR

Heavy fighting erupts around Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital. The new battles in northern Gaza come as hopes for a hostage deal are growing. The reports from the Indonesian Hospital come after weeks of focus on Gaza’s main medical facility, Al-Shifa. Israel released videos that it said showed Hamas hostages and a tunnel at Al-Shifa.

POLITICS

JUST CALL IT THANKSGIVING! – Bidens start ‘Friendsgiving’ by having dinner with service members. Joe Biden is set to visit naval installations in Virginia for an early kickoff to the Thanksgiving holiday week.

CHINA THREAT

US to deploy new land-based missiles, Army’s Pacific commander says. Gen. Flynn says China’s rapidly advancing military is on a dangerous trajectory.

China, Pakistan wrap up naval drill featuring sub, high-tech destroyer. China and Pakistan on Friday wrapped up their largest bilateral naval exercise to date, marking the first time Pakistan hosted such an advanced Chinese destroyer for training.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

U.S. Defense Secretary Visits Ukraine in Show of Support. Lloyd J. Austin III’s trip was a gesture of solidarity when progress in the war against Russia has stalled and there are concerns about U.S. military aid.

Netherlands budgets $2.2 billion in military aid for Ukraine. It is making the funds available to Ukraine in 2024.

Ukraine’s artillery supply declines as shells go to Israel. The embattled Eastern European nation’s 155mm deliveries are drying up, even as Russia presses an assault in the east.

IRAN THREAT

US sanctions Iran-backed militia members attacking US forces. Six people affiliated with the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataeb Hezbollah were sanctioned.

NOT ‘BALANCE’ BUT WEAKNESS – How the US strikes a balance in responding to attacks on its forces. Iranian-backed militants have launched 61 attacks on bases and facilities housing U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17.

MILITARY NOT HAPPY WITH BIDEN ON THIS – A split emerges as Biden struggles to deter attacks on US troops. Frustration is building within the Defense Department over the surge in Iranian proxy attacks on American military positions.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

USS Ronald Reagan wraps what may be its final patrol from Japan before carrier swap. The USS Ronald Reagan steamed into Tokyo Bay on Sunday morning, in time for Thanksgiving, concluding what may be the ship’s final deployment from Japan.

NATO to buy 6 Boeing Wedgetails to update surveillance capability. NATO has opted for the E-7A Wedgetail surveillance planes built by U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing as the 31-nation military alliance looks to update its eyes in the sky.

Missile-defense platform shows warming relations between Japan, S. Korea. By December, INDOPACOM aims to roll out a trilateral data-sharing system prescribed in a May agreement.

US MILITARY

Airmen who saved lives after Kabul bombing awarded Bronze Stars. When a suicide bomber wormed their way into the desperate crowd outside the Kabul airport in August 2021, killing 13 American troops and wounding dozens of Afghan civilians, two airmen knew they had no time to lose to keep the death toll from growing.

Amid recruiting woes, Army sent letters to soldiers separated for vaccine refusal. The Army separated 1,903 active-duty soldiers for COVID-19 vaccine refusal. Letters were sent to approximately 1,900.

New Air Force chief of staff vows faster, more nimble service as he officially takes command. The Air Force is going to have to move faster if it’s going to keep up with rapidly developing threats and challenges, the service’s 23rd chief of staff, Gen. David W. Allvin, said Friday.

Yes, the Army and Marines are at Anime NYC. The Marine Corps has set up a “battle dome” at the anime convention.

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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