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06 Jan 24. Taiwan slams Chinese balloons as safety threat, psychological warfare. Taiwan’s defence ministry accused China on Saturday of threatening aviation safety and waging psychological warfare on the island’s people with a recent spate of balloons spotted near or over the island, days before key Taiwanese elections.
The potential for China to use balloons for spying became a global issue in February when the United States shot down what it said was a Chinese surveillance balloon. China said the balloon was a civilian craft that accidentally drifted astray.
Taiwan is on high alert for Chinese military and political activity ahead of the Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections. It says China is exerting military and economic pressure in an attempt to interfere in the elections.
China views the island as its own territory, a claim Taiwan’s government rejects.
Since last month Taiwan’s defence ministry has reported several instances of Chinese balloons flying over the sensitive Taiwan Strait. It said this week some balloons had flown over Taiwan island near major air bases.
In a statement on Saturday, the ministry said the balloons were a “serious threat” to international aviation safety given their flight paths.
“We also express our condemnation of the Chinese communists’ disregard for aviation safety and its disregard for the safety of passengers on cross-Taiwan Strait and international flights,” it said.
The ministry said its analysis was that the balloons were part of China’s “grey zone” tactics against Taiwan “in an attempt to use cognitive warfare to affect the morale of our people”.
Calls seeking comment to China’s defence ministry, Taiwan Affairs Office and civil aviation administration were not answered on Saturday outside of work hours.
China’s defence ministry last week declined to comment on the balloons at a monthly news conference.
STRONGER WORDING
In a separate statement on Saturday, Taiwan’s defence ministry said that during the previous 24 hours it had detected two more Chinese balloons, one of which briefly flew over the far northern tip of the island.
The ministry had said it thought the balloons were mostly for weather monitoring, driven by prevailing winds at this time of year, and the comments on them being part of China’s “grey zone” activities are stronger than previous statements.
Taiwan has complained over the past four years of stepped-up Chinese military action such as fighter jets regularly flying over the strait as part of a “grey zone” strategy attempting to wear down Taiwan with offensive actions that stop short of full-blown conflict.
The United States, Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, has watched with alarm as tensions over the semiconductor powerhouse island have risen.
Asked about the balloons at a news conference in Washington on Thursday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said he could not comment.
“We obviously support the democracy and the democratic institutions of Taiwan, and we want to see free, fair, open, transparent elections there.” he said. “And we’re certainly mindful that outside actors could try to interfere.”
China says the Taiwan government’s repeated accusations of election interference are “dirty tricks” aimed at boosting the chances of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which Beijing detests, calling them separatists.
A Western security source, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media, said China was sending a very simple pre-election message to Taiwan with the balloons.
“We are watching you closely and you can’t hide,” the source said.
(Source: Reuters)
05 Jan 24. SADC mission deploys to DR Congo. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has deployed a mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the major aim of restoring peace and security in the eastern part of the sprawling central African country.
South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania comprise a regional force which, an SADC statement dated 4 January says, is “a regional response to address the unstable and deteriorating security situation prevailing in eastern DRC”.
Advance elements of the SAMIDRC (SADC Mission in DR Congo) force were deployed on 15 December. The SAMIDRC is led by SA Army Major General Monwabisi Dyakopu, who commands a team from countries with experience in the DRC as boots on the ground and materiel contributors to the United Nations (UN) MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade (FIB).
Dyakopu is no stranger to DR Congo, with four completed tours of duty on deployments MONUSCO. On one tour he commanded the FIB, which was then, and still is, the only UN peacekeeping force with an offensive mandate. He also has an Ethiopia/Eritrea tour to his credit.
SAMIDRC’s deployment is in line with a decision taken last May at an extraordinary SADC Heads of State Summit in Windhoek, Namibia.
The presence of the southern African regional bloc mission “demonstrates the commitment of SADC member states to supporting the DRC in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and, ultimately, create an enabling environment for sustainable development and prosperity,” the statement said.
It added that the SAMIDRC deployment is in accordance with the principle of collective self-defence and action in the SADC Mutual Defence Pact (2003). This states, in part, that an “armed attack against a State Party shall be considered a threat to regional peace and security and shall be met with immediate collective action”.
(Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
05 Jan 24. Korean peninsular: Shelling prompts evacuation of islands’ residents; regional tensions are elevated. Earlier on 5 January, North Korea fired over 200 artillery shells into the Yellow Sea near two sparsely populated South Korean islands (Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong), leading to evacuation orders for the islands’ residents. No casualties were reported. The shells landed in the ‘buffer zone’ of the North Korean side of the maritime border. The shelling follows North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un’s repeated assertions of his country’s readiness for war against South Korea and the US, as well as the cancellation of a 2018 agreement to reduce military activities near the border with South Korea. Seoul has labelled the action as a provocation and carried out its own firing exercises in retaliation. The episode indicates a further deterioration of inter-Korean relations and comes amid already high military alertness due to North Korea’s pursuit of the expansion of its military and surveillance capabilities. However, we assess that North Korea does not want to instigate a military conflict despite the increase in provocative activity. (Source: Sibylline)
05 Jan 24. India: Hijacking incident in Arabian Sea will prompt increased regional maritime surveillance efforts. Earlier on 5 January, the Indian warship INS Chennai responded to a distress call from a hijacked Liberian-flagged vessel in the Arabian Sea. At least 15 Indian crew members were onboard when six unknown individuals hijacked the bulk carrier near the coast of Somalia. While no group has claimed responsibility, there has been an uptick in attacks by Houthi rebels against merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea in recent weeks amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Indian-crewed vessels and those headed for India have been targeted in these attacks. On 23 December 2023, a chemical product tanker located around 230 miles (370km) south-west of Gujarat state (India) was rescued by the Indian navy after a drone attack started a fire onboard the vessel. Amid the increasing threat of attacks against merchant vessels, India is likely to bolster its surveillance and maritime presence in the region. (Source: Sibylline)
05 Jan 24. Azerbaijan: US designation will prompt regional tensions, further crackdown on media outlets, NGOs. On 4 January, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the US designated Azerbaijan as a country of concern due to its ‘severe violations of religious freedom’. The designation comes after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed concerns regarding the safeguarding of Christian religious sites in Nagorno-Karabakh, which came under Baku’s control in September 2023. The USCIRF also pointed to increasing constraints on religious freedom in Azerbaijan proper, where the authorities require the registration of religious groups and the submission of their literature for approval. The designation will likely undermine already strained US-Azerbaijan ties. Azerbaijani state media alleged that the US is supporting a network of spies in the country linked to NGOs and media companies. As such, Baku will likely use the US designation as a pretext to clamp down further on religious and media freedoms, as well as NGOs. Given Washington DC’s support for Armenia, its designation will also likely moderately drive regional tensions. (Source: Sibylline)
05 Jan 24. Jordan-Syria: Jordanian airstrikes against Iran-backed drug smugglers in Syria will likely increase. On 4 January, the Jordanian military reportedly conducted airstrikes against warehouses and hideouts of Iran-backed drug smugglers in Syria’s as-Suwayda governorate. The airstrikes are part of Jordan’s campaign to secure its border with Syria after clashes with hundreds of drug smugglers linked to pro-Iran militias in as-Suwayda who tried to cross into Jordan last month. The Jordanian military will likely escalate its campaign in the coming weeks, including by intensifying the frequency of airstrikes and expanding the scope of its operations to other regions in southern Syria, where pro-Iran militias have a significant presence. A heightened Jordanian security posture along the Syrian border will also likely result in further disruption to movement through the Jaber–Nassib border crossing. There is a realistic possibility that movement disruption will be exacerbated by a crackdown on local drug smuggling networks in Jordanian villages along the border. (Source: Sibylline)
05 Jan 24. Iraq: US airstrikes on pro-Iran groups will likely exacerbate demands to reduce US military presence. On 4 January, the US conducted a drone strike against the headquarters of the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in eastern Baghdad governorate. The strike killed Hajj Mushtaq Talib al-Saidi, a senior commander in the PMF. In response, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, another pro-Iran group, conducted drone strikes against US bases in the al-Omar oil field and Rukban (both Syria). The risk of further strikes against US bases in Syria and Iraq will remain elevated in the coming weeks, as will the risk of retaliatory airstrikes by the US against pro-Iran groups. Such strikes will likely act as a trigger for domestic unrest in Iraq in the coming months, exacerbating rising opposition demands to reduce the US military presence in the country. (Source: Sibylline)
04 Jan 24. Self-Defense Strike in Iraq Kills Terrorist Leader. U.S. forces in Iraq today conducted a self-defense strike which killed Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, a leader of the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba terrorist group that is operating both in Iraq and Syria, said the Pentagon press secretary.
Al-Jawari, also known as Abu Taqwa, was actively involved in planning and carrying out attacks against American personnel. Abu Taqwa, along with another member of Harakat al-Nujaba, were both killed in a strike that took place around noon, Jan. 4, in Iraq, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during a briefing today.
“It is important to note that the strike was taken in self-defense, that no civilians were harmed, and that no infrastructure or facilities were struck,” Ryder said.
The U.S. currently has a military presence in Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. The CJTF-OIR mission is to advise, assist and enable partnered forces in the defeat of ISIS within designated areas of Iraq and Syria. Inside Iraq, the U.S. works in partnership with both the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Security Forces to carry out that mission.
“U.S. forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the government of Iraq,” Ryder said. “They’re there for one reason, which is to support the defeat-ISIS mission. We’ll continue to work very closely with our Iraqi partners when it comes to the safety and security of our forces. When those forces are threatened, just like we would anywhere else in the world, we will maintain the inherent right of self-defense to protect our forces.”
The mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria has been ongoing for nearly a decade, and Ryder said the successes of CJTF-OIR are worth maintaining.
“It was 10 years ago this coming summer that ISIS was approximately 24 kilometers outside of Baghdad, when we kicked off the counter-ISIS mission after they had subsumed large swaths of Syria and Iraq,” Ryder said. “No one wants to see a return of ISIS … our focus is going to continue to remain on the defeat-ISIS mission. But again, we’re not going to hesitate to protect our forces if they’re threatened.”
(Source: U.S. DoD)
04 Jan 24. ATMIS to continue “degrading” al-Shabaab in 2024. ATMIS Force Commander, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding. Picture: ATMIS
Last year saw the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) conduct more than 200 operations against al-Shabaab in furtherance of a mission priority to “degrade” the Somalia-based Sunni Islamist military and political organisation, which is also active elsewhere in East Africa.
ATMIS Force Commander Lieutenant General Sam Okiding said this would continue in 2024 along with ongoing efforts to improve the capability of the Somali Security Forces (SSF).
Forty-one percent of last year’s 236 operations were joint ones with SSF participation.
All were, according to Okiding, “instrumental in securing population centres, safeguarding main supply routes, liberating key towns and villages such as Farqalaal, Gadaan and Cali Fooldheere Forest and facilitating distribution of humanitarian aid to distressed communities”.
“It is important to note ATMIS also collaborated with SSF in driving out al-Shabaab in areas like Jubaland, Galmudug, Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle.
“Our primary task this year [2024] is the degradation of al-Shabaab. The organisation must be defeated so that the people of Somalia can live in peace and harmony”.
This year will see ATMIS intensify its mentorship programme for Somali National Army (SNA) personnel and advise government on capability development to ensure resilience of the forces left when the mission exits the East African country.
Okiding singled out the successful conclusion of the first phase of ATMIS troop drawdown in June and consolidation of gains made under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the precursor to ATMIS, as another 2023 achievement.
“Throughout the year our focus has been transfer of security responsibilities to the Federal Government of Somalia which concluded with the successful phase one of ATMIS troop drawdown,” he said. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
03 Jan 24. Brunei’s Armed Forces forge ahead: a defence strategy mitigating regional dynamics.
Strategic alliances, modernisation initiatives, and economic synergy aim to propel Brunei’s Armed Forces forward.
Brunei, with a defence spending of $437.2m (Br$582m) in 2023, reveals a tri-force strategy fortifying its Army, Air Force, and Navy, according to GlobalData’s “Brunei Defence Market 2023-2028” report.
Focused on geopolitical intricacies, modernisation imperatives, and counterterrorism measures, the nation’s defence blueprint signifies a commitment to regional stability and economic diversification.
Brunei’s defence policy, centred on diplomacy and deterrence, responds to evolving geopolitical dynamics, especially in the South China Sea. A $437.2m defence budget charts a forward-looking course with a 1.7% CAGR, reaching $486.2m by 2028, according to GlobalData’s intelligence on Brunei’s defence market. The tri-force strategy encompasses countering territorial disputes, terrorism and modernising armed forces.
Amid South China Sea disputes, Brunei’s balanced approach involves maritime patrol aircraft, radars, and fast patrol boats. Modernisation efforts and alliances with the US, Singapore, and Malaysia reinforce the equatorial countries stance as a player in the region. The five-power defence arrangements (FPDA) amplify regional collaboration, fostering ties with Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.
Brunei’s defence modernisation focuses on technologies and quality training. Helicopter modernisation for the Air Force and initiatives like the National Coastal Surveillance System for the Navy underline the South-East Asian country’s dedication to maritime security. Economically, defence strategy aligns with diversification, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a resilient economy.
The Ministry of Defense is steering military capabilities, channelling investments into modernisation and counterterrorism. Collaborations with the US, Singapore, and Malaysia influence defence procurements, while the biennial Brunei International Defense Exhibition (BRIDEX) is a global entry point for defence manufacturers.
With a $128.1m acquisition budget, Brunei attracts foreign investors selectively, favouring direct commercial sales for defence technology. Despite challenges like transparency and a modest budget, the defence industry anticipates growth. Sectors like military fixed-wing and EO/IR Systems dominate, with agreements like the C-295MW procurement enhancing Brunei’s capabilities.
In navigating complexities, addressing challenges, and embracing growth sectors, Brunei’s defence strategy is a testament to its commitment to regional stability and economic resilience that shapes its armed forces’ future. (Source: army-technology.com)
02 Jan 24. UN arms embargo on Somalia lifted. As the ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission on Somalia) continues its troop drawdown, the lifting of a 31-year-long United Nations (UN) arms embargo on the east African country will give “fresh impetus to the fight against al-Shabaab and other armed groups”, says the African Union (AU).
AU Special Representative for Somalia and the Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef and Somalia Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism Daud Aweis, told a joint press briefing that the decision by the UN Security Council was a game changer in ongoing offensive operations against al-Shabaab.
“This marks a significant moment in the evolution of Somalia’s security and acts as a catalyst for the ongoing transition of security responsibilities from ATMIS to the Somalia Security Forces (SSF). It is an important step in enhancing operational capabilities of the SSF, enabling them to combat al-Shabaab more effectively,” Souef told the December Mogadishu briefing.
The Somalian minister said the lifting of the embargo would enable Somalia to build and modernise its armed forces and enhance its capability to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Somalia is struggling with many challenges, including the presence of extremist group al-Shabaab linked to the international terrorist network Al-Qaeda. Somalia needs to acquire modern weapons and equipment to effectively fight these threats and secure its borders,” he said.
Notwithstanding ongoing ATMIS troop drawdowns, two last year, joint ATMIS/SSF operations continue, with Aweis giving one example.
“An operation carried out by the national army with the help of international allies in the village of Hilow Bacaad, 80 km south-west of Halgan in Hiiran region, confirmed the killing of 60 terrorists. The SNA (Somali National Army) and local forces also carried out operations in the Bakool, Galgadud, Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions,” he told the briefing. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
02 Jan 24. Guyana-Venezuela-UK: Risk of armed conflict is low despite deployment of UK warship. On 31 December 2023, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro deployed roughly 6,000 soldiers to the border of Essequibo following the arrival of a British warship off the coast of Guyana on 29 December. Air and naval forces have also been instructed to conduct military exercises. Maduro claims that the presence of the British warship, HMS Trent, is an act of ‘hostile provocation’. The dispatch of the Royal Navy vessel follows a recent peace agreement between Guyana and Venezuela on 14 December, stating that both sides would refrain from escalating tensions and using military force. However, UK officials have claimed that the warship has been deployed to combat drug smuggling activity near the coast of Guyana. It is highly unlikely that the presence of HMS Trent will trigger any kind of military response from Venezuela. Bilateral tensions between Venezuela and the UK will remain elevated in the near term, though they will likely ease in the medium term. (Source: Sibylline)
03 Jan 24. Sudan: RSF’s signing of declaration is unlikely to result in imminent launch of peace talks with SAF. On 2 January, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, signed the Addis Ababa Declaration with a coalition of Sudanese civilian groups (Taqaddum). This coalition includes the deposed prime minister, Abdallah Hamdok. The declaration includes a pledge to sign an unconditional cessation of hostilities, to release 451 detainees and to facilitate humanitarian access. The signatories have indicated they will now approach the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to bring them into the agreement. While this represents the most serious attempt to secure a peace agreement since the conflict began in April 2023, the agreement will likely be perceived by the SAF as an attempt by Dagalo to freeze the conflict as the RSF reaches the upper limit of its military capabilities. This will likely drive reluctance on the part of the SAF to join the ceasefire, particularly while control of the capital Khartoum remains contested. This threatens to sustain the conflict in the coming months, unless international diplomatic pressure increases. (Source: Sibylline)
03 Jan 24. Taiwan: Reports of Chinese balloons over island will drive espionage concerns ahead of elections. On 3 January, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence reported that four Chinese balloons drifted across the Taiwan Strait during a 24-hour window. The ministry stated that three of the balloons crossed over central Taiwan near Ching Chuan Kang, a major air base. It also noted increased Chinese military activity within the same 24-hour period, including the detection of a Xi’an JH-7 bomber and a Harbin BZK-005 reconnaissance drone crossing into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ). This is the first time Chinese balloons have traversed the island itself. The event follows nine detections of such balloons in the vicinity of Taiwan over the past month. Cross-strait tensions have been high in recent months as Taiwan prepares for its presidential and parliamentary elections on 13 January. While the Taiwanese military has previously assessed that these balloons are used for monitoring weather, their exact purpose remains unclear. The Taiwanese military closely monitors such balloons for aviation safety and potential security threats, especially due to the possibility that China uses balloons for espionage purposes. (Source: Sibylline)
03 Jan 24. India: Attacks highlight continued elevated security threats in restive Manipur. On 2 January, seven security personnel (including police and Border Security Force troopers) were critically injured in an ambush on a convoy in the town of Moreh (Manipur state), which borders Myanmar. Manipur’s chief minister claimed that the authorities suspect the attack, which included the use of rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons, involved Myanmar-based ‘mercenaries’. The incident comes a day after four people were shot dead in Manipur’s Thoubal district after they were allegedly extorted by militants, prompting a curfew to be re-imposed in Thoubal and neighbouring districts. Additionally, local media reports suggest the government intends to suspend the free movement regime (FMR) along the Myanmar-India border that allows limited travel across the border without a visa. Militant groups are suspected of exploiting the FMR. However, as the unrest (which was sparked in May 2023) is driven by underlying ethno-religious tensions across the state, the security situation is unlikely to be resolved imminently. (Source: Sibylline)
04 Jan 24. Sierra Leone: Charges against ex-president will likely elevate unrest risks, tensions with opposition. On 3 January, a Freetown court charged former president and current leader of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, Ernest Bai Koroma, with four offences for his alleged involvement in the unsuccessful coup attempt on 26 November 2023. The government claimed that Karoma’s bodyguards led the attempted coup, which killed 21 people, though Karoma has denied the charges. Koroma has retained a popular following even after his electoral defeat in 2018. There is a realistic possibility that the charges will elevate unrest risks in the capital Freetown, with the court hearing on 17 January likely acting as a flashpoint for protests. The incident will also likely undermine the October 2023 agreement to reduce tensions between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the APC after the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio, increasing resistance to policymaking. (Source: Sibylline)
04 Jan 24. China-Myanmar: Shelling highlights cross-border risks in southern China as conflict persists. On 3 January, five people were injured in the Chinese town of Nansan (Yunnan province) due to stray artillery fire from Laukkai (Shan state) in northern Myanmar, according to reports in Chinese state media. Following the incident, the Chinese foreign ministry again demanded that all parties cease hostilities and claimed it would take all necessary measures to safeguard the security of Chinese citizens. However, Chinese efforts to mediate a lasting and widespread ceasefire between Burmese ethnic armed organisations and the junta, who have been engaged in intensified conflict in Shan state since the end of October, have met with limited success; last week, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar asked its citizens to evacuate the Laukkai area due to the elevated risks. With the conflict set to continue despite mediation efforts, risks in the immediate border area and disruption to cross-border trade and movement will continue to be heightened. (Source: Sibylline)
04 Jan 24. Libya: Sharara oilfield shutdown will likely trigger hike in domestic oil prices. On 3 January, protesters shut down production of the Sharara oil field in the south-western Fezzan region. Protesters have threatened to sustain the shutdown until their demands are met, including the provision of sufficient fuel supplies to the local area, the creation of a southern refinery, road maintenance and job opportunities. It is likely that this will further increase oil prices domestically while also potentially disrupting the wider oil market, as Sharara is one of Libya’s largest oil fields. Hikes in oil prices in Libya were previously recorded in July 2023 when the Sharara oilfield was closed over similar local demands. While negotiations are currently underway between the government and the protestors, limited capacity to meet demands will sustain the risk of future shutdowns in Sharara and the neighbouring El Feel oilfield, driving increased local operating costs, disrupting economic growth and raising unrest risks. (Source: Sibylline)
04 Jan 24. Iran-Saudi Arabia: Suspension of flights resumption signals increased risk of diplomatic setback. On 3 January, Iran Air suspended its plans to resume flights to Saudi Arabia after an eight-year pause. The first flights were originally scheduled to land in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) yesterday (3 January) from Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan before being abruptly cancelled. Iran Air’s spokesman said the flights had to be cancelled because the Saudi authorities did not issue the necessary permits, while Iran’s culture minister cited ‘technical disagreements’. Saudi Arabia has not yet commented on the development, and the risk of an imminent resumption of political tensions between the two countries remains low for now. However, there is a realistic possibility that the decision could signal a setback for the Saudi-Iran détente, with a risk of greater diplomatic fallout increasing in the event of further escalation by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea.
(Source: Sibylline)
03 Jan 24. China unveils new images of its next-generation aircraft carrier. Chinese state media unveiled new images of China’s most advanced aircraft carrier yet, including next generation launch tracks that can catapult a wider range of aircraft from its deck.
First shown to the public in June 2022, the Fujian was entirely designed and built domestically.
Yet to conduct its first sea trials, the aircraft carrier is larger and technologically more advanced than the Shandong, commissioned in 2019, and the Liaoning, which China bought second-hand from Ukraine in 1998 and refitted domestically.
On state television late on Tuesday, the Fujian was seen being towed by a smaller vessel with all of the three tracks of its electro-magnetic catapult system visible on its deck.
“In the new year, we will seize every minute, work with determination, and strive for combat readiness as soon as possible,” state television cited a Fujian officer as saying.
The Fujian has been conducting tests including mooring tests before its sea trials, which some observers expected to have taken place by 2023. The carrier started launch tests for its electromagnetic catapult system in November, according to state-controlled Chinese newspaper Global Times.
Other than Ford-Class aircraft carriers, a new class of nuclear-powered carriers being developed for the U.S. navy, the Fujian will be the only aircraft carrier in the world equipped with the latest Electro-magnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS).
China’s version of the EMALS can launch more kinds of aircraft than the Shandong or the Liaoning, and will also be more reliable and energy-efficient, marking a milestone in the modernisation of the Chinese military.
President Xi Jinping has repeatedly called for increased combat-readiness and technological advances ahead of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2027. Some senior U.S. military officers previously said China would launch a military takeover of Taiwan by that year.
In the run-up to its Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections, Taiwan has reported China continuing with its daily military activities in the Taiwan Strait and around the democratically governed island.
Chinese fighter jets have also on occasion crossed the strait’s median line, which previously served as an unofficial barrier but which Beijing says it does not recognise. (Source: Reuters)
29 Dec 23. SANDF Chief says SA will put “more effort” into DR Congo. General Rudzani Maphwanya, SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief, used this year’s thanksgiving service to alert those he commands there will be a further military commitment to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Those attending the December service at the Thaba Tshwane sports grounds heard their leader say South Africa was “unwavering” when it came to brokering peace, as evidenced by efforts to halt the Ukraine/Russia conflict and putting the “case” for Palestine to the International Criminal Court (ICC). He added if this method of conflict resolution was not successful – “South Africa will go in with soldiers”. This commitment is there in elements of the SANDF deployed in the DRC as part of the United Nations (UN) mission in the central African country, and in Mozambique where the SANDF is part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM). In an obvious reference to an SADC commitment to deploy in the eastern DRC to bring stability to the violence-torn country, Maphwanya said, without embellishment, “there will be more effort”. There has, as yet, been no official word on what is apparently going to be the SADC Mission in DRC (SAMIDRC) apart from approving its deployment during a May summit in the Namibian capital, Windhoek.
Writing in Daily Maverick, respected foreign affairs correspondent Peter Fabricius has it SAMIDRC’s main aim is “clearly to defeat and neutralize the M23 armed group backed by Rwanda”.
The establishment and deployment of the mission comes hard on the heels of the East African Community (EAC) withdrawing its reaction force after a year on the ground in the eastern DRC.
Fabricius quotes SA Institute of International Studies (SAIIS) fellow, Stephanie Wolters, as saying “one consolidation” for the Southern African regional force is the availability of on-the-ground intelligence from MONUSC’s Force Intervention Brigade (FIB). It is staffed by Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania – all SADC member states. At present there is no clarity on the possibility of SADC soldiers being re-hatted from UN blue to an SADC unit.
Earlier in December, MONUSCO Chief Bintou Keita told the UN Security Council (UNSC) the SADC force would deploy “in the coming weeks”. This was confirmed, but without an exact date “for security reasons” to Fabricius, by an unnamed senior SADC official.
Financing the force is a major challenge with the Namibia May summit approving a draft budget of $554 552 472 for deployment of a “brigade plus” force, Fabricius reported. It will apparently have “critical maritime, air and artillery support capabilities, logistic support (road transport capabilities, repair and recovery capabilities, casualties/medical evacuation (casevac/medevac), intelligence acquisition means and a quick reaction force (QRF)”.
It has been reported an advance team of South African troops arrived in Goma in the DRC this week as part of the SADC deployment.
(Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
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