Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 19, 2012

CHINA REPORT
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia and Asia Pacific Security Affairs David Helvey briefs the media on the Defense Department’s report to Congress on “Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2012” in the Pentagon, May 18, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcet

Pentagon Study Says China Military Getting Stronger -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — China is pressing a long-range modernization of its military, part of a strategy aimed at maximizing its leverage over Taiwan, extending its influence farther abroad, but avoiding conflict around its borders or with the United States, the Pentagon said on Friday in an annual report to Congress.

Chinese leaders, the report asserted, view this as a time to “focus on internal development while avoiding direct confrontation,” although they expect tension, competition, and territorial flare-ups from time to time, and they do not expect the status quo, however satisfactory they find it, to last indefinitely.

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WNU Editor: The Pentagon's report on China's military is here (pdf).

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

British Army will have to rely on civilian drivers, reserves and foreign armies -- The Telegraph

Intelligence: Ballooning Surveillance -- Strategy Page

South Korea to Buy MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters in Potential $1 Billion Deal -- Defpro

Israeli military arrests 474 draft dodgers -- UPI

Israel’s Newest UZI Sub Machine Gun -- Military.com

Russia Floats Out Large Landing Ship -- RIA Novosti

Russian Convicted of Passing Military Secrets -- RIA Novosti

Philippines to receive 10 new patrol ships from Japan -- Inquirer

UK: 10,500 army personnel for Olympic games -- CBS/AP

Ospreys to be Based In UK For Special Ops Missions -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

US lawmakers back nuclear weapons near N. Korea -- AFP

U.S. European Command, NATO Boost Cyber Defenses -- US Department of Defense

Budget amendment would pull all four BCTs out of Europe -- Stars and Stripes

Russian Paras Fire ‘Green Beret’ Weapons in U.S. -- RIA Novosti

Panetta to seal Apache deal during June 6 visit -- Hindustan Times

House votes to give Taiwan 66 F-16 fighter aircraft -- The Hill

4 Killed in Military Helicopter Crash in Venezuela -- ABC News/AP

Military-contracted trainer jet crashes near California naval base; civilian pilot dies -- Washington Post/AP

Air Force: No significant changes near F-22 bases -- News Herald

Federal appeals panel hears CIA leak case in Va. -- Stars and Stripes/AP

Mistaken identity, abuse and rendition: Khaled El-Masri finally has day in court -- The Guardian

Army: Soldier to stand trial in killings of 5 comrades at combat stress clinic in Iraq -- CNN

Marine gets 15 years in prison for comrade's death -- Stars and Stripes/AP

Army reviews mental health cases going back to 2001 -- USA Today

House puts squeeze on military’s ‘musical arsenal’ -- Washington Post

House votes to keep military enlistment age cap -- USA Today

Congressman: There is a War on Religious Belief in Military -- FOX News

Americans Favor Military Cuts -- David Axe, The Diplomat