Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 1, 2016

China's People's Liberation Army soldiers march with their weapons at Tiananmen Square during the military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing September 3, 2015. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Reuters: China creates three new military units in push to modernize army

China has created three new military units and will update equipment as well as modernizing its command structure, state media said on Friday, as part of a major overhaul of the armed forces announced by President Xi Jinping in November.

Xi's push to reform the military coincides with China becoming more assertive in its territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas. China's navy is investing in submarines and aircraft carriers and its air force is developing stealth fighters.

At a ceremony on Thursday, Xi inaugurated a new general command unit for the army, a missile force and a strategic support force for People's Liberation Army (PLA), state news agency Xinhua said.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 1, 2016

China Announces Military Reform, Creates Three Institutions -- IBTimes

China inaugurates PLA Rocket Force, Xi confers flags -- Xinhaunet

China upgrades status of strategic missile forces -- Business Standard

Chinese Defense Ministry Confirms Rail-Mobile ICBM Test -- Washington Free Beacon

The Force Awakens: China Readies for Space Warfare -- Sputnik

China's New Humvee Isn't Quite Built for Combat -- Popular Mechanics

China defence: Work starts on second aircraft carrier -- BBC

What are the Chances of China Deploying Troops to Syria? -- Sputnik

Keep calm & carry on flying: Russian pilots see in New Year amid sorties from Syria airbase (VIDEO) -- RT

Over 60 Russian Warships and Subs Celebrate New Year at Sea -- Sputnik

Brand New: Russia's Advanced Mi-38 Helicopter to Hit Production in 2016 -- Sputnik

Mig-31Adapt and Overcome: New Russian Interceptor to Replace MiG-31 -- Sputnik

Interceptor Alert: Russia's MiG-31 Replacement Is Underway -- National Interest

2016: Promising Year For Military Of Russia -- Value Walk

South Korea, China establish military hotline -- UPI

France to buy four Lockheed C130 military transport planes -- Reuters

Daughter of Che Guevara's capturer becomes 1st female head of Bolivian armed forces -- FOX News

US Military Contractors Accused Of Breaking Labor Laws By Former Role Players Of Middle Eastern Origin -- IBTimes

US Navy's Great Green Fleet preps to deploy on bio-fuels -- Navy Times

Spying on Congress and Israel: NSA Cheerleaders Discover Value of Privacy Only When Their Own Is Violated -- Glenn Greenwald, The Intercept

NSA Critics Gleefully Accuse Surveillance Hawks of Hypocrisy -- US News and World Report

Pentagon Curbs Use of Psychologists With Guantánamo Detainees -- New York Times

Families of female pilots from second world war struggle for equal burial rights -- AP

Was 2015 the Year of the US Military Woman? -- VOA

Manned Orbiting Laboratory: Secrets of a US Military Space Station (Infographic) -- Space.com

Medal of Honor Recipient Kyle Carpenter Charged with Hit-and-Run -- Military.com

Recreating the CIA's "top secret" abstract painting collection -- Boing Boing

Crusading Former Pentagon Chief Says Nuke Danger Is Growing -- AP

The Important Future Of Our Navy -- Harold Hutchison, Daily Caller

The next president will face tricky military questions -- David Ignatius, Washington Post

Checkpoint’s most-read military stories in 2015 — from heroism to Jade Helm 15 -- Dan Lamonthe, Washington Post