Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 28, 2018

SCMP: As China tests military muscle, PLA warns Taiwan efforts to resist reunification with force are dead end

* PLA uses sea and air training exercises to rattle sabre at Taipei
* Taiwan says more Chinese warships are skirting its air defence zone

The People’s Liberation Army said that Taiwan would run into a “dead end” if it resisted the mainland’s reunification efforts with force, and that Beijing would continue its “encirclement patrols” in waters and airspace around the island.

Wu Qian, spokesman for the defence ministry, said the PLA conducted drills near Taiwanese airspace last week as part of routine training.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 28, 2018

China’s Newest Carrier Begins Flight Tests (PHOTOS) -- Sputnik

China’s aircraft carrier troubles continue with more researchers charged with corruption -- SCMP

China's alternative to GPS starts global service ahead of schedule - Nikkei Asian Review

Chinese aircraft trespasses South Korea, Japan multiple times -- UPI

Chinese reconnaissance plane flies over South Korea, Japan as geopolitical tensions grow -- SCMP

China’s new light tank for mountainous areas goes into service -- SCMP

US urges Pacific allies to boost their military presence in South China Sea -- Stars and Stripes

Six things on the Pentagon’s 2019 acquisition reform checklist -- Defense News

The US Army is practicing to take down enemy aircraft in the skies over Europe -- Business Insider

BIW, Raytheon receive $43M for Zumwalt support, weapons -- UPI

First GPS III satellite launched, moving toward operational orbit -- UPI

General Dynamics contracted for missile control systems for U.S., U.K. -- UPI

Pilots Kept Losing Oxygen and the Military Had No Idea Why. Now There’s a Possible Fix. -- The New York Times

U.S. turns to military, medical research to solve diplomats' 'health attacks' -- NBC

42,000 Coast Guardsmen Are Getting Screwed On Pay Because Of The Government Shutdown -- Task & Purpose

Trump indicates he won't rush to name Mattis replacement -- The Hill

Air Force: Nothing Improper with Airmen's Pro-Trump Merchandise at Ramstein -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

The military is preparing to host a conference to discuss sexual assault on college campuses -- Military Times

Nation’s oldest World War II vet dies at age 112 -- Military Times/AP

U.S., South Korea fail to reach deal to share costs for American troops -- UPI

Turkey has no intention of letting US examine S-400 systems, says source -- TASS

Bundeswehr floats idea of recruiting EU citizens -- DW

NATO jets intercept three Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea -- ERR.ee

Responding to US Missiles in Europe 'Not Difficult' - Russian Missile Designer -- Sputnik

Russia says its new weapon is 27 times faster than the speed of sound -- Military Times/AP

Putin touts first hypersonic, nuclear-capable weapon for 2019 -- UPI

Russia’s upgraded Tu-22M3 strategic missile-carrying bomber performs debut flight -- TASS

‘Prepared to counter any threat’: Russia’s top 10 military events of 2018 -- RT

Israel develops wing components to make F-35s invisible to radar -- UPI

Mattis Allegedly Killed Israel-Croatia F-16 Deal Despite Plea of Netanyahu -- Sputnik

Reports of China using its 'Belt and Road' program for military purposes are 'no real surprise' -- CNBC

Pakistan Denies Chinese Infrastructure Projects Have Military Dimensions -- RFE

South Korea approves plan to develop homegrown Aegis destroyer -- UPI

Mexico's new president is sending in the military to combat a crime wave costing the country billions of dollars -- Reuters