Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 4, 2019

Prepare for war, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the country’s top military brass at a meeting on Friday. Photo: Xinhua

SCMP: Chinese President Xi Jinping gives army its first order of 2019: prepare for war

* Armed forces must be ready for a ‘comprehensive military struggle from a new starting point’, leader says
* Central Military Commission issues new guidelines to boost morale based on greater empathy and merit-based promotions

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday ordered the People’s Liberation Army to prepare for combat and war as the country faces unprecedented risks and challenges.

Xi’s speech was made at a meeting of top officials from the Central Military Commission (CMC), which he heads, and broadcast later on national television.

“All military units must correctly understand major national security and development trends, and strengthen their sense of unexpected hardship, crisis and battle,” he said.

At the meeting, Xi also signed off on the first military command of 2019, which will kick-start a year of enhanced military training and exercises.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 4, 2019

China’s army says it will focus on ‘preparing for war’ -- News.com.au

Beijing ‘will keep military pressure on Taiwan’ after Xi Jinping’s call for unification -- SCMP

Taiwan flexes missile muscle as China talks up reunification plans -- News.com.au

WATCH: Taiwanese Navy Reveals Hsiung Feng-3 Anti-Ship Missile -- Sputnik

Taiwan is Reverse-Engineering Fighter Jet Engines to Power a Cruise Missile -- Popular Mechanics

US plans to conduct first missile drill near divisive Okinawa base, countering China’s ballistic weapons -- SCMP

New in 2019: Two new US air bases in Africa nearing completion -- Air Force Times

New in 2019: Air Force looks for new bomb designs to fight Russia and China -- Air Force Times

Navy Could Award 2-Carrier Contract by End of January, With Expected $4B in Savings -- USNI News

US Navy tests two-ship littoral combat group with South America deployment -- UPI

New Navy PT gear is here — what you need to know! -- Navy Times

New in 2019: Army Europe adds new units, boosts air defense, artillery -- Army Times

New in 2019: Soldiers, Marines will start getting these advanced night vision goggles this year -- Army Times

NY Times' Maggie Haberman: Chances of Defense Secretary Jim Webb 'not high' -- The Hill

Acting defense chief Shanahan has rarely pushed back on Trump's demands, and that's why Trump might pick him to be the next US defense secretary -- Foreign Policy

Big shakeup coming to Senate Armed Services -- Defense News

Appeals court sides with Trump on transgender military ban -- The Hill

Decorated Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, accused of war crimes, to plead not guilty, brother says -- FOX News

US Senate: No military support for Saudi war in Yemen. Pentagon: LOL -- Quartz

Brazil's Bolsonaro says he is open to hosting a U.S. military base -- Reuters

Israel and the U.S. Are Currently Arguing Over Selling Advanced F-16 Fighters to Croatia -- Time

Fulcrum IT receives $128M contract for intelligence work in S. Korea -- UPI

Iranian Navy Flotilla to Voyage Into Atlantic Waters -- Sputnik

VIDEO: Russia Is Showing Off Its Su-57 Stealth Fighter (With an Interesting New Feature) -- National Interest

Why Trump’s Generals Have Abandoned Ship -- James Stavridis, Time

Retired 4-star Gen. Stanley McChrystal explains how the realization the US was losing the Iraq War in 2004 led to the transformation of special operations -- Business Insider