Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 17, 2020

SCMP: PLA drills point to stepped-up plans to take control of Taiwan, analysts say

* Exercises come after mainland China’s Eastern Theatre Command expanded facilities and troop deployments over the last few years
* Manoeuvres a political warning over growing ties between Washington and Taipei, observer says

A series of PLA drills at the northern and southern ends of the Taiwan Strait
signal that Beijing is stepping up preparations to take control of the self-ruled island, according to military analysts.

Other signs included expansion of coastal military bases and the deployment of amphibious troop units in the area, they said.
The People’s Liberation Army
’s Eastern Theatre Command, which oversees defences in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait, said on Thursday that it conducted the drills north and south of Taiwan “in recent days”.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 17, 2020

Chinese state broadcaster reveals details of new airborne weapon Tianlei 500 as tensions simmer with Taiwan -- SCMP

Chinese forces focus on combat readiness as US keeps close watch -- SCMP

PLA Rocket Force launches DF-26 ‘aircraft carrier killer’ missile in fast-reaction drills -- Global Times

China unveils two-seater design for stealth plane based on J-20 fighter -- SCMP

China’s military engagement with Pacific Island countries -- Policy Forum

Chinese Military Post Threatening Video To U.S. Warning To Stay Out Of Hong Kong -- Anonymous News

U.S. condemns Chinese military exercises in Taiwan Strait -- Focus Taiwan

Taiwan reportedly told military pilots again 'not to fire the first shot' amid rising tensions with China -- Business Insider/SCMP

Taiwan excluded from RIMPAC war games as US avoids crossing Beijing’s red line. -- SCMP

Taiwan signs deal to get F-16 jets amid US-China tensions -- The Hill

Taiwan Finalizes $62 Billion Purchase of F-16 Jets from Lockheed Martin -- Military.com

US to Lobby Allies to Deploy Midrange Missiles in Asia Against China, Trump’s Envoy Says -- Sputnik

US-China relations: American nuclear-capable stealth bombers deployed to Indian Ocean airbase -- SCMP

U.S. Navy carrier conducted exercises in South China Sea on Aug. 14 -- Reuters

To get tougher on China, Trump needs U.S. Navy, which is straining -- Wall Street Journal

Production of Air Force's first B-21 stealth bomber on schedule -- UPI

U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke DDG 51 Destroyers Won't 'Sail Away' Anytime Soon -- National Interest

In developing robot warships, US Navy wants to avoid another littoral combat ship -- Defense News

Spy, Decoy, and Disrupt: Pentagon Seeking Ideas for Swarms of New Drones -- Sputnik

U.S. Navy develops software to track COVID-19 cases aboard ships -- UPI

IG report: Defense Dept. is failing in mental health care of troops, families -- UPI

Trump on Esper: 'I consider firing everybody' -- The Hill

Report to Congress on Emerging Military Technologies -- USNI News

Pentagon wins brief waiver from government’s Huawei ban -- Defense News

How the Coronavirus Exposed the Flaws in America’s Security Strategy -- John Arquilla and Nancy Roberts, National Interest

‘No lines on the battlefield’: Pentagon’s new war-fighting concept takes shape -- Defense News

CEO of Boeing’s defense wing talks stumbling blocks, from KC-46 to COVID -- Defense News

Polish, U.S. leaders sign agreement to increase U.S. military presence in Poland -- UPI

F-16s, KC-135s Deploy to Poland for Training Rotation -- Air Force Magazine

S. Korea, U.S. to stage joint summertime exercise this week -- UPI

China border, Pakistan tensions hamper India’s plan to boost local weapons industry -- SCMP

Israeli Jets Arrive for 1st Joint Military Exercises on German Soil -- New York Times

Germany's military-run transport fleet hacked -- DW