Chinese, Indian Troops Withdraw From Dangerous Pangong Lake Area

Troops of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and the Indian Army are conducting simultaneous disengagements along the dangerous frontline bordering Pangong Tso (Pangong Lake) spanning eastern Ladakh in India and West Tibet.

Mountainous Ladakh was the site of a lethal nighttime brawl on June 15, 2020 that led to the deaths of 20 Indian Army troopers and at least 40 men of the PLAGF.

Both sides on Wednesday confirmed the start of troop and equipment withdrawals along the rugged and hilly Line of Actual Control (LAC) separating their military forces. The disengagements are taking place along both the north and south banks of Pangong Tso.

The Indian Army occupies territory on both north and south banks west of the LAC while the PLAGF controls land on both north and south banks to the east.

The Chinese troop pullback was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and confirmed by Ministry of National Defense spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian of the People’s Liberation Army on the microblogging website Sina Weibo.

“The Chinese and Indian front line troops at the southern and northern banks of the Pangong Tso Lake start synchronized and organized disengagement from February 10," said Wu.

"This move is in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides at the ninth round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting.”

Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin confirmed that frontline troops of the PLAGF and the Indian Army began to conduct simultaneous and planned disengagement in the Pangong Lake area on February 10.

"We hope the Indian side will work with China to meet each other halfway, strictly implement the consensus reached between the two sides and ensure the smooth implementation of the disengagement process.”

Indian Army sources also confirmed the pullback to media and said these movements are only the first in a long process of disengagement and de-escalation. They said the initial withdrawal restarted the stalled process of disengagement in the longest military standoff between India and China in decades.

Pangong Tso

The Indian Army said the pullback is the first phase of disengagement. It has begun withdrawing some tanks and armored units on the south bank, as well as thinning down troops on the north bank. Indian Army jawans, however, continue to remain in key positions overlooking China defenses.

The heavily militarized south bank has seen the Indian Army deploy tanks and armored vehicles in positions sometimes only a few hundred meters away from the Chinese. (11 Feb. 2021)

French Navy Nuclear Submarine Patrols South China Sea

 The French Navy nuclear attack submarine SNA Emeraude (S604) and the support ship BSAM Seine (A604) have completed a joint patrol of the South China Sea, the first such mission acknowledged by the French this year.

The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs confirmed the unopposed transit of the South China Sea by the French warships. It pointed out the navy has conducted several freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea in the past.

France has always emphasized the importance of defending freedom of navigation in the volatile region. It also has exclusive economic zones in its territories on the Indo-Pacific region, and intends to protect its sovereignty and interests.

"This extraordinary patrol has just completed a passage in the South China Sea," tweeted Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly.

"A striking proof of the capacity of our French Navy to deploy far away and for a long time together with our Australian, American and Japanese strategic partners."

"Why such a mission? To enrich our knowledge of this area and affirm that international law is the only rule that is valid, whatever the sea where we sail," she later said.

Parly said France is joining the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries in pushing back against China’s growing militarization and excessive territorial claims in the region.

SNA Emeraude

In June 2019, Parly said France will continue to sail in the South China Sea more than twice a year. She urged like-minded countries to follow to maintain open access to the waters that China illegally claims to own almost in its entirety.

In September of that year, France, Germany and the UK issued a joint statement to the United Nations supporting a judgment by the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague in July 2016 that dismissed as illegal and invalid China's claim to own almost the entire the South China Sea based on its spurious "nine-dash line" map.

The three countries said China's claim to “historic rights” in the South China Sea does not comply with international law.

The transit of the South China Sea by the Emeraude and the Seine almost coincided with a powerful freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) conducted Tuesday by two U.S. Navy nuclear powered aircraft carriers and their carrier strike groups (CSGs).

The Biden administration carried out its third FONOP in Asian waters since it came into power three weeks ago with a FONOP by the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and its CSG 9 and the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) with its CSG 11.

The navy said it “conducted a multitude of exercises aimed at increasing interoperability between assets as well as command and control capabilities" during the dual-carrier FONOP.

“We are committed to ensuring the lawful use of the sea that all nations enjoy under international law,” said Rear Admiral James Kirk, commander of CSG 11.

It was the second two-carrier combat exercise in the South China Sea since the USS Nimitz and the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) did so in July 2020. (11 Feb. 2021)

Biden Plans To Wield 'Bigger Stick' Against China

President Joe Biden will keep speaking loudly against China and its abuses but plans to wield a better designed bigger stick.

Biden's take on former President Theodore Roosevelt's "big stick diplomacy" saw him announce on Wednesday his intent to form a new task force to review and recalibrate the United States' strategy and operations against China.

He said the task force will make recommendations to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin “so that we can chart a strong path forward on China-related matters.” 

“It will require a whole-of-government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress and strong alliances and partnerships,” said Biden of the review during his, and Vice President Kamala Harris', first meeting with Pentagon leaders Wednesday afternoon.

“That’s how we’ll meet the China challenge and ensure the American people win the competition of the future.”

Biden sees the rivalry between the U.S. and China as “the competition of the future." He voiced concerns about the “growing challenges” posed by China and its many threats to U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere.

President Joe Biden

The task force will present its findings to Austin within four months. Pentagon officials will discuss recommendations with Congress and others but no report to the public report is expected.

The task force will be headed by deputy national security adviser Ely Ratner. An expert in Asian foreign policy issues, Ratner is Biden's principal adviser on subjects concerning China. He was then-vice president Biden’s deputy national security adviser during the Obama administration.

Ratner's vast China experience will counterbalance Austin's relative lack of experience and knowledge in foreign affairs.

Some national security experts said Ratner's appointment as deputy national security adviser is a good sign for those that want to see Biden's national security team take a more competitive approach against China while working more closely with U.S. allies in Asia.

Pentagon officials described the impending strategic review as a “sprint" effort that will include inputs from U.S. intelligence, troops levels in the Indo-Pacific region and U.S. defense alliances, among many others.

Austin and Ratner will work together to craft the strategic review. Both are known China hawks intent on confronting Chinese abuses.

Austin, a retired four-star U.S. Army general and the first African-American defense secretary, said he intends to do what he can to prevent China gaining military superiority over the U.S.

He told a Senate committee during his nomination hearing he agreed with a recent Pentagon report saying China’s ambition is to transform the People's Liberation Army into an armed force equal to, and in some respects superior to, that of the United States by 2050.

“While that may be their goal, I would ... intend to make sure that never happens,” according to Austin.

Austin also announced a “global posture review” of the U.S. military last week. He intends to ensure the military’s presence around the world “aligns with our national interests" and affirm “we have the right capabilities in the right places."

The Trump administration focused almost solely on economic and trade concerns in its testy relationship with China. Its military moves against China concentrated on arming Taiwan to deter a Chinese cross strait invasion. It also conducted freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait separating Taiwan from mainland China. (11 Feb. 2021)

Two U.S. Navy Carriers Do Combat Drills In South China Sea

The Biden administration carried out its third freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in Asian waters since it came into power three weeks ago with two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers on Tuesday holding a show of force combat drill in the South China Sea.

The dual carrier operation was conducted by the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and its Carrier Strike Group 9 (CSG 9) and the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) with its CSG 11. Altogether, more than 10 Navy warships were involved in the maneuvers.

The Navy said both CSGs carried out operations and exercises to support a free and open Indo-Pacific. It said it “conducted a multitude of exercises aimed at increasing interoperability between assets as well as command and control capabilities."

The carriers led their individual CSGs consisting of escorting destroyers, cruisers, submarines and supply ships.

“We are committed to ensuring the lawful use of the sea that all nations enjoy under international law,” said Rear Admiral James Kirk, commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.

It was the second two-carrier combat exercise in the South China Sea since the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) did so in July 2020.

Tuesday's drill was the third FONOP in Asia since the Biden administration took office on January 20. It was also the most powerful given two aircraft carriers were involved.

The operation comes in the wake of tough statements by Biden, who said China will be taken to task for its excessive geopolitical ambitions. On Monday, Biden said his administration is ready for “extreme competition” against China but on its own terms. He told Americans and the world his administration intends to compete hard against China.

USS Nimitz

He also said Chinese leader Xi Jinping "doesn't have a democratic ‘small D’ bone in his body.” Despite these strong words, Biden also opened the door to talks with China.

“The question is, I’ve said to him all along, that we need not have a conflict,” he pointed out.

On the same day Biden made these remarks, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) again stoked Chinese anger, this time by conducting a FONOP near the Chinese-controlled Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.

The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army Navy said McCain entered into what it claimed are the territorial waters of the Paracels without permission, “seriously infringing upon China’s sovereignty and security."

It was the Navy's first such operation in the South China Sea this year but the second in Asia. On February 4, McCain accomplished the Biden administration's first FONOP in Asia when it transited the Taiwan Strait separating mainland China from Taiwan in a voyage that sparked Chinese anger. (10 Feb. 2021)

New U.S. Marines Littoral Combat Regiments Will Spearhead Fight Vs. China In Indo-Pacific

The U.S. Marine Corps is pushing forward with plans to organize, equip and train its first three "Marine Littoral Regiments" (MLRs) that will spearhead combat operations against the Chinese in the event of a future armed conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.

It was only last week the Marines made known their intention to stand-up, or make operational, their first MLR. These more mobile but heavily-armed fighting units will be designed to execute the Marines' island-hopping strategy against the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and the People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps.

Initial plans call for an MLR consisting of 1,800 to 2,000 Marines and U.S. Navy sailors. An MLR will comprise a Littoral Combat Team, a Littoral Anti-Air Battalion and a Littoral Logistics Battalion

Brig. Gen. Benjamin Watson, Vice Chief of Naval Research and Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, recently said the service plans to have the first MLR reach initial operational capability in Fiscal Year 2023, which starts October 2023. This MLR, the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, will be based in Hawaii.

“There has been discussion of creating as many as three in the Pacific between now and 2030 and they would be forward-based in the Pacific, although they might–depending on the experimentation that we do–they might be rotational in terms of how we source some of the people that man these Marine Littoral Regiments,” said Watson.

“And then based on their -- where they’re home-based in the Pacific, elements would rotate on a regular basis further west,” he noted. “So working with allies and partners so that we persistently have a presence from each of the Marine Littoral Regiments out there in the western Pacific.”

Watson said the new MLRs can also fight in other geographies, including contested waters like the Black Sea near Russia or the Persian Gulf against Iran.

U.S. Marines

Watson described MLRs as fighting units optimized to fight and win in the complex littorals of the western Pacific. MLRs should also prove a useful tool for U.S. foreign policy in the Baltics, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Black Sea and any sort of close contested littoral terrain, according to Watson.

“So it’s a unit that’s designed to be lethal first and foremost, on land or at sea and from the land to the sea, to operate in distributed small units that are low signature and to bring capabilities that enable the larger naval or joint force, particularly in contested or a denied degraded environment.” (9 Feb. 2021)

China Plans Naval Facility Only 200 Km From Australia

China apparently aims to build a wharf or a naval station in an island in the south of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to offset a plan by Australia and the United States to build a joint naval base on an island to the north of the country.

Triggering speculation China is using subterfuge to build a naval facility at Daru Island in the Coral Sea are fresh reports in Australian media a Chinese company named WYW Holding Ltd is again goading the PNG government into approving its plan first broached in April 2020 to build a new industrial island city called "New Daru City" with an investment of $30 billion.

At the time, the Papuan government replied by saying it wasn't considering this Chinese proposal, and had no plans of designating Daru Island a "business, commercial and industrial zone" as the Hong Kong-registered Chinese company proposed.

Daru Island

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday dismissed as “speculative” reports about New Daru City.

“I honestly think it’s just speculative,” said Morrison. “It’s just people flying some kites and I’m not going to overreact to the noise that is flying around out there.”

“I speak pretty regularly with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (James Marape) and we have a very good relationship and he well understands our relationship and the importance of our other partners and I couldn’t see Papua New Guinea being terribly hasty on anything like that,” according to Morrison.

Papua New Guinea is the largest recipient of Australian foreign aid and is unlikely to anger Australia, which lies only 200 kilometers to the south, by hosting a PLAN naval facility.

Australian military analysts argue the Chinese proposal to build a city makes no economic sense given the remoteness of Daru and its population of only 20,000 people. Some, however, suspect China instead plans to build a wharf for a naval facility to be used later on by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

The Chinese seem to have been encouraged to push the proposal for New Daru City after the PNG government in 2020 signed a memorandum of understanding with the Fujian Zhonghong Fishery Company. This Chinese firm intends to build a "comprehensive multi-functional fishery industrial park" on Daru Island.

The existence of a PLAN facility to the north of Australia will represent a dangerous strategic military threat to the country, which has taken the lead among Asian countries in confronting Chinese geopolitical and economic abuses.

Analysts also point to a project by the United States and Australia to redevelop the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island to the north of Papua New Guinea into a major naval base as a reason for China wanting a naval facility of its own in the area.

Australia and the PNG in 2018 entered into talks about providing port facilities to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the U.S. Navy on Manus Island.

Australia and the U.S. proposed to expand Lombrum Naval Base, which has a deep-water port near important shipping lanes, to accommodate large RAN and U.S. Navy warships. Australia wants to bolster the military capabilities at Lombrum and three other ports to counter Chinese expansionism in Australasia and the neighboring Pacific Island nations.

RAN operated a naval base on Manus Island from the 1950s until it transferred the naval base to the Papua New Guinea Defense Force in 1974. (9 Feb. 2021)

Republicans Reaffirm Commitment To Stronger U.S. Navy

Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives vow to fight for the military spending vital to keeping the U.S. Navy on track to deploy 546 manned and unmanned warships by 2045 as rumors swirl of lower military budgets under the Biden administration in the coming years.

The need to finance the massive U.S. budget deficit is putting pressure on Congress to scale back expenditures. The U.S. incurred a deficit of $3.1 trillion in fiscal year 2020 ending September 30.

This number was more than triple the deficit for fiscal year 2019, and amounted to 15.2% of GDP, the largest deficit as a share of the economy since 1945. The economic devastation caused by COVID-19 and the huge stimulus packages that kept the economy from going under were major reasons for the record deficit last year.

Senior Navy officers are publicly voicing concerns to members of Congress about the likelihood of flat or declining defense budgets in the years ahead in light of U.S. economic woes.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Harker said he expects to have a better understanding of the Biden administration’s priorities for shipbuilding once officials like deputy defense secretary nominee Kathleen Hicks and Neera Tanden, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, are confirmed by the Senate within the month.

Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the top Republican and the Ranking Member in the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), and Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia, Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, affirm they'll push to maintain defense spending at current levels. Doing so will ensure money is available for the modernization and increased readiness for the Navy and the other armed services.

U.S. Navy warships

“And that means making sure that we stand by the funding levels that we’ve had in the past," said Wittman. "In fact, I would argue you have to be able to factor in an element of inflation to make sure we have the dollars necessary."

“You know that those dollars are needed, as we’ve seen in the National Defense Strategy, the 30-year shipbuilding plan, Battle Force 2045, however you want to parse it out. Those things are incredibly important,” he added.

Wittman and the Biden administration are on the same page in their assertion the emphasis on China as the main challenge for the Navy will drive U.S. strategy in Battle Force 2045 and make a larger fleet essential.

“You might have a debate about what classes of ships you want to prioritize or how you integrate unmanned platforms. But I think overall the idea is you have to be able to counter the Chinese and in turn our other adversaries, including the Russians that, while they’re not modernizing at the pace that the Chinese are, they have some pretty capable assets that do place the United States at risk. So you have to be able to do those things,” said Wittman.

Last December, the Navy released details of its immense warship building program that will ensure its capability to defeat the navies of China and Russia over the next half century.

The Navy's 30-year shipbuilding plan proposes investing more than $167 billion for 82 battle force ships and 21 unmanned surface vessels (USVs), among other ships, to expand its total surface and subsurface fleets.

The enormous shipbuilding program will see the size of the fleet hit the long-sought-after 355-ship level by 2033 compared to a low of 271 ships in 2015 and some 300 today.

By 2045, the Navy will have 403 battle force ships and 143 unmanned vessels. This future fleet should include 11 aircraft carriers, nine amphibious landing ships, 57 amphibious warfare ships, 74 large surface combat ships, 66 small combatant ships, 72 attack submarines and 12 ballistic missile submarines.

An enormous increase in the numbers of robotic ships is key to reaching a 500-ship Navy and reducing the huge maintenance costs of manned ships. The plan projects spending $4.3 billion on 21 robotic ships from fiscal 2022 to 2026. (7 Feb. 2021)

UK, Japan Forge Closer Military Ties Vs. China; Will Hold Joint Naval Drill In Asia

The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R0-8), flagship of the Royal Navy and her Carrier Strike Group 21, will conduct combat drills for the first time with warships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in Asian waters this year.

The joint decision confirming the deployment of CSG 21 to the Indo-Pacific was revealed by top national security officials of both Japan and the United Kingdom in a "2+2" virtual conference.

Involved in this virtual meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi, Foreign Minister Dominic Raab and Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace. The four ministers agreed Japan and the UK are each other’s closest security partners in Asia and Europe.

Japan and the UK have accelerated the pace of their military cooperation due to China's continuing militarization of the South China Sea and East China Sea, and its relentless harassment of the democratic Republic of China or Taiwan.

Raab and Wallace reaffirmed the UK’s long-term commitment to working closely with Japan to uphold the security of the Indo-Pacific and demonstrate the value of a unified approach to facing global challenges.

“We will take security and defense cooperation between Japan and the U.K. to a higher level,” said Motegi.

“Japan and the U.K. have forged a close defense and security partnership that is being elevated to new heights this year when the U.K. Carrier Strike Group visits the Indo-Pacific,” according to Wallace.

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R0-8),

The UK has also indicated its intention to join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or the Quad, which consists of Japan, the United States, India and Australia.

The addition of the UK and its formidable naval power to Quad will transform this informal security group into what some are calling the "Asian NATO."

The Royal Navy said CSG 21 reached Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in December 2020. It was also in December when JMSDF and the Royal Navy formalized their agreement to deploy together as part of CSG 21.

During her Indo-Pacific mission, HMS Queen Elizabeth will host Northrop Grumman F-35B stealth jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, or “The Wake Island Avengers,” as well as F-35Bs from the Royal Air Force’s 617 Squadron “The Dambusters.” American participation in CSG 21 will include the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG-68).

The Royal Navy said CSG21 will provide opportunities for the RAF and Royal Navy, along with the JMSDF and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to operate together and support opportunities for future collaboration. (6 Feb. 2021)

Biden Assembling Asia Experts for Foreign Policy Team

President Joe Biden is assembling a team of "old China hands" as he prepares to confront the huge challenge presented by China and its aggressive foreign policy currently launching "gray-zone operations" against U.S. allies in Asia as a substitute for war.

Biden is putting together a foreign policy team consisting of old China hands, or experts on China, along with experts in Asian affairs. The importance Biden places on boosting U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific while diminishing China's can be seen in his appointment of long-time China critic Kurt Campbell as the National Security Council’s Indo-Pacific affairs coordinator, otherwise called the "China czar."

Campbell's appointment sends a strong signal to America’s Asian allies the Biden administration will take a hard line against China in lockstep with its allies.

Campbell formerly served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs under the Obama administration. He was one of the architects of Obama's "Pivot to Asia," or East Asia Strategy.

This strategy called for strengthening bilateral security alliances; deepening America's working relationships with emerging powers (including China) and advancing democracy and human rights, among others.

As Indo-Pacific coordinator, Campbell will have broad management over NSC directorates responsible for China-related issues and parts of Asia. He's expected to adapt the Pivot to Asia strategy to deal with the new strategic situation created by ex-president Donald Trump's confrontational strategic competition against China.

Campbell reports directly to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, a close friend whom he worked with at the Department of State during the Clinton administration. Sullivan is a China hawk like Sullivan.

The Biden administration asserts the strategic competition against China is one of its greatest foreign policy challenges. It's kept emphasizing it will take action against China in concert with its Asian and global allies

Along with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Campbell and Sullivan will play major roles in crafting the Biden administration's policy towards China.

“China policy in 2021 I think is actually going to be about ally policy,” said Scott Kennedy, senior advisor and Trustee Chair in Chinese business and economics at Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“So I think we’re gonna see Secretary of State Antony Blinken ... national security advisor Sullivan and Kurt Campbell spend much of their time not directly engaging China, but engaging allies in Asia and Europe on China,” he said.

CNS Shandong (CV-17)

The Biden administration is expected to focus its attention in countering China's relentless gray-zone operations against Japan and the Republic of China or Taiwan by ramping-up its freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) in the South China Sea, the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

Gray zone operations, which are a favorite tool of both China and Russia, include  the ambiguous use of unconventional force, election meddling and economic coercion, among others. They're a step below an outright shooting war, but present a severe challenge to U.S. efforts to pursue its interests nonetheless.

China's gray-zone ops against Japan and China consists of sending its warplanes and warships close to or into the territorial waters or air defense identification zones of both countries.

Japan and Taiwan are forced to respond to China's incursions by deploying naval and air force units. This constant state of interceptions wears-down military personnel and equipment of both U.S. allies, increasing their vulnerability in the event of an actual Chinese attack.

USS John S. McCain Accomplishes 1st U.S. Navy Taiwan Strait Transit Of Biden Administration

The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) has again transited the Taiwan Strait in the first freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) under the Biden administration.

Its routine passage Thursday sends a clear signal to China the Biden administration won’t back-off from confronting China to ensure freedom of navigation on the high seas. It was the 14th transit of the Taiwan Strait since 2020 by a Navy warship, said the United States Seventh Fleet based in Hawaii.

The navy thumbed its nose at China 13 times in 2020, the most number since 12 transits in 2016, the final year of former President Barack Obama's administration.

"The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Lt. Joe Keiley, a spokesperson for the Seventh Fleet.

"The United States military will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows."

Of the 14 transits since 2020, two were conducted by McCain. On New Year's Eve, this destroyer and the USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) both completed a rare two warship passage of the Taiwan Strait separating Taiwan from mainland China.

USS John S. McCain

China's Ministry of Defense said the unopposed transit of the strait indicates the "incumbent U.S. administration's desperate destructive acts." It was the last FONOP in Asia by the Trump administration.

McCain has been the most active in challenging illegal maritime claims by China and Russia. A warship of Destroyer Squadron 15 of the Seventh Fleet based in Yokosuka, Japan, McCain conducted a FONOP in international waters off Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan in November 2020 to the fury of the Russian Navy.

On December 22, McCain performed a FONOP in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands, which Taiwan, China, and Vietnam claim to own. On December 24, she appeared off Vietnam for a FONOP in the vicinity of the Con Dao Islands in the South China Sea in an unusual warning to Vietnam.

In August 2017, McCain sailed to within 11 km of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, a Philippine island seized by China in the South China Sea, in another FONOP. China expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" to the McCain's incursion. (5 Feb. 2021)

Biden Vows Iron Hand Vs. China's Abuses In 1st Foreign Policy Speech

President Joe Biden has formalized his administration's tough stand against China's abuses, saying he'll call out economic and human rights violations by America’s “most serious competitor" in his first major policy speech since ascending the presidency on January 20.

Biden on Thursday declared "America is back" as leader of the free world. He also proclaimed "diplomacy is back at the center" of U.S. foreign policy.

Biden pledged to restore U.S. alliances and lead with multilateral diplomacy to meet international crises while reversing ex-President Donald Trump's jingoistic "America First" foreign policy. Abuses by Russia and China are at the top of his list.

“We will confront China’s economic abuses,” said Biden, who described China as America’s “most serious competitor.”

He said the U.S. will resist China's "economic abuses, counter its aggressive, coercive action to push back on China's attack on human rights, intellectual property, and global governance."

His administration's relationship with Beijing won't only be confrontational, however. He said the U.S, will also be ready “to work with Beijing when it’s in America’s interest to do so. We’ll compete from a position of strength by building back better at home and working with our allies and partners.”

Biden reminded everyone he's spent more time with China’s President Xi Jinping than any other world leader over the past two decades in a hint he's laid the groundwork for working with the Chinese leader.

True to earlier statements, Biden again promised to work more closely with U.S. allies in Asia and Europe to oppose China and Russia.

“Over the past two weeks, I’ve spoken with the leaders of many of our closest friends–Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, France, NATO, Japan, South Korea, and Australia–to begin re-forming the habits of cooperation and rebuilding the muscles of democratic alliances that have atrophied from four years of neglect and abuse,” said Biden.

President Joe Biden gestures

His message is similar to those made the other day by the Department of State and the Department of Defense. The U.S. is  more concerned about talking to U.S. allies first, said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki and State Department spokesman Ned Price speaking at separate press events.

"So, as a first step we want to make sure that we are in lockstep with those allies, in lockstep with those partners, and then ... you can expect that there will be engagement in several areas with China," said Price.

He said it's "no coincidence" Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken's initial interactions were with America's allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. He described U.S. alliances and partnerships as a "force multiplier" that advance U.S. national interests.

Price described America’s relationship with China as one viewed "through the lens of competition and positioning ourselves to compete and ultimately to out-compete with the Chinese."

"We know that China is engaged in a range of conduct that … threatens our alliances and influence international organizations."

"And China has engaged in gross human rights violations that shock the conscience. So we will counter China's aggressive and coercive actions, sustain our key military advantages, defend democratic values, invest in advanced technologies and restore are vital security partnerships," he said. (4 Feb. 2021)

Japan, UK Oppose China Law Authorizing Force Vs. Foreign Ships

Japan and the United Kingdom are warning China not to abuse its contentious Coast Guard Law that allows its coast guard vessels to fire on foreign ships at their discretion in the South China Sea and East China Sea.

The law, which took effect Monday, was assailed Wednesday by both Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi and Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi during an online conference with their British counterparts, Foreign Minister Dominic Raab and Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace.

In their joint statement issued after the talks, the ministers expressed “serious concerns" about rising tension in regional seas. They urged China and other Asian states involved in territorial disputes with China “to exercise self-restraint and refrain from activities likely to raise tensions, in particular militarization and coercion.”

They also expressed “grave concerns” over China’s crackdown on opposition pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong, and “gross human rights violations being perpetrated against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang."

The ministers also agreed to strengthen defense and security cooperation between Japan and the UK to ensure a “free and open Indo-Pacific” goal Japan has been fighting for along with the U.S., Australia and India to deter China.

“Japan is staying alert and paying close attention to its effect on us,” said Motegi said in the online talks. "I believe the law should not be used in a way that violates international law.”

Kishi said Japan "would like to share our strong concern with you (the UK)” about the Coast Guard Law. He welcomed the deployment this March to East Asia of a British carrier strike group led by the new Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), as part of Britain’s growing commitment to the region.

Royal Navy Group commander Commodore Steve Moorehouse said the deployment will be the navy's largest peacetime task group in 25 years. It proves Britain's commitment to maintaining world security, or "a visible demonstration of global Britain."

"In practical terms, my strike group is now at very high readiness, meaning we are at five days' notice to deploy, if required, in response to global events and in defense of British interests," said Moorehouse last month.

The supercarrier's air wing on this maiden Asian deployment will consist of 14 Northrop Grumman F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing stealth fighters and four helicopters. Its surface escort will include four Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates. a nuclear submarine, a combined fleet stores ship and a tanker.

Only this week, the Biden administration indicated its support for transforming the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue," or Quad, involving Japan, the U.S., India and Australia into a formal Asian military alliance also including other countries outside Asia such as the UK. This proposed military pact is being called the Asian NATO.

Japan and China Coast Guard Vessels

The UK has also indicated its willingness to join the Asian NATO. Citing credible government sources, British media said the administration of Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not objecting to the UK joining Quad.

Speaking at this week’s online United States Institute for Peace forum, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said transforming Quad into a military alliance is a goal of the Biden administration.  He said the Biden administration “really wants to carry forward” the work of bolstering the capabilities of Quad beyond an informal grouping of countries standing-up to China.

The Coast Guard Law allows the China Coast Guard to “take all necessary measures, including the use of weapons when national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations or individuals at sea."

The law also allows coast guard personnel to demolish other countries’ structures built on Chinese-claimed reefs and to board and inspect foreign vessels in waters claimed by China. (4 Feb. 2021)

U.S. Set To Transfrom 'Quad' Alliance Into 'Asian NATO'

The Biden administration has indicated its support for transforming the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue," or Quad, among the United States, India, Australia and Japan into a formal Asian military alliance also involving other countries outside Asia.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration “really wants to carry forward” the work started by ex-President Donald Trump in strengthening the capabilities of Quad beyond an informal grouping of countries determined to stand-up to China. Quad has long been referred to as the "Asian NATO" because of the immense military power, especially seapower, of its four partners.

Speaking at the online United States Institute for Peace forum, Sullivan said bolstering Quad into a military organization is a goal of the Biden administration.

He affirmed “the number one geopolitical challenge to the United States is China.” He said China has become “increasingly nationalistic” with its crackdown on pro-democracy citizens in Hong Kong and Muslim Uyghurs in China's Xinjang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Sullivan also underscored China's “unrelenting global ambitions” that extend from the South China Sea to the East China Sea and up to the Arctic with its vast untapped mineral wealth China desperately needs to grow its economy.

Sullivan said the U.S. needs “to be in lockstep with allies and partners” that share a common concern about China's territorial ambitions. He said the democracies comprising the future Quad means “we’re going to stand up for principle.” Quad will impose costs on China for flagrantly violating the sovereignty of other countries with its illegal maritime claims and for violating human rights at home and abroad.

Jake Sullivan

Technological superiority will be key to success against China, and Sullivan said the U.S. “needs to keep its technological edge” in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing to show it remains a superpower and a model for economic development.

Quad, a 2017 initiative of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, intends to establish an "Asian arc of democracy." This arc will include countries in Central Asia, Mongolia, South Korea, Southeast Asia and "virtually all the countries on China's periphery -- except for China itself," according to Quad.

Over the weekend, the United Kingdom indicated its readiness to join Quad. The government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made no objections the UK joining Quad, according to British media citing credible government sources.

The UK is poised to join the Quad following a proposal from the Biden administration to expand the group’s membership as a counterweight to China.

China hawk Kurt Campbell, appointed Indo-Pacific coordinator at the National Security Council (NSC), put forward a position paper encouraging Asian countries to join Quad.

There is, as yet, no firm proposal on UK membership in the Quad for Johnson to review. On the other hand, Johnson previously highlighted the similarities between the UK’s foreign policy and the principles set out by Biden. (2 Feb. 2021)

 

Trump Was A Russian Asset For 40 Years, Claims Ex-KGB Spy

The Russians used Donald Trump for 40 years, transforming a narcissistic young businessman into a gullible asset whose pro-Russia stand as U.S. president delighted and even astonished the Kremlin.

Yuri Shvets, a former KGB spy, made these incredible revelations to The Guardian. He's also a key source of information in a new book, "American Kompromat," written by journalist Craig Unger.

“This is an example where people were recruited when they were just students and then they rose to important positions; something like that was happening with Trump,” said Shvets when speaking about Trump's recruitment as an asset by the KGB, the notorious spy agency of the former Soviet Union.

He said businessman Trump, who visited Moscow in 1987, was cultivated as a Russian asset over 40 years starting with his marriage to his first wife, Ivana Zelnickova, a Czech fashion model. He also said it was the Russians that first planted the idea in Trump's head that he should enter U.S. politics.

When Trump and Ivana visited Moscow and St. Petersburg for the first time in 1987, Trump was flattered by KGB operatives who floated the idea he should go into politics.

“For the KGB, it was a charm offensive," according to Shvets. "They had collected a lot of information on his personality so they knew who he was personally. The feeling was that he was extremely vulnerable intellectually, and psychologically, and he was prone to flattery."

It were these personality flaws the KGB exploited, said Shvets.

“This is what they exploited. They played the game as if they were immensely impressed by his personality and believed this is the guy who should be the president of the United States one day: it is people like him who could change the world. They fed him these so-called active measures soundbites and it happened. So it was a big achievement for the KGB active measures at the time.”

Witting Russian asset, Donald Trump.

The Russians even helped Trump's hotel business in the U.S. prosper. Shvets revealed when Trump opened his first big property development in 1990, the Grand Hyatt New York hotel, the Russians had one of their operatives posing as the owner of an electronics business sell him 200 TV sets on favorable terms.

Unger, the author of seven book, among which are "House of Trump, House of Putin," affirms Trump was a valuable tool for the Soviet Union.

“He was an asset. It was not this grand, ingenious plan that we’re going to develop this guy and 40 years later he’ll be president," said Unger. “At the time it started, which was around 1980, the Russians were trying to recruit like crazy and going after dozens and dozens of people.”

“Trump was the perfect target in a lot of ways: his vanity, narcissism made him a natural target to recruit. He was cultivated over a 40-year period, right up through his election.” (2 Feb. 2021)

China Seen As Customer For Russian MiG-41 Stealth Interceptor Jet

 China is being touted as a possible customer for the new Mikoyan MiG-41 which, if it enters service, will become the world's first stealth interceptor jet fighter.

The sixth generation stealth interceptor/heavy fighter designed by Mikoyan reached its development phase last week, announced Rostec Corporation, the state-owned holding company that owns Mikoyan's parent firm, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).

Ilya Tarasenko, Director General of Mikoyan, said the first production and first flight of the MiG-41 might be completed in 2025. The interceptor is expected to enter service with the Russian Air Force in 2028.

China and India will likely want to cooperate in developing the MiG-41, with both countries becoming customers later on, claimed Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. Pukhov pointed to India's role in helping develop Russia's first stealth fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57. India, however, later pulled out of the project, saying it didn't meet its requirements for stealth, combat avionics, radars and sensors.

The MiG-41 will replace the ageing Mikoyan MiG-31 supersonic jet interceptor that entered service with the defunct Soviet Air Defense Force in 1981.

Rostec claims the MiG-41 will have the capability to intercept and destroy incoming hypersonic missiles, and can launch anti-satellite missiles, as well. The MiG-41 will also be able to operate in Arctic conditions.

Mikoyan MiG-41 (artist's concept)

Russian state media said the MiG-41 is envisioned as an interceptor of U.S. hypersonic missiles. In this role, the MiG-41 will deploy a multifunctional long-range interceptor missile system (MPKR DP) dispensing sub-missiles to increase the chance of intercepting hypersonic glide missiles.

To pursue its speedy prey, the MiG-41 will be capable of a maximum speed of Mach 4.9 (6,100 km/h), and will have a cruising speed of Mach 2.4 (3,000 km/h). It will be able to operate in near-space altitudes with its service ceiling estimated at 45,000 meters (28 miles or 148,000 feet).

Some Western defense analysts, however, doubt if Russia has the money and resources to develop another sophisticated weapon such as the MiG-41.

Douglas Barrie of the International Institute for Strategic Studies doubts Russia “will be able to develop, manufacture and introduce into service (the jet) in anything like the purported time frame.”

He said Russia’s aerospace sector is already committed to numerous projects. These include further development of the Su-75, upgrading the Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber/strike fighter, and modernizing the outdated Tu-160 Blackjack, Tu-22M Backfire and Tu-95 bombers.

“Some would argue that the sector has already more than enough to try to manage without the additional or a project potentially as complex as a new heavy interceptor, or indeed whether there would be realistic levels of funding for a program,” said Barrie. (Jan. 31, 2021)

PLAAF Simulated Attack On U.S. Navy Carrier Last Week

The U.S. Navy said the unprecedented intrusion of large numbers of People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) combat aircraft into Taiwanese airspace on Jan. 23 and 24 was part of a drill simulating an attack on one of its carrier strike groups.

It said the two missions involving 28 PLAAF jet fighters, strategic bombers and anti-submarine aircraft were timed to coincide with a transit of the waters off Taiwanese-controlled Pratas Island southwest of Taiwan by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and its Carrier Strike Group 9.

The U.S Indo-Pacific Command said that on January 23, “the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) entered the South China Sea January 23 to conduct routine operations.”

It said while in the South China Sea, "the strike group is conducting maritime security operations, which include flight operations with fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and coordinated tactical training between surface and air units."

A Navy official said the PLAAF aircraft did not come within 250 nautical miles (460 km) of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group.

Regional security and diplomatic sources said the PLAAF was dispatched on missions on the morning of January 23, coinciding with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group passing south of Pratas.

“They purposely conducted the drills when the U.S. carrier was passing through the Bashi Channel,” according to one source.

“That was not just meant for Taiwan. Most importantly, China is trying to tackle the issue of the South China Sea: it wants to stop the U.S. military from entering the South China Sea. China wants to diminish the United States’ weight in the western Pacific.”

USS Theodore Roosevelt

On January 23, 13 PLAAF warplanes intruded into the southwest corner of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The PLAAF repeated the incursion on Sunday when a larger force of 15 planes entered the same area.

Fighter planes of the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAf) were scrambled to intercept and monitor both PLAAF forays. Taiwan's surface-to-air missile batteries also tracked the intruders.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said the number of PLAAF aircraft were the largest deployed in single sorties so far this year. The intruders consisted of Shenyang J-16 air superiority fighters, Xian H-6K nuclear-capable strategic bombers and Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft.

The Saturday daylight sortie consisted of one Y-8, four J-16s and eight H-6K bombers. The intruders flew at altitudes ranging from 2,500 to 7,800 meters.

What makes the weekend PLAAF sorties unique is the presence of J-16 fighters. Previous incursions mostly involved Y-8s and other unarmed reconnaissance aircraft. (Jan. 31, 2021)

UK Poised To Join Anti-China 'Quad,' Or 'Asian NATO' Alliance

The global military pushback against China's expansionism in the Indo-Pacific is accelerating, with the United Kingdom now indicating its readiness to join a de facto military alliance of democracies being called the "Asian NATO."

British media citing credible government sources said the administration of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made no objections the UK join the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue," or QSD, better known as Quad.

Quad, a 2017 initiative of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, will establish an "Asian arc of democracy." This arc will include countries in Central Asia, Mongolia, South Korea, Southeast Asia and "virtually all the countries on China's periphery -- except for China itself," according to Quad.

Quad has been called the "Asian NATO" due to the breadth of its membership. It's long been anticipated Quad will eventually transform into a military alliance. The original members of Quad are Japan, India, the United States and Australia.

The UK is poised to join the Quad following a proposal from the Biden administration to expand the group’s membership as a counterweight to China.

China hawk Kurt Campbell, appointed Indo-Pacific coordinator at the National Security Council (NSC) only last week, has put forward a position paper encouraging Asian countries to join the Quad.

There are, as yet, no firm proposals on UK membership in the Quad for Johnson to review. On the other hand, Johnson previously highlighted the similarities between the UK’s foreign policy and the principles set out by Biden.

Kurt Campbell

Campbell formerly served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs under the Obama administration. He was one of the architects of Obama's "Pivot to Asia," or East Asia Strategy.

This strategy called for strengthening bilateral security alliances; deepening America's working relationships with emerging powers (including China) and advancing democracy and human rights, among others.

As Biden's Indo-Pacific Coordinator, or "Asia Tzar," Campbell will have broad management over NSC directorates responsible for China-related issues and parts of Asia.

He's expected to adapt the Pivot to Asia strategy to deal with the new strategic situation created by ex-president Donald Trump's confrontational strategic competition against China.

Campbell reports directly to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, a close friend whom he worked with at the Department of State during the Clinton administration.

Campbell and Sullivan made their thoughts known about how to deal with China in late 2019 in a joint essay for the magazine, Foreign Affairs, with the title, “Competition Without Catastrophe: How America Can Both Challenge and Coexist With China.”

In this article, they dismissed the failed strategy that sought to engage China in hopes China will liberalize. Instead, they argue competition against China must revolve around the goal of coexisting with China rather than expecting to change it. (Jan. 31, 2021)