Good morning! Here’s your Saturday defense and global affairs update for December 21. As the weekend unfolds, let’s take a look at the latest developments shaping the world.
Pentagon Tracks China’s Navy, Nukes, and Taiwan Push
The Pentagon recently dropped its latest report on China’s military and security updates, and it’s got plenty to unpack. Beijing’s been hustling to modernize its forces, but the effort hasn’t been all smooth sailing.
Corruption at the top has slowed things down, with some major leaders getting the boot. Here’s a quick look at the highlights:
Nuclear Arsenal: China’s nuclear game is on the rise, with over 600 warheads in 2024 compared to 500 last year. The Pentagon says they’re aiming for 1,000 by 2030, which could significantly boost their ability to target US cities and military sites.
Navy: With more than 370 ships and subs (up from 340 in 2022), China’s navy is officially the biggest in the world. They’re also stepping up operations far beyond their usual stomping grounds.
Air Force: China’s air force is catching up fast, modernizing planes, drones, and other tech to rival US standards.
Missiles: Beijing’s working on new intercontinental ballistic missiles and ramping up silo production for them. They’re even exploring conventional missile systems that could hit US targets.
Overseas Reach: China is looking to set up military logistics hubs worldwide, from Africa to South Asia. This could spell trouble for US military operations if it all comes together.
Pressure on Taiwan: Taiwan remains a hot spot, with China turning up the heat in 2023 through military drills, naval patrols, and air incursions. They’re making it clear they want Taiwan under their wing, one way or another.
In short, China’s military is growing fast and spreading its wings, but challenges like corruption and international pushback could complicate its plans.
US Sends $571M Defense Package to Taiwan
President Joe Biden just greenlit a hefty $571.3 million defense aid package for Taiwan, adding to a similar deal from just a few months back.
While the US doesn’t officially recognize Taiwan, it’s no secret they’re a major ally and supplier of weapons to the self-ruled island. The timing is notable, too—Biden’s wrapping up his presidency as Donald Trump gears up for his January inauguration.
China, unsurprisingly, isn’t thrilled. They’ve been cranking up the pressure on Taiwan with military drills and constant displays of firepower, including a recent naval exercise involving about 90 ships.
Beijing has also kept up the tough talk, claiming Taiwan as part of its territory and refusing to rule out force to bring about “unification.”
Taiwan, on the other hand, seems grateful for the US support.
They recently received 38 Abrams battle tanks—their first new tanks in 30 years—and praised Washington’s commitment to maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait.
While the specifics of the latest aid package are under wraps, it’s clear the US-Taiwan partnership isn’t cooling off anytime soon.
UN Reports Rising Civilian Deaths in Sudan
The situation in Sudan’s North Darfur is beyond grim, with a United Nations report Friday revealing that at least 782 civilians have been killed and over 1,100 injured in a paramilitary siege of El-Fasher, the region’s capital.
Since April, Sudan has been locked in a brutal power struggle between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
El-Fasher, home to two million people, has become a battleground as the RSF tries to wrest control from the army. The city has endured relentless shelling, airstrikes, and drone attacks, with hospitals and displacement camps also under fire.
Last week, paramilitary forces shelled the city’s main hospital twice, killing 19 people and injuring dozens. Earlier this month, a displacement camp near El-Fasher was also targeted, leaving more dead and injured.
The UN’s Volker Turk warned that a large-scale attack could push the humanitarian crisis to catastrophic levels, with millions already at risk of starvation.
Nearly all of Darfur is now under RSF control, and the conflict has displaced more than 11 million people across Sudan.
Both sides stand accused of targeting civilians and essential infrastructure in a war that shows no signs of slowing down.
UAE Promises to Stop Arming Sudan’s Paramilitaries
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently promised the US it would stop sending weapons to Sudan’s paramilitary RSF, a key player in the country’s devastating civil war.
This assurance came after mounting pressure from US lawmakers who had been pushing to block a $1.2 billion arms sale to the UAE.
Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representative Sara Jacobs, both Democrats, said they’ll be keeping a close eye on the UAE’s compliance.
Van Hollen called the pledge a step toward reducing the “horrific violence” in Sudan and warned he’d revive efforts to block the arms deal if the UAE doesn’t follow through.
Jacobs added that without the UAE’s backing, the RSF will likely lose its edge, increasing the chances for negotiations and a ceasefire.
The UAE denies arming the RSF, but UN experts have previously found credible evidence of weapons being funneled through Chad. The ongoing civil war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million people since April 2023.
This development also comes as President Biden prepares to leave office, with the White House promising a credibility assessment on the UAE’s assurances by January 17, just days before Donald Trump takes office again.
US Strikes Target ISIS Leaders in Rebel-Controlled Syria
American forces took out a top ISIS leader, “Abu Yusif,” along with another operative in Syria’s Deir Ezzor province, the US military announced Friday.
The strike is part of an intensified campaign against ISIS following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government earlier this month. Rebels now control Syria, and the US has ramped up operations in areas that were previously under Syrian and Russian protection.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the strike as part of its ongoing mission to dismantle terrorist networks and prevent ISIS from regrouping.
This is just the latest in a series of targeted attacks, including a December 8 blitz on 75 ISIS targets to keep the group from exploiting Syria’s new power vacuum.
Interestingly, the US has doubled its troop presence in Syria to about 2,000 personnel, significantly more than previously disclosed. These troops are working with international partners to ensure ISIS doesn’t stage a comeback like it did before.
Russia Hits Kyiv, Cuts Heat to Hundreds
Russia hit Kyiv with missiles at sunrise on Friday, killing at least one person and injuring 11 others while cutting heat to over 600 residential buildings in freezing temperatures.
Moscow claimed the attack was payback for a recent strike on a Russian chemical plant, allegedly carried out with Western missiles.
Ukraine’s air defenses managed to intercept all five Iskander missiles, but falling debris caused damage across five districts. The strikes also left charred cars, blown-out windows, and residents reeling.
The Kremlin described the strikes as a response to Western-backed aggression, with Russian President Vladimir Putin even suggesting a “hi-tech duel” to test Russia’s hypersonic missiles, calling for a direct strike on Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit back, calling Putin’s remarks “dumbass,” emphasizing the human toll of the nearly three-year-long invasion.
Meanwhile, in Kherson, Russian shelling killed two more people, left 60,000 homes without electricity, and continued to make life hell for residents. Russian forces remain on the offensive in eastern Ukraine, capturing two villages near Pokrovsk.
The war grinds on with no signs of slowing down.
Sources: News Agencies, US Department of Defense, The White House
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