Good morning, and welcome to the Global Situation Report for Monday, 22 July 2024.
- TAIWAN’S ANNUAL EXERCISE IS NOW WHOLE-OF-SOCIETY: Taiwan kicked off its annual Han Kuang exercise today and will run it until 26 July. This will be a whole-of-society drill that includes mandatory civilian air raid practice and unannounced supply movements using civilian personnel. All exercises will be unscripted, and refrain from using live ammunition so they do not expend ammunition ahead of a potential war.
- Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced its plans to launch “news anchors” created using artificial intelligence (AI) that can speak 18 different languages during the exercises.
- Air Force assets are moving to the eastern Hualien air base to conduct air operations from a relatively shielded air base. (Hualien also has a port facing the weakest potential point of a blockade.)
- Naval assets are underway practicing mining operations and “confronting enemy forces.”
Why It Matters: These are significant changes from last year, when the focus was on beach defense against an amphibious landing, with experts calling for a heavier emphasis on logistics. China is unlikely to have an immediate response, but this may change their plans for achieving an effective blockade, delaying any potential course of action. – J.V.
- Global Rollup
- Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced in his State of the Nation Address that Philippine Offshore Gambling Operations (POGO), a special type of casino that is frequently run and infiltrated by Chinese crime syndicates, are officially banned nationwide. (This shuts down a significant infiltration avenue for Chinese crime in one of the U.S. allies and friendshoring destinations. – J.V.)
- Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro announced that he would seek Reciprocal Access Agreements (RAA) with France, Canada, New Zealand, and “other like-minded countries.” RAA are military cooperation and troop stationing agreements that fall short of mutual defense treaties.
- Vietnam and the Philippines announced they will have their first joint Coast Guard exercise next month. The exercises aim at “countering China’s assertive maneuvers in the South China Sea.”
THAT’S A WRAP: This does it for today’s edition. Thank you for reading. If you know folks who would also like to receive this email, would you please forward it to them? We appreciate you spreading the word. – M.S.