Good morning, and welcome to the Global Situation Report for Thursday, 05 September 2024.
- Global Rollup
- Taiwan reports that China is conducting an amphibious landing exercise across the strait from Taiwan using Roll-on-Roll-off (RO-RO) vessels. (None of the public images show the RO-ROs in action. However, there are no piers in the exercise area. This strongly suggests that the Chinese are no longer required to use piers while using the RO-ROs and the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense’s recent assessment that China lacks the amphibious landing capability is likely incorrect. – J.V.)
- According to the 2024 Defense of Japan report from the Japanese Ministry of Defense, Japan accelerated numerous weapons acquisition programs due to the “severe security environment.” This includes downgrading the Tomahawk missile purchase from Block V to Block IV to facilitate the acceleration. Additionally, Japan began mass producing Hypersonic Glide Vehicles in Fiscal Year 2023 (April 2023-April 2024) and will field them in Fiscal Year 2026.
- Japan and Australia announced three major developments at their 2+2 meeting. Japanese troops will stand up a rotational force alongside the U.S. and Australia in Northern Australia. The two nations will also integrate their forces with liaison officers at joint operation command centers. The Australian Foreign Minister announced that both nations would provide assistance to the Philippines in response to China’s actions in the South China Sea but left the exact type of assistance undefined.
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.