Good morning, and welcome to the Global Situation Report for Wednesday, 01 May 2024.
- ESCALATION IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA: The U.S., Japanese, French, Dutch, the EU, the U.K., and Australian Ambassadors condemned the Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) attack on the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) near Scarborough Shoal.
- The PCG released videos of the CCG intentionally destroying a radar, a communications antenna, a life rail containing a life raft, and sideswiping the vessel. China maintains that it handled the situation lawfully and professionally.
- Philippine lawmakers are urging the public to support Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos’ firm stance against China.
- A Filipino civilian project plans to send 100 civilian vessels to the Scarborough Shoal on 15 May to counter the Chinese Maritime Militia. The Philippine Navy Spokesman was highly supportive of this and said they should aim for 1000 boats to counter China.
Why It Matters: If this results in an activation of the Mutual Defense Treaty, American troops are already on station and would be able to react within hours of activation. This is also highly likely to taint Xi Jinping’s discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen next week. – J.V.
- Global Rollup
- China started the first sea trial of its third aircraft carrier and will test the catapult, which is another first for China.
- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will be in Paris tomorrow to discuss a Reciprocal Access Agreement with French President Macron. (A Reciprocal Access Agreement is similar to a Status of Forces Agreement where troops can be stationed in each others’ territories. – J.V.)
- South Korea’s defense minister said they may join AUKUS as a Pillar Two (science and technology) partner after receiving invitations from the other three nations.
- The U.S. Space Force recently tested a new electronic warfare weapon that is intended to be mass deployed in space, according to the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM).
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.