1) #Chinese Nuclear plants Releasing Water Containing Tritium at Levels 6.5 Times Higher than Planned Fukushima Discharge

Fukushima's discharge of treated water to start this summer. Beijing strongly opposes the plan.

China plans dozens of new N-plants.
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pac… 2) Chinese state media regularly condemn the planned release. Chinese Communist Party organ, People’s Daily, quoted an official saying, “Japan’s plan is not the country’s private matter, but a major issue that has an effect on the global marine environment and public health.”

THREAD: 1) Xi throws #Okinawa into East Asia geopolitical cocktail

Xi speaks of Ryukyu's history, with emphasis on ties with #China

Xi's message is clear: That 600 years back, Okinawa was under the sway of the Chinese world order.
asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks… 2) Xi said that 36 Clans of the Min-People went over to the Ryukyus & settled, a reference to the movement of people during Ming Dynasty China in the 14th century. He emphasized the need to collect and sort such historic documents to inherit and develop Chinese civilization well.

THREAD 1) At least 10,000 people died in #TiananmenSquareMassacre - Secret #British cable from the time says

Secret document say death toll was much higher than later reported, while claiming wounded students were bayoneted as they begged for their lives.
independent.co.uk/news/world/asi… 2) First waves of troops went in unarmed to disperse the protesters. Then “The 27 Army APCs opened fire on the crowd before running over them. APCs ran over troops & civilians at 65kmh.” “Students were given one hour to leave square, but after five minutes APCs attacked.

#BREAKING: #Chinese media said 2,296 delegates to the 20th Party Congress have been elected under the leadership of #XiJinping

Xi is expected to receive a 5-year-term in October, paving the way for his ascendence to Paramount Leader of the Party for life.
Sorry, No #chinacoup 2) Xinhua News Agency: Election of deputies to the 20th National Congress was completed.

Each electoral unit across China held party congresses or party representative meetings respectively & elected 2,296 deputies to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of #China

#THREAD: 1) It seems to me that #China has chosen a phased approach of limited military measures to squeeze #Taiwan here & there, on & off, pressure & release tactics, coupled with long term economic retaliation.

Southern Okinawa Japanese islands are also in China's crosshairs. 2) Here, the Global Times talks about #PLA military drill areas becoming a threat to #Taiwan's ports & shipping lanes, forming a blockade as a step to achieve reunification by force in the future.

Also a good way to test a US response.

https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1554712334685261824?s=20&t=AdzXUUpeAkISIQPT1VdtMw

THREAD: 1) With His Weak Response to #China’s Threats, Biden May Just Have thrown #Taiwan under the Bus

Biden worked behind the scenes to stop Pelosi from visiting Taiwan.

Biden also seemed to sacrifice Taiwan’s defence on a phone call with Xi Jinping.
msn.com/en-in/news/opi… 2) In a a long phone call over 2 hours, a White House statement said that Biden “underscored that the United States policy has not changed and that the US strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace & stability across the Taiwan Strait”

1/ #Ukrainian Nationalist Volunteers Committing 'ISIS-Style' War Crimes: Amnesty International

Right-wing Ukrainian ultra nationalists are committing war crimes in rebel-held territories of Eastern #Ukraine, evidence of militias beheading their victims.
newsweek.com/evidence-war-c… 2/ Armed volunteers who refer to themselves as the Aidar battalion "have been involved in widespread abuses, including abductions, unlawful detention, ill-treatment, theft, extortion, and possible executions", Amnesty said.

1/ #Ukrainian Theater of War, Day 11:

It's likely #Russian forces will renew offensive operations in the next 24-48 hours with emphasis on continuing to encircle #Kyiv, attacking west of #Kharkiv & capturing #Mariupol. Via @JominiW

#Russia #Ukraine #Donbass
#UkraineRussiaWar 2/ Kyiv AO assessment is detailed in this chart.

Key take away, both #Russian & #Ukrainian forces conducted limited probes throughout NW Kyiv.

Russian forces seem to be increasing targeting of known civilian exit routes, most likely to degrade morale. #KyivNow Via @JominiW

1/ How to interpret #Putin’s nuclear war threats

If #Russia's economy collapses & #Ukraine war fails, a limited nuclear strike to demonstrate resolve is not inconceivable.

I'd say very likely. Analysts & diplomats with good links to #Putin are worried.
asiatimes.com/2022/03/how-to… 2/ By alluding to a disproportionate nuclear escalation, Moscow wants to limit (or even reverse) western interference in Ukraine, in order to make the Russian war effort more sustainable. The West’s most powerful weapon at present is sanctions rather than military intervention.

#Russian 2S4 Tyulpan 240mm heavy mortars and 2S7M Malka 203mm heavy artilleries on the move in Belgorod.
vk.com/milinfolive?w=…
#UkraineWar #UkraineRussiaCrisis #RussianArmy 2/n
The "Z" markers denote they are heading to #Ukraine
- via @RALee85
#UkraineRussiaConflict #UkraineWar #UkraineInvasion

Assuring Assured Retaliation: Why #China is Growing its Nuclear Arsenal - An Analysis

Prof. @fravel & Prof. @Fiona_Cunning analyze the latest revelations about PRC’s nuclear modernization.

It's unclear if the goals of PRC's nuke strategy are changing..

washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/… @fravel @Fiona_Cunning 2/ The #US DoD's report assessed China's nuclear arsenal could quadruple by 2030.

PRC is building 3 missile-silo fields, which analysts expect to account for a significant increase in projected warhead stockpile.

PRC is modernizing, diversifying & expanding its nuke forces.

The World Is Fed Up With China’s Belligerence

Democracies are less worried about offending a fragile Beijing.

Today, Beijing represents a frowning, finger-pointing, never-erring crank, its constant vitriol diminishes the effectiveness of Chinese anger.

theatlantic.com/international/… 2/ Not long ago, Beijing was economical & targeted with its outrage, only lashing out over major issues.

“Now China just picks fights out of arrogance and bullying.”

After all, if most moves are likely to anger Beijing, why hold back from any of them?

The #ASEAN disunity over AUKUS

The #ASEAN sees #aukus pact increases geopolitical risks in the region, as #aukus is aimed at countering rising Chinese belligerence.
The rise of partnerships in the region, which are not ASEAN-centric causes them concern.

orfonline.org/expert-speak/t… 2/ How have various #ASEAN countries reacted to #aukus ?

They've not reacted in unison. Each member expressed its own views. The divergence in opinion was quite apparent.
Brunei did not speak about it.
Indonesia expressed caution with AUKUS.
Malaysia appears astonished.

China increasing depth near #India 's Siliguri corridor
“China is building an alternative axis in the Chumbi valley, which is close to the Siliguri corridor. They are increasing their depth by building roads through Bhutanese territory.”
- via @the_hindu
thehindu.com/news/national/… @the_hindu 2/ The U.S. DoD Report noted that despite dialogues to reduce border tensions, the PRC has “continued taking incremental & tactical actions to press its claims at the LAC.”
In this context, the recent MoU between Bhutan & China was significant & could have implications for India.

#THREAD: 1/ What the #US should do about #Taiwan

No one can doubt that #China is very close to attacking Taiwan.

Words from Washington are not enough as #Chinese warplanes step up their provocative incursions into Taiwan's airspace.

A great read!
asiatimes.com/2021/10/what-t… 2/ Taiwan so far has exercised restraint, putting its F-16s and other aircraft into the sky to challenge Chinese incursions into its air defense zone (ADIZ) but not firing on the intruding aircraft. But if a mistake happens, it will end up a bloody mess.

1/ #THREAD: #Submarine rescue ships in the Pacific

HQ-927 Yet Kieu sub rescue ship of the #Vietnamese Navy is the latest one

It supports #Vietnam's 6 Kilo-class submarines, it was just commissioned this year

Only Vietnam, #Singapore & #Malaysia have sub rescue ships in #ASEAN 2/ The Yet Kieu is designed to rescue submarines & surface ships, survey the seabed & search & recover undersea objects.

Built by the #Vietnamese 189 military owned shipyard.

It measures 94m long x 16m wide and has a displacement of 4,000 tons.

#Tibetan monks receive 'apocalyptically harsh' sentences in secret #Chinese trials

#China's crackdown against #Tibetans intensifies.

A new report revealed for the first time that four monks were sentenced up to 20 years in prison on unknown charges.
abc.net.au/news/2021-07-0… 2/ The 61-page report by Human Rights Watch found four monks from Tengdro monastery in Tingri county – Choegyal Wangpo, Lobsang Jinpa, Norbu Dondrup, and Ngawang Yeshe – were sentenced to 20, 19, 17, and five years respectively in September 2020.

#China magazine publishes article detailing 3 stage attack on #Taiwan

The first stage of an assault on Taiwan is ballistic missile attacks. The second stage includes cruise missile attacks. The 3rd round is artillery strikes from land-based rocket forces.
indianarrative.com/world-news/chi… 2/ The three stages would pave the way for the PLA's marine corps and amphibious landing troops who would invade Taiwan for the final assault and integration.

#IndiaChinaFaceOff : Ladakh standoff exposed #PLA's weaknesses, made #China rejig security narrative

The Galwan incident was the first taste of combat—though without firearms—that it had with an actual enemy after getting a bloody nose in #Vietnam in 1979
theweek.in/theweek/cover/… 2/ “The PLA has been facing a challenge of absence of combat experience and a lack of realistic training. It has been widely accepted even within the Chinese establishment,” said Lieutenant General (retd) D.S. Hooda, former northern Army commander.

#India deployed another 50,000 troops to its disputed border with #China amid high tension

Over the last 3 months, India has dispatched soldiers & fighter jets to the border, bringing its total up to 200,000 troops, an increase of 40% on last year.
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9… 2/ China has bolstered its infrastructure across the tundra with runways, bomb-proof bunkers for fighter jets, howitzers and outposts.

Beijing has also sent long-range artillery, tanks, anti-aircraft missiles and fighter jet squadrons over the last few months.

1/ #Chinese Military Scientist Filed Patent For A Covid Vaccine Soon After #China Revealed Covid-19 Details in 2020

This new report is now raising concerns that the unnamed vaccine was being tested even before the Covid-19 pandemic became public.
in.news.yahoo.com/chinese-milita… 2/ According to documents obtained by The Weekend Australian, Zhou Yusen, a respected military scientist for the PLA who collaborated with the controversial Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and American experts, submitted a patent for a Covid-19 vaccine on 24 February last year.