The leak of classified documents, which reflect the view of US intelligence analysts that Taiwan’s current defenses would be inadequate in a war with China, has sparked renewed concern that the US is failing to adequately arm the self-governed island.
Documents from the so-called Discord leak, reviewed by the Washington Post, cite deficiencies in Taiwan’s air defenses, fighter jet fleet, and overall military training. “The assessments state that Taiwan officials doubt their air defenses can ‘accurately detect missile launches,’” the newspaper reported. “Pentagon analysts note, Taiwan’s missile warning drills are highly scripted and inadequate for steeling civil authorities and the public for ‘a real-world event.
The testimony also cited China’s “significant and fast-paced expansion, modernization, and diversification of its nuclear forces,” which it said could provide new options “to leverage nuclear weapons for coercive purposes, including military provocations against U.S. allies and partners in the region.”
Rep. Michael McCaul , chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is just back from a visit to Taiwan and said the recent Chinese exercises, in which the Chinese navy and airforce encircled the island, was a rehearsal for an invasion or blockade. “First and foremost, as I've talked about, 22 weapons systems that I've signed off on in the past three years ago, have yet to go into Taiwan. And it's absolutely paramount that we get those weapons in as soon as possible to provide that deterrence.”Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre and edited by Conrad Hoyt.
“It is an historic opportunity that shows how strong we can become when we work together, it shows our deep commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and it's a testament to our shared values and to the long-term investments that we're making in our forces,” Austin said. “I'm confident that AUKUS will break down barriers and usher in a new era of U.S.-U.K. defense cooperation.”
“DOD does not spy on its own U.S. citizens and we conduct ourselves in adherence with the law,” said Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, at yesterday’s briefing. “This effort is solely about looking at how … classified information is accessed and who has access to that information.
“On April 5, the Donbass Devushka Telegram account posted four of the allegedly leaked classified documents to its 65,000 followers, according to a screenshot seen by The Wall Street Journal. That led several large Russian social-media accounts to pick up on the documents, after which the Pentagon launched an investigation,” the report said
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Air & Space Forces Magazine: Photos: Airmen and Aircraft Take Part in a Unique, Massive Elephant Walk at Sheppard9:30 a.m 2201 C St. NW — Opening session of State Department’s “18th annual NATO Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-Proliferation,” with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman; and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Livestreamed at https://www.state.
9:30 a.m. 106 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing:"The Posture of the Department of the Navy in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2024 and the Future Years Defense Program," with testimony from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday; and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger https://www.armed-services.senate.
10:30 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing on"U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Indo-Pacific Region,” with testimony from Navy Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; Army Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of the United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea; and Jedidiah Royal, principal deputy assistant defense secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs https://armedservices.house.
1:30 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Pausing Proliferation: Facing China's Military Engine Development,” with Cynthia Cook, director of the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group; retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David Stilwell, former assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs; and Jeremiah"J.J." Gertler, senior associate , Aerospace Security Project https://www.csis.
2:30 p.m. 232A Russell — Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee hearing:"Army Modernization in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2024 and the Future Years Defense Program," with testimony from Douglas Bush, assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology; Gen. James Rainey, commanding Gen. of the Army Futures Command; and Maj. Gen. Michelle Schmidt, director of force development, G-8, at the Army https://www.armed-services.senate.
4:45 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing:"The Department of Energy's Atomic Energy Defense Activities and Department of Defense Nuclear Weapons Programs in Review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2024 and Future Years Defense Program," with testimony from Jill Hruby, National Nuclear Security Administration administrator; William White, senior adviser for environmental management at the Energy Department; Navy Adm.
9 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion:"Italy's defense posture in light of Russia's continued war in Ukraine and systemic changes to the European security architecture," with Italian Chief of Defense Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/a-conversation 10 a.m. EDT Colorado Springs, Colorado — Space Foundation annual Space Symposium through Thursday, April 20. Full agenda at https://spacesymposium.org/agenda. Register: https://web.cvent.com/event
12:30 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion:"Unmanned aircraft systems: Lessons for Ukraine and NATO," with Matthew Kroenig, vice president of the Atlantic Council's Center for Strategy and Security; and Margarita Konaev, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Center for Strategy and Security https://www.atlanticcouncil.
3 p.m. — Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance Deterrence Center virtual forum: “Strategic Nuclear Threats from U.S.
10 a.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion:"The War in Ukraine and the Future of Europe: A View from Capitol Hill," with Rep. Jason Crow https://www.hudson.org/events/war-ukraine-future
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