MILNEWS.ca Highlights – January 11, 2018

Cold War 2.0:  The Koreas

• “China, Japan Criticize Canada’s Bid to Play North Korea Mediator”
• “Canada’s bid to play North Korea mediator will ‘harm’ efforts for peace, China says”
• “Globe editorial: On the Korean peninsula, a moment of hope”
• “Is the US Preparing for Preventive War? Views from North Korea” (38 North)
• “UN chief welcomes progress on inter-Korean talks as vital to reducing tensions in region” (UN info-machine)
• “Trump to South Korea: US Open to Talks with North at ‘Appropriate Time’ “
• S. Korean envoy vows ‘watertight’ coordination with U.S. on N. Korea
• “Inter-Korean talks deserve encouragement” (CHN Communist Party media)
• “IOC to convene meeting with two Koreas over North’s participation in PyeongChang Olympics”
• Young North Koreans Ask For ‘New Year’s Gift’ of Money to Defect

Cold War 2.0:  China/Asia-Pacific

• “Scott Simon: Canada must step up to help stop Beijing’s bullying of Taiwan”
• “Is Washington preparing to play the Taiwan card with Beijing again?”
• “Donald Trump ‘may be ready to press’ the punitive China tariff button”
• “China’s new landing ship useful in island dispute: expert” (CHN mil media)
• “China, Japan trade accusations after Chinese warship seen near disputed Diaoyu Islands”
• “Xi orders armed police to uphold CPC’s absolute leadership”
• “Armed Police must obey Party” (CHN mil media)
• “Defense Ministry’s interpretation on APF flag … The decision made by the (CMC) to confer the Ensign of the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force is designed to encourage the armed police troops to better fulfill their missions in the new era and be loyal guards of the CPC and the people forever …”
• “China turns soft power into a sharp tool”
• “21st Chinese military medical team departs for Zambia”
• “Secret infiltration tool of PLA Secret Corps” (Asian Defence News blog)
• “Why China is running into political potholes on its ‘New Silk Road’ “

#CANvsISIL

• DND’s latest on Operation IMPACT

Everyone Else Vs. ISIL

• “Islamic State’s Baghdadi likely to be in Africa, experts say”
• “Two Incidents Claimed by Russian Media Form Bizarre Conspiracy Theory About U.S. Support For ISIS in Syria” (The Aviationist)

Afghanistan

• “Pakistan Mulls NATO Offer to Ship Afghan Supplies Through Gwadar Port”
• US: No Official Confirmation From Pakistan on Suspension of Cooperation

Ukraine

• “US- Ukraine weapons deal has Russia up in arms – Stratfor”
• “Russia reacting to reported U.S. delivery of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine – MP Tymchuk”
• “US Marine Corps instructors give Leadership Course for Ukrainian marines” (UKR MoD)
• “U.S. courses for development of leadership skills for Ukrainian sergeants to be permanent”
• “Election of DPR head to take place in autumn 2018 – Zakharchenko”
• “New OSCE chair Italy to visit Ukraine , Russia”
• “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 9 January 2018”
• UKR govt ATO map, 11 Jan 2018
• “ATO News: Situation Update, east of Ukraine as of morning, January 11, 2018” (UKR MoD)
• “Donetsk Defense: Situation Report, 01/10/2018” (pro-rebel media)
• “Three Ukrainian soldiers killed, three wounded, one injured in Donbas”
• “Three Ukrainian soldiers killed, four wounded in Donbas over past day”
• “Escalation in Donbas: 3 Ukrainian troops killed, 4 wounded in last day”
• “DPR reconnaissance detects Ukrainian “Buk” systems near Donetsk”
•  “Non-battle casualties of Ukrainian Army in Donbas in 2017: 98 dead, 178 injured”
• “Draft call of Crimeans to Russian Army violates Ukrainian laws”
• “President held a meeting with the representatives of Ukraine in the Trilateral Contact Group” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Iryna Gerashchenko names key tasks of Ukraine at negotiations in Minsk in 2018”
• “LPR law-enforcers reveal Ukrainian spies in foreign humanitarian organisation”
• “Cut Off: What Does the Economic Blockade of the Separatist Territories Mean for Ukraine?” (Keenan Institute Focus Ukraine)
• “Kyiv intends to introduce obligatory declaration of assets for wealthy Ukrainians”
• “Saakashvili says questioned by prosecutors on Maidan shootings”
• “Saakashvili: These were not Georgian snipers on Maidan, but hired Russian actors”
• “Saakashvili Questioned By Ukraine’s Security Service”
• “Ukrainian authorities have no grounds to extradite Saakashvili – lawyer”

Cold War 2.0:  Russia/Baltics/Eastern Europe

• “US to Remove Constraints on Nuclear Arsenal, Develop New Tactical Warheads”
• “Italian fighter jets to guard airspace over Baltics”
• “The permanent subdivision of the Latvian Defense Forces will be located in the border town of the Russian Federation” (UKR mil portal, in Ukrainian)
• “The NATO battalion in Lithuania is reinforced by the French unit” (UKR mil portal, in Ukrainian)
• “Latvia buys German assault rifles G36” (UKR mil portal, in Ukrainian)
• “Soldiers in Poland Try Out for Sniper School” (US DoD)
• “US strategic drone conducts reconnaissance flight off Russian Black Sea coast”
• “Emergency measures: What will Russia spend this year’s defense budget on?”
• “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Kaliningrad to Become ‘Special’ Again”
• “Putin’s Russian Guard Forms Special Strike Force To Put Down Disorders”
• “Top 3 targets of disinformation” (EU Disinformation Review)

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Delivery of new Canadian military trucks delayed again”
• Col. Ted’s take:  “Ships, yet again … some more good news”
• “Australian Fighter purchase is about saving face” (FrontLine Defence blog)

Way Up North

• “Solberg meets Trump: Arctic on the Agenda — Norwegian PM Erna Solberg meets US President Donald Trump after one of the coldest weeks ever in Washington D.C. If climate becomes an issue, it may be rather cool before the Oval Office fireplace too …” – “Trump pressures Norway to up defense spending — U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Norway to meet the 2 percent of GDP defense spending bar, something he repeatedly urged other U.S. allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization …”

Internal Security

• “Does the U.S. No-Concessions Policy Deter Kidnappings of Americans?” (RAND study)

Omar Khadr, Continued …

• “Justin Trudeau gets standing ovation for handling of Omar Khadr protester”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• ” ‘Contemptuous culture’ within Veterans Affairs ministry harming service delivery, claims former soldier”
• “Veterans Affairs minister responds to pension change critics”
• “(Cochrane AB) Councillors look to name new bridge to honour vets”

Other

• “Report obtained by CTV News shows lack of confidence in military justice system”
• “Navy dropping ‘draconian’ policy on warship Wi-Fi, admiral says”
• “The U.S. Navy’s Brand-New Battleship Little Rock Is Stuck In Ice in Canada” – “Wintry Conditions Freeze US Navy Ship at Canadian Port” – “The US Navy’s newest littoral combat ship, unveiled by shipyard workers in a snow-covered ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 16, was supposed to have completed its journey to Florida by now, but is instead stuck at a port in Canada …” – “Commissioned less than a month ago, LCS remains stuck in icy Canada”
• “Canada has no clue what’s behind Cuba diplomat illnesses — official”

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