Intelligence Briefngs Weekly Briefing: January 17th

At The Open Source Briefing, we remain committed to providing the public with ongoing developments around the globe.

United States Author: Kevin O’Connell ​ ​

Courtesy of USNI News

This past week was supposed to be highlighted by the visit of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft’s visit to Taiwan from January 13th-15th. This visit would have marked the first official interaction at this level since the People’s Republic of China replaced the Republic of China at the United Nations in 1971. Instead, Ambassador Craft’s visit was canceled on the eve of her departure officially due to “the upcoming presidential transition.”[1] This explanation leaves much to be desired, though, as the status of “the upcoming presidential transition” has not changed since the trip was originally announced. Additionally, while the trip was likely to aggravate the People’s Republic of China further, it had appeared to be an important demonstration of changing U.S. policy with an increased emphasis on bilateral U.S.-Taiwanese relations. Whether this represents a reversal or just a momentary deviation in U.S. policy is as yet

The Open Source Briefing 1 ​ unclear. However, the implementation of sanctions on China National Offshore Oil Corporation and additional travel bans on Chinese officials and their families on January 14th do not speak to a softening American policy towards China.[2] In the absence of this visit, the past week was instead punctuated by significant U.S. naval activity in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. Having put to sea late last week, USS America (LHA-6) and USS Ashland (LSD-48) were spotted together operating off the coast of Okinawa on January 11th.[3] On the same day, USNS Able (T-AGOS-20), a Victorious-class ocean surveillance ship, passed through the and into the South China Sea en-route to the vicinity of the Spratly Islands.[4][5] There are indications that the USNS Victorious (T-AGOS-19) was also operating in the vicinity of the Spratly Islands since January 4th after departing Okinawa on December 31st.[6][7]

Courtesy of the United States 7th Fleet

While on January 14th, USS Shiloh (CG-67) entered port in Yokosuka, and on January 15th USS America and USS Ashland made a port call at Naval Base White Beach in Okinawa, at sea U.S. Naval power in the 7th Fleet area of operations

The Open Source Briefing 2 ​ increased with the arrival of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CSG-9) in theater.[8][9] The Theodore Roosevelt CSG is centered on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), with USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) and USS John Finn (DDG-113) acting as escorts.[10] Additionally, USS Russell (DDG-59) deployed with the CSG but appears to be sailing separate from the carrier at present after making a port call and refueling in the Marshall Islands on January 7th.[11] While the U.S. Navy does not typically comment on submarine deployments, it is a relative certainty that at least one nuclear attack submarine SSN) is also sailing with the CSG as an escort due to typical CSG makeups.

Courtesy of the United States 7th Fleet

The Open Source Briefing 3 ​ On January 15th, the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group participated in a bilateral maritime exercise with the Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The JMSDF ships present were the JS Kongo (DDG-173) and the JS Asahi (DD-119). According to Rear Admiral Dough Verissimo, commander of CSG 9, the exercise was to “increase our proficiency and interoperability.” Further, Rear Admiral Verissimo indicated that “the participating forces exercised a wide range of capabilities, from maritime security operations to more complex air defense exercises, which demonstrated the inherent flexibility of the two combined forces.”[12] There are several additional updates on activity by the United States in the vicinity of the South China Sea. The first of these is that daily maritime surveillance and signals intelligence flights over the South China Sea continue to be conducted by P-8A Poseidon, MQ-4C Triton, RC-135W Rivet Joint, and EP-3E ARIES II aircraft supported by KC-135R Stratotankers.[13][14][15][16][17] These flights represent a continuation of normal U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force operational patterns in recent months. A second noteworthy update is the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) crew, has begun to receive Covid-19 vaccinations while in port in Yokosuka.[18] As a critical component of United States forward deployed capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, inoculating the Ronal Reagan’s crew against Covid-19 is a critical national security priority of the United States Navy. A third and final update for the United States in the Indo-Pacific is the kick of off the multilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise, Sea Dragon 2021, in on January 11th. While not strictly tied to the South China Sea, Sea Dragon 2021 includes members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RAF), Indian Navy (IN), and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and United States Navy training together. The exercise includes 125hrs of in-flight training culminating in an exercise to find and track USS (SSN 721) a U.S. Navy Los Angeles-class nuclear powered attack submarine.[19] The exercise furthers American military partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and notably includes all four members of the increasingly relevant Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (The Quad): the United States, Japan, India, and .

China Author: Tad Unruh ​ ​

The end of the Trump administration sees a series of parting salvos that aim to protect this president's legacy and his China foreign policy. Much of this maneuvering has to do with Taiwan and will be discussed in the Taiwan section. However, the blockbuster revelations of a declassified document showing the US's Indo-Pacific

The Open Source Briefing 4 ​ strategy beginning in 2017. A document like this is typically declassified on a 30-year rolling basis but was unexpectedly released this week. The language in the document states that the US should deny China sustained air and sea dominance inside the 'first island chain' in a conflict; defending the first island chain nations, including Taiwan; and dominating all domains outside the first island chain." [1] Whether this is an outright declaration of Taiwan's defense in the event of a Chinese invasion or an implicit promise is yet to be determined. On top of this document's release, the US continued to roll out more sanctions on Thursday, January 14, this time targeting Chinese officials and the South China Sea. The most significant addition to the sanctions list is China's state oil company, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the primary oil driller in the SCS.[2] Coupled with the sanctions are nine more businesses added to a DoD blacklist for their ties to the Chinese military. These include phone manufacturer Xiaomi and state-owned plane manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac).[3]

Courtesy of SCMP

The Open Source Briefing 5 ​ The maiden voyage of the PLA's new "armed reconnaissance drone, the WJ-700" on Monday, January 11, confirmed its specs as 3.5-ton weight, 20 hour flight time, altitudes of 39,000 feet, and a top speed of 435mph.[4] The drone will be used domestically but is unsure of its use in the South China Sea or Taiwan.

Lastly, it is reported by multiple sources that over the previous weekend, January 8-11th, the PLA conducted military exercises in the East China Sea and off the Fujian coast. The ECS activities included a detachment of destroyers to conduct drills, such as radar jamming, tracking, and live-fire maneuver, with the Taiyuan, the Zhoushan, and two modern-class Russian-made warships, the Hangzhou and the Taizhou all converging on the area.[5] Here is the video of the ECS Drills.[6] Off of Fujian, the 73rd army brigade dispatched attack helicopters for target practice and bombing runs.[7]

Taiwan Author: Tad Unruh ​ Throughout the Trump Presidency, his interactions with China have been thorny on its best days, downright hostile on its worst, and the issue of Taiwan seems to be the screw that continues to be twisted even on the way out. The U.S. think-tank, the Council on Foreign Relations, “has listed a possible conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan as a top-tier concern for the first time in its annual Preventive Priorities Survey.”[1] The Trump administration is continuing to needle China over the Cross-Strait situation. China fought back this week by sending flights into Taiwanese airspace for the 7th straight day. Last week, the U.S. announced that its U.N. envoy Kelly Craft would be visiting Taiwan and that the State Department had lifted a ban on meeting with the Taiwanese government members. After repeated condemnations by the Chinese government, the U.S. canceled Amb. Craft’s visit at the last minute and a planned Secretary Pompeo trip, due to an explanation of supporting the transition to the new administration.[2] Despite the higher-ups nixing their meetings, Taiwan’s representative to Switzerland met with his U.S. counterpart, becoming the second meeting after Taiwan and the U.S.’s envoys to the Netherlands met on January 11. [3] It is unclear whether this practice will continue into the Biden Administration.

The Open Source Briefing 6 ​ Philippines Author: Bang Tongco ​ During the week, updates on the Philippine Navy’s (PN) second Jose Rizal-class guided-missile frigate and possible future acquisitions were reported. In diplomatic developments, lawmakers recommend the Philippines become party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as a means to strengthen its claims in the SCS, while China’s Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi is in-country to conclude his southeast Asian tour. The PN Naval Air Wing (NAW) Commander Commo. Karl Decapia and other officials on 11 January broke ground for the first of three hangars planned at Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Sangley Point, Cavite [1]. The groundbreaking marks the first time in decades that the 73-year-old NAW would build infrastructure for new aircraft. The three hangars are reported to be copies of two existing shelters and each is designed to be approximately 700m2 to accommodate up to six aircraft. During the ceremony, Decapia said that the NAW has seen an increase of more modern assets which require greater maintenance and storage facilities. Decapia added that the NAW is seeking funding to procure dedicated long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) in order to meet the security challenges in the -claimed West Philippine Sea (WPS) [1]. The NAW is also expected to acquire eight US-made Beechcraft C-12 Huron intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft [1]. To recall, Sangley Point was a former US Naval Base which was turned over to the PN in 1990. The facility faced media scrutiny in 2020 when Chinese state-owned company China Communications Construction Company, Inc.--blacklisted by Washington for its illegal island reclamation activities on Chinese-occupied features in the SCS--partnered with local firms to build the Sangley Point International Airport [2].

The Open Source Briefing 7 ​

Image of the existing hangar in the NAW facility in Sangley Point. Also seen are the NAW’s AW-109 and a Beechcraft King Air. Images courtesy of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The PN on 14 January reported that the crew of the BRP Antonio Luna is conducting unit training at sea after the frigate completed its Sea Acceptance Trials in South in December 2020 [3]. PN officials disclosed that the Luna is 95% ready, with all machinery and combat systems meeting all standards and procedures. The ship is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2021 [3]. Meanwhile, Manila-based shipbuilder Propmech Corporation on 15 January said that it was ready to meet the PN to develop larger naval vessels for long-range patrols [4]. Propmech Director Glenn Tong stated that the company was actively seeking contracts with the PN, noting the Navy’s use of its Spike-equipped Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPACs) which took part in a joint operation with the Philippine Air Force against the Daesh-linked Abu Sayyaf Group in the Sulu Sea in November 2020 [4][5]. Tong said that the company was also keen on acquiring the technical expertise to build and maintain advanced electronic, navigation, and other systems needed on modern warships. Other Propmech officials reported that the company was looking to design a larger MPAC--32-meters instead of the current 18-meter ships--and improve technical partnerships with reputable international shipbuilders [6].

The Open Source Briefing 8 ​ Philippine legislators on 14 January recommended joining the TPNW to strengthen Manila’s claims in the SCS [7]. Senator Francis Tolentino said that once the Philippines is party to the TPNW, it can send a note to the UN Secretary General indicating that China may have placed nuclear weapons on its Chinese-occupied features in the Manila-claimed WPS. Tolentino assessed that joining the TPNW would help maintain peace and stability in the SCS [7]. Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang on 15 January arrived in the Philippines to meet with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin, Jr. [8]. After his arrival, Senator Risa Hontiveros called on Wang to do more to help Manila to crackdown on Chinese syndicates involved in the lucrative Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator industry, adding that China should be as aggressive in fighting crime as it is in the Manila-claimed areas of the SCS. Chinese state media reported that Wang’s visit is focused on increasing trust between both states ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration [9]. Wang will reportedly discuss SCS issues, cooperation on vaccines, and regional economic recovery [10].

Contributor Analysis The PN’s focus on acquiring new assets and ensuring proper upkeep will help Manila to exercise sovereignty and sovereign rights and protect its maritime interests in the SCS. The acquisition of dedicated MPA’s will provide the PN with greater maritime domain awareness in the Manila-claimed WPS and may help expose the military activities of various claimants. Relatedly, the delivery of the BRP Antonio Luna--which was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic--provides the PN with another modern surface combatant amid increasing tensions between claimant states and other stakeholders in the SCS [11][12]. On the production front, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) once-in-a-generation modernization program appears to have replaced its Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) which was envisioned in the 1970s to provide the AFP with locally made weapons, platforms, and equipment [13]. The SRDP was meant to run parallel to the AFP’s modernization program to enable the Philippines to have a thriving defense industry by the 1990s. The country’s local defense industry has been left in limbo despite the AFP’s rapid acquisition of modern US, South Korean, Japanese, and Australian assets over the past five years. The rising tensions in the SCS and the on-and-off US-Philippine relationship provides impetus for Manila to revitalize the SRDP

The Open Source Briefing 9 ​ and encourage local companies like Propmech and the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation to meet the needs of the AFP. Diplomatically, the move to join the TPNW could provide Manila with a means to exercise its sovereign rights over its claimed areas in the SCS on the grounds of non-proliferation. However, both and Malaysia have so far avoided invoking the TPNW as the accord is not in effect--five more states need to ratify the Treaty. On the state visit of Foreign Minister Wang, his visit to southeast Asian states comes after numerous trips by US defense officials to the region in November and December 2020. China is keen to complete Code of Conduct discussions by 2021 despite the cancellation of meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic [12]. It is possible that Wang will attempt to use so-called “vaccine diplomacy” to improve Sino-Philippine relations before the new US administration takes over. However, claimant states are increasingly critical of China’s actions in the SCS in 2020 and the use of vaccine diplomacy may be lessened due to the increased production and distribution of more effective western vaccines.

Japan This past week has been slow for East China Sea news relating to Japan. In conjunction with this, Coronavirus cases continue to rise and northern portions of the main island of Honshu were hit by a severe snowstorm that left around 8 dead and hundreds more injured.[1] Aside from domestic news, the world received an encouraging diplomatic response regarding a visiting British Carrier and a teleconference between Britain and Japan. Earlier this week, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi held a teleconference with his counterpart in the UK and expressed appreciation and “welcomed” Britain's plan to send a carrier strike group to the western Pacific later this year.[2] Both nation’s goals align on ensuring a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and we should expect interoperability exercises between Japan, Britain, and other nations to be announced when the visitation date is confirmed. The final update to be noted for the week is that includes both the U.S and Japan. On Tuesday, a national security document on President Trump’s national security strategy in the Indo-Pacific region was released in what JapanTimes analyst Jesse Johnson suggests could possibly be a political move to set a policy precedent for the upcoming administration.[3] The document put a heavy emphasis on Japan’s role in

The Open Source Briefing 10 ​ the birth of “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” idea and made it clear that U.S-Japan cooperation will be a crucial part of the idea’s future success.[4]

Image above showing the aforementioned teleconference on Thursday, 14 January (Courtesy of Japan Ministry of Defense Official Twitter account)

The Open Source Briefing 11 ​

Aircraft Monitoring

01/111 - Southwest Taiwan ADIZ [1] 01/122 - Southwest Taiwan ADIZ[2] 01/133 - Southwest Taiwan ADIZ[3] 01/144 - Southwest Taiwan ADIZ[4] 01/155 - Southwest Taiwan ADIZ[5] 01/166 - Southwest Taiwan ADIZ[6] 1/177 - Southwest Taiwan ADIZ [7] Shaanxi Y-8 Surveillance Aircraft: Has many variants that include anti- submarine warfare, ISR, cargo, troop transport.

01/128 - South Taiwan[8] 01/159 - South China Sea[9]

MQ-4C Triton: Supports ISR and signals intelligence operations. Northrop Gruman capabilities: “The aircraft can fly over 24 hours at a time, at altitudes higher than 10 miles, with an operational range of 8,200 nautical miles.”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

The Open Source Briefing 12 ​ 01/1210 - South Taiwan[10]

KC-135R Stratotanker: Provides air-refueling capabilities for the U.S Air Force. Has a range of 1,500 miles and can carry 83,000 lbs of cargo.

01/1211 - South Taiwan [11] 01/1512- South Taiwan[12] 01/1613 - South Taiwan[13]

P-8 Poseidon: Anti-submarine and anti-surface maritime/wartime patrol aircraft. Its sensitive instruments can pick up enemy ground and ship movement in addition to also carrying armaments.

01/12 - South Taiwan[14]14

RC-135W Rivet Joint: Provides real-time detention capabilities for military personnel. Range is 1,500 miles.

10 11 12 13 14

The Open Source Briefing 13 ​ Unidentified Aircraft 01/12 - East China Sea[15]15 (JASDF) 01/13 - East China Sea[16]16 (JASDF)

15 16

The Open Source Briefing 14 ​

United States [1] Eldridge, Robert D. “Trump's Whiplash Diplomacy on Taiwan.” The Japan Times, January 17, 2021. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021/01/17/commentary/world-commentary/trump- taiwan-us-china/. [2] Lee, Matthew. “US Imposes New Sanction on Beijing over South China Sea.” AP NEWS. Associated Press, January 14, 2021. https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-beijing-south-china-sea-coronavirus-pandemic-chin a-01a64686a1b740b919af7b9d32d1c295. [3] https://twitter.com/n_morse9927/status/1348790010368163842 [4] https://twitter.com/n_morse9927/status/1348787689626206208 [5] https://twitter.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1350110087952519168 [6] https://twitter.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1350110087952519168 [7] https://twitter.com/n_morse9927/status/1344776027676041219 [8] https://twitter.com/WarshipCam/status/1349715377496928260 [9] https://twitter.com/n_morse9927/status/1350132310168006656 [10] “Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Conducts Bilateral Exercise with JMSDF.” cpf.navy.mil. United States Navy, January 15, 2021. https://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/130795. [11] https://twitter.com/n_morse9927/status/1347742315851476994 [12] “Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Conducts Bilateral Exercise with JMSDF.” cpf.navy.mil. United States Navy, January 15, 2021. https://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/130795. [13] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1348859426216824834 [14] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1349143132127047680 [15] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1349133752966983682 [16] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1350239485397614592 [17] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1349963543404281857 [18] Blair, Bryan. “USS Ronald Reagan Begins COVID-19 Vaccinations.” Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. United States Navy, January 13, 2021. https://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/2471664/uss-ronald-reagan-begins -covid-19-vaccinations/. [19] “Sea Dragon 2021 Kicks Off Between US and Partner Nations.” Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. United States Navy, January 11, 2021.

The Open Source Briefing 15 ​ https://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/2468589/guam-hosts-partner-natio ns-in-exercise-sea-dragon-2021/.

China [1] Tingle, L. (2021, January 13). Previously secret details of Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy revealed. Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-12/details-of-trump-administrations-indo-pacific-st rategy-revealed/13052216 [2] Lee, M. (2021, January 14). US imposes new sanction on Beijing over South China Sea. Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-beijing-south-china-sea-coronavirus-pandemic-chin a-01a64686a1b740b919af7b9d32d1c295 [3] Klein, J. X., & Delaney, R. (2021, January 14). US adds nine Chinese firms, including Xiaomi, to military blacklist. Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3117814/us-adds-chinese-oil-giant-chinese-n ational-overseas-oil-corporation [4] Zhen, L., & Huang, K. (2021, January 13). China's high-speed, armed reconnaissance drone completes maiden flight. Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3117569/chinas-high-speed-armed-re connaissance-drone-completes-maiden [5] Chen, K. (2021, January 12). PLA conducts naval, aerial exercises: Taiwan News: 2021/01/12. Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4100175 [6] https://www.scmp.com/video/china/3117386/chinas-navy-conducts-live-fire-military-drills -east-china-sea [7] Ibid.

Japan [1] Sly, Eleanor. “Japan Snow Storms Leave Eight Dead and Hundreds Injured.” News.Yahoo.com, 12 Jan. 2021, news.yahoo.com. Accessed 18 Jan. 2021. [2] ---. “Japan Hails U.K. Plan to Send Aircraft Carrier Group to Asia.” The Japan Times, 15 Jan. 2021, www.japantimes.co.jp. Accessed 18 Jan. 2021.

The Open Source Briefing 16 ​ [3] Johnson, Jesse. “Defend, Dominate, Deny: Declassified U.S. Strategy Shows Vision for Indo-Pacific.” The Japan Times, 13 Jan. 2021, www.japantimes.co.jp. Accessed 18 Jan. 2021. [4] IBID.

Taiwan [1] Yin, O., & Mazzeta, M. (2021, January 15). U.S. think tank lists Taiwan issue as top-tier risk for 1st time. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202101150008

[2] Chung, L. (2021, January 13). Cancelled trips to Taiwan, Europe will help ease US-China tensions, observers say. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3117614/china-us-rivalry-cancelled -trips-taiwan-europe-will-help-ease

[3]Pei-Chun, T., & Yu-Chen, C. (2021, January 16). Taiwan, U.S. diplomats meet after official contact ban lifted. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202101160015

Philippines [1] Mangosing, Frances. “PH Navy building new hangars as fleet grows”. Inquirer.net. 11 January 2021. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1382228/ph-navy-building-new-hangars-as-fleet-grows Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [2] Ibid. “Amid Chinese presence, Navy wants to stay in Sangley Point”. Inquirer.net. 7 September 2020. https://globalnation.inquirer.net/190707/amid-chinese-presence-navy-wants-to-stay-in-s angley-point Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [3] Nepomuceno, Priam. “Crew now training to familiarize with 2nd missile frigate: Navy”. Philippine News Agency. 14 January 2021. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1127311 Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [4] Santos, David. “Is PH ready to build its own warships? A local company thinks so”. CNN Philippines. 15 January 2021.

The Open Source Briefing 17 ​ https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/1/15/Is-PH-ready-to-build-its-own-warships--A-loc al-company-thinks-so.html Accessed 15 Jan 2021. [5] Nepomuceno, Priam. “3 more PN assault craft fitted with Spike-ER missiles this year”. Philippine News Agency. 20 February 2020. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1094340 Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [6] Mangosing, Frances. “Filipino shipbuilder eyes bigger vessels for PH Navy”. Inquirer.net . 15 January 2021. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1384165/filipino-shipbuilder-eyes-bigger-vessels-for-ph-nav y Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [7] Manila Times. “Nuclear arms treaty seen to boost WPS arbitral ruling”. The Manila Times. 16 January 2021. https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/01/16/news/top-stories/nuclear-arms-treaty-seen-to-b oost-wps-arbitral-ruling/828235/ Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [8] Rey Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta. “China’s foreign minister in town for official visit”. Manila Standard.net. 16 January 2021. https://manilastandard.net/index.php/news/national/344543/china-s-foreign-minister-in-t own-for-official-visit.html Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [9] Liu Xin. “FM Wang’s trip to the Philippines focuses on deepening trust ahead of Biden’s inauguration”. Global Times. 15 January 2021. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202101/1212938.shtml Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [10] Peng, Nian. “China’s Goals for Wang Yui’s Southeast Asian Tour”. The Diplomat. 15 January 2021. https://thediplomat.com/2021/01/chinas-goals-for-wang-yis-southeast-asian-tour/ Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [11] Sadongdong, Martin. “Delivery of future BRP Antonio Luna delayed due to pandemic - Navy chief”. Manila Bulletin. 10 August 2020. https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/10/delivery-of-future-brp-antonio-luna-delayed-due-to-pande mic-navy-chief/ Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [12] Thayer, Carlyle. “COVID-19 masks mischief in the South China Sea”. East Asia Forum. 13 January 2021. https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/01/13/covid-19-masks-mischief-in-the-south-china- sea/ Accessed 16 Jan 2021. [13] Nepomuceno, Priam. “Lorenzana wants to reactivate self-reliant defense program”. Philippine News Agency. 9 December 2017. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1018451 Accessed 16 Jan 2021.

The Open Source Briefing 18 ​ Aircraft Monitoring [1] https://twitter.com/MoNDefense/status/1348576110427049987?s=20 [2] https://twitter.com/MoNDefense/status/1348943803822923780?s=20 [3] https://twitter.com/MoNDefense/status/1349328905941893123?s=20 [4] https://twitter.com/MoNDefense/status/1349660379849244672?s=20 [5] https://twitter.com/MoNDefense/status/1350022040095342592?s=20 [6] https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202101170012 [7] https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202101170012 ​ [8] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1349133752966983682 [9] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1349963543404281857?s=20 [10] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1349143132127047680?s=20 [11] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1348859426216824834?s=20 [12] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1350239485397614592 [13] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1350650084095098883 [14] https://twitter.com/is_keelu/status/1349143132127047680?s=20 [15] https://twitter.com/JapanJointStaff/status/1349163810746114049?s=20 [16] https://twitter.com/JapanJointStaff/status/1349903227513278464?s=20

The Open Source Briefing 19 ​