This photo taken on October 24, 2018, shows Thai sailors visiting Chinese guided missile destroyer Guangzhou during the ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise at a military port in Zhanjiang, in China’s southern Guangdong province. China is on the cusp of fielding some of the world’s most advanced weapons systems — and in some cases already has surpassed its rivals, a Pentagon assessment released Tuesday found. AFP
SCMP: China keeps lid on military spending for fourth year in a row
* Defence budget’s annual increases have slowed to single digits since 2016 after cuts in personnel as part of modernisation drive
* Spending ‘solely for safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity’ and ‘is not threat to other countries’, says legislature spokesman
China is expected to announce single-digit growth in its defence budget for the coming year – the fourth year in a row of increases in single figures, the spokesman of the country’s top legislative body revealed on Monday.
Zhang Yesui, spokesman of the National People’s Congress, did not disclose the total figure, but added that the rise in China’s defence spending had slowed from its previous double-digit growth to a single-digit increase since 2016.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 4, 2019
China says defence spending rise to be "reasonable and appropriate" -- Economic Times/Reuters
Why US Navy’s South China Sea operations tighten squeeze on Southeast Asian nations caught between Washington and Beijing -- SCMP
The future of China-US military relations -- AEI
Pentagon Wants 78 Lockheed F-35s in 2020, Six Fewer Than Planned -- Bloomberg
US Air Force suspends KC-46 tanker deliveries -- Defense News
Boeing Unveils Fighter Drone that Could Play Wingman to Manned Jets -- DoD Buzz
Firepower: The Army Tested a Helicopter Shotgun with an Amazing 1,200 Barrels -- National Interest
The U.S. Military's Next Super Weapon: Tactical Tunnels -- Michael Peck, National Interest
US Military Changing ‘Killing Machine’ Robo-tank Program After Controversy -- Defense One
Pentagon approaches massive new AI, machine learning breakthrough -- FOX News/Warrior Maven
The Pentagon’s Technology Chief Is an Utter F*cking Fool -- Spencer Ackerman, Daily Beast
General Atomics nets $11.7M for parts on Ford-class EMALS system -- UPI
US deploys THAAD missile defense system to Israel -- The Hill
Hearing postponed for two Navy SEALs and two Marine Raiders in death of Green Beret staff sergeant -- Military Times
Trump defends decision to scrap large-scale military exercises with South Korea -- The Hill
South Korea conservatives: Canceled joint drills 'worst' for security -- UPI
US, South Korea to Hold Joint Drills Next Week - Reports -- Sptunik
US Senator: Does Turkey want to quit NATO? -- Ekathimerini
Border wall casts long shadow over FY20 defense budget — and that’s not all -- Defense News
Here's Why the Initial 2020 Pentagon Funding Plan Is DOA -- Motley Fool
The Military's Budget Is America's Biggest Defense Weapon -- Mark Montgomery, National Interest
Russian Military Mulls Angara-A5 Heavy Rocket for Satellite Launches - Source -- Sputnik
Iran merging military-linked banks to stabilize sector -- Reuters
Malaysian pilot details A400M missions, midair refueling experience -- Defense News
'Oh, Oh You're NOT in the Army Now': Thousands Rejected by UK Forces Due to Acne -- Sputnik
Norway Hopeful to Set Sunken Frigate Afloat in Six Weeks (PHOTO) -- Sputnik
Germany's Policy Choices Are Hastening The Decline Of NATO -- Loren Thompson, Forbes
Never Again War? Tracing German Military Identity -- Jayanth Deshmukh and Divyameenakshi Thiagarajan, International Policy Digest
India Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman Seeks to Get Back Into Action ASAP - Report -- Sputnik
