southfront--2020-09-14--Homo Homini Lupus Est: Did Navalny’s Allies Poison The Oppositionist For Flying Too Close To The Sun

Homo Homini Lupus Est: Did Navalny’s Allies Poison The Oppositionist For Flying Too Close To The Sun?

On September 7th , Russian media Pravda.ru suggested that a potential version of why Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny could have been poisoned .
It relates to a conflict a colleague of his – Vladimir Ashurkov and other foreign partners .
And the probable poisoner is a bookseller from London , a friend of Evgeny Chichvarkin and Mikhail Khodorkovsky , a previously unknown girl by the name of Maria Pevchikh .
First of all , however , what was Navalny doing in Siberia ?
During the trip , he was accompanied by employees of FBK ( Navalny ’ s NGO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Georgy Alburov , Pavel Zelensky , Ilya Pakhomov , Vladlen Los , press secretary Kira Yarmysh and unknown to anyone Maria Pevchikh .
According to the schedule , Navalny held a meeting with volunteers and recorded materials for a new investigation ahead of the 13 September elections , and later went to Tomsk .
It is this part of the journey that holds the key to solving the mysterious poisoning .
In Tomsk , Navalny collected information and talked about the work of United Russia in the housing sector .
Special attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company maintains water supply networks throughout the city after it won the competition against the Moscow-based Rosvodokanal ( RVK ) .
At the same time , RVK is the country ’ s largest private operator of centralized water supply and sanitation systems , which Ashurkov supports from time to time .
All this became known from the video posted by FBK on September 3rd .
The interests of Rosvodokanal extend much further than Siberia .
In particular , RVK is fighting for water supply in Ryazan , trying to get a 49-year contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly hit the company ’ s plans , so the reported media ally of Ashurkov , Alexey Navalny , was thrown into the case .
Elections and concern for the housing and communal services sector in Siberia have become a good cover for the struggle for the market .
But why exactly the trip to Tomsk became such an issue and what role Ashurkov and the owner of shops from London played in the poisoning of Navalny , becomes clear if the history of their interaction with Navalny is traced .
This traces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t have his own “ brand ” yet and ran a political blog on the LiveJournal platform , which finally attracted the long-awaited attention of a potential investor .
He was contacted by Vladimir Ashurkov , who from September 2006 to February 2012 was director of asset management and control at CTF Holdings Ltd , the managing company of the Alfa Group consortium .
Later , it was Ashurkov who brought Navalny to the public , providing contact with foreign financier William Browder and Evgeny Chichvarkin , who settled in London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strategy for creating their own brand and gaining influence on the social and political agenda .
Big bets were placed on Navalny : he was supposed to create a broad democratic opposition movement .
Over the next few years , Ashurkov actively integrated Navalny into the global elite .
He created a name , image , brand for a little-known blogger .
He helped negotiate financing , leaked dirt for high-profile investigations and gave instructions for creating his own project .
And in 2011 , Navalny , together with Ashurkov , founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2012 , it became officially known about the cooperation of the top manager of “ Alfa Group ” with the opposition , because of which he had to leave his post .
Later , Ashurkov was officially included in Navalny ’ s team and appointed to the position of FBK ’ s executive director .
Time passed , the Anti-Corruption Foundation developed , gained an audience and launched new projects .
Alexei Navalny became the informal leader of the opposition , having received media and financial support from foreign investors and organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most numerous opposition movement in his hands .
FBK collected hundreds of millions of rubles in donations , and millions of dollars passed through the bitcoin wallet of the head of Navalny ’ s headquarters , Leonid Volkov .
However , it appears that Navalny gained quite a bit of confidence due to what was going on and then , suddenly , he began losing allies .
The first piece of news was the fact that Yevgeny Chichvarkin closed the “ Fund for Fighting Corruption and Supporting Libertarianism ” three months after its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London in November 2019 , was supposed to streamline the financing of Navalny , carried out personally through Chichvarkin .
The liquidation of the fund took place on February 25 , 2020 , according to the information on the website of the UK Companies House .
The reason could be the conflict between Navalny , Chichvarkin and Khodorkovsky over calls not to protest against the amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the “ Smart Vote ” launched by FBK in 2019 .
This likely relates to personal reasons : Khodorkovsky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the godfather of his daughter .
In addition , Navalny and Khodorkovsky have common sources of funding and backers who did not appreciate the opposition ’ s excessive independence .
As an NGO-foreign agent , FBK can not legally use the smart vote technology and influence electoral processes , thereby endangering the existence of the organization and the funds invested in its work .
Against the background of all the accumulated issues , problems with a debt of 88 million to “ Putin ’ s Chef ” Yevgeny Prigozhin and the prospect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict began between Navalny , Ashurkov and other London oppositionists a few months ago .
A debt of 88 million rubles to “ Putin ’ s Chef ” , pushed Navalny to announce the liquidation of FBK on July 20 .
According to Russian media sources close to FBK and Navalny , the decision was made without discussion with Ashurkov and Volkov .
On July 22 , Ashurkov called Navalny and demanded an explanation , offering two options for the development of events , according to the source .
FBK is the one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not allow the appointment of an arbitration manager who will have access to the entire financial history of the fund .
In addition , Navalny must remove all films and investigations himself so that no one gets to them .
This prospect made everyone very nervous .
And Navalny also had to return all the shares that Ashurkov gave him to join the boards of directors of all major companies .
in Russia for access to internal documentation and meetings .
So Navalny collected the first materials for his investigations , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reacted strongly and caused quite a conflict .
And he had quite a bit of assets in FBK .
As of 2012 , his portfolio contained securities of 37 OJSCs , including Gazprom , Rosneft , Lukoil , Surgutneftegaz , VTB Bank and others .
After Ashurkov ’ s call , Navalny did not back down from his idea and continued to develop the topic of liquidating FBK , counting donations and helping people to re-register regular donations to new accounts .
At the same time , active exploitation of the topic continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and increase the popularity of Navalny himself as a “ victim of the regime.
” Observing the situation , Ashurkov on July 27 made a new attempt to discuss with Navalny further steps on the FBK .
But this conversation also ended in a scandal through the fault of the oppositionist .
Navalny ’ s words about the absence of shares are indirectly confirmed by the presence of income from his wife .
Probably , two or three years ago , the oppositionist actually gave her securities .
And having a debt of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrew his personal funds from the accounts , simultaneously closing accounts in Alfa-Bank in July .
Now Navalny has 43,079 rubles at Tinkoff and 164,153 rubles at Raiffeisen .
But these accounts were arrested in the framework of the case of money laundering in FBK .
A massive sum of money in treasures and various assets had disappeared .
In late July , however , Ashurkov called Navalny and told him that the conflict was behind them and everything was fine .
And on August 15 , Navalny , together with his employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who arrived in Russia on August 7 , left for Novosibirsk .
Maria is a 33-year-old woman with an opaque life history and very interesting facts in her biography .
Despite the age of information technology and social networks , there is practically little information about Maria .
In 2008 she graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in Sociology .
According to Russian sources , during the studying in the Moscow State University , she already had strong pro-British views , and was publicly declaring a goal to get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elite London School of Economics and Political Science .
She has been living in Great Britain for a long time , and at the age of 22 she served as an assistant to one of the members of the British Parliament .
At the moment , she is in business , owning a chain of bookstores in the UK and Australia .
Her exact level of income is unknown , but there was enough money for an apartment overlooking the Tower of London in the elite complex The Circle on Queen Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , owns a research company and a biological laboratory .
LLC “ Fotisse ” was registered at the end of July this year .
There is no information on the scope of the organization .
NIOBIS LLC has been developing projects for growing viruses and biological cells for ten years .
Maria Pevchikh has extensive business and political ties , including with Chichvarkin and Khodorkovsky .
These both persons are widely known for their active anti-Russian position , involvement and funding of various anti-government campaigns in Russia and apparent ties with Western , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Pevchikh have known each other for at least the last 10 years .
Since 2010 , at the request of Ashurkov , she has been providing information support to the oppositionist , providing information about the assets of high-ranking Russians in the UK for investigations .
Such data can not be found in the public domain , and therefore there is reason to believe that Maria is cooperating with the European intelligence services and MI6 .
The woman visits Russia two or three times a year , and secretly contacts Navalny .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and videos , and hides her presence on the Internet through a VPN .
During her visit to Russia , she practically does not leave Navalny , maintaining contact .
She also has a long-term relationship with Ashurkov : in 2013 , she organized negotiations in Moscow between ex-Prime Minister of Belgium Guy Verhofstadt and adviser to the President of Lithuania on foreign policy issues Renaldas Vaisbrodas with Navalny and Ashurkov .
This is confirmed by a photo published by Nation News of Navalny and her .
She was reportedly constantly by Navalny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Novosibirks and Tomsk , she , however , didn ’ t board the plane .
Now let ’ s put all the facts together .
For the first time in ten years , invulnerable to the authorities and law enforcement officers , Navalny goes into a conflict with his allies and immediately finds himself in a coma .
At the same time , not somewhere in the center of Moscow , but on a business trip , where Ashurkov sent him to investigate and , moreover , sent a girl to him who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , Zimin , who paid for the flight , was dismissed as a suspect because he is a ‘ generous philanthropist ’ , while Ashurkov and his accomplices remained in the shadows , controlling the situation in Germany through Maria , successfully getting rid of the powder keg , which was ready to explode at any moment .
As a result : Navalny is at death ’ s door .
Russia is blamed for the entire fiasco .
But the tangle of strange coincidences is slowly beginning to unwind .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really wanted to remove Navalny was to have time to fan the hype so that everyone was looking for people with Novichok ampoules , and not those who really benefited from the blogger ’ s death .
Another side that gained profit from the ‘ poisoning ’ of Navalny is the part of the Euro-Atlantic establishment that stands against the closer Russian-German cooperation ( for example Nord Stream 2 project ) and the stabilization of the Western-Russian relations in general .
In this case , the entire poisoning story may have been staged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Highly Likely Strikes Back : Navalny ‘ Poisoning ’ And Rift Within Russian Elites

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On September 7th, Russian media Pravda.ru suggested that a potential version of why Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny could have been poisoned.
It relates to a conflict a colleague of his – Vladimir Ashurkov and other foreign partners. And the probable poisoner is a bookseller from London, a friend of Evgeny Chichvarkin and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a previously unknown girl by the name of Maria Pevchikh.
First of all, however, what was Navalny doing in Siberia?
Alexey Navalny arrived in Novosibirsk on August 15th.
During the trip, he was accompanied by employees of FBK (Navalny’s NGO “Anti-Corruption Foundation”), including: Georgy Alburov, Pavel Zelensky, Ilya Pakhomov, Vladlen Los, press secretary Kira Yarmysh and unknown to anyone Maria Pevchikh.
According to the schedule, Navalny held a meeting with volunteers and recorded materials for a new investigation ahead of the 13 September elections, and later went to Tomsk. It is this part of the journey that holds the key to solving the mysterious poisoning.
In Tomsk, Navalny collected information and talked about the work of United Russia in the housing sector.
Special attention was paid to Tomskvodokanal LLC. The company maintains water supply networks throughout the city after it won the competition against the Moscow-based Rosvodokanal (RVK).
At the same time, RVK is the country’s largest private operator of centralized water supply and sanitation systems, which Ashurkov supports from time to time. All this became known from the video posted by FBK on September 3rd.
The interests of Rosvodokanal extend much further than Siberia. In particular, RVK is fighting for water supply in Ryazan, trying to get a 49-year contract.
Nevertheless, the defeat in Tomsk significantly hit the company’s plans, so the reported media ally of Ashurkov, Alexey Navalny, was thrown into the case.
Elections and concern for the housing and communal services sector in Siberia have become a good cover for the struggle for the market.
But why exactly the trip to Tomsk became such an issue and what role Ashurkov and the owner of shops from London played in the poisoning of Navalny, becomes clear if the history of their interaction with Navalny is traced.
This traces back to 2010, back then Navalny didn’t have his own “brand” yet and ran a political blog on the LiveJournal platform, which finally attracted the long-awaited attention of a potential investor. He was contacted by Vladimir Ashurkov, who from September 2006 to February 2012 was director of asset management and control at CTF Holdings Ltd, the managing company of the Alfa Group consortium.
Later, it was Ashurkov who brought Navalny to the public, providing contact with foreign financier William Browder and Evgeny Chichvarkin, who settled in London. This made it possible to build a strategy for creating their own brand and gaining influence on the social and political agenda. Big bets were placed on Navalny: he was supposed to create a broad democratic opposition movement.
Over the next few years, Ashurkov actively integrated Navalny into the global elite. He created a name, image, brand for a little-known blogger. He helped negotiate financing, leaked dirt for high-profile investigations and gave instructions for creating his own project. And in 2011, Navalny, together with Ashurkov, founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). In 2012, it became officially known about the cooperation of the top manager of “Alfa Group” with the opposition, because of which he had to leave his post.
Later, Ashurkov was officially included in Navalny’s team and appointed to the position of FBK’s executive director.
Time passed, the Anti-Corruption Foundation developed, gained an audience and launched new projects.
Alexei Navalny became the informal leader of the opposition, having received media and financial support from foreign investors and organizations, studied at Yale and concentrated the most numerous opposition movement in his hands.
FBK collected hundreds of millions of rubles in donations, and millions of dollars passed through the bitcoin wallet of the head of Navalny’s headquarters, Leonid Volkov.
However, it appears that Navalny gained quite a bit of confidence due to what was going on and then, suddenly, he began losing allies.
The first piece of news was the fact that Yevgeny Chichvarkin closed the “Fund for Fighting Corruption and Supporting Libertarianism” three months after its establishment.
The organization, created in London in November 2019, was supposed to streamline the financing of Navalny, carried out personally through Chichvarkin.
The liquidation of the fund took place on February 25, 2020, according to the information on the website of the UK Companies House.
The reason could be the conflict between Navalny, Chichvarkin and Khodorkovsky over calls not to protest against the amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the “Smart Vote” launched by FBK in 2019.
This likely relates to personal reasons: Khodorkovsky is a very close person to him and the godfather of his daughter. In addition, Navalny and Khodorkovsky have common sources of funding and backers who did not appreciate the opposition’s excessive independence.
As an NGO-foreign agent, FBK cannot legally use the smart vote technology and influence electoral processes, thereby endangering the existence of the organization and the funds invested in its work.
Against the background of all the accumulated issues, problems with a debt of 88 million to “Putin’s Chef” Yevgeny Prigozhin and the prospect of bankruptcy, a long-lasting and unresolved conflict began between Navalny, Ashurkov and other London oppositionists a few months ago.
A debt of 88 million rubles to “Putin’s Chef”, pushed Navalny to announce the liquidation of FBK on July 20.
According to Russian media sources close to FBK and Navalny, the decision was made without discussion with Ashurkov and Volkov.
“Naturally, Ashurkov did not like amateur performances. Too much has been invested in Navalny and FBK in 10 years to allow him to single-handedly close the office, transfer money to another legal entity and work through a new fund. There was also a question of the reputation of both Ashurkov himself, and people who support him,” the source said.
On July 22, Ashurkov called Navalny and demanded an explanation, offering two options for the development of events, according to the source.
“At first Ashurkov tried to explain that closing FBK, especially without consulting anyone, was impossible. Navalny was given an ultimatum, and the consequences of its liquidation – ‘If you switch to another legal entity, you return all the funds invested in you and the fund: you transfer all monetary and material assets, return the last 33 million invested in you from FBK accounts and your personal from foreign accounts.’
FBK is the one who can pay off the debts and will not allow the appointment of an arbitration manager who will have access to the entire financial history of the fund. In addition, Navalny must remove all films and investigations himself so that no one gets to them. This prospect made everyone very nervous. And Navalny also had to return all the shares that Ashurkov gave him to join the boards of directors of all major companies. in Russia for access to internal documentation and meetings. So Navalny collected the first materials for his investigations,” the source said.
Reportedly, Navalny reacted strongly and caused quite a conflict. And he had quite a bit of assets in FBK. As of 2012, his portfolio contained securities of 37 OJSCs, including Gazprom, Rosneft, Lukoil, Surgutneftegaz, VTB Bank and others.
After Ashurkov’s call, Navalny did not back down from his idea and continued to develop the topic of liquidating FBK, counting donations and helping people to re-register regular donations to new accounts.
At the same time, active exploitation of the topic continued to promote existing projects of the fund and increase the popularity of Navalny himself as a “victim of the regime.”
Observing the situation, Ashurkov on July 27 made a new attempt to discuss with Navalny further steps on the FBK. But this conversation also ended in a scandal through the fault of the oppositionist.
Navalny’s words about the absence of shares are indirectly confirmed by the presence of income from his wife.
Probably, two or three years ago, the oppositionist actually gave her securities. And having a debt of 29 million to Prigozhin, he also withdrew his personal funds from the accounts, simultaneously closing accounts in Alfa-Bank in July.
Now Navalny has 43,079 rubles at Tinkoff and 164,153 rubles at Raiffeisen. But these accounts were arrested in the framework of the case of money laundering in FBK.
A massive sum of money in treasures and various assets had disappeared.
In late July, however, Ashurkov called Navalny and told him that the conflict was behind them and everything was fine.
And on August 15, Navalny, together with his employees, as well as with Maria Pevchikh, who arrived in Russia on August 7, left for Novosibirsk.
Maria is a 33-year-old woman with an opaque life history and very interesting facts in her biography.
Despite the age of information technology and social networks, there is practically little information about Maria.
In 2008 she graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in Sociology. According to Russian sources, during the studying in the Moscow State University, she already had strong pro-British views, and was publicly declaring a goal to get a British citizenship. Later she graduated from the elite London School of Economics and Political Science. She has been living in Great Britain for a long time, and at the age of 22 she served as an assistant to one of the members of the British Parliament.
At the moment, she is in business, owning a chain of bookstores in the UK and Australia. Her exact level of income is unknown, but there was enough money for an apartment overlooking the Tower of London in the elite complex The Circle on Queen Elizabeth Street.
Her father, Konstantin Pevchikh, owns a research company and a biological laboratory. LLC “Fotisse” was registered at the end of July this year. There is no information on the scope of the organization. NIOBIS LLC has been developing projects for growing viruses and biological cells for ten years.
Maria Pevchikh has extensive business and political ties, including with Chichvarkin and Khodorkovsky. These both persons are widely known for their active anti-Russian position, involvement and funding of various anti-government campaigns in Russia and apparent ties with Western, mostly British, special services.
Navalny and Pevchikh have known each other for at least the last 10 years. Since 2010, at the request of Ashurkov, she has been providing information support to the oppositionist, providing information about the assets of high-ranking Russians in the UK for investigations.
Such data cannot be found in the public domain, and therefore there is reason to believe that Maria is cooperating with the European intelligence services and MI6.
The woman visits Russia two or three times a year, and secretly contacts Navalny. She herself does not take joint photos and videos, and hides her presence on the Internet through a VPN. During her visit to Russia, she practically does not leave Navalny, maintaining contact.
She also has a long-term relationship with Ashurkov: in 2013, she organized negotiations in Moscow between ex-Prime Minister of Belgium Guy Verhofstadt and adviser to the President of Lithuania on foreign policy issues Renaldas Vaisbrodas with Navalny and Ashurkov.
This is confirmed by a photo published by Nation News of Navalny and her.
She was reportedly constantly by Navalny’s side during his visit to Novosibirks and Tomsk, she, however, didn’t board the plane.
Now let’s put all the facts together. For the first time in ten years, invulnerable to the authorities and law enforcement officers, Navalny goes into a conflict with his allies and immediately finds himself in a coma.
At the same time, not somewhere in the center of Moscow, but on a business trip, where Ashurkov sent him to investigate and, moreover, sent a girl to him who works closely with him on political projects.
Then Germany allegedly discovered Novichok traces, and immediately accused Russia.
Meanwhile, Zimin, who paid for the flight, was dismissed as a suspect because he is a ‘generous philanthropist’, while Ashurkov and his accomplices remained in the shadows, controlling the situation in Germany through Maria, successfully getting rid of the powder keg, which was ready to explode at any moment.
As a result: Navalny is at death’s door. Russia is blamed for the entire fiasco.
But the tangle of strange coincidences is slowly beginning to unwind. And now the main thing for those who really wanted to remove Navalny was to have time to fan the hype so that everyone was looking for people with Novichok ampoules, and not those who really benefited from the blogger’s death.
Another side that gained profit from the ‘poisoning’ of Navalny is the part of the Euro-Atlantic establishment that stands against the closer Russian-German cooperation (for example Nord Stream 2 project) and the stabilization of the Western-Russian relations in general. In this case, the entire poisoning story may have been staged by British MI6 and affiliated structures and agents.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-09-14--Military Situation In Iraq On September 14, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • The Popular Mobilization @ @ @ @ @ Brigade repelled an ISIS attack in the south of Samarra in Saladdin province ; • @ @ @ @ @ ISIS elements were eliminated in the airstrikes on ISIS hideouts in the southwest of the @ @ @ @ @ Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani supported the holding of early legislative elections in Iraq .
MORE @ @ @ @

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) 41st Brigade repelled an ISIS attack in the south of Samarra in Saladdin province;
Security Media confirmed that 2 ISIS elements were eliminated in the airstrikes on ISIS hideouts in the southwest of the Daquq district;
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani supported the holding of early legislative elections in Iraq.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-09-14--Syrian Army Artillery Devastates Militants’ Positions In Idlib As Turks Suffer Fresh Casualties In A

Syrian Army Artillery Devastates Militants’ Positions In Idlib As Turks Suffer Fresh Casualties In Afrin

Turkish forces have been passing through hard times in northwestern Syria .
First a mysterious ‘ heart attack ’ that killed a Turkish general in Idlib .
Then , Turkish military positions in the province of Aleppo were devastated by a series of rocket strikes .
Rockets pounded the so-called ‘ observation post ’ of the Turkish military near the town of Xezwe on September 12 .
Later on the same day , when Turkish reinforcements deployed in the area , the Xezwe post was once again shelled by unguided rockets .
Photos and videos from the ground showed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-militant sources also claimed that several Turkish troops were injured .
The Turkish Armed Forces responded to the attack by striking positions of the Kurdish People ’ s Protection Units ( YPG ) in Aqiybah , Sughanka and Burj al-Qas .
On September 13 , the Afrin Liberation Forces , an armed group affiliated with the YPG , claimed responsibility for the strikes on Turkish positions .
This group regularly conducts attacks on the Turkish Army and Turkish proxies in the region of Afrin .
It did not reveal details of the operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebels may have carried out their attacks the area of Qala ’ at Kaluta near the town of Kabashin .
On September 12 , two explosions hit the Turkish-occupied town of Ras al-Ayn in northeastern Syria .
The first explosion caused by an improvised explosive device took place in the Haj Wassfi alley .
The second explosion , a booby-trapped motorcycle , erupted near the central bakery .
At least 4 civilians were killed .
Pro-Turkish sources accused the YPG of conducting this attack .
However , this time the main suspect is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups focus their attacks on mostly military targets .
On top of this , the Syrian Army and its allies carried out a series of rocket and artillery strikes on positions of Turkish-backed terrorists , mostly members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , in the southern part of Greater Idlib on September 13 and 14 .
According to pro-militant sources , government forces launched over 400 rockets and shells on terrorists ’ positions near Fatterah , Kafar Aweed , Sufuhon , Kansafra , al-Bara , Shnan , Fleifel and Benin .
Pro-government sources claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or injured in the strikes .
Just a few days earlier , warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces bombed fortified positions and training camps of terrorists near Jisr al-Shughur and Sheikh Yusuf .
Airstrikes by unidentified combat drones , most likely Iranian ones , also pounded a fortified point of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near al-Bara .
Media outlets affiliated with terrorists or Turkey did not provide details regarding the real impact of the strike claiming that they targeted civilian targets only .
Pro-Russian sources speculated that up to 100 Turkish-backed terrorists were eliminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Turkey is not hurrying up to fulfill its commitments under the Idlib de-escalation deal and neutralize al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in its area of responsibility .
Instead , Ankara continues military and financial support to these groups aiming to turn the al-Qaeda-held part of northwestern Syria into a pseudo state under a Turkish protectorate or even annex this territory .
So , it seems that the Syrian-Iranian-Russian alliance has opted to take the initiative into its own hands and make real steps to deal with the terrorist threat in Idlib .

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Turkish forces have been passing through hard times in northwestern Syria.
First a mysterious ‘heart attack’ that killed a Turkish general in Idlib. Then, Turkish military positions in the province of Aleppo were devastated by a series of rocket strikes. Rockets pounded the so-called ‘observation post’ of the Turkish military near the town of Xezwe on September 12. Later on the same day, when Turkish reinforcements deployed in the area, the Xezwe post was once again shelled by unguided rockets. Photos and videos from the ground showed that the strike caused notable damage, while pro-militant sources also claimed that several Turkish troops were injured.
The Turkish Armed Forces responded to the attack by striking positions of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Aqiybah, Sughanka and Burj al-Qas.
On September 13, the Afrin Liberation Forces, an armed group affiliated with the YPG, claimed responsibility for the strikes on Turkish positions. This group regularly conducts attacks on the Turkish Army and Turkish proxies in the region of Afrin. It did not reveal details of the operation, but pro-Turkish sources claim that Kurdish rebels may have carried out their attacks the area of Qala’at Kaluta near the town of Kabashin.
On September 12, two explosions hit the Turkish-occupied town of Ras al-Ayn in northeastern Syria. The first explosion caused by an improvised explosive device took place in the Haj Wassfi alley. The second explosion, a booby-trapped motorcycle, erupted near the central bakery. At least 4 civilians were killed.
Pro-Turkish sources accused the YPG of conducting this attack. However, this time the main suspect is ISIS. The YPG and its allied groups focus their attacks on mostly military targets.
On top of this, the Syrian Army and its allies carried out a series of rocket and artillery strikes on positions of Turkish-backed terrorists, mostly members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, in the southern part of Greater Idlib on September 13 and 14.
According to pro-militant sources, government forces launched over 400 rockets and shells on terrorists’ positions near Fatterah, Kafar Aweed, Sufuhon, Kansafra, al-Bara, Shnan, Fleifel and Benin. Pro-government sources claim that a few dozen terrorists were eliminated or injured in the strikes.
Just a few days earlier, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces bombed fortified positions and training camps of terrorists near Jisr al-Shughur and Sheikh Yusuf. Airstrikes by unidentified combat drones, most likely Iranian ones, also pounded a fortified point of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near al-Bara. Media outlets affiliated with terrorists or Turkey did not provide details regarding the real impact of the strike claiming that they targeted civilian targets only. Pro-Russian sources speculated that up to 100 Turkish-backed terrorists were eliminated. Nonetheless, this number is questionable.
Turkey is not hurrying up to fulfill its commitments under the Idlib de-escalation deal and neutralize al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in its area of responsibility. Instead, Ankara continues military and financial support to these groups aiming to turn the al-Qaeda-held part of northwestern Syria into a pseudo state under a Turkish protectorate or even annex this territory.
So, it seems that the Syrian-Iranian-Russian alliance has opted to take the initiative into its own hands and make real steps to deal with the terrorist threat in Idlib.
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southfront--2020-09-14--What We Know About Russia’s New Generation “Tank-Killer” Hermes

The Hermes high-precision guided missile system with over-the-horizon range of up to 100 km was presented by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau , at the Army-2020 forum in Moscow .
The guided weapon system is composed of a combat vehicle , command vehicle , load transporting vehicle , guided missiles and reconnaissance drones .
Hermes has an autonomous missile guidance system of the fire-and-forget type .
Hermes guided missiles are capable of being fired from aerial ( including drones ) , land-based and naval platforms .
The system features the salvo launch mode at several ( up to six ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance for striking targets with a high-precision projectile with miss distance not exceeding 0.5 meters .
It is specifically designed to engage single and multiple targets of various types but mainly battle tanks , other armored vehicles , fortifications , naval surface targets and high-speed flying vehicles .
It is a sort of precision one-size-fits-all weapon , that predominantly serves as an anti-tank guided missile .
ATGMs are the most significant tool of the Russian ground troops , as they can successfully counter an adversary ’ s main battle tanks , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above .
A representative of the Tula Instrument Design Bureau said at the forum that the Hermes anti-tank guided missile is capable of almost 100 % certain destruction of any Western tank .
Experts from the American magazine The National Interest said that this is the new Russian “ tank killer ” , compared to which the infamous American anti-tank missile FGM-148 Javelin looks outdated .
As mentioned above , a Hermes missile may deviate only by 50 cm from the target even when it is fired to a maximum range of 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four times the speed of sound ( Mach 4 ) .
The Hermes anti-tank guided weapon system comprises several reconnaissance and guidance drones that help detect and illuminate the target , the company ’ s representative said .
The system features a compact combat module with launchers for six missiles .
This module can be mounted on any chassis , including armored vehicles .
The Hermes can deliver salvo fire against six targets at a time .
Apart from the enemy armor , the system ’ s missiles are effective against command or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Each missile carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead with 20 kg of TNT .
• an associated computer system with a two-channel laser designator and automatic target tracking ; The combat vehicle could be equipped with 6-12-24 missiles ready for launch .
It is not known which missiles will be used by Hermes during launches .
Even its GRAU index is not disclosed .
Two calibers of the accelerator are presumed , depending on the flight range – 170 or 210 mm .
The guidance system is combined , at the stage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using inertial or radio command guidance , and at the final stage using the seeker , including the laser one .
All of this , of course , makes the missile cost more , but at the same time , it is still nothing in comparison to how much a Western tank costs .
Even if more than one missile strikes a tank , if they destroy it , that is a sort of profit .
The cost , for example , of the new German Leopard 2A6 main battle tank is $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SEP Abrams – at least $ 8.6 million .
It is unlikely that an ATGM missile costs anywhere near that .
In addition to the accuracy and sufficient power of the Hermes ATGM missile ( 18–20 kg of explosive ) , the biggest plus in the effectiveness of this complex is the range of destruction .
However , the question involuntarily arises , how will control be carried out at a distance of 100 km ?
Especially when it comes to moving targets – tanks do not always stand in place , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And one multifunctional radar can hardly be enough .
More information is needed to come to a definite conclusion .
It could potentially be a game-changer in the anti-tank field , and is comparable if not better than the Israeli Spike missiles , and is clearly superior to the American Javelin missiles , as mentioned above .
According to the National Interest , Russian sent the weapon system to Syria .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Russia ’ s Kronstadt Group Unveils Three Brand New UAVs At Army-2020 Forum • The Old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regional Conflicts

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The Hermes high-precision guided missile system with over-the-horizon range of up to 100 km was presented by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau, at the Army-2020 forum in Moscow.
The guided weapon system is composed of a combat vehicle, command vehicle, load transporting vehicle, guided missiles and reconnaissance drones.
Hermes has an autonomous missile guidance system of the fire-and-forget type. Hermes guided missiles are capable of being fired from aerial (including drones), land-based and naval platforms.
The system features the salvo launch mode at several (up to six) scattered targets and automated synchronization of laser guidance for striking targets with a high-precision projectile with miss distance not exceeding 0.5 meters.
It is specifically designed to engage single and multiple targets of various types but mainly battle tanks, other armored vehicles, fortifications, naval surface targets and high-speed flying vehicles. It is a sort of precision one-size-fits-all weapon, that predominantly serves as an anti-tank guided missile.
ATGMs are the most significant tool of the Russian ground troops, as they can successfully counter an adversary’s main battle tanks, as well as other armored vehicles, as mentioned above.
A representative of the Tula Instrument Design Bureau said at the forum that the Hermes anti-tank guided missile is capable of almost 100% certain destruction of any Western tank.
Experts from the American magazine The National Interest said that this is the new Russian “tank killer”, compared to which the infamous American anti-tank missile FGM-148 Javelin looks outdated.
As mentioned above, a Hermes missile may deviate only by 50 cm from the target even when it is fired to a maximum range of 100 km, with the munition flying at four times the speed of sound (Mach 4).
The Hermes anti-tank guided weapon system comprises several reconnaissance and guidance drones that help detect and illuminate the target, the company’s representative said.
The system features a compact combat module with launchers for six missiles.
This module can be mounted on any chassis, including armored vehicles.
The Hermes can deliver salvo fire against six targets at a time.
Apart from the enemy armor, the system’s missiles are effective against command or staff vehicles, communications centers and depots.
Each missile carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead with 20 kg of TNT.
The entire Hermes weapons complex includes:
a stabilized day-night optoelectronic system with television and thermal imaging channels (information exchange standard MIL STD 1553);
an associated computer system with a two-channel laser designator and automatic target tracking;
additional equipment – multifunctional color liquid crystal display and control panel, display and documentation facilities.
The combat vehicle could be equipped with 6-12-24 missiles ready for launch.
It is not known which missiles will be used by Hermes during launches. Even its GRAU index is not disclosed. Two calibers of the accelerator are presumed, depending on the flight range – 170 or 210 mm.
The guidance system is combined, at the stage of reaching the target it is carried out using inertial or radio command guidance, and at the final stage using the seeker, including the laser one.
All of this, of course, makes the missile cost more, but at the same time, it is still nothing in comparison to how much a Western tank costs.
Even if more than one missile strikes a tank, if they destroy it, that is a sort of profit.
The cost, for example, of the new German Leopard 2A6 main battle tank is $6.79 million, and the American M1A2 SEP Abrams – at least $8.6 million. It is unlikely that an ATGM missile costs anywhere near that.
In addition to the accuracy and sufficient power of the Hermes ATGM missile (18–20 kg of explosive), the biggest plus in the effectiveness of this complex is the range of destruction. However, the question involuntarily arises, how will control be carried out at a distance of 100 km?
Especially when it comes to moving targets – tanks do not always stand in place, but they will be the main target. And one multifunctional radar can hardly be enough. More information is needed to come to a definite conclusion.
It could potentially be a game-changer in the anti-tank field, and is comparable if not better than the Israeli Spike missiles, and is clearly superior to the American Javelin missiles, as mentioned above.
According to the National Interest, Russian sent the weapon system to Syria.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-09-14--In Videos: Kurdish Rebels Launch Guided Missiles At Turkish Positions In Northwestern Syria

Click to see the full-size image On September 13 , the Kurdish Afrin Liberation Forces ( AFL ) took responsibility @ @ @ @ @ Turkish military position near the town of Xezwe in northwestern Aleppo .
The attack , @ @ @ @ @ 12 , caused a large material damage to the fortified position and reportedly injured several @ @ @ @ @ THE TOPIC : • Kurdish Guerrilla Group Claimed Responsibility For Recent Attack On Turkish Post @ @ @ @ @ Idlib

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On September 13, the Kurdish Afrin Liberation Forces (AFL) took responsibility for the attack on a Turkish military position near the town of Xezwe in northwestern Aleppo. The attack, which took place on September 12, caused a large material damage to the fortified position and reportedly injured several Turkish troops.
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southfront--2020-09-14--Military Situation In Yemen On September 14, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen : • Saudi-led coalition warplanes @ @ @ @ @ Sanaa province , targeting Ansar Allah ( Houthi ) military positions in the capital ; @ @ @ @ @ 12 airstrikes on the Khab and Shaaf districts ; • Clashes between Ansar Allah and @ @ @ @ @ Rahbah districts in the South of Marib province .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen:
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 21 airstrikes on the Sanaa province, targeting Ansar Allah (Houthi) military positions in the capital;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 12 airstrikes on the Khab and Shaaf districts;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 14 airstrikes on the Rahbah district;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 4 airstrikes on the Madghal district;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 4 airstrikes on the Maheliyah area;
Clashes between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces reached al-Jubah and Rahbah districts in the South of Marib province.
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southfront--2020-09-14--Pentagon Fears Chinese Military Modernization And Expansion

The Pentagon ’ s latest annual assessment of Beijing ’ s military power declares that China is planning to double its nuclear stockpile over the next decade , already operates the world ’ s largest Navy , is advancing rapidly in its space capabilities , and is embedding artificial intelligence technology in many of its weapons systems .
The Pentagon ’ s annual assessment of China ’ s comprehensive program for the modernization and expansion of its armed forces is somewhat reminiscent of the ‘ missile gap ’ angst during the Cold War , and in this respect appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increases to the Pentagon ’ s already exorbitant budget .
Nonetheless , it can not be disputed that China ’ s armed forces are steadily acquiring a very formidable array of weaponry and support platforms that are already capable of challenging the Pentagon ’ s objective of achieving and maintaining ‘ full spectrum dominance ’ in all potential battlefields against all prospective ‘ adversaries ’ or enemies in all possible theatres of war and confrontation .
Although the US still has a significant advantage in key areas , most decisively in long-range ballistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US military attack against China is no longer guaranteed of success and would face the near certainty of a strong and extremely damaging counter-attack against US forces and ‘ assets ’ in the Asia-Pacific region ( including any allied countries in the region foolish enough to join such an attack ) .
A large-scale military attack by the US would also prompt China to test the capabilities of its notorious ‘ satellite killers ’ , which if they are as effective as many experts suspect could render inoperable much of the Pentagon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asia Pacific region but worldwide , and would risk a limited but still substantial nuclear attack against the continental United States .
In several key aspects the Chinese and US armed forces are pursuing similar objectives , such as rapidly expanding their naval and air power , moving towards more integrated joint force structures and operations to achieve greater interoperability and coordination in complex battlefield environments , and integrating emerging information technologies like AI into a wide range of weapons and operating systems .
The Defense Department ’ s 2020 China Military Power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least double ” its nuclear stockpile to about 400 warheads and is placing great emphasis on strengthening its nuclear deterrence .
China is also making some adjustments to its operating procedures with respect to its nuclear arsenal .
A similar shift has occurred in Russia , where the incessant NATO war games with nuclear capable attack forces along Russia ’ s western and northern borders has prompted the government to revise its nuclear launch policies .
China is also working towards establishing its own version of a nuclear triad force , with air-launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pentagon officials estimate that China will have 200 intercontinental missiles within the next five years .
“ Combined with a near-complete lack of transparency regarding their strategic intent and the perceived need for a much larger , more diverse nuclear force , these developments pose a significant concern for the United States , ” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Chad Sbragia , speaking of the report ’ s key findings at a press conference at the Pentagon .
The Pentagon ’ s expressed concern over the transparency of China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it were to ever conduct a complete financial audit of its own operations for the US Congress as required by US law .
Consecutive reports by the Inspector General have noted that somewhere between 15 % and 25 % of the Pentagon ’ s budget spending can not be accounted for by its own financial auditors .
Even former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stated that $ 2.3 trillion of Pentagon funds could not be accounted for on 10 September 2001 , the day before the Pentagon ’ s accounting department was obliterated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been adequately explained .
The United States has also been trying to include China in discussions related to renewing the New START treaty , which governs the number of deployed strategic nuclear weapons and launch platforms that the United States and Russia can keep in their inventories .
China has said on numerous occasions that it isn ’ t interested in participating in a trilateral discussion with Russia and the US on nuclear arms control , pointing out the vast disparity in the three countries nuclear arsenals , force structures and capabilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to include China in the negotiations , which must be successfully concluded before February of next year if the arms control agreement is to remain in effect .
The annual assessment also states that based on quantity China has built up its Navy to become the world ’ s largest with 350 ships and submarines .
That ’ s a significant change from last year ’ s report , which describes China as having the largest ‘ regional ’ Navy .
Speaking to the conservative American Enterprise Institute , Sbragia added “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers are one element , not the entirety… There ’ s tonnage , capacity , sophistication.
” Presumably ‘ sophistication ’ refers to long-range force projection capabilities and overall destructive firepower .
For instance , China commissioned its first domestically produced aircraft carrier last year , with its second currently under construction , compared to the fleet of 11 US nuclear-powered aircraft carriers .
China ’ s submarine fleet , while expanding rapidly , also remains vastly outgunned by the US fleet of strategic nuclear attack submarines .
For years , Pentagon leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build up of new technologies and weapons , the People ’ s Liberation Army ( PLA ) lacked the training and fighting experience in joint combat scenarios that synchronize land , air , and sea power , giving the United States tremendous advantage in any potential direct conflict .
According to this year ’ s report , the PLA is working hard to change that .
The expansion of large-scale joint military exercises and manoeuvres with Russia is very significant in this respect .
Additionally , China ’ s space activities are advancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that China wants to have its own permanent space station by 2022 .
“ Beijing has devoted significant economic and political resources to growing all aspects of its space program , from military space applications to civil applications such as profit-generating launches , scientific endeavors , and space exploration.
” The People ’ s Liberation Army is also putting emerging technology , particularly artificial intelligence , at the centre of its efforts to modernize its military .
Just as the United States says artificial intelligence is helping to increase the speed and accuracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under that assumption .
The US political and military leadership has been intent on confronting and demonizing China this year , sending a record number of warships and aircraft ( including long-range nuclear capable strategic bombers ) into areas adjacent to China ’ s extensive maritime borders this year and concentrating their efforts on the zones most likely to provoke and antagonize the Chinese – the strait between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan and nearby areas , and disputed border areas in the South China Sea .
In June , Chinese state media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of making “ another provocative move ” as a warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait — the seventh such transit by the US Navy this year , possibly timed to coincide with the anniversary of China ’ s 1989 Tiananmen Square protests .
LINK At the end of August the Taiwanese Defence ministry said that another US Navy missile destroyer had sailed southwards through the sensitive strait and would continue to sail south into the disputed South China Sea .
Although the ministry did not reveal any details about the US warship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ ordinary mission ’ adding that the situation was ‘ normal ’ .
Earlier in August , the US guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin sailed through the strait , in a move considered extremely dangerous by China .
LINK Earlier this month , Taiwan ` s Defence Ministry denied claims made on social media that it had shot down a Chinese military aircraft over the Taiwan Strait , condemning the allegations as an attempt to further inflame tensions at a time when the US and China are already pushing each other to the brink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could easily get out of control as the two countries send their armed forces into increasingly dangerous and risk-laden confrontations to demonstrate their determination to ‘ not back down ’ .
LINK Last week , China ’ s state media reported that the country ’ s two commissioned aircraft carriers conducted simultaneous military exercises at sea for the first time .
The China based Modern Ships magazine also cited foreign commercial satellite images as showing that the Navy ’ s first aircraft carrier , the Liaoning , has recently departed from its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As early as September 1 , ship spotters reported the Liaoning and China ’ s second aircraft carrier , the Shandong , heading out of their ports for training missions , while that same day Twitter user Navy Recognition reported that J-15 fighters from the Liaoning were conducting live-fire exercises .
Hong Kong-based wenweipo.com reported that the Shandong had departed from a shipyard on September 1 and was headed toward the Bohai Sea to carry out exercises .
Also that day , Chinese Twitter user Jimmy Chan posted satellite imagery purportedly showing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The expert claimed that the two carriers combined will provide the PLAN a “ significant boost in efficiency and capability , ” especially for the deployment of fighter jets .
He added that even if the two ships do not cross paths this time , it is a major step toward a “ true dual carrier era ” for the Chinese Navy .
He also mentioned India as a possible threat to China ’ s maritime transport lanes ( particularly around the western entrance to the Malacca Strait between Malaysia and Indonesia ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carriers can “ squeeze the island of Taiwan from different angles , ” while the DF-21D and DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missiles can “ lock down the island and deny possible US intervention.
” The appearance of the two carriers in September suggests there was a slight delay from the original plan which was widely reported in the media in May of deploying them simultaneously to participate in war games in August simulating an invasion of islands occupied by Taiwan .
In addition , the location of their deployment is closer to their bases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sea , rather than passing near the Dongsha Islands as had been reported by Japanese and Taiwanese media , as well as the South China Morning Post , in May .
LINK While it appears that China is acting cautiously with its newest aircraft carrier for the moment , possibly to carry out further training and testing of the vessels operating systems before it enters into full combat duty , recent large weapons sales from the US to Taiwan , including missile defence systems and the F-35 fighters , may be prompting China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use force to reunify the mainland with the renegade island province , and that it will be necessary to do so sooner rather than later in order to pre-empt the deployment of the latest and most advanced weapons systems from the US on the island .
It is likely that the Pentagon would prefer a major military confrontation with China now rather than in five or ten years .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Russia Appears To Be Behind Both U.S. And China In Terms Of Reconnaissance Satellites : Report • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forces

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The Pentagon’s latest annual assessment of Beijing’s military power declares that China is planning to double its nuclear stockpile over the next decade, already operates the world’s largest Navy, is advancing rapidly in its space capabilities, and is embedding artificial intelligence technology in many of its weapons systems.
The Pentagon’s annual assessment of China’s comprehensive program for the modernization and expansion of its armed forces is somewhat reminiscent of the ‘missile gap’ angst during the Cold War, and in this respect appears to have the same objective of justifying additional increases to the Pentagon’s already exorbitant budget.
Nonetheless, it cannot be disputed that China’s armed forces are steadily acquiring a very formidable array of weaponry and support platforms that are already capable of challenging the Pentagon’s objective of achieving and maintaining ‘full spectrum dominance’ in all potential battlefields against all prospective ‘adversaries’ or enemies in all possible theatres of war and confrontation.
Although the US still has a significant advantage in key areas, most decisively in long-range ballistic missile and nuclear attack forces, a US military attack against China is no longer guaranteed of success and would face the near certainty of a strong and extremely damaging counter-attack against US forces and ‘assets’ in the Asia-Pacific region (including any allied countries in the region foolish enough to join such an attack).
A large-scale military attack by the US would also prompt China to test the capabilities of its notorious ‘satellite killers’, which if they are as effective as many experts suspect could render inoperable much of the Pentagon’s military hardware not just in the Asia Pacific region but worldwide, and would risk a limited but still substantial nuclear attack against the continental United States.
In several key aspects the Chinese and US armed forces are pursuing similar objectives, such as rapidly expanding their naval and air power, moving towards more integrated joint force structures and operations to achieve greater interoperability and coordination in complex battlefield environments, and integrating emerging information technologies like AI into a wide range of weapons and operating systems.
The Defense Department’s 2020 China Military Power report estimates that China will “at least double” its nuclear stockpile to about 400 warheads and is placing great emphasis on strengthening its nuclear deterrence.
China is also making some adjustments to its operating procedures with respect to its nuclear arsenal.
“New developments in 2019 further suggest that China intends to increase the peacetime readiness of its nuclear forces by moving to a launch-on-warning (LOW) posture with an expanded silo-based force.”
A similar shift has occurred in Russia, where the incessant NATO war games with nuclear capable attack forces along Russia’s western and northern borders has prompted the government to revise its nuclear launch policies.
China is also working towards establishing its own version of a nuclear triad force, with air-launched ballistic missiles, in addition to ICBMs. Pentagon officials estimate that China will have 200 intercontinental missiles within the next five years.
“Combined with a near-complete lack of transparency regarding their strategic intent and the perceived need for a much larger, more diverse nuclear force, these developments pose a significant concern for the United States,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Chad Sbragia, speaking of the report’s key findings at a press conference at the Pentagon.
The Pentagon’s expressed concern over the transparency of China’s military program might be more convincing if it were to ever conduct a complete financial audit of its own operations for the US Congress as required by US law. Consecutive reports by the Inspector General have noted that somewhere between 15% and 25% of the Pentagon’s budget spending cannot be accounted for by its own financial auditors.
Even former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stated that $2.3 trillion of Pentagon funds could not be accounted for on 10 September 2001, the day before the Pentagon’s accounting department was obliterated by a suspicious terrorist attack which still has not been adequately explained.
The United States has also been trying to include China in discussions related to renewing the New START treaty, which governs the number of deployed strategic nuclear weapons and launch platforms that the United States and Russia can keep in their inventories.
China has said on numerous occasions that it isn’t interested in participating in a trilateral discussion with Russia and the US on nuclear arms control, pointing out the vast disparity in the three countries nuclear arsenals, force structures and capabilities.
Nonetheless, the US insists on trying to include China in the negotiations, which must be successfully concluded before February of next year if the arms control agreement is to remain in effect.
“The United States is willing to make progress with Russia while waiting on China to recognize its interests in behaving like a great power and a responsible nuclear weapons state by pursuing negotiations in good faith,” Sbragia said.
The annual assessment also states that based on quantity China has built up its Navy to become the world’s largest with 350 ships and submarines. That’s a significant change from last year’s report, which describes China as having the largest ‘regional’ Navy.
“In comparison, the U.S. Navy’s battle force is approximately 293 ships as of early 2020.”
Speaking to the conservative American Enterprise Institute, Sbragia added “the caution is always [that] numbers are one element, not the entirety… There’s tonnage, capacity, sophistication.”
Presumably ‘sophistication’ refers to long-range force projection capabilities and overall destructive firepower. For instance, China commissioned its first domestically produced aircraft carrier last year, with its second currently under construction, compared to the fleet of 11 US nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. China’s submarine fleet, while expanding rapidly, also remains vastly outgunned by the US fleet of strategic nuclear attack submarines.
For years, Pentagon leaders have boasted that despite China’s build up of new technologies and weapons, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) lacked the training and fighting experience in joint combat scenarios that synchronize land, air, and sea power, giving the United States tremendous advantage in any potential direct conflict. According to this year’s report, the PLA is working hard to change that.
“More striking than the PLA’s staggering amounts of new military hardware are the recent sweeping efforts taken by (Chinese) leaders that include completely restructuring the PLA into a force better suited for joint operations, improving the PLA’s overall combat readiness, encouraging the PLA to embrace new operational concepts, and expanding the overseas military footprint.”
The expansion of large-scale joint military exercises and manoeuvres with Russia is very significant in this respect.
Additionally, China’s space activities are advancing rapidly, the report says, noting that China wants to have its own permanent space station by 2022. “Beijing has devoted significant economic and political resources to growing all aspects of its space program, from military space applications to civil applications such as profit-generating launches, scientific endeavors, and space exploration.”
The People’s Liberation Army is also putting emerging technology, particularly artificial intelligence, at the centre of its efforts to modernize its military.
“The PRC is pursuing a whole-of-society effort to become a global leader in AI, which includes designating select private AI companies in China as ‘AI champions’ to emphasize R&D in specific dual-use technologies,” the report states. It’s part of China’s five-year plan to become the world’s dominant player in the technology by 2030. “In 2019, the private PRC-based company Ziyan UAV exhibited armed swarming drones that it claimed use AI to perform autonomous guidance, target acquisition, and attack execution. During the past five years, China has made achievements in AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels, which China plans to use to patrol and bolster its territorial claims in the South China Sea. China has also tested unmanned tanks as part of research efforts to integrate AI into ground forces’ equipment,” it says.
Just as the United States says artificial intelligence is helping to increase the speed and accuracy of warfare, China is also operating under that assumption.
“The PLA argues that the implementation of ‘intelligentized’ capabilities will increase the speed of future combat, necessitating more rapid processing and fusing of information to support quick and efficient command decision making.” Sbragia described the underlying strategy informing how China develops and fields weapons, and undertakes military operations, as one of ‘active defence’. China, he said, sees itself as constrained by the “requirement to safeguard national interests and not do so in a matter that would be catastrophic to long term (social and economic) aspirations… Use of force, bound by those two conditions… always in those terms.”
The US political and military leadership has been intent on confronting and demonizing China this year, sending a record number of warships and aircraft (including long-range nuclear capable strategic bombers) into areas adjacent to China’s extensive maritime borders this year and concentrating their efforts on the zones most likely to provoke and antagonize the Chinese – the strait between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan and nearby areas, and disputed border areas in the South China Sea.
In June, Chinese state media and internet users accused the United States of making “another provocative move” as a warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait — the seventh such transit by the US Navy this year, possibly timed to coincide with the anniversary of China’s 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. LINK
At the end of August the Taiwanese Defence ministry said that another US Navy missile destroyer had sailed southwards through the sensitive strait and would continue to sail south into the disputed South China Sea. Although the ministry did not reveal any details about the US warship, they said that it was on an ‘ordinary mission’ adding that the situation was ‘normal’. Earlier in August, the US guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin sailed through the strait, in a move considered extremely dangerous by China. LINK
Earlier this month, Taiwan`s Defence Ministry denied claims made on social media that it had shot down a Chinese military aircraft over the Taiwan Strait, condemning the allegations as an attempt to further inflame tensions at a time when the US and China are already pushing each other to the brink of conflict in a war of nerves that could easily get out of control as the two countries send their armed forces into increasingly dangerous and risk-laden confrontations to demonstrate their determination to ‘not back down’. LINK
Last week, China’s state media reported that the country’s two commissioned aircraft carriers conducted simultaneous military exercises at sea for the first time.
The Global Times claimed that the exercises will enable China to deploy a dual carrier combat group, which could be used for “possible reunification-by-force operations on the island of Taiwan,” as well as providing additional “resistance against US provocations in the South China Sea.”
The China based Modern Ships magazine also cited foreign commercial satellite images as showing that the Navy’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has recently departed from its base in Qingdao for military drills. As early as September 1, ship spotters reported the Liaoning and China’s second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, heading out of their ports for training missions, while that same day Twitter user Navy Recognition reported that J-15 fighters from the Liaoning were conducting live-fire exercises.
Hong Kong-based wenweipo.com reported that the Shandong had departed from a shipyard on September 1 and was headed toward the Bohai Sea to carry out exercises. Also that day, Chinese Twitter user Jimmy Chan posted satellite imagery purportedly showing the Liaoning sailing in the Yellow Sea.
According to Modern Ships, this was the first time that China’s two aircraft carriers have conducted simultaneous exercises at sea since the Shandong was commissioned in December of 2019. Global Times cited a Chinese military expert as claiming that it is only a matter of time before the “PLA Navy gains the capability to simultaneously operate two carriers in multiple approaches, including a dual carrier combat group.”
The expert claimed that the two carriers combined will provide the PLAN a “significant boost in efficiency and capability,” especially for the deployment of fighter jets. He added that even if the two ships do not cross paths this time, it is a major step toward a “true dual carrier era” for the Chinese Navy.
The Global Times quoted Chinese naval expert Li Jie as claiming that the two carriers are operating at a time when China has been “facing military pressure from countries like the US in the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea.”
He also mentioned India as a possible threat to China’s maritime transport lanes (particularly around the western entrance to the Malacca Strait between Malaysia and Indonesia), and stated that the two aircraft carriers can “squeeze the island of Taiwan from different angles,” while the DF-21D and DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missiles can “lock down the island and deny possible US intervention.”
The appearance of the two carriers in September suggests there was a slight delay from the original plan which was widely reported in the media in May of deploying them simultaneously to participate in war games in August simulating an invasion of islands occupied by Taiwan. In addition, the location of their deployment is closer to their bases in the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, rather than passing near the Dongsha Islands as had been reported by Japanese and Taiwanese media, as well as the South China Morning Post, in May. LINK
While it appears that China is acting cautiously with its newest aircraft carrier for the moment, possibly to carry out further training and testing of the vessels operating systems before it enters into full combat duty, recent large weapons sales from the US to Taiwan, including missile defence systems and the F-35 fighters, may be prompting China to calculate that it will be necessary to use force to reunify the mainland with the renegade island province, and that it will be necessary to do so sooner rather than later in order to pre-empt the deployment of the latest and most advanced weapons systems from the US on the island.
It is likely that the Pentagon would prefer a major military confrontation with China now rather than in five or ten years.
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southfront--2020-09-14--Israel Becomes First State In World To Impose Second COVID-19 Lockdown

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that his government is imposing a second national-wide COVID-19 lockdown .
The lockdown will come into effect at 2pm ( local time ) on Friday – coinciding with a major Jewish holiday , Rosh Hashana , and will continue for three weeks .
“ I know these steps are a heavy price for us all , ” Mr Netanyahu said .
“ These are not the holidays we are used to .
We certainly won ’ t be able to celebrate with our extended families.
” Israel currently has over 37,000 active COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims that he has been using the crisis to secure his political power .
“ If we keep the rules , and I am confident in this , we will defeat the virus .
I see the vaccine on the way , and I see the fast testing that is on the way , ” the prime minister said .
The decision comes as the World Health Organization continues promoting the COVID-19 as a major global threat setting conditions for speculatinos about a possible new wave of lockdowns .
Meanwhile , the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the COVID-19 crisis : MORE ON THE TOPIC :

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that his government is imposing a second national-wide COVID-19 lockdown.
The lockdown will come into effect at 2pm (local time) on Friday – coinciding with a major Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashana, and will continue for three weeks.
“I know these steps are a heavy price for us all,” Mr Netanyahu said. “These are not the holidays we are used to. We certainly won’t be able to celebrate with our extended families.”
Israel currently has over 37,000 active COVID-19 cases, while the opposition to Netanyahu claims that he has been using the crisis to secure his political power.
“If we keep the rules, and I am confident in this, we will defeat the virus. I see the vaccine on the way, and I see the fast testing that is on the way,” the prime minister said.
The decision comes as the World Health Organization continues promoting the COVID-19 as a major global threat setting conditions for speculatinos about a possible new wave of lockdowns.
Meanwhile, the United Nations finally revealed who is really responsible for the COVID-19 crisis:
The #COVID19 pandemic is demonstrating what we all know: millennia of patriarchy have resulted in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture which damages everyone – women, men, girls & boys. — @antonioguterres https://t.co/ppSUGLr2Wx pic.twitter.com/krT6HkQil6 — United Nations (@UN) September 6, 2020
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southfront--2020-09-14--Military Situation In Libya On September 14, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya : • An interim government @ @ @ @ @ with the LNA ) resigned hours after protesters set fire to its headquarters in Benghazi @ @ @ @ @ Army ( LNA ) deployed additional security forces to ensure order in the city of @ @ @ @ @ Directorate , where one civilian was reportedly killed during the protests ; • The LNA @ @ @ @ @ protests and promised to protect them , calling to hold demonstrations in public squares during @ @ @ @ @ saboteurs ; • In coming days , the Turkish company ENKA will start building two @ @ @ @ @ MORE ON THE TOPIC : • U.S. To Declare Russian “ Jetfall ” In Libya

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya:
An interim government in eastern Libya (allied with the LNA) resigned hours after protesters set fire to its headquarters in Benghazi;
The Libyan National Army (LNA) deployed additional security forces to ensure order in the city of Al-Marj in the Al-Marj Security Directorate, where one civilian was reportedly killed during the protests;
The LNA declared its support for the protests and promised to protect them, calling to hold demonstrations in public squares during the day and not allow saboteurs;
In coming days, the Turkish company ENKA will start building two power stations in Libya.
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southfront--2020-09-15--Map Update: Houthis Make Fresh Gains In Yemen’s Marib

Click to see the full-size image Ansar Allah ( also known as the Houthis ) continues its advance on positions @ @ @ @ @ Yemeni provinces of Marib and Baydaa .
Recently , the Houthis have captured the areas @ @ @ @ @ , Ajam al-Sud and al-Atf areas in the Rahbah district .
MORE ON THE TOPIC @

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Ansar Allah (also known as the Houthis) continues its advance on positions of Saudi-backed forces in the Yemeni provinces of Marib and Baydaa. Recently, the Houthis have captured the areas of Najd al-Majmaa, Habisah, Ajam al-Sud and al-Atf areas in the Rahbah district.
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southfront--2020-09-15--Military Situation In Iraq On September 15, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • The Popular Mobilization @ @ @ @ @ ISIS attacks in the south of Samarra for the second night in a row ; @ @ @ @ @ at the US embassy in Baghdad ; • Convoy of an Iraqi contractor company transporting @ @ @ @ @ targeted with two IEDs , one in Babil and one in Diwaniyah ; • One @ @ @ @ @ others were wounded in an attack on a fuel plant in Kirkuk .
MORE ON @ @ @ @ @ Videos : US C-RAM System Intercepts Rockets Targeting Embassy Area In Baghdad

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) repelled ISIS attacks in the south of Samarra for the second night in a row;
Four rockets were fired at the US embassy in Baghdad;
Convoy of an Iraqi contractor company transporting US-led coalition military equipment was targeted with two IEDs, one in Babil and one in Diwaniyah;
One civilian was killed and 3 others were wounded in an attack on a fuel plant in Kirkuk.
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southfront--2020-09-15--US Air Force Pilot Involved In UFO Encounter Says Object Committed ‘Act Of War’

One of the former US military fighter pilots who encountered a mysterious flying object off the coast of California in 2004 has discussed the encounter in a lengthy interview , saying the unidentified object blocked all efforts to approach it or identify and track it by radar .
Commander David Fravor witnessed the Tic Tac-shaped object perform extraordinary aerial manoeuvres that no known human technology is capable of in November 2004 .
The former US Navy pilot said the UFO was unlike anything else he ever encountered .
Commander Fravor was dispatched to investigate the area after radar anomalies were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other pilots who were also dispatched to the area and who managed to record footage of the strange phenomena .
The video was leaked in 2017 before being declassified by the Pentagon earlier this year .
Fravor recounted the perplexing encounter in a podcast interview with Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientist Lex Fridman .
“ This is not like , ‘ we saw it and it was gone ’ , or ‘ I saw lights in the sky and it ’ s gone ’ – we watched this thing on a crystal clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ex-pilot said that every time he tried to approach the object it rapidly accelerated away from his aircraft .
“ I remember telling the guy in my back seat , ‘ Dude , I dunno about you but I ’ m pretty weirded out.
’ ” As reported by RT , after landing , Fravor mentioned the UFO to a colleague , Chad Underwood , who successfully located the unidentified phenomenon , however when he tried to identify the object and determine its course it appeared that the object jammed the radar signal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the craft came from , the former fighter pilot said it could do things that no known human technology is capable of .
“ I don ’ t like to get into little green men but I don ’ t think we ’ ve developed it … I think you can hide things for a while .
This is a giant leap in technology.
” Following changes to the official policy on UFOs in the US earlier this year , the Japanese Self-Defence Forces have received orders on how to respond to unidentified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airspace .
The orders were distributed in writing to Japan ’ s Ministry of Defence and SDF personnel , NHK TV reported .
Defence Minister Taro Kono personally requested that the guidelines be drawn up in April after the Pentagon officially released three videos recorded by US Navy pilots which showed flying objects conducting unusual manoeuvres .
SDF personnel have been instructed to immediately inform their superiors if they see an unidentified flying object that could pose a threat to Japanese national defence and security .
They have also been directed to film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be analysed to determine the nature and characteristics of the object .
Footage submitted by the public will also be subjected to detailed analysis by military experts .
The Defence Minister emphasized that he doesn ’ t believe that there are extra-terrestrial aircraft when he first issued the order to prepare guidelines five months ago , explaining the new directives as being prompted by an increase in drone traffic and other flying objects that move unlike conventional planes .
Kono claimed that no Japanese pilot had ever seen a UFO .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Task Force to investigate UFO incidents earlier this year , allegedly reviving a previously dismantled unit called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program whose existence was only recently revealed to the public ( and which may not have actually been disbanded at all ) .
Shortly thereafter , Kono met with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper in Guam , and the UFO issue surfaced as a possible topic for Japanese-American cooperation , according to Kyodo News .
The three videos officially released by the Pentagon earlier this year initially emerged in 2007 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the laws of aerodynamics .
However , alternative explanations for the clips have surfaced .
Several former US military employees have suggested the ‘ UFOs ’ were part of a top-secret weapons program , possibly a missile-defence component known as a “ kinetic kill weapon ” or “ exoatmospheric kill vehicle.
” A retired CIA officer argued the videos showed “ ghost aircraft ” generated by a US radar-spoofing program .
LINK The measure would compel the government to publish a detailed compilation of UFO reports within 180 days after passage ; however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may contain a classified annex .
It would also require federal agencies to explain how such information is collected and shared , and to disclose whether particular UFO encounters suggest that “ a potential adversary may have achieved breakthrough aerospace capabilities that could put United States… forces at risk.
” LINK Another interview conducted in July of this year with long-time UFO researcher and campaigner for greater disclosure , Steven Greer , who has compiled data from hundreds of detailed interviews with military personnel and civilian pilots , among others , concerning sightings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inexplicable flying objects , provides many insights into the shifts that have occurred in official policy on the topic in the US .
LINK As with all research on this controversial topic , the reader must make his or her own conclusions as to what the truth may be .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • I Want to Believe – WikiLeaks Publishes Cryptic Clinton Campaign ’ s Emails about UFO

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One of the former US military fighter pilots who encountered a mysterious flying object off the coast of California in 2004 has discussed the encounter in a lengthy interview, saying the unidentified object blocked all efforts to approach it or identify and track it by radar.
Commander David Fravor witnessed the Tic Tac-shaped object perform extraordinary aerial manoeuvres that no known human technology is capable of in November 2004. The former US Navy pilot said the UFO was unlike anything else he ever encountered.
Commander Fravor was dispatched to investigate the area after radar anomalies were detected. He was later joined by other pilots who were also dispatched to the area and who managed to record footage of the strange phenomena. The video was leaked in 2017 before being declassified by the Pentagon earlier this year.
Fravor recounted the perplexing encounter in a podcast interview with Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientist Lex Fridman. “This is not like, ‘we saw it and it was gone’, or ‘I saw lights in the sky and it’s gone’ – we watched this thing on a crystal clear day with four trained observers.”
The ex-pilot said that every time he tried to approach the object it rapidly accelerated away from his aircraft. “I remember telling the guy in my back seat, ‘Dude, I dunno about you but I’m pretty weirded out.’” As reported by RT, after landing, Fravor mentioned the UFO to a colleague, Chad Underwood, who successfully located the unidentified phenomenon, however when he tried to identify the object and determine its course it appeared that the object jammed the radar signal. LINK When discussing where he believes the craft came from, the former fighter pilot said it could do things that no known human technology is capable of. “I don’t like to get into little green men but I don’t think we’ve developed it … I think you can hide things for a while. This is a giant leap in technology.”
Following changes to the official policy on UFOs in the US earlier this year, the Japanese Self-Defence Forces have received orders on how to respond to unidentified flying objects entering the country’s airspace.
The orders were distributed in writing to Japan’s Ministry of Defence and SDF personnel, NHK TV reported. Defence Minister Taro Kono personally requested that the guidelines be drawn up in April after the Pentagon officially released three videos recorded by US Navy pilots which showed flying objects conducting unusual manoeuvres.
SDF personnel have been instructed to immediately inform their superiors if they see an unidentified flying object that could pose a threat to Japanese national defence and security. They have also been directed to film the object, so that the images can be analysed to determine the nature and characteristics of the object. Footage submitted by the public will also be subjected to detailed analysis by military experts.
The Defence Minister emphasized that he doesn’t believe that there are extra-terrestrial aircraft when he first issued the order to prepare guidelines five months ago, explaining the new directives as being prompted by an increase in drone traffic and other flying objects that move unlike conventional planes. Kono claimed that no Japanese pilot had ever seen a UFO.
The Pentagon set up an Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force to investigate UFO incidents earlier this year, allegedly reviving a previously dismantled unit called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program whose existence was only recently revealed to the public (and which may not have actually been disbanded at all).
Shortly thereafter, Kono met with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper in Guam, and the UFO issue surfaced as a possible topic for Japanese-American cooperation, according to Kyodo News.
The three videos officially released by the Pentagon earlier this year initially emerged in 2007 and 2017, showing flying objects seemingly defying the laws of aerodynamics. However, alternative explanations for the clips have surfaced. Several former US military employees have suggested the ‘UFOs’ were part of a top-secret weapons program, possibly a missile-defence component known as a “kinetic kill weapon” or “exoatmospheric kill vehicle.” A retired CIA officer argued the videos showed “ghost aircraft” generated by a US radar-spoofing program. LINK
In June the US Senate Intelligence Committee approved a measure that would require the government, including the Pentagon and intelligence agencies, to compile all data on unidentified aerial phenomena into a declassified report. The provision called on the government to “standardize collection and reporting on unidentified aerial phenomenon,” or UAP – more commonly known as UFOs.
The measure would compel the government to publish a detailed compilation of UFO reports within 180 days after passage; however, the committee noted that the report may contain a classified annex. It would also require federal agencies to explain how such information is collected and shared, and to disclose whether particular UFO encounters suggest that “a potential adversary may have achieved breakthrough aerospace capabilities that could put United States… forces at risk.” LINK
Another interview conducted in July of this year with long-time UFO researcher and campaigner for greater disclosure, Steven Greer, who has compiled data from hundreds of detailed interviews with military personnel and civilian pilots, among others, concerning sightings of and encounters with unusual and apparently inexplicable flying objects, provides many insights into the shifts that have occurred in official policy on the topic in the US. LINK
As with all research on this controversial topic, the reader must make his or her own conclusions as to what the truth may be.
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southfront--2020-09-15--China Responds To Pentagon Allegations, Calls US Main ‘Destroyer Of World Peace’

Responding to the US Department of Defense ’ s annual report to the US Congress on Chinese military capabilities and policies , published earlier this month , a spokesman for China ’ s Ministry of Defence castigated the US , describing it as the main “ destroyer of world peace ” .
The Pentagon ’ s report examined the People ’ s Liberation Army ’ s ( PLA ) technical capabilities , doctrines and the underlying objectives of China ’ s military modernization and expansion , expressing concern about China ’ s expanding nuclear arsenal and navy , with particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lack of disclosure over military policies and strategic objectives .
The report concluded that China ’ s military modernization will have “ serious implications for U.S. national interests and the security of the international rules-based order.
” As reported by AP news , a spokesman for China ’ s Ministry of Defence responded on Sunday , stating that the US is the main “ destroyer of world peace ” and calling the Pentagon report a “ wanton distortion ” of China ’ s intentions .
LINK “ Many years of evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the fomenter of regional unrest , the violator of the international order and the destroyer of world peace , ” the spokesman said , citing US actions in Iraq , Syria , Libya and other countries over the past two decades which he said have resulted in the deaths of more than 800,000 people and the displacement of millions more .
“ Rather than reflecting on itself , the U.S. issued a so-called report that made false comments about China ’ s normal defence and military construction , ” he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ view China ’ s national defence and military construction objectively and rationally , cease making false statements and related reports , and take concrete actions to safeguard the healthy development of bilateral military relations.
” MORE ON THE TOPIC : • The US is leaving the Open Skies Treaty • US Secretary of State dedicates major address to China baiting

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Responding to the US Department of Defense’s annual report to the US Congress on Chinese military capabilities and policies, published earlier this month, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Defence castigated the US, describing it as the main “destroyer of world peace”.
The Pentagon’s report examined the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) technical capabilities, doctrines and the underlying objectives of China’s military modernization and expansion, expressing concern about China’s expanding nuclear arsenal and navy, with particular criticism for what it claimed is China’s lack of disclosure over military policies and strategic objectives.
The report concluded that China’s military modernization will have “serious implications for U.S. national interests and the security of the international rules-based order.”
As reported by AP news, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Defence responded on Sunday, stating that the US is the main “destroyer of world peace” and calling the Pentagon report a “wanton distortion” of China’s intentions. LINK
“Many years of evidence shows that it is the U.S. that is the fomenter of regional unrest, the violator of the international order and the destroyer of world peace,” the spokesman said, citing US actions in Iraq, Syria, Libya and other countries over the past two decades which he said have resulted in the deaths of more than 800,000 people and the displacement of millions more.
“Rather than reflecting on itself, the U.S. issued a so-called report that made false comments about China’s normal defence and military construction,” he added. “We call on the U.S. to view China’s national defence and military construction objectively and rationally, cease making false statements and related reports, and take concrete actions to safeguard the healthy development of bilateral military relations.”
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