* PLA uses sea and air training exercises to rattle sabre at Taipei
* Taiwan says more Chinese warships are skirting its air defence zone
The People’s Liberation Army said that Taiwan would run into a “dead end” if it resisted the mainland’s reunification efforts with force, and that Beijing would continue its “encirclement patrols” in waters and airspace around the island.
Wu Qian, spokesman for the defence ministry, said the PLA conducted drills near Taiwanese airspace last week as part of routine training.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 28, 2018
China’s Newest Carrier Begins Flight Tests (PHOTOS) -- Sputnik
China’s aircraft carrier troubles continue with more researchers charged with corruption -- SCMP
China's alternative to GPS starts global service ahead of schedule - Nikkei Asian Review
Chinese aircraft trespasses South Korea, Japan multiple times -- UPI
Chinese reconnaissance plane flies over South Korea, Japan as geopolitical tensions grow -- SCMP
China’s new light tank for mountainous areas goes into service -- SCMP
US urges Pacific allies to boost their military presence in South China Sea -- Stars and Stripes
Six things on the Pentagon’s 2019 acquisition reform checklist -- Defense News
The US Army is practicing to take down enemy aircraft in the skies over Europe -- Business Insider
BIW, Raytheon receive $43M for Zumwalt support, weapons -- UPI
First GPS III satellite launched, moving toward operational orbit -- UPI
General Dynamics contracted for missile control systems for U.S., U.K. -- UPI
Pilots Kept Losing Oxygen and the Military Had No Idea Why. Now There’s a Possible Fix. -- The New York Times
U.S. turns to military, medical research to solve diplomats' 'health attacks' -- NBC
42,000 Coast Guardsmen Are Getting Screwed On Pay Because Of The Government Shutdown -- Task & Purpose
Trump indicates he won't rush to name Mattis replacement -- The Hill
Air Force: Nothing Improper with Airmen's Pro-Trump Merchandise at Ramstein -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes
The military is preparing to host a conference to discuss sexual assault on college campuses -- Military Times
Nation’s oldest World War II vet dies at age 112 -- Military Times/AP
U.S., South Korea fail to reach deal to share costs for American troops -- UPI
Turkey has no intention of letting US examine S-400 systems, says source -- TASS
Bundeswehr floats idea of recruiting EU citizens -- DW
NATO jets intercept three Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea -- ERR.ee
Responding to US Missiles in Europe 'Not Difficult' - Russian Missile Designer -- Sputnik
Russia says its new weapon is 27 times faster than the speed of sound -- Military Times/AP
Putin touts first hypersonic, nuclear-capable weapon for 2019 -- UPI
Russia’s upgraded Tu-22M3 strategic missile-carrying bomber performs debut flight -- TASS
‘Prepared to counter any threat’: Russia’s top 10 military events of 2018 -- RT
Israel develops wing components to make F-35s invisible to radar -- UPI
Mattis Allegedly Killed Israel-Croatia F-16 Deal Despite Plea of Netanyahu -- Sputnik
Reports of China using its 'Belt and Road' program for military purposes are 'no real surprise' -- CNBC
Pakistan Denies Chinese Infrastructure Projects Have Military Dimensions -- RFE
South Korea approves plan to develop homegrown Aegis destroyer -- UPI
Mexico's new president is sending in the military to combat a crime wave costing the country billions of dollars -- Reuters