urbanoid Posted December 3, 2024 Posted December 3, 2024 Just now, Roman Alymov said: As far as i understand it is result of US ban on semiconductors import from China.... Now key materials to produce US own semiconductors are banned by China. Will see who will blink. Don't you mean 'semiconductors import from by China' from the US? Still, it's a necessary kick in the ass for US and the West in general to ditch green idiocies and start mining ourselves. Rare earth metals aren't that rare, they're not mined for environmental reasons. I welcome breaking every link between that makes the West dependent on countries challenging Western primacy. I don't mind them being dependent on the West, obviously.
Roman Alymov Posted December 4, 2024 Posted December 4, 2024 16 hours ago, urbanoid said: Don't you mean 'semiconductors import from by China' from the US? No idea, here is article on that "China has cut off the United States from important high-tech materials This was a response to the latest large-scale package of US sanctions on chips Vladimir Kulagin China and the United States are deepening the "semiconductor war" between themselves with new sanctions On December 3, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China announced a complete ban on the supply of a number of dual-use goods to the United States (they can be used in both civil and military spheres), in particular products related to gallium, germanium, antimony and unnamed superhard materials. They are used in the manufacture of semiconductor products, batteries and ammunition. Graphite exports to the United States (used in various industrial sectors, including the creation of electric cars and nuclear power) will now be subject to stricter end-user verification. These measures are justified, among other things, by national security considerations and followed immediately after the decision of the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden on December 2 to introduce a third large-scale package of sanctions against the semiconductor industry of China, which affected 140 companies. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a briefing on December 3 that Beijing had made a "serious presentation" to the United States in this regard. Before that, China announced general restrictions on the export of gallium and germany back in July 2023, requiring coordination with the Ministry of Commerce of each such operation (which raised prices for these metals in Europe by almost half), for synthetic and natural graphite – in October 2023, and for antimony – in August 2024 (prices for antimony trioxide has increased by more than 200% since the beginning of the year). According to the US Geological Survey, China accounts for about 98% of the world's total production of gallium, 60% of germanium and 48% of antimony. Gallium and germanium are used in the production of high–speed microprocessors, the defense industry and the renewable energy sector, and the US dependence on gallium is 100%, and on Germany - more than 50%, emphasizes Boris Krasnozhenov, head of the Securities Markets Analytics Department at Alfa Bank. And the ban on the export of these metals from China to the United States looks quite significant for the market, taking into account the use of metals in strategically important industries. At the same time, if in 2023, before the first restrictions of the PRC, the United States imported 53% of gallium and 54% of germany from there, then in 2024 imports from there, according to Reuters and Bloomberg, were completely stopped. Agencies report that American industry has instead used existing stocks or purchased materials from other countries. But at the same time, Krasnozhenov draws attention, it also indicates that in November the US Geological Survey reported that a complete ban on China's exports of gallium and germany would cause damage to the US economy in the amount of $ 3.4 billion. Similarly, with antimony, only 18% of American demand for which is met through the processing of lead-acid batteries, and the rest through imports (it has not been mined in the United States since 2001, writes Forbes). If before September 2024, China's share in US raw materials supplies was more than 60%, then in October supplies from there collapsed by 97%. Gallium and germanium are most often obtained as a by-product in enterprises specializing in the production of zinc, lead or when working with bauxites. These elements cannot be considered very rare, but they are scattered in the earth's crust, do not form deposits, and their production in pure form is expensive. Gallium is used in semiconductors, and germanium is also used in infrared technology, fiber optic cables and solar energy. Antimony is used in the manufacture of ammunition, in night vision goggles, batteries and photovoltaic equipment, as well as nuclear energy. Graphite is one of the main components of batteries, including for electric vehicles. On December 2, the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce introduced the third package of export restrictions from 2022, which affects 140 companies from China: high-bandwidth memory chips (HBM), which are used in AI chips, 24 types of equipment and three categories of software for semiconductor development. Many of the companies that have fallen under the new restrictions, according to Washington, cooperate with Huawei. At the end of his term, Biden introduced quite sensitive measures not only on chips, but also against Chinese companies that are suspected of helping Russia. And China has probably now decided to specifically increase its restrictions in response, without waiting for Trump to come to power and thereby preparing itself a stronger position for negotiations, says Alexey Maslov, director of the ISAA of Moscow State University." ( Китай отрезал США от важных для хайтека материалов - Ведомости )
futon Posted January 3 Posted January 3 The leadership role: REFORPAC, the large-scale exercise in the Pacific planned for summer 2025, will be on a scale unseen by the Air Force in recent memory: nearly 300 aircraft spread across 25 locations. ... https://www.airandspaceforces.com/pacaf-deputy-reforpac-exercise-nearly-300-aircraft/
Tim the Tank Nut Posted January 3 Posted January 3 ReforPAC is a great name for the exercise. The name alone sends a message.
JWB Posted January 14 Posted January 14 The Chinese Drone Company, DJI has released an Update that removes its Geofencing System (GEO) from Drones sold within the United States. The System, which would previously prevent Drone Operators from flying through Restricted/No-Fly Zones across the Country, including Military Bases, Airports, Power Plants, and other Sensitive Sites; will be replaced with one that sends an Alert to the Operator if they are flying within what DJI is calling “Enhanced Warning Zones” but will not prevent the Operators from entering or flying through like the previous System. https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1879036420364361753
glenn239 Posted January 23 Posted January 23 Shit's getting real boys, the Chinese are starting to build the Siebel ferries....
Mighty_Zuk Posted January 23 Posted January 23 9 hours ago, glenn239 said: Shit's getting real boys, the Chinese are starting to build the Siebel ferries.... The meme is real.
glenn239 Posted January 23 Posted January 23 The specific innovation on the new platforms being built are extension bridges at the bow to allow landing barges to better ignore shore conditions in order to land vehicles and supplies directly onto the coastal roads. The broader take away is that if the PLA(N) is going to ramp up production of specialized landing craft, then the decision has been made in Beijing to deploy a real capacity to conquer Taiwan even during a war with the United States
bojan Posted January 23 Posted January 23 6 hours ago, glenn239 said: The specific innovation on the new platforms being built are extension bridges at the bow... Old as Roman Empire.
TrustMe Posted January 23 Posted January 23 I remember reading a book about a potential invasion of Taiwan and a lot of the target beaches have a very long length of sandy land before they hit the roads. All these long beaches means no cover and the Chinese would take massive casualities in the open terrain.
Roman Alymov Posted January 23 Posted January 23 1 hour ago, bojan said: Old as Roman Empire. Old as Roman Republic, since it dates back to bellum Punicum primum of Roman Republic, 200+ years before Empire.
futon Posted February 18 Posted February 18 Japan making evacuation plans for about 120,000 people that live in the south west islands of Okinawa prefecture to be evacuated to prefectures in Kyushu and Yamaguchi prefecture in the event of a Taiwan contingency. From that, Fukuoka Prefecture would take in 47,000 people. いわゆる台湾有事を念頭に福岡県は17日、沖縄の先島諸島から住民約4万7000人を福岡市や北九州市など県内7市で受け入れる初期計画案の概要を公表しました。 国は台湾有事を念頭に、沖縄県の先島諸島から九州・山口の8県に住民など約12万人を避難させるとしていて、このうち福岡県には石垣島と宮古島から4万7000人を受け入れる計画案を作成するよう求めています。 ... https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5861664c5df14462bfa6fd504c3a74ceaa1c307c
X-Files Posted February 27 Posted February 27 (edited) On 1/22/2025 at 9:08 PM, glenn239 said: Shit's getting real boys, the Chinese are starting to build the Siebel ferries.... More details. This would make a neat ship model. Why China’s New ‘Special Barges’ Are a Worrying Sign for Taiwan – The Diplomat China Suddenly Building Fleet Of Special Barges Suitable For Taiwan Landings - Naval News Edited February 27 by X-Files
futon Posted February 28 Posted February 28 Part of China's view with everything going on. Japan's budget bill for fiscal 2025, which will begin in April, is currently waiting to be passed by the Japanese parliament's lower house. Recently, when addressing the lower house, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba mentioned that he might set the country's defense budget to more than 2 percent of the country's GDP after the 2027 fiscal year. In fact, prior to this, the Japanese government already approved the 2025 fiscal year budget which sees a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase, a new record high. These developments indicate Japan's shift from a measured, incremental approach to military expansion toward a bold, accelerated sprint. In recent years, Japan's annual GDP growth has hovered around 1 to 2 percent, while its defense spending has far outstripped economic expansion. Some Japanese scholars have criticized the government for prioritizing weapons purchases from the US over addressing pressing domestic issues, such as soaring prices and economic hardship, which is simply putting the cart before the horse. Ironically, even as Japan complied with US security demands by purchasing its weapons, Washington still wielded its tariff weapon against Japan and held back the acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel. Japan often hypes the "Chinese military threat" and "security concerns in the neighborhood," trying to justify its military expansion. Among the three major defense goals set by Japan's National Defense Strategy, two are clearly targeting China. One is to "shape a security environment that does not tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force" and the other is to "deter… unilateral changes to the status quo by force and such attempts that concern Japan's peace and security." China's normal maritime rights protection operations in the South China Sea and exercises in the Taiwan Straits to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity are being portrayed by Japan - a non-party to these issues - as matters requiring "defense." Japan stubbornly regards China as an "imaginary enemy" and cooperates with the US in spreading the "China threat" rhetoric, further exacerbating regional tensions. Such beggar-thy-neighbor tactics will not only fail to improve Japan's own security, but may also push the region to the brink of conflict. After WWII, Japan long regarded its "exclusively defense-oriented policy" as its basic national policy and claimed to be a "peace-loving nation." However, the current Japanese government has clearly proposed increasing the defense budget to more than 2 percent of GDP, aligning with NATO standards. This budget also includes the procurement of a large number of offensive weapons such as long-range missiles and drones, raising doubts about whether Japan is gradually abandoning the constraints of the pacifist constitution and shifting toward "proactive offensive" military strategies. These trends have caused widespread concern in Japanese society, where peace-loving citizens question the government: Should Japan become the third-largest military power in the world that threatens the security of neighboring countries? They have also launched a petition against the increase in the defense budget. These voices should be heard and heeded by the Japanese government. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. Eight decades ago, the severe disasters inflicted by Japanese militarism on Asia and the world remain vivid in our minds. The Cairo Declaration clearly stipulates that Japan's war-making power should be destroyed and it shall not be enabled to re-arm for war. Amid the current turmoil in the global landscape, safeguarding the post-WWII peace and international order is a shared responsibility of all countries around the globe. Asian countries should remain vigilant against Japan's military expansion and urge the nation to reflect on its historical responsibilities and return to the path of peace. For Japan, the lessons of militarism are not far away. At a time when all countries yearn for peace and development, Japan must seriously consider whether it adheres to the path of peace or deviates into military expansion, and demonstrate through concrete actions to Asia and the world that it can make the right choice. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329197.shtml
urbanoid Posted February 28 Posted February 28 (edited) 14 hours ago, futon said: Part of China's view with everything going on. Japan's budget bill for fiscal 2025, which will begin in April, is currently waiting to be passed by the Japanese parliament's lower house. Recently, when addressing the lower house, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba mentioned that he might set the country's defense budget to more than 2 percent of the country's GDP after the 2027 fiscal year. In fact, prior to this, the Japanese government already approved the 2025 fiscal year budget which sees a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase, a new record high. These developments indicate Japan's shift from a measured, incremental approach to military expansion toward a bold, accelerated sprint. In recent years, Japan's annual GDP growth has hovered around 1 to 2 percent, while its defense spending has far outstripped economic expansion. Some Japanese scholars have criticized the government for prioritizing weapons purchases from the US over addressing pressing domestic issues, such as soaring prices and economic hardship, which is simply putting the cart before the horse. Ironically, even as Japan complied with US security demands by purchasing its weapons, Washington still wielded its tariff weapon against Japan and held back the acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel. Japan often hypes the "Chinese military threat" and "security concerns in the neighborhood," trying to justify its military expansion. Among the three major defense goals set by Japan's National Defense Strategy, two are clearly targeting China. One is to "shape a security environment that does not tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force" and the other is to "deter… unilateral changes to the status quo by force and such attempts that concern Japan's peace and security." China's normal maritime rights protection operations in the South China Sea and exercises in the Taiwan Straits to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity are being portrayed by Japan - a non-party to these issues - as matters requiring "defense." Japan stubbornly regards China as an "imaginary enemy" and cooperates with the US in spreading the "China threat" rhetoric, further exacerbating regional tensions. Such beggar-thy-neighbor tactics will not only fail to improve Japan's own security, but may also push the region to the brink of conflict. After WWII, Japan long regarded its "exclusively defense-oriented policy" as its basic national policy and claimed to be a "peace-loving nation." However, the current Japanese government has clearly proposed increasing the defense budget to more than 2 percent of GDP, aligning with NATO standards. This budget also includes the procurement of a large number of offensive weapons such as long-range missiles and drones, raising doubts about whether Japan is gradually abandoning the constraints of the pacifist constitution and shifting toward "proactive offensive" military strategies. These trends have caused widespread concern in Japanese society, where peace-loving citizens question the government: Should Japan become the third-largest military power in the world that threatens the security of neighboring countries? They have also launched a petition against the increase in the defense budget. These voices should be heard and heeded by the Japanese government. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. Eight decades ago, the severe disasters inflicted by Japanese militarism on Asia and the world remain vivid in our minds. The Cairo Declaration clearly stipulates that Japan's war-making power should be destroyed and it shall not be enabled to re-arm for war. Amid the current turmoil in the global landscape, safeguarding the post-WWII peace and international order is a shared responsibility of all countries around the globe. Asian countries should remain vigilant against Japan's military expansion and urge the nation to reflect on its historical responsibilities and return to the path of peace. For Japan, the lessons of militarism are not far away. At a time when all countries yearn for peace and development, Japan must seriously consider whether it adheres to the path of peace or deviates into military expansion, and demonstrate through concrete actions to Asia and the world that it can make the right choice. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329197.shtml CCP seething, which means it's good news. The Juice Chinese fear the Samurai. Edited February 28 by urbanoid
futon Posted March 1 Posted March 1 14 hours ago, urbanoid said: CCP seething, which means it's good news. The Juice Chinese fear the Samurai. Although I pray the day doesn't come that both sides spill each other's blood. But have to remain firm. JS Akizuki sailed through the Taiwan Strait. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250301/k10014736911000.html
urbanoid Posted March 5 Posted March 5 Colby on Taiwan: losing it would be a disaster, but not an existential issue Quote Taiwan needs to hike defense spending to 10% of GDP-Pentagon nominee WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - Taiwan needs to dramatically hike defense spending to around 10% of gross domestic product in order to deter a war with China, President Donald Trump's nominee to become a top Pentagon policy advisor said on Tuesday. Elbridge Colby, the nominee to become under secretary of defense for policy, admonished Taiwan for doing too little now, saying its defense spending was "well below" 3% of GDP. "They should be more like 10%, or at least something in that ballpark, really focused on their defense. So we need to properly incentivize them," Colby said at his Senate confirmation hearing. The remarks come as tensions climb between the United States and China, the world's two largest economies, which edged deeper into a trade war on Tuesday as China retaliated following steep tariffs imposed by Trump. China and the United States are also competing for military influence in Asia. For years, China has been steadily ramping up its military pressure to assert its sovereignty claims over the democratic, self-governed island that is home to a critical chip manufacturing vital to the global economy. The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei. Colby told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Washington had important national security interests in Taiwan, even if the island's status was not "existential" to the United States. "Losing Taiwan, Taiwan's fall, would be a disaster for American interests," Colby said. He cautioned the military balance of power between China and the United States had "deteriorated dramatically" in China's favor. Reversing that trend would be among his top priorities. "It would be essentially my number one, or one of my very top priorities, if confirmed, to try to get us prepared as quickly as possible, and then over the medium and longer term as well," Colby said. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has said his government would aim to increase defense spending to 3% of its GDP this year, but the island's parliament has passed budget cuts that could hit defense outlays. That has triggered concerns in Washington, where officials and lawmakers have regularly said the U.S. cannot show more urgency over Taiwan's defense than the island itself. Colby said he was "profoundly disturbed" by the chance that Taiwan could cut its defense spending. Nonetheless, Taiwan is exploring buying arms worth billions of dollars from the United States, sources briefed on the matter have told Reuters, hoping to win support from the Trump administration as China continues to apply military pressure on the island. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-needs-hike-defense-spending-10-gdp-pentagon-nominee-2025-03-04/
X-Files Posted March 5 Posted March 5 Oh noes. China says it is ready for 'any type of war' with US China has warned the US it is ready to fight "any type" of war after hitting back against President Donald Trump's mounting trade tariffs. The world's top two economies have edged closer to a trade war after Trump slapped more tariffs on all Chinese goods. China quickly retaliated imposing 10-15% tariffs on US farm products. "If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end," China's embassy said on X, reposting a line from a government statement on Tuesday. It is some of the strongest rhetoric so far from China since Trump became president and comes as leaders gathered in Beijing for the annual National People's Congress.
glenn239 Posted March 5 Posted March 5 Huh, and here I thought the Chinese would continue to say "nice doggy" for about 5 more years while reaching for the big stick....
Stuart Galbraith Posted March 6 Posted March 6 This was curious. China prepares to kill Bin Laden... https://x.com/MarkUrban01/status/1897671966238089605?t=OloE26PAYvn5Eq0ySlEn2w&s=19
X-Files Posted March 7 Posted March 7 PORTLAND, Ore.— Jian Zhao and Li Tian, active-duty U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, along with Ruoyu Duan, a former U.S. Army soldier, were arrested today following indictments by federal grand juries in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington. Tian and Duan were charged in the District of Oregon for conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property. Zhao was charged in the Western District of Washington for conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information to an individual not authorized to receive it, and also for bribery and theft of government property. The indictment in the District of Oregon alleges that beginning on or about Nov. 28, 2021, and continuing to at least on or about Dec. 19, 2024, Duan and Tian along with others, known and unknown to the grand jury conspired with each other to surreptitiously gather sensitive military information related to the United States Army’s operational capabilities, including technical manuals and other sensitive information, and that Tian transmitted this information to Duan in return for money, in violation of his official duties as an active-duty U.S. Army officer. Specifically, Tian was tasked with gathering information related U.S. military weapon systems, including information related to the Bradley and Stryker U.S. Army fighting vehicles, and transmitting them to Duan. District of Oregon | Active-Duty and Former U.S. Army Soldiers Arrested for Theft of Government Property and Bribery Scheme | United States Department of Justice
Tim the Tank Nut Posted March 7 Posted March 7 what is it about those names that has a pattern? Let me think I can't seem yo put my finger on it
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