On Tuesday, it was reported that lawmakers on Capitol Hill are looking for long-awaited answers from the Missile Defense Agency on their plans to defend the U.S. Territory of Guam. The report that Congress is requiring will include its plan for missile defense architecture for Guam, as well as requirements for funding.
Also on Tuesday, staffers from the House Armed Services Committee told reporters that the committee had backed adding a second Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to the Navy's 2022 Fiscal Budget. While the additional funding is a win for the U.S. Navy, the funds for the new ship have been pulled from other defense programs, although it is unclear which programs took the hit.
The joint 'Juniper Falcon' military exercise between the United States and Israel concluded on Tuesday after a week-long training scenario of a ballistic missile attack on Israel. The troops trained in several different locations in Israel and discussed the recent conflict with Hamas.
On Wednesday, Taiwanese military officials transferred the Ta Chiang Tuo Chiang-class warship, equipped with the brand new Sea World II air defense system, to Taiwan's Navy. The military is confident in the ship's combat capabilities, which is likely intended to send a signal to China amongst tense relations between the two countries.
Also on Wednesday, a panel of Pacific security experts said that Taiwan must do more to ensure their security as China continues to upgrade and modernize its military capabilities. The recommendations for Taiwan include upgrading their air and missile defense systems to protect their vital national infrastructure.
On Friday, NPR reported that independent satellite imagery shows possible new tunnels and roads leading to a Chinese nuclear testing facility, alluding to the notion that China might be expanding their nuclear arsenal. It is not clear at this time what exactly the new infrastructure near the site will be used for, but the possible movement of supplies on these routes will be something to look for.
