Troops in Motion

Chinese troops continue mobilization along N. Korean border
Dozens of Chinese troops were photographed on a street in Shenyang, China heading for the border with North Korea / Source: Chinese Internet

China’s military is continuing to mobilize military forces along the North Korean border despite official denials as Pyongyang appears set for a missile test launch this week, according to U.S. officials.

Mounting Threats

U.S. receives reports of chem weapons use in Syria every day, DNI says
James Clapper, Gen. Michael Flynn / AP

The United States receives unconfirmed reports of chemical weapons use in Syria every day, the director of national intelligence testified at a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday morning.

A Well-Oiled Smuggling Machine

Iran smuggling oil to China in violation of sanctions, investigation suggests
An Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboat escorts a passenger ship with oil tanker in background / AP

Iran is engaged in an elaborate oil smuggling scheme that enables it to skirt international sanctions as it transmits valuable crude oil to China, according to an investigation by an Iran watchdog group released last week.

Taking Cybersecurity Seriously

Former government officials warn against complacency on the cyber front
AP

Chinese hackers “bombard” the Pentagon’s computer systems “by the millions each and every day” searching for a point of entry into the sensitive U.S. computing systems, according to officials speaking at an event on cybersecurity on Tuesday.

If It’s Good Enough for China …

Hollywood embraces censorship abroad as it opposes it at home
Hollywood sign / Wikimedia Commons

Hollywood continues its collaboration with Chinese censors even as it pushes back against U.S. attempts to limit violent content in film and television in the aftermath of the mass killing in Newtown, Conn., last December, experts observe.

The American Flu

Chinese colonel says latest bird flu virus is U.S. biological weapon
AP

A Chinese Air Force officer on Saturday accused the U.S. government of creating the new strain of bird flu now afflicting parts of China as a biological warfare attack.

On the Border

China confirms military exercises near N. Korean border
PLA troops in Shenyang exercises near N. Korea / Source: Chinese Internet

China’s military and defense ministry on Sunday confirmed that military forces in a border region near North Korea conducted live-fire drills amid tensions between North Korea and the United States.