Spotlight | China
New Central Military Commission brings expertise on Taiwan

The Agencies' Gazette
NASA/Roscosmos, DGSE, Beijing's central military committee

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we bring you news from the US, Russia, France and China.

United States/Russia Roscosmos to provide security to NASA officers

France Senators see through DGSE recruitment numbers

China Security bodies directly answerable to Xi Jinping

China, North Korea
Intense negotiations under way for Kim Jong-un's visit to Beijing

Before the potential summit meeting between the Chinese and North Korean leaders at the end of this year, Chinese delegations are due to visit Pyongyang. Drawing on their common support for Russia in its war with Ukraine, the two want to put the improvement in their relations on an official footing.

The Agencies' Gazette
FSO, ex-COS in Abu Dhabi, NATO and Taiwan, DNI in demand on drones

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from Moscow to Paris, via Taipei and Washington.

RussiaFSO regulates military service

FranceFormer COS liaison chief ordered to return extra pay

TaiwanNATO slows down rapprochement with Taipei

United StatesAll drone policies point to the DNI

India, United States
India and US shore up border surveillance on China

Though still impervious to India's requests for a greater military presence in the region, Washington has accepted supporting Indian armed forces in their bid to regain disputed territories currently under the control of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

China, Russia
Russian and Chinese coast guards draw closer in North Pacific

Moscow and Beijing are coordinating their North Pacific border security efforts, and in doing so are stoking the flames of Russia and Japan's unresolved dispute over the four Kuril Islands.

China, France
Are French pilots about to train on Chinese jets?

Last year we reported that French pilots were training their counterparts in the People's Liberation Army. We have since learned that Chinese aircraft could be used to train French military aviators.

China
Chinese Politburo divided over economic policy

The Politburo chose not to publish the conclusions of its January meeting, indicating tension within the powerful CCP governing body over macroeconomic policy.

China
'Shaanxi Gang' on the rise during Xi's third term

From anti-corruption campaigns to the Central Military Commission, more and more strategic Chinese Communist Party positions are being filled by members who hail from or forged their political career in the president's home province of Shaanxi.

China
A new faction forms around Xi Jingping: the Tsinghua clique

The group of senior officials gradually emerging as the new clique around Xi Jingping have one thing in common, they all attended the president's alma mater, Tsinghua, in Beijing.

China
Xi Jinping to bring PLA political commissars to heel

In his third term, China's president wants to consolidate his hold over his country's military apparatus. To regain control over the politics of the People's Liberation Army, Xi has chosen to drastically rein in political commissars, who have now been relegated to merely executing the party's will.

Spotlight | China
Inspired by Russia's mistakes, Beijing fine-tunes its military strategy on Taiwan

The Chinese president convened the Central Military Commission last month to discuss Taiwan and the new direction its military strategy should take on the island, and particularly on its eastern flank, in the light of Russian setbacks in Ukraine.

Europe, Taiwan
Taiwan's spies talk up China threat to European counterparts

Agents working out of diplomatic missions have stepped up a campaign to spread the word about Beijing's purported growing hostility.

The Agencies' Gazette
Syrian chemical programme, UK's Economic Crime Committee, Swedish StratCom at NATO, Pakistani ambassador in Kabul, Skopje and NATO, PLA in Taiwan

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from London to Stockholm, via Kabul and Skopje.

France/SyriaFrench company Smart Pegasus remains under sanctions for participating in Syrian chemical weapons program.

United KingdomOpposition MP's push parliamentary Economic Crime Committee project.

Sweden/LatviaSwedish anti-fake news agency shines at NATO's StratCom.

Pakistan/AfghanistanISI investigates attempted assassination of Pakistani ambassador in Kabul.

North MacedoniaSkopje intelligence chief learns the rope at NATO.

ChinaPeople's Liberation Army tests modern urban warfare techniques to hone Taiwan strategy.

China, United States
Military intelligence research firm BluePath Labs unwraps China's strategic ambitions

The Washington-based consultancy is the US China Economic and Security Commission's contractor of choice to carry out deep investigations into the working of the People's Liberation Army.

China
Beyond Taiwan headlines, China lays ground for more regional conflicts

The security-focused conclusions of the Chinese Communist Party Congress went beyond the international headline issue of Taiwan. Beijing is already considering diplomatic and intelligence manoeuvres to aid its expansion into other territories.

China, Czech Republic, Taiwan
Taiwan's war of influence against China notches symbolic diplomatic victory in Czech Republic

By taking part in Taiwan's National Day and then inviting Taipei's diplomats to a reception to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Czech Republic, Prague is joining the United States in its desire to abandon the 'One China' policy.

China, Taiwan
Much to Taipei's dismay, Xi about to become president for life

Taipei is refining its analysis of the upcoming PCC Congress. Intelligence services believe Xi Jinping will become president for life.

China
Xi Jinping eyes conscription to forge new army

The Chinese president intends to completely upend the structure of the People's Liberation Army during his next term, with plans for mandatory workshops on China's strategy goals, training sessions with the army and promises of a secure career with strong prospects.

China, Japan
Chinese military commission convinces Xi Jinping to be conciliatory with Japan

The top army body and the president have been confronting their views over the diplomatic and military approach to be taken towards Japan.

China, Taiwan
Beijing puts out feelers to gauge potential foreign reaction to Taiwan attack

China's Ministry of State Security is re-launching an overseas intelligence gathering campaign to better define its strategy towards Taiwan.