Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 1, 2021

Ensign Joseph Hurd, far left, from Foley, Alabama, and Lt. j.g. Daniel Feeney, from Old Greenwich, Connecticut, scan the horizon while standing watch in the pilot house as guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) conducts routine underway operations on Dec. 30, 2020, in the Taiwan Strait in support of stability and security for a free and open Indo-Pacific. US Navy photo.

Daily Mail: China warns it's 'ready to counter any threats' from the US after American warships sailed through Taiwan Strait amid spiking tensions with Beijing

* China issued the stark warning after US Navy sent two warships to the waterway

* The Chinese army is on high alert and ready to counter any threat, an official said

* The US Navy claimed the Thursday operation was 'a routine Taiwan Strait transit'

* Tensions have been spiking between the two countries over self-ruled Taiwan

China has made a stark warning to the US after two American warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait in a 'routine transit' amid spiking tensions with Beijing.

The Chinese army is on high alert and 'ready to counter any threats or provocations' from the US, said the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

Beijing also accused the US of staging a show of force after the US Navy conducted what it called the 'routine Taiwan Strait transit' on Thursday to ensure 'a free and open Indo-Pacific'.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 1, 2020

US in rare double-warship Taiwan Strait transit after China starts sea drills -- SCMP

China warns US not to ‘stir up trouble’ as Navy crosses Taiwan Strait -- NYPost

China accuses US of naval show of force in Taiwan Strait -- L.A. Times

China blasts Nato with British aircraft carrier ‘heading to South China Sea’ -- SCMP

Aircraft carrier Shandong conducts night exercises, builds up combat-readiness -- Global Times

China’s Z-20 Black Hawk Clone Is Now Packing Air-To-Ground Missiles -- Warzone/The Drive

From 3rd aircraft carrier to fighter jets: Chinese weapons to expect in 2021 -- Global Times

Trump administration declassifies unconfirmed intelligence on China bounties on US forces in Afghanistan: report -- The Hill

Trump Administration Says it has Intelligence that China Offered Bounties for US Troops in Afghanistan, Report Says -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

U.S. foreign military sales broke records in 2020, and may grow more in 2021 -- UPI