Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 1, 2013

Type 054A warship. Jeff Head via PLA

China's Newest And Deadly Warship Has Entered The South China Sea -- Business Insider

As five other countries claim ownership of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, and its supposed billions in oil and gas deposits, China's backing its claim by sending the newest warship it has to the region.

The Taiwan-owned China Times reports the Liuzhou Type 054A warship entered the South China Sea Fleet of China's PLA Navy, making it the sixth 054 warship in the area.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Can Afghan troops hold off the Taliban after Nato withdraws? -- The Guardian

Turkey's General Staff denies that Turkish pilots have been arrested in Syria -- Hurriyet News

Iran warns foreign planes near military drills in Strait of Hormuz -- FOX News/AP

Afghans Seek More Military Hardware -- Wall Street Journal

Pakistan Air Force Crumbling Away -- Strategy Page

Taiwan Plans to Upgrade About 60 Fighter Jets in 2013 -- Defense News/AFP

Japanese Govt eyeing purchase of U.S. spy drones / Global Hawks would cover China, N. Korea -- Japan Times

Japan's Defense Ministry mulls Ospreys for SDF use -- Japan Times

The Chinese Navy: 2012 review -- Information Dissemination

Su-34 Growing Pains -- Russian Defense Policy

Russia’s Kalashnikov Leaves Hospital -- Defense News

U.S. Congress tightens belt, trims 2013 spy budget -- Army Times/AP

Senate Approves Cliff Deal, Delay to Sequestration -- Defense News

US military braces for sweeping budget cuts. -- Space Daily

10 devastating sequestration cuts in U.S. defense programs that people are afraid will happen -- Business Insider

11 U.S. defense companies that will get slammed hardest by sequestration -- Business Insider

Here's What Happens If Congress Doesn't Figure Out How To Stop Sequestration -- Business Insider

The fiscal cliff: How it could affect troops -- Army Times

Key US Navy Trends for 2013 -- Information Dissemination

Senate Passes Intelligence Bill Without Anti-Leak Measures -- Secrecy News

Hagel's SecDef Chances On Ropes -- Military.com

Army Private Last KIA of 2012 -- Military.com

What a good senior NCO does: Move around, keep an ear open, turn over rocks -- Thomas E. Ricks, Best Defense/Foreign Policy

A CIA reading list -- Thomas E. Ricks, Foreign Policy