Commodore Pang Wonin, commander of the TGA-CNAPSF’s five vessels and 800 marines, successfully made port in Zanzibar on 16JAN15. The arrival of Chinese naval vessels to the region (the southern areas of the Horn of Africa, most specifically, areas of international waters south of the Gulf of Aden, along the Somali and Kenyan coast) have seen a sudden drop in piracy. Though, it is not projected for this sudden lull to continue. It is merely a brief pause do to the rough storms in the region, and the short recalculation of pirate crews as they remodel their strategies against the bolstered UN forces.
Commodore Pang is planning to dispatch his 800 marines through Zanzibar, setting up a small Naval Base in the city’s port. From here, he will follow procedures and send the Task Group at for two week periods, patrolling an area roughly the size of the Sudan. The Task Group’s deployment will last the next eight months.
Chinese foot patrols stepped off from their borders and into the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan on 22JAN15. A mechanized regiment, utilizing WZ551 IFVs, made a large push into the region where they began to set up the foundation for the planned Chinese military base, NATO-codenamed “FOB Dragon”. Jundallah al-Afghani made contact with Chinese infantry for the first time on 24JAN15 in a minor exchange that resulted in the deaths of thirteen JAA fighters, and the wounding of one Chinese soldier.
FOB Dragon is expected to house 3,000 Chinese troops by May, and 6,000 by the end of the year.
Operation Black Tiger was a success as Chinese Naval and Marine forces conducted successful landing exercises on the Malaysian coastline. After five days at sea, the Task Force returned to Chinese waters on 21JAN15 and made port in Shanghai two days later. This successful exercise marks the beginning of heavy investment in a blue-water navy, and the advancement of military technologies for the Chinese government suspected to take place over the next 5 years.
On 23JAN15, 200 doctors and nurses arrived from all over China to Juba, S. Sudan. They were accompanied by 800 Chinese troops, who set up small patrol-bases and Security Outposts around the capital city. Foot patrols and mounted patrols are consistent, increasing security within the small nation that is being heavily affected by the Ebola epidemic. Nearly 45% of the nation’s eight million people are ill, and a death-rate of 90% is slowly climbing.
The doctors and nurses have set up twenty aid-stations around Juba and the surrounding jungle. Each station housing 50 troops, the security situation is solid. While minor riots and some looting swamp the other parts of South Sudan, the capital, and the home of the Sudanese Military, is firmly guarded and in the hands of the Chinese government. Nearly US$ 3.5 billion has also been pumped into the Sudan in terms of humanitarian aid, native-run aid stations, food, water, medical supplies, and security.
During Xi Jingping’s meeting with his Board of Ministers on 25JAN15, the main topic of discussion was formation of the East Asian Community, being founded by China and S. Korea, and headquartered in Hong Kong. This process, projected to take three months, will see the offering of membership to over 16 nations in Southeast Asia, the building of economic and military infrastructure throughout East Asia, the peaceful discussion between member states, and an increasingly strong Asian economy.
Also on the billet was the proposed US$ 5 billion in aid to be sent to Russia for their endeavours in Romania, the proposed formation of a Sino-Korean Joint Military Unit, Xi Jingping’s planned visit to Tokyo in March, and the sudden rise in European imports that have increased Chinese moral, and standard of living.
The most controversial actions undertaken by the People’s Republic as January draws to a close, was the redeployment of Task Group Black Tiger, not to Romania, but to the Yellow Sea. The 1,400 marines, aircraft carrier, and 11 other naval vessels arrived in the Sea on 28JAN15 with the claimed purpose of “promoting regional stability and security”. The truth, however, as some suspect, is that the Defense Ministry has sought to constrict Japan’s offensive capabilities which have been growing for some time. Placing China’s only carrier within striking distance of Osaka, Japan, the Chinese government also has two nuclear-missile boats patrolling the Sea of Japan (though, this is highly classified!).