CCP agent's "beautiful plan and violence" to sabotage U.S. elections exposed
Image : The inside story of the CCP's use of overseas agents to force expatriates to return to China has been exposed. Schematic. (John MacdouGall/AFP/Getty Images)
After the death of Li Jinjin, the leader of the "June 4th" student movement and a Chinese lawyer in New York, New York City arrested a number of CCP spies. Lin Qiming, a fugitive agent, was accused of being ordered by the CCP's national security department to make use of beauticians and violence to sabotage the U.S. elections.
According to The Epoch Times, on Wednesday (16 March 2022), a federal court in the Eastern District of New York unsealed an indictment accusing a retired Chinese Communist Party agent, Lin Qiming, of conspiring to sabotage a former "June 4" student movement leader's campaign activities for Congress on Long Island, New York. Lin Qiming is currently at large.
Image : Lin Qiming, the suspect charged by the FBI (taken from the indictment of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York)
The indictment does not name the candidate, but mentions that the CCP government targeted a former student leader who participated in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and announced in September that he planned to run for a congressional seat in November 2022. Wait, these details match Xiong Yan.
Image : On 28 December 2021, New York congressional candidate Xiong Yan visited the New York Zhonghua Institute. (Lin Yijun/Epoch Times)
Xiong Yan, the student leader of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, was arrested in Inner Mongolia and imprisoned for 19 months before being released from prison in 1991. He came to the United States as a refugee in 1992 and served in the military from 1994 to 2003, serving as a chaplain in the military. Announcing his candidacy for Congress from New York in 2021.
The indictment says Xiong Yan, a naturalized U.S. citizen, served in the U.S. military and participated in pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2015.
The indictment was filed on 8 March 2022, and the release date was two days after Li Jinjin, another former "June 4th" student movement leader and a well-known New York lawyer, was assassinated by Zhang Xiaoning on 14 March.
Attorney Li Jinjin, who has provided legal protection for Chinese pursued overseas by Beijing's "Fox Hunting" operation, is believed to have a wealth of sensitive information on the CCP's officialdom.
Public opinion questioned that the murder of Li Jinjin was manipulated by the CCP.
According to the indictment, Lin Qiming, believed to be acting on behalf of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS, which is primarily responsible for China's foreign intelligence), is ostensibly retired. The FBI began spying in September 2021, and the investigation continued until Tuesday (15 March 2022).
Lin Qiming hired a private investigator in the United States to investigate a Democratic candidate running for Congress in New York. However, the private detective was allegedly an FBI informant who, the indictment said, informed authorities about Lim's actions.
News (2)
CCP agents hire detectives to dig up candidate 'stain'
On or about 9 November 2021, Lin Qiming said in a conversation that if the candidate "passed the primary election in May next year, he would have won. Now we don't want him elected," the indictment said.
At that time, there was still half a year before the 2022 primary election. The agent allegedly suggested investigating the candidate further to see if there were any scandals that could be made public, such as extramarital affairs or tax evasion.
What if you can't find a scandal? Lin Qiming asked the private detective "can we make some?" and added that the candidate "would not survive until March or May (for the primaries)," and he instructed the next step to "notify the media." ” and “turn on all the horsepower immediately.” Finally he asked the detective to come up with a plan and make a price.
Two days later, on 11 November, detectives said they found the candidate's residence, as well as his service in the U.S. military. Lin Qiming instructed detectives to "dig up information from 1989 to the present ... to investigate any shortcomings in his pre-election campaign".
According to the indictment, Lin Qiming detailed that the "disadvantages" include: "tax evasion, extramarital affairs, extramarital affairs, sexual harassment, or watching child pornography, um, (gay) things like that."
He also suggested that detectives could go to "the police, lawyers, courts ... or some kind of channel ... to dig out anything wrong with him, and we'll file it."
Lin Qiming further promised, "We will have more, more of these jobs in the future ... including the current (a) New York State Congressman."
He explained, "There are some people here who make negative comments about China. . . . Those who always speak up, you have to pay attention to them. If you can get some information, this side will take you very seriously in the future."
News (3)
Candidate's innocence, agents suggest "beauty plan"
In this conversation, Lim said detectives were going to undermine a candidate's candidacy "before he gets power." To accomplish this, he said, "You find a girl for him and see if he's willing to take the bait."
At the end of the conversation, Lin Qiming discussed how to pay the detectives, saying he might travel to the United States to pay the detectives in person after the 2022 Beijing Olympics in China.
A month later, on December 12, Lin Qiming told the detective that he had received the message, "but we will wait until next week when the bosses meet to see what their opinions are."
After a while, he added, "Besides, these [materials] are all very positive things...I read...personally I feel that these are very positive. Nothing special, the key is that we What I'm trying to say is... like we said before, you go to a girl... or see how he can... find a prostitute, take some pictures, of that nature Things. See if you can get some inside information."
Two days later, Lin Qiming sent a voice message to the detective, "Let's go back to what we said before...that is: I hope it's not just to slap some dirt on his face or something, it must go deep... Dig deeper into some stuff, okay? Like, his tax evasion in the past, like, did he ever go to a prostitute or a lady in the past, okay? Like, he's doing a lot of shit in his life, okay? Those nasty things. If you can find or make one, that's ok. Just taking pictures and chatting is useless.
"Got to stink now. Because we already know everything about his past. But how to get the most out of you, dig in him. That's what you need to do, we don't need you to do any superficial work, okay? Don't- don't waste your energy."
Later in the day, the two spoke on the phone to discuss strategies to undermine a candidate's candidacy, according to the indictment. During the conversation, Lin encouraged detectives to identify whether the candidate had compromised, explaining that "we have done all the surface work" to identify opportunities to discredit him.
Lin Qiming also taught detectives how to identify a candidate's family "stain" and encouraged him to consider using a young man on the candidate's campaign team to force (Xiong Yan) to compromise. Lin re-emphasized that the goal is to "make (Xiong Yan) unable to succeed in May and ensure that he will not be elected." As for the price, he said "it doesn't matter how much money you have, as long as you can make it."
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Violence is used if the beauty plan fails
According to the indictment, Lin Qiming even suggested that if the private detective could not find any stains on the candidate, he should be physically harmed. After the call ended, he sent a voice message.
He said, "Maybe when we talk tomorrow night, we need to implement some details of the plan. You can think about it now, what else is there other than violence? Violence at the end is also good, hit him (laughs), hit him until he can't. Until the election. Hehe, it's a last resort. You think about it, the car accident, (he) will completely collapse (laughs), right? Who knows, uh, from various angles, what can be done . Or on election day, he can't get there? All in all, you have to come up with a plan. We're going to follow the plan, and we're waiting for you right now, uh, can we work with each other, move in sync, okay."
On 27 December 2021, Lin Qiming sent detectives a link to a South Korean presidential election article describing how a candidate's life was torn apart by his candidacy.
Four days later, on 31 December, the detective texted Lin Qiming that "the plan is out". On 3 January 2022, the two spoke again.
The detective said he suggested hiring a woman "he (Xiong Yan) liked" to volunteer on the campaign team in order to "build a relationship with him" and then "document the transaction between the two". He said the woman offered $40,000, to which Lim replied: "No problem, money is not an issue." "The key is that we have to start now and whether this proposal can be approved by (superior)."
Around 12 January, Lin Qiming replied, "After research, the follow-up plan is infeasible, infeasible. If something can be dug out from the existing foundation, go for it, if not, then stop."
On 24 January, the two spoke again, and the detective told Lin Qiming that the candidate would hold a press conference and that his constituency would be transferred to a Brooklyn constituency to ask if he wanted to pursue further information based on what he said earlier. Lin Qiming asked him to wait for a reply.
On 15 March, the two spoke for the last time. Lim said they have not given final approval "because at the moment (we) are not sure how much it will cost in the end".
Lin Qiming obtained a detailed quotation from the detective, and attributed the delay in approving the expenditure of the plan to: "Because of the Communist Party, you know, there are many things...not one person can decide." He finally promised If the detective is "capable of getting the job done", he offers "a lot of money".
Lin Qiming, 59, is charged with conspiracy to commit transnational harassment, and conspiracy and attempted use of identification in connection with the transnational harassment conspiracy. He is currently on the run.
News (5)
Beijing plans to "completely take over Taiwan this autumn" Taiwan media exposed Russian secrets
Taiwanese media quoted a confidential document from Russia's Federal Security Service, revealing that Beijing had considered "full takeover of Taiwan" this fall, but what happened after Russia invaded Ukraine made CCP leader Xi Jinping realize that he has lost an opportunity to launch an attack on Taiwan.
According to a report by Taiwanese media "New Head Shell" on 15 March 2022, Vladimir Osechkin, the head of the Russian anti-corruption website Gulagu.net and a human rights activist, recently released a report allegedly issued by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). An internal intelligence analysis written by analysts said Xi was considering a "full takeover of Taiwan" this fall.
The confidential document said Xi needed small victories to get him re-elected at the 20th Congress in the fall, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, mired in unprecedented international sanctions, made Xi realize that the opportunity to attack Taiwan was gone, and it could lead to bad relations between the United States and China, while giving Xi’s political enemies favorable conditions.
In response to the authenticity of the confidential document, Christo Grozev, an intelligence journalist who has won the European Investigative Journalism Award, said on Twitter that an insider of the Russian Federal Security Service told him, "This is undoubtedly written by a colleague.".
Wu Jialong, a senior political and economic expert, told Sound of Hope that the Ukrainian war has raised vigilance around the world, noting that autocratic countries may invade small democracies around them, thinking that these democracies are not united and lack fighting spirit, and they can "eat tofu" but the Ukrainian war clearly knocked that notion out.
Zheng Qinmo, director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan's Tamkang University, said in an interview with Sound of Hope that Xi Jinping has made no major achievements in domestic affairs and diplomacy, and the epidemic control he personally deployed has gradually fallen. military action" to increase his popularity.
Zheng Qinmo analyzed that Xi Jinping is likely to learn from Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Russian army will take the capital of Ukraine Kyiv in two days, support a pro-Russian regime to replace the Zelensky government, return Ukraine to the status of a vassal state of Russia, and allow the United States and NATO could not intervene. Such a plan is likely to make Xi Jinping want to follow suit.
He also said Putin's invasion of Ukraine could also be seen by Xi as a touchstone of American resolve. If the Biden administration cannot coordinate with Europe to resist Russia's aggression, this will undoubtedly be a great encouragement to Xi Jinping's military aggression.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also issued a warning recently, "Xi Jinping is consolidating his power base and no longer hiding his ambitions for Taiwan."
The Hudson Institute website published an interview with Abe on the 14th, and he was worried about the CCP’s expansion of military power and attempts to change the state of the region.
Abe said that with Xi Jinping's political victory in Beijing, reunification with Taiwan, whether by force or otherwise, may not be far off.
Abe has been prime minister for nine years. Although he has stepped down, he still has a strong influence in Japanese politics. He has been paying attention to the situation in the Taiwan Strait and has repeatedly called on Beijing not to misjudge.
On 1 December 2021, Shinzo Abe accepted the invitation of the Taiwan Academy of National Policy to deliver a video speech. He said bluntly: "Something in Taiwan is equivalent to something happening in Japan, and it can be said that it is equivalent to having something in the Japan-US alliance." He warned that something in Taiwan affects the Japan-US alliance, and the leadership in Beijing, especially Xi Jinping, must not misjudge.
Abe said that the CCP has close ties with the world economy, and if it takes military adventures against Taiwan, it will have a very serious impact on the world economy. "(The Chinese Communist Party) takes military adventures, which is equivalent to the road to economic suicide."
News (6)
Ukraine's "Mud Marshal" is coming, Russian tanks will meet a strong enemy
Russian forces failed to make decisive progress in the early stages of the Ukraine campaign, and now that Ukraine is entering a muddy thaw season, Russia's progress on key routes may suffer a major setback.
Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians all use "Rasputitsa" to describe the twice-yearly mud season, a term that refers to both the spring and autumn seasons and to muddy conditions on roads caused by thaw or heavy rain.
Military historians know that "Rasputitsa", often referred to as "Mud Marshal", can thwart even the most powerful armies. "Rasputitsa" is expected to appear in the second half of March and will last three to four weeks.
Many experts expect that over time, Putin will give up the march because time is running out as the big thaw is coming.
"There have been countless incidents of Russian tanks and other equipment driving into fields and getting stuck," said Ukrainian military analyst Mykola Beleskov. "So soldiers had to leave their equipment and go on foot." .
The situation will worsen as the weather warms and rains start, "which will only chain them to the ground," Beleskov added.
Five tanks of the Russian Armed Forces have been stuck in mud in the Chernihiv region of northern Ukraine, which has been relentlessly shelled. The hatch was open, indicating that the Russian soldiers abandoned their equipment and were forced to leave on foot. According to reports, the tank was taken over by the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces.
The current situation is very similar to historical battles. Similar conditions wreaked havoc on Napoleon's army when France invaded Russia in the 19th century. Being heavily dragged by the mud, Napoleon's troops could not complete their retreat in time for the harsh winter. More than a century later, the muddy soil of Ukraine hampered Hitler's advance on Moscow and Russia's counteroffensive in 1943.
"The weather is not good for Putin," military historian Cedric Mas tweeted over the weekend.
Military historian Michel Goya said deteriorating conditions would leave Russian generals no choice but to order tanks and armored vehicles to stick to the road, making them more vulnerable to attack.
In any case, mud is fast becoming one of Ukraine's main assets in the fight against Russian aggression, along with Western-supplied weapons and Ukraine's response to social media, said Jason Lyall, a professor of government at Dartmouth College. usage of.
"The Four Horsemen of the Ukrainian Army: Javelin, Stinger, Rasputitsa, TikTok," Lyle tweeted.
News (7)
The Russia-Ukraine battle is in the 4th week! Biden to speak with Xi Jinping on 18 March 2022
According to Agence France-Presse, the White House announced on 17 March 2022 that U.S. President Joe Biden will have a phone call with CCP Chinese President Xi Jinping on 18 March 2022, and will discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S.-CCP China competitive relationship, and issues of concern to both countries. In terms of affairs, the last time Biden and Xi Jinping talked was at the video summit between the two countries in November 2021, and there was a three-and-a-half-hour conversation.
News (8)
Britain announces deployment of anti-aircraft missiles in Poland to prevent Russian troops' invasion
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK would deploy Sky Saber anti-aircraft missiles and 100 troops in Poland to protect Polish airspace from Russian aggression, the BBC reported.
The United Kingdom and Poland are both members of NATO, and according to the British Army, the air defense missile system could give Poland the ability to counter incoming fighter jets and missile attacks.
News (9)
Russian army bombard Ukrainian refugees from humanitarian corridor
"We are ready to evacuate people and provide humanitarian assistance, but we cannot expose them to shelling along the way," Zelenskyy said in a video today, CNN reported, accusing the Russian army of not stopping the artillery fire. The southwestern city of Malibo was besieged by Russian troops, and ysaid 6,000 residents, including more than 2,000 children, had been evacuated from the area.
In addition, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine continue, with Zelenskyy stressing that the priorities are "the end of the war, security commitments, restoration of sovereignty, territorial integrity. Real security, real protection for our country". Following the US Congress, he is expected to address the German parliament today, calling on the international community to continue to support Ukraine and put pressure on Russia.
News (10)
Zelenskyy: I have never given up
Image : Zelenskyy's speech was applauded by U.S. lawmakers. (Photo/Dazhi Image Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a speech to the U.S. Congress via video teleconference today. Regarding the invasion of the country, he said "I have never had the thought of giving up for a second." The events of the terrorist attack are very similar. He reiterated that a no-fly zone should be set up in Ukraine's airspace. The final speech ended in English, calling for Biden to become a world leader, which means becoming a "peaceful leader." At the end of the video, members of Congress immediately stood up, and the audience burst into applause.
News (11) to (12) / Reporter : Jamie Philipps, Daily Mail
News (11)
EU now split over more sanctions in Russia
Germany and Italy are among nations trying to block more Russian sanctions in a bid to protect their own economies, despite pressure from Poland and the Baltic states that are right on Putin's doorstep.
The Russian President yesterday claimed Western 'attempts to have global dominance' are coming to an end as he slammed sanctions imposed because the EU 'doesn't want a strong and sovereign Russia'.
However the bloc is now beginning to split into "three sides" as Germany - with support from Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece - is accused of "penly putting the brakes on" sanctions amid concern about the impact on its own economy.
It comes as pro-sanction countries, led by Poland and the Baltic states, are pushing for further and stronger restrictions against Russia and key oligarchs.
An internal battle within the EU is now raging between the 'Sanctionistas', countries that are pro-sanctions, and the Contras - countries prioritising their own economies.
One EU diplomat told The Times, '"becoming clearer by the day that three sides are forming: Poland and the Baltic states, known as the Sanctionistas that want more and stronger sanctions; Germany, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria — the Contras — that prioritise their own economic interests; and the rest."'
The EU issued a fourth round of sanctions on Tuesday but Germany is understood to have subsequently used meetings with at least three other governments to discuss calling a halt to further measures.
Instead, the Contras has suggested the bloc focus on "closing loopholes" as opposed to imposing any further sanctions.
Poland, though, is furious that sanctions agreed earlier this week did not include metals oligarch Oleg Deripaska due to the potential impact it would have on aluminum production in Germany and other countries.
It comes days after a Russian attack on a military base just 12 miles from the Polish border in which at least nine people were killed and dozens more injured.
But the Contras moved to weaken a ban on new investment in joint energy ventures with Russian companies such as Gazprom and Rosneft.
Instead, a 'winding down' delay of six months was agreed.
Berlin has also secured exemptions on transactions that are said to be 'strictly necessary' to purchase, import and transport various metals including titanium, aluminium and copper.
The agreements, though, have been met with dismay among the Sanctionista countries on the border with Russia and Ukraine amid concerns over their proximity to the conflict.
News (12)
More than 15 countries have imposed sanctions on Russia
Ref: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10622755/EU-war-Russian-sanctions-Germany-Italy-nations-trying-block-restrictions.html?ito=push-notification&ci=AZDXcvAz24&cri=1sl08N6uxX&si=29714469&xi=fdda5dc8-612f-4596-bc95-f6db3062bc92&ai=10622755
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Zhao Lijian calls CCP China and Ukraine "strategic partners" and expresses willingness to provide economic assistance
Editor : Lai Huijin / https://news.tvbs.com.tw/world/1742999
According to reports, the mainland's ambassador to Ukraine, Fan Xianrong, told Ukrainian officials on the 15th that China and Ukraine are strategic partners, and the mainland will never attack Ukraine and is willing to provide economic assistance. He also praised that "we have witnessed how strong the unity of the Ukrainian people is".
This is the most friendly official statement from the mainland towards Ukraine since Russia invaded Ukraine. "China of course supports the statement made by the mainland ambassador," Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the mainland's foreign ministry, said at a regular press conference this afternoon.
According to Ukraine's state news agency Ukrinform, Fan Xianrong said at a meeting of the Lviv Military Administration on the 15th that China and Ukraine are strategic partners and this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. CCP China is a friendly country to the Ukrainian people. As an ambassador, he can say responsibly that the mainland will always be a good force for Ukraine, both economically and politically.
Fan Xianrong also said that the mainland will always respect Ukraine and develop relations on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. "We will respect the path chosen by the Ukrainians because it is the sovereignty of every country."
He also said that the mainland embassy has moved from Kyiv to Lviv and continues to work here.
Fan Xianrong said, "The mainland will never attack Ukraine, and we will help, especially in terms of economy." Under the situation Ukraine is now facing, China will take responsible actions. He also praised that "we have witnessed how strong the unity of the Ukrainian people is".
According to reports, Maksym Kozytskyi, the governor of Lviv and the head of the local military administration, thanked the mainland ambassador for supporting Ukraine's stance against the aggressors. He also talked about the willingness of many to participate in the territorial defense of the Lviv region, as well as the current shelter, humanitarian aid across Ukraine.
The Lviv Military Administration stated that CCP China has provided two batches of humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people, and the third batch is expected to be ushered in on the 16th.
According to the World Wide Web, a foreign media reporter asked a question at the regular press conference of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 17th that the Chinese ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong expressed to the Ukrainian side that he saw the unity and strength shown by the Ukrainian people; the mainland has always regarded Ukraine as a sovereign countries, and will provide further economic assistance to Ukraine, can you elaborate further on this?
Zhao Lijian said that China certainly supports the statement made by the mainland ambassador. China supports all efforts to ease the situation and political settlement in Ukraine, and opposes any actions that are not conducive to promoting a diplomatic settlement or even escalating the situation.
He said that China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine and is willing to make its own efforts to overcome the humanitarian crisis. (Central News Agency)
News (14)
TVBS advance to Poland / 60% of Polish train system stopped, suspected of deliberate attack
Reporter : Liu Tingting / Image : Video Screenshot / Editor : Lai Huijin / https://news.tvbs.com.tw/world/1743100
Images of Polish train delays due to suspected hacker attacks : Researcher's Picture
The latest news pointed out that the United Kingdom will deploy Sky Saber anti-aircraft missiles and 100 troops in Poland to protect Polish airspace from Russian aggression. TVBS reporter Liu Tingting and the interview team came to Przemysir Station in the southern city of Poland on 17 March 2022 and pointed out that there was an emergency in the local area, that is, all their train systems failed, and the degree of failure is expected to reach more than 60%. Many media speculation may have been some deliberate hacking.
TVBS reporter Liu Tingting directly commented on the situation of the Prêmesier railway station. The local train control center said that the train-related equipment cannot be controlled at present, which has caused the train schedule to be delayed. It can be seen from the rear schedule that the first one was originally scheduled at 11 am. The train that will arrive at 45 minutes has not arrived until 1.13 pm, and this class is destined for the capital Warsaw Central Station.
At present, the official has not explained the reason for this incident but the media speculates that it may be a hacker attack. It can be seen in the picture that due to the delay of the train, the number of people at the station is increasing, and some Ukrainian refugees were visited earlier. Some of them said they did not know that the train was delayed while others said that they were told by the station staff that they were also quite helpless and hoped that the train would arrive on time. In addition, in fact, Przemysir Railway Station is the largest railway station for Ukrainian refugees to enter Poland for the first time before going to other towns or counties in Poland.
However, some people think it does not matter, because compared to their situation in Ukraine, it is relatively safe here. However, some media speculate that the failure of the train system may be related to the hacker attack. It can be seen that the Polish Prime Minister took the train to Kyiv the day before yesterday to show solidarity and support for Zelenskyy, and just after they came back yesterday until today, the whole train line system remains in a malfunctioning state, and the coincidences in it are reminiscent of whether it was a deliberate attack.
News (15)
Ukrainian farmers are upbeat after driving tractors to collect Russian military equipment
Ukrainian farmers have had a bumper harvest in 2022 as Russian troops continue their assault on Ukraine. They are driving tractors and hauling away millions of pounds of military equipment such as Russian tanks.Videos of Russian military equipment, including armored personnel carriers, battle tanks and missile systems being "confiscated" by tractors are currently circulating on social media, with Ukrainian farmers' tractor fleet being dubbed the real "Ukrainian military convoy".
Ukrainian peasants have become role models for the resistance movement, and tractors have become an anti-war symbol, thanks to the audacious seizure of Russian tanks and other military equipment. According to the National News Agency of Ukraine, the farmers were helping to deliver missile systems, etc. to the Ukrainian military. "The intruders left the equipment on the road and ran away, our farmers sent them to our army. ".
"Never ask a woman's age, never ask a man's salary, and never ask a Ukrainian farmer where he got his air defenses," joked one Twitter user.
Another user said that "Ukrainian peasants are now the unofficial fifth largest army in Europe" more than ten days after the seizure of Putin's tanks.
Some farmers are thought to have given the tanks to the resistance,but others are rumoured to collect them as war mementos for their own enjoyment.
The tanks can also be sold for scrap metal or used for land farming. Just half of the hardware seized by Ukrainian farmers was worth £23 million ($30 million), according to a rough estimate by The Telegraph.
How many tanks and other armaments has Russia lost? Open-source intelligence website Oryx has documented every confirmed photo of the Russian loss. As of Monday, the tally was 204 tanks and 406 other armored vehicles, for a total of 610 losses.
The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that Russia is losing about 50 vehicles a day. On 8 March, they argued that Russia had lost "8 to 10 percent of its military assets." On Sunday, they put the total number of vehicle losses at 564: 184 tanks and more than 380 other armored vehicles.
The Ukrainian government said Russia had lost 374 tanks and 1,226 other armoured combat vehicles as of Monday.
Earlier this month, Ukraine's National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) said in guidance that items seized from the Russian military "do not need to be declared on tax returns". The government agency explained that the loot was not obtained through trade, but as a result of "full-scale Russian aggression".
Russia has turned to bombardment from long distances with rockets, artillery and airstrikes to hit Ukrainian morale without much damage, with little military effect but horrific civilian casualties. Heavy casualties on both sides are likely to continue in the coming weeks.
News (16)
By phone on 18 March, Biden warned Beijing: Aid to Russia will have to pay a price
U.S. President Joe Biden will hold a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 18 to discuss the US-China competition and the situation in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said Biden would warn Beijing that there would be a price to pay for aid to Russia.
This is the first time Biden has exchanged views with Xi Jinping on the situation in Russia and Ukraine since Russia invaded Ukraine. "The two leaders will discuss managing the competition between our two countries, as well as Russia's war in Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. "
On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the media that the CCP was "responsible" to use its influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine.
However, Blinken noted that "China appears to be moving in the opposite direction, refusing to condemn such aggression while trying to portray itself as a neutral arbiter."
He called on all countries to use all means at their disposal to force Moscow to end the war. He also said that the United States is concerned that China is considering assisting Russia and providing Russia with military equipment.
Blinken said that Biden will make it clear to Xi that if China supports Russian aggression, "we will not hesitate to make China pay."
Before visiting Xi Jinping's decision to call, on March 14, White House National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan held a seven-hour "high-intensity" dialogue with Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee, in Rome.
A senior Biden-Harris administration official said Sullivan raised U.S. concerns about China's support for Russia and pointed to the possible consequences of Beijing's aid to Russia.
The official described the meeting as "intense" and "candid", reflecting the "seriousness" of current events, but the talks ultimately yielded no concrete results.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has entered its fourth week. The latest intelligence from the British military on the 17th stated that the Russian army "has come to a standstill in almost all directions" and suffered heavy losses under the tenacious resistance of the Ukrainian military and civilians.
U.S. officials have previously stated that in order to turn the tide of the war and get out of the predicament, Russia has asked Beijing for assistance. In addition to economic and financial assistance, it even hopes that Beijing will provide Russia with military assistance.
"We have serious concerns that China is on Russia's side. We are closely watching whether China or any other country provides assistance, military, economic or otherwise, to Russia," a senior U.S. official told Reuters. Express.
Washington has repeatedly warned that Beijing should not help ease Western sanctions on Moscow. In recent weeks, U.S. and other officials have tried to emphasize that Beijing could face secondary sanctions if it chooses to side with Russia.
News (17)
CCTV suddenly reported the huge loss of the Russian army, the Chinese ambassador praised the unity of Ukraine
Russia invaded Ukraine, and the CCP's cyber army has been cheering for Russia. A few days ago, CCTV suddenly reported that the Russian military suffered heavy losses, and the CCP’s diplomatic system also praised Ukraine and China-Ukraine relations, leaving some little pinkies at a loss.The CCP is facing increasing international pressure because of its pro-Russian stance, so it has begun to exaggerate its "neutral" stance. But when a reporter asked whether the Chinese ambassador's praise for Ukraine meant that it would not provide military assistance to Russia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian replied: "This is your own explanation."
On 16 March 2022, the CCTV news channel of the Communist Party of China broadcasted the statement issued by the Ukrainian military on the 15th on its "Chao Wen Tianxia" and "News Live Room" in the morning and afternoon for many times. The statement said that since the start of the war, the Russian army has destroyed 404 tanks, 1729 armored vehicles, 150 artillery systems, 64 multiple rocket launchers, 36 air defense systems, 81 fixed-wing aircraft, 95 helicopters, 640 cars, 3 ships, 60 fuel carriers, 9 tactical drones, etc.
The Central Propaganda Department had previously demanded a ban on reporting "unfavorable Russia" news. This time, CCTV suddenly broadcast the news of the damage of the Russian army, which attracted the attention of netizens and also caused some little pinks to be confused. Some netizens questioned "CCTV has turned?" Some netizens replied that they just "cannot hide it".
The Ukrainian official has announced its own record in the past few days. The New York Times also quoted U.S. military intelligence estimates on the 17th that more than 7,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and about 14,000 to 21,000 injured, with a Russian casualty rate of about 10%. U.S. Defense Department officials have said that once the casualty rate reaches 10 percent, the troops will not be able to perform combat missions.
The day before CCTV reported the loss of the Russian army, CCP Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong also met with Ukrainian military personnel, praised Ukraine's unity and the "strategic partnership" between CCP China and Ukraine, and expressed his willingness to provide economic assistance.
According to Ukraine's state news agency (Ukrinform), Fan Xianrong said at a meeting of the Lviv Military Administration that China and Ukraine are strategic partners, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides. Always a good force in Ukraine".
Fan Xianrong also said that China "will respect Ukraine's sovereignty", "will never attack Ukraine", and is willing to provide economic assistance. He also praised, "We have witnessed how strong the unity of the Ukrainian people is".
At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China on the 17th, a reporter asked about Fan Xianrong's remarks. Spokesman Zhao Lijian said China "of course supports the remarks made by the Chinese ambassador."
However, Zhao Lijian reiterated that he "opposes all actions that are not conducive to promoting a diplomatic solution, or even escalating the situation," suspected of implying dissatisfaction with the European and American military assistance to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
When a foreign reporter asked if the Chinese ambassador's remarks meant that China would not provide Russia with weapons or other assistance, Zhao Lijian refused to respond directly, only answering "this is your own explanation."
On the 17th, Xu Wei, a spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said that Beijing had decided to provide Ukraine with a new batch of "emergency humanitarian aid." But he did not disclose specific details of the aid. Not long ago, the CCP official also announced that the Red Cross will provide Ukraine with humanitarian aid worth 5 million yuan, including food and daily necessities.
Compared with the CCP, European and American countries’ aid to Ukraine is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, including advanced weapons and equipment to help the Ukrainian army fight against Japan.
On the eve of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the CCP decided to make a big purchase of Russian oil and other strategic materials. After the war, the authorities also encouraged the Chinese people to buy Russian products in large quantities.
On the eve of White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's meeting in Italy on the 14th with Yang Jiechi, director of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Office, U.S. officials revealed that Russia has been asking China for military assistance since the war began. After the meeting between the two, the British "Guardian" quoted US officials as saying that the U.S. believes that the CCP has decided to provide economic and financial assistance to Russia, and the real question is whether Beijing "will go further."
News (18)
Preventing Russia-Ukraine war from crossing the border, NATO strengthens defense, hundreds of thousands of troops are on alert
Recently, Russian artillery shells have hit the border area near the Netherlands, and it is predicted that Russia will soon launch a large-scale and more devastating attack on Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of troops have been put on alert to prevent the war from spreading to NATO allies. Some European dignitaries have called for NATO to make it clear to Russia what the consequences will be if Russia crosses the red line.
On Wednesday (16 March), 30 defense ministers from NATO allies gathered in Brussels to discuss the war in Ukraine and how to deal with it. In an interview with the media, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg publicly called to Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking him to "stop this war immediately", withdraw his troops now, and "do it in good faith" diplomacy (Negotiations)”.
Stoltenberg again warned Russia that any attacks on allied members will not be tolerated. "Moscow should have no doubts that NATO will not tolerate any attack on the sovereignty or territorial integrity of an allied country," he said.
He said that NATO has launched a defense plan to protect the security of the alliance and is strengthening collective defense and deterrence. He said "hundreds of thousands of troops are on high alert", of which 40,000 are under the direct command of NATO.
Stoltenberg told the media that NATO's "new posture" should include a significant increase in troops in the eastern region of the alliance, with higher readiness and more pre-deployed equipment and supplies.
Stoltenberg said that the task of the current NATO military commander is to strengthen the land, air and sea defenses of the eastern flank of the alliance, while paying attention to cyber and space threats.
Earlier, Polish President Andrzej Duda told the BBC on 13 March 2022, "If (Russia) uses any weapons of mass destruction (WMD), it will be a 'game changer'."
Deutsche Welle reporter Teri Schultz analyzed that NATO's thinking is changing with the development of the war, and if Russia uses chemical or nuclear weapons, it may step on the "red line" of NATO.
However, when DW asked Stoltenberg about this on the 15th, his answer was vague, saying, "If Russia uses chemical weapons, there will be a high price."
Ian Bond, foreign policy director at the Centre for European Reform, said that although such a scenario is unclear, it is not impossible to escalate, and the defense of NATO's land is the red line drawn by NATO. Putin may use chemical weapons on NATO territory, and NATO has not elaborated on how it will respond, possibly to leave some ambiguity, which is in NATO's interest.
Veronika Vichova, deputy director of the European Centre for Security Policy Values, told DW that she disagreed with the "fuzzy strategy". For someone like Putin, leaving room for imagination won't stop the conflict from escalating, she argues.
She said NATO should publicly acknowledge the possibility of a WMD attack, not only against Ukraine but against allies. NATO should not only communicate internally on the relevant options, but also communicate with Russia and issue a statement that clearly warns Russia, "If this happens (referring to the situation of crossing the NATO red line), this is what we will do." .
News (19)
Will the CCP not give military aid to Russia? Zhao Lijian: This is your own explanation
Reporter : Liming / Editor: Cheng Feihan / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/03/17/a103376564.html / Image : Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the CCP Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)
The CCP Chinese ambassador to Ukraine, Fan Xianrong, recently promised the Ukrainian side that China would never attack Ukraine. A media reporter asked at a press conference held by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs a few days ago, does Fan's remarks indicate that China will not provide assistance to Russia? Spokesman Zhao Lijian replied that "this is your own interpretation". There are public opinions that the CCP officials have had inconsistent voices on the issue of Ukraine.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a regular press conference on 17 March. Bloomberg asked a question at the press conference, "Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong made some remarks in support of Ukraine when he met with the leaders of the Lviv region. Does the (CCP) Ministry of Foreign Affairs support China's position stated by Ambassador Fan? "
Spokesman Zhao Lijian replied, "We of course support the remarks made by the Chinese ambassador to Ukraine."
The Bloomberg reporter continued to ask later, "The Chinese ambassador to Ukraine said that China will never attack Ukraine. Does this mean that China will not provide Russia with weapons or other assistance that can be used to attack Ukraine?"
Zhao Lijian did not give a clear answer to whether CCP China would support Russia, but replied, "This is your own explanation." He then said that China has made many statements, and then accused the reporter who asked the question, "You make such an extension. It makes no sense."
Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong attended a meeting held by the local military administration in Lviv on 14 March, and claimed at the meeting that "China and Ukraine are strategic partners" and that China "regardless of economic Politically,” they are all Ukrainian partners, and they also promised that “China will never attack Ukraine”, and even praised “how great the unity of the Ukrainian people is” and so on.
The Chinese embassy in Ukraine was originally established in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Due to the invasion of the Russian army, the CCP Chinese embassy and embassies from other countries moved to Lviv, which borders Poland.
At a time when American officials expressed doubts that the CCP would provide military assistance to Russia, Fan Xianrong’s above remarks were considered by the outside world as an indirect external statement that he would not provide military assistance to Russia. Therefore, a reporter from Bloomberg asked a question about this at a press conference on 17 March, and Zhao Lijian's response made the outside world doubt the CCP's position on the Ukraine issue again.
Lv Kaiyang, a Chinese international relations scholar, said in an interview with Radio Free Asia on the 17th that there has been an inconsistency in the recent foreign tone of CCP diplomats: officials from the Lord and one faction have released signs of relaxation; the other faction continues to maintain the "wolf warrior" attitude high profile. As for why the rhetoric of CCP diplomats is inconsistent, Lv Kaiyang believes that there are three possibilities:
First, it may be that CCP diplomats have made different expressions to different people on different occasions, that is, "one person's yin and yang hands"; second, it is possible that the CCP's diplomatic system has recently emerged with different positions and different opinions; Third, the leaders of the CCP are "in a dilemma of expression" on how to make commitments to the United States and the West.
However, Lv Kaiyang emphasized that, in the final analysis, the CCP government will not fall to the Western camp in the end. He said, "They (the CCP) will not let Russia fail. From their point of view, Russia is a barrier for China (to deal with the United States), so they are unlikely to compromise with Europe and the United States."
News (20)
No such thing as a "No-Fly Zone Lite": DOD rejects Zelensky's request
Reporter : Jack Phillips, The Epoch Times PREMIUM
The U.S. Department of Defense said Thursday that a NATO-enforced no-fly zone would do little to prevent some of Russia’s strikes inside Ukraine, coming after some members of Congress suggested the measure.
“The systems that are being used by the Russians to engage Ukrainian forces currently–they’re using a lot of rockets and missiles and artillery,” Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin told reporters. “There are a number of things that can be used to counter that.”
But Austin said Russian forces have been using cruise missiles that are being launched from within Russia’s borders.
“So what this really means is that in order to control the skies, you have to shut down the air defenses there on the ground,” Austin elaborated. “And some of those air defense systems are in Russia and so, again, there’s no easy or simple way to do this. There’s no such thing as a no-fly zone lite. A no-fly zone means you’re in a conflict with Russia. So from a U.S. perspective, we’re, again, our position remains that we’re not going to do that,” he added.
Since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has frequently called for the United States and NATO to implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine. During a speech to Congress, Zelensky called on lawmakers to “close the skies,” meaning they should establish a no-fly zone over his country.
Previously, NATO officials said that a no-fly zone would spread the conflict outside Ukraine and potentially start a world war with Russia.
Rather than use a no-fly zone, U.S. officials have instead opted to send weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. Biden said earlier this week that his administration would provide Kyiv with 3,000 shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles that include about 800 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and 2,000 Javelin missiles that have been reportedly highly effective against Russian armored vehicles.
Ukraine has also asked for MiG-29 fighter jets, S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, and other systems instead of a no-fly zone. Slovakia reportedly possesses Soviet-era S-300s, and Nad told reporters that his government is looking into sending weapons to Ukraine.
Should Slovakia send the missile systems to Ukraine, Nad suggested that the defensive system would likely need to be replaced by the United States. Slovakia, which used to be the eastern half of former Czechoslovakia, is a former Warsaw Pact nation that shares a small border with Ukraine.
“We’re willing to do so immediately when we have a proper replacement,” Nad said, adding that the S-300 systems are its “only strategic air defense system.”
“So what would happen immediately when we decided to give it to Ukrainians is that we actually create a gap, a security gap, in NATO,” he added.
“So a no-fly zone would not have prevented that activity,” Austin told reporters while speaking at a news conference with Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad in Bratislava, Slovakia.
President Joe Biden “was clear, we would not have U.S. forces fighting in Ukraine,” he added. “No-fly zone means you are in combat with Russia, our president said we are not getting into a fight with Russia.”
Rather than use a no-fly zone, U.S. officials have instead opted to send weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. Biden said earlier this week that his administration would provide Kyiv with 3,000 shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles that include about 800 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and 2,000 Javelin missiles that have been reportedly highly effective against Russian armored vehicles.
Ukraine has also asked for MiG-29 fighter jets, S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, and other systems instead of a no-fly zone. Slovakia reportedly possesses Soviet-era S-300s, and Nad told reporters that his government is looking into sending weapons to Ukraine.
Should Slovakia send the missile systems to Ukraine, Nad suggested that the defensive system would likely need to be replaced by the United States. Slovakia, which used to be the eastern half of former Czechoslovakia, is a former Warsaw Pact nation that shares a small border with Ukraine.
“We’re willing to do so immediately when we have a proper replacement,” Nad said, adding that the S-300 systems are its “only strategic air defense system.”
“So what would happen immediately when we decided to give it to Ukrainians is that we actually create a gap, a security gap, in NATO,” he added.
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