military

China’s military and civil nuclear capacity grows at an unprecedented rate. The US does not take away your eyes off

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China has deservedly consolidated as the country to which all the nations that bet on nuclear energy look. It currently has 58 nuclear reactors whose joint capacity is approximately 61 GWE (electric gigawatts). Besides, It has another 28 reactors under construction that will add additional 33.65 GWE. And just a month ago the State Council approved the construction of 10 more nuclear reactors. China is already the second country with more machines of this type, only behind the US. In any case, the best asset of this Asian country is its commitment to innovation. And the reactor of Molten Sales and Torio TMSR-LF1 is a very valuable letter of presentation. This machine received the approval of the Chinese Nuclear Safety Administration in mid -June 2023 after having successfully completed the initial testing phase that started in 2021. and since then the itinerary that had set the Institute of Applied Physics of Shanghai, which is the institution responsible for its tuning. As explained by the American nuclear engineer Nick Touran In your tweetthe TMSR-LF1 reactor officially entered into operation on October 11, 2023. A few months later, on June 17, 2024, He started working at full power. And on October 8 of last year the technicians who operate it detected protacinium-233 (PA-233), a radioactive isotope intermediate derived from the transformation of the thorium into Uranium-233 as part of the fuel cycle of the thorium. This nuclear reactor is in the Minqin industrial complex of the province of Gansu, in northern China. It has a power of 2 thermal megawatts (MWT), and, although it will not be the first Fourth Generation Nuclear Reactor In activity, and not the first one that Torio will use as fuel, it will be the first of molten salts that will use this chemical element. However, the ambition of this Asian country does not end here; It is already planning to build a molten salts and more capacity sales reactor for 2030. The modernization of China’s nuclear arsenal is accelerating Nuclear physics has two faces. We all know that the knowledge that has given us can be used to generate electricity and favor the development of large population masses, as we have just seen, but it can also be used to produce weapons of mass destruction. China carried out its first test with an atomic bomb in 1964. Initially its scientists had the help of Soviet nuclear engineers, but this alliance was broken in 1959 and the country that was then led by Mao Zedong was forced to continue with this project without having any external help. This isolation did not prevent China from carrying out the first test with a hydrogen bomb in 1967, just three years after launching its first atomic bomb. During the next three decades the Chinese nuclear armament continued advancing, although Mao never aspired to deal with the number of atomic and hydrogen bombs With the US or the Soviet Union first, and Russia later. His doctrine pursued China’s survival by resorting to deterrence, but without directly involving themselves in the cold war that the two hegemonic powers held at the end of the 20th century. “Beijing has the ambition to create a wide sphere of influence in the regions of the Indian and the Pacific, as well as becoming the leading world power” The funny thing is that everything changed during the first decade of the 21st century. China’s economic capacity was growing and its scientific and technical development during the second half of the twentieth century had been out of all doubt. The US government was already realized that this Asian country was consolidating as a superpower Able to dispute your world supremacy. This was the context in which the tension between these two countries was born that seems to be currently reaching its peak. The following literal extract of the document that collects The National Security Strategy Published by the US government in October 2022, it reflects very clearly why it considers China a threat: “The People’s Republic of China (RPC) is the only competitor that has both the intention of remodeling international order and, increasingly, more and more Economic, diplomatic, military and technological capacity To do so. Beijing has the ambition to create a wide sphere of influence in the regions of the Indian and the Pacific, as well as to become the leading world power. “These lines perfectly condense the background history that has triggered the international situation in which we meet. If we stick to its military development the US Department of Defense He estimates that China currently has an arsenal made up of More than 600 nuclear eyeletsand plans to increase this figure until reaching 1,000 eyelets in 2030. USA and Russia have an arsenal of approximately 5,200 and 5,500 eyelets respectively, although many of them are in reserve and others will be dismantled. China has less eyelets, it is evident, but at least rivals with the US if we stick to the sophistication of its intercontinental ballistic missiles, its nuclear submarines, its bomber and its hypersonic missiles. Let us trust that China, the US, Russia and the other nuclear powers enter and stop this climbing of the nuclear weapons. Image | Пресguese More information | US Department of Defense In Xataka | China prepares the mate to the US: it will have its own UVE lithography team to make chips in 2025

The war in Ukraine has become a video game. Kill gives points and rewards to exchange in a military Amazon

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It is something that has happened in all modern wars and conflicts, and in Ukraine it was not going to be different. We refer to the use of surprising tactics for combat. We had previously talked about the use of a Naval optical illusion And of a drone that “seeks” That they capture it to display your true threat. The latest: a rewards system with points. The prize: go to a war “Amazon. A war with points. I told it This week Insider and Political. In an unprecedented fusion between military and video game logic, Ukraine has launched a Rewards system that gives points to their soldiers for killing Russian troops or destroying their vehicles, provided that these acts are verified by recording of video drones. These points, called “Epoints”, can then be exchanged In Brave1 Marketa new digital platform that operates as A “Military Amazon”where combat units can acquire from attack drones and terrestrial robots to electronic warp devices or components such as batteries, cameras and engines. Add casualties to buy artillery. The initiative, promoted by Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, seeks to speed up and Decentralize access To the equipment, allowing the soldiers themselves to choose and buy the technology that best suits their needs in the front, either with own funds or through the rewards accumulated by their effectiveness in combat. The system establishes a numerical value for each target Enemy: Six points for each Russian soldier eliminated, forty for each destroyed tank, with equivalences that allow, for example, to acquire drones such as The “Baba Yaga” by 43 points or the sophisticated “backfire”which costs about $ 60,000 for three units. Delivery is made directly with state financing, without intermediaries. The Magyar’s Birds Unitfamous for its FPV drones attacks, it has already exceeded 16,000 points, heading The March rankingfollowed by specialized brigades in unmanned systems and special operations. A military Amazon. Far from being a simple shopping site, Brave1 Market represents a Disruptive Logistics Model and acquisition in times of conflict. Your catalog has More than 1,000 items ranging from advanced armament to technical solutions of communication, surveillance, navigation and electronic protection. Soldiers can navigate the portal, compare models, read specifications and contact manufacturers to close orders. Part of the content is of restricted accessbut the bulk of the inventory is publicly available to facilitate fast and autonomous decision -making from the front. One of the main objectives is to reduce the gap between technological development and its real implementation on the battlefield. In fact, Insider told that many units did not know that certain devices were available; They can now request them directly without having to wait for bureaucratic channels or slow -on channels. Drones as currency. The points system has the drones that, like We have explainedare absolute protagonists of the new battlefield Ukrainian. The most used They are the FPV (First-Person View) and short-range bombing models, operated by highly mobile units that film each impact to document it to the military intelligence network. These videos not only allow to verify the elimination of enemy objectives, but have become The “hard currency” with which more technology is accessed. Each approved purchase is Financed by the Ukrainian Government and delivered directly to the requesting unit, which reinforces a decentralized supply model based on operational merit. Meritocracy and ethical dilemma. No doubt, we talk about a system that converts the war effectiveness into immediate benefitswhich generates a Ethical conflict on the gamification of the conflict. Killing becomes a rewarded act not only with recognition, but with material power to improve the offensive abilities of the unit. Although brutal, the model has proven to be effective for Accelerate the answer On the battlefield, promote tactical initiative and allow troops to access the technology they really need. In parallel, it also represents a form of digitalized war economy, where each confirmed impact translates into purchasing power, each successful mission in Access to strategic resources. A logic that is not free: responds to the urgency of Modernize the military apparatus Ukrainian in the midst of an asymmetric war, and the need to compete technologically with an enemy that has greater industrial and human reserves. Of course, he questions the ethical limits of the military culture model that can generate in the long term. A new military paradigm. The only existence of A “store” like this Change the concept of war in the 21st century. We talk about a digital architecture, distributed and Efficiency oriented Immediate with which Ukraine not only tries to match Russia in offensive capacity, but to overcome it in technological agility, tactical innovation and adaptation speed. If you want too, the battlefield does not seem only a physical space, but also a kind of Interactive platform where each action can be measured, rewarded and transform into operational advantage. A New War Economy where the value is measured, not in abstract terms, but in eliminated objectives, points won and delivered drones. Together with the obvious ethical dilemmas he poses, he also reveals to what extent the modern war is as technological as lethal. Image | NATO North, Ministry of Defense In Xataka | Russia has confirmed one of the great unknowns of war in Ukraine: North Korea accompanies them and not only with troops In Xataka | Russia has crowded a surprising blow to Ukraine: 100 soldiers walking for four days inside a gas pipeline

Put solar panels in space has never been profitable, but there is something that motivates the current interest: its military use

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The old idea of ​​collecting energy from the sun from space to transmit it uninterrupted to Earth has always collided with the huge costs and technological barriers that have prevented their deployment. Until now. A global interest. Governments and companies around the world seem to have a renewed interest in space solar energy. The drastic drop in launch costs, thanks to the emergence of reusable rockets such as Spacex, could have cleared the main economic obstacle from the equation. The necessary technology has also matured in parallel: solar panels are lighter and more efficient, and wireless energy transmission (microwave or laser) is more advanced. The same with robotics, which will be necessary to assemble the stations in orbit. The military factor. As with any renewable project, the energy transition and emission commitments are the engine of this new effort. But behind the recent interests of the Chinese government or the pentagon there is something else: the military potential of space solar energy. “The military utility of transmitting energy to land, aerial or maritime units is obvious,” He said to Spacenews Darpa’s tactical technology project manager Paul Jaffe. Transporting fuel to remote places with tank airplanes can be a usual practice, but “it is not a practical way to bring energy where we need it for defense purposes.” In addition to DARPA, who has conversations with space solar energy startups and invests in the development of long -distance wireless energy transmission, the United States Air Force and Navy are also in garlic. Pentagon projects. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFR) actively develops space solar technology through its “Space Solar Incremental Demonstrations and Research” program. Its flagship mission “Arachne” will prove in orbit a sandwich panel that converts sunlight into radiofrequency energy to transmit it to a terrestrial receptor. Led by Northrop Grumman, it is scheduled for this year with the explicit objective of providing energy to the forces and reducing the dependence of fuel convoys, which are more vulnerable. For its part, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) integrated a module called PRAM into the X-37B secret space plane to prove the conversion of solar energy to microwave. Now the project is part of the space force. What can we expect. Military interest is an important catalyst, and possibly one of the motivations behind the gigantic project of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CASC), which will display its first satellites in low orbit by 2028 and in geostationary orbit for 2030. But in the coming years we will also see all kinds of commercial and space agencies, including the European Space Agency with its Solaris initiative, which focuses on viability studies. Despite these progress, the challenges are still considerable. The two major doubts are profitability, in the case of commercial efforts, which will compete with the renewable energies deployed on land, increasingly profitable despite their intermittency. And security, which depends on the fact that you are issued at distances of hundreds or tens of thousands of kilometers are very precise. Maybe let’s see some “fried” birds along the way.

become the main United States military pitcher

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When Elon Musk founded Spacex in 2002 with ambitions as grandiloquent as the conquest of Marsfew would have bet money to unseat the two giants of the US space industry: Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Now it is a reality in every way because Spacex has just officially become the main military pitcher in the United States. Sorpasso The US space force has awarded 13.7 billion dollars in public contracts to launch the most critical satellites of the Pentagon from here at the beginning of the next decade. Among them, new advanced GPS satellites and strategic communications systems capable of resisting even a nuclear conflict. Spacex has taken most of the cake with 28 missions, valued at 5.9 billion dollars. There are nine more than those awarded to United Launch Alliance (The Boeing and Lockheed Martin Joint-Venture), With 19. For its part, Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos’ Aerospace Company) has received seven missions. Goodbye to the duopoly. When the New Space emerged with new rocket startups such as Spacex and Blue Origin, Boeing and Lockheed Martin shielded their military contracts with a joint business called ULA. For years, and thanks to the demonstrated reliability of its rockets, the Pentagon continued to feed the duo with the exclusivity of its juicy contracts. Spacex got open a gap in 2015 with its first military contract after a hard legal battle to compete on equal terms. Since then, he has not only managed to consolidate, but to become the preferential provider of the space force with the highest number of contracts. Excuses are over. With about 140 successful releases In the last year and more competitive rates than competition thanks to its unique reuse capacity, the Pentagon does not have many excuses to maintain favor treatment with ULA instead of choosing Spacex. Spacex requested space force 212 million dollars per launch In his Falcon 9 rockets and Falcon Heavy, compared to the 282 million that Ula asked for the Vulcan and the 341 million asked for Blue Origin for the powerful New Glenn rocket, which has barely flown once. There is a game. In spite of everything, ULA still has a lot to offer with its new Vulcan rocket, especially thanks to the upper Centaur V stage that offers greater maneuverability and orbit thrust than the Spacex falcon. Blue originated on your part, has the most powerful rocket of the fourwith a huge cofia in which all kinds of loads fit, and the same reuse aspirations as Spacex. Of course, he has barely completed a test launch, and failed in his first attempt to land in a barge in the Atlantic. He has at least one certification flight to launch military charges. Images | Spacex, United States Department of Defense In Xataka | Spacex has shot at unsuspected levels. So much that Gwynne Shotwell has entered the list of billionaires

The largest military base on the planet

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During The cold warthe Soviet Union prepared for “the worst” building a large number of Underground bases and bunkersresistant structures that could face nuclear attacks. In Germany also tell with a large number of these vestiges of war conflicts of the past. In China, since 1980 there is a group in charge in the creation of deep shelters capable of resisting the most powerful western bombs. The team has silently lifting an unpublished work: the largest military bunker on the planet. A vitamin “pentagon. I told it in exclusive the Financial Times through satellite images. China is developing a military complex of monumental proportions on the Western outskirts of Beijing, one that according to American intelligence would work as a War Command Center Designed to house the High Command of the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) in case of conflict, including a eventual nuclear war. The site, informally nicknamed by analysts as “Beijing Military City”it covers about 1,500 hectares (ten times bigger that the Pentagon) and is approximately 30 kilometers from the center of the capital. Satellite images, analyzed by US agencies, show deep excavations and intense construction activity, suggesting the creation of a network of underground facilities strongly reinforced and connected by tunnels, capable of resisting attacks, even with nuclear weapons. Xi Jinping’s plans. The beginning of the works, detected in mid -2024coincides with the EPL preparations for the centenary of its foundation in 2027, date for which President Xi Jinping has ordered that the armed forces develop sufficient capacity to take Taiwan. The Nuclear Arsenal Expansionthe improvement in the integration between EPL branches and the impulse of new weapons systems are part of this modernization strategy. In fact, experts Like Dennis Wilderformer head of analysis of China in the CIA, interpret the new bunker as a clear sign of China’s intentions, not only to consolidate a conventional first level force, but also to strengthen their abilities for a nuclear war. Colosal bunker, absolute secretism. The FT had that more than 100 cranes operate simultaneously in an area of ​​five square kilometers, and according to the Former Image Analyst Renny Babiarzthe infrastructure includes underground facilities connected by hidden passages. The site completely lacks common elements in civil real estate projects, such as exhibition rooms or official mentions on the Internet, which further evidences its military character. In fact, and although there is no visible military presence, there are multiple signs that They prohibit the use of drones or photography, access controls with guards and restrictions to pass through nearby tourist areas, which have been declared “Military Areas” by local residents. Start of excavations in 2024 Echoes of the Cold War. We said it at the beginning. The characteristics of the site remind the Soviet underground bases of the Cold War, and reflect the influence of engineers Like Qian Qihupioneer in the development of resistant structures to nuclear attacks after their training at the former Military Engineering Academy of Kuybyshev in the USSR. Counted on Asian Times That at least since the 1980s, Qian and his team have worked on the creation of deep shelters capable of resisting extremely powerful bombs, such as the American GBU-57A/B.capable of crossing up to 200 meters. Strategic ambition. For their part, US officials point out that the new complex would replace the current center EPL command in the Western hillsbuilt during the Cold War and already considered obsolete for contemporary security standards. The new installation would not only increase the protection of the high command against American penetration weapons, but also allow Integrate advanced communications and have space for future military capabilities. In other words, the dimensions of the complex and its partially buried characteristics point to a unique purpose: to be the main operations center China strategic in case of war. Power symbol. Researchers and analysts also agree that the project presents all the typical signals of a highly sensitive military installation, such as the Use of reinforced concrete and one Network of tunnels deep. In this regard, a Chinese researcher accessed that his size, leaving the Pentagon in “tiny” XI JINPING ambitions for overcoming the United States in strategic capacity. Plus: construction coincides with a transformation process Urbanistic of the surroundings of Beijing, in which homes have demolished in areas such as Qinglonghu, feeding speculation about the nature of the project in Chinese social networks. Precedents China already has military underground facilities, such as Command Center in Xishansouthwest of Beijing, located 100 meters deep, from where EPL maneuvers are directed since 2013. In 2018, researchers identified A karst cave In Xishan’s forest park, with an estimated depth of 2,000 meters and its own water source, an enclave with the potential for the location of a nuclear bunker. That cave is considered comparable in depth to the famous Krubera in Georgiawhich suggests that, in addition to the monumental work, the EPL is exploring reinforced natural locations for future strategic facilities. Background: Taiwan. Impossible to ignore the island. Sources close to the Taiwan Ministry of Defense They have suggested to FT That the EPL is building a new command center, although some experts question the suitability of the ground for underground bunkers. Thus, given the size of the site, it is speculated that it could also house a high -level administrative installation or a large -scale training base. HSU YEN-CHI, INVESTIGIC AND WARGAMING STUDIES IN TAIPÉI, researcher on Talegic and Wargaming, He underlined that the land far exceeds the dimensions of an ordinary military base, which reinforces the hypothesis that the site has a strategic purpose much greater. Official silence. What seems clear about the images is that we are facing a pharaonic work in times of war. Officially, neither the Office of the United States National Intelligence Director nor the Chinese Embassy in Washington offered more comments on the project to the Financial Times. And while Washington carefully observes the progress of the works, Beijing is limited to insisting on its commitment to a defensive policy and peaceful development. However, the scale, secrecy … Read more

Yonaguni’s Japanese island was known for its beauty and Bad Bunny. Now it is a military strength because of Taiwan

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It is possible that until recently the vast majority of the population did not know what it was Yonaguni. In 2021, the picturesque Japanese island appeared in the “map” of millions of people when the artist Bad Bunny dedicated him A song (Singing it in Spanish and Japanese, in addition). However, the enclave, very much, will possibly be more famous over the months. Is found in the center of a war Between the United States and China, and has in front of Taiwan. Paradise in the conflict. Yonaguni, the westernmost island in Japan, is usually remembered as an idyllic corner of Crystalline waters and almost empty routes between cane fields. However, its strategic location only 110 km from the Taiwanese coast has placed it in the center of the growing tension between China and Taiwantransforming his image of tourist paradise into an expanding military enclave. The Japanese government has announced the Base extension From the self -defense forces (SDF), as well as works to extend the airport, build a port for large boats and create underground evacuation shelters. These developments have left their only 1,500 inhabitants trapped between the growing militarization and the latent threat of a regional conflict. A military bastion. As AP explained In a recent report, while some residents and local authorities such as Fumie Kano dreamed of promoting commercial links with Taiwan through direct sea routes, but the plan was set aside In favor of militarizationwhich offered government subsidies and security promises. Since 2016, the island houses a unit of 160 members coastal surveillanceequipped with radars, to which electronic war units and potential deployments of long -range missiles. Today, the military and their families already They represent 20% of the populationa constantly increased figure that begins to reconfigure the economy and social structure of the island. Division before the threat. The possibility of a Taiwan Yūjian emergency caused by a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan, worries residents, who fear that the island will become a military objective or refugee receiver. Not everyone, of course. The Guardian told A few weeks ago cases such as that of the Shoko Komine restaurant, where they do not believe that the conflict is imminent, although they are afraid of its immediate impact on tourism, the main economic engine of the island. The militarization, in the opinion of its owner, has displaced the efforts to promote Yonaguni As a tourist destination. Even those who voted in favor of the base in 2015, when it was approved by little margin, seem to express their concern today at the possible missile installation, which would make the island blank in case of hostilities. Yonaguni Geopolitics in the Pacific. The reorientation of the Japanese defense policy, which for decades focused on the Soviet threat in the north, has displaced its focus to the south and the growing pressure of China. We tell it A few weeks ago, Yonaguni is part of the Nansei Islands chain, whose strategic importance It has been redoubled In a context in which the United States It demands from Japan a more active role in your own defense. Under that framework, the American ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, recently visited the island in a symbolic sample of American support. In addition, other nearby islands, such as Miyako and Ishigaki, already house missile units (and comes A broader package), increasing the Pressure on Okinawa Prefecturewhich welcomes most American troops in Japan. Defense or provocation. The people are divided. For example, the mayor of Yonaguni, Kenichi Itakazu, support military expansionconsidering it essential to protect the island and access part of the record of 43 billion yen (276,000 million dollars) in defense expense planned for 2028. He argues that, given the experience with Hong Kong, Xi Jinping’s peaceful promises cannot be trusted. However, critical voices such as councilor Chiyoki Tasato warn that the deployment of troops and missiles does not deter, but that attracts danger. Tasato considers inevitable that Japan will be involved if a war in the Taiwan Strait due to the United States Security Treaty, which imposes bilateral military responsibilities. The 2015 law Approved under the mandate of Shinzō Abe authorizes Japan to exercise collective self -defense in case an ally is attacked, which reinforces that vision. An island in transformation. Yonaguni, like many remote regions of Japan, faces a complicated depopulation process. Of the 12,000 inhabitants he had in 1947, today There are hardly 1,500 civiliansmostly older people. A figure that contrasts with 160 SDF troops and its 90 relatives, whose presence begins to transform the social structure. According to calculations of the Tetsu Inomata residentby 2026 the military “base population” will exceed 40% of the total number of inhabitants. Although soldiers have tried to integrate, for example, participating in schools, shops and cultural activities, many islanders feel that a military enclave is being configured that could eventually displace the civilian population. Historical and strategic memory. Some inhabitants, such as local politician Mizuho Chidacome in the Evacuation drills that we have counted before an undercover preparation for an armed conflict. Others, like Tasato, advocate Strengthen the links economic and cultural with Taiwan, a country with which Yonaguni shared business relations at the time of the Ryukyu kingdom. Despite the geographical proximity, there are currently no direct routes between the two regions, although maritime crosses are foreseen soon. This vision contrasts with the perception that the island has been alibuated by external interests, particularly those of Washington, with Tokyo’s complicity. The weight of the story. The past also plays an important role in the perception of the premises. The memories of the Okinawa battlewhere about 200,000 people died during World War II, still resonate among residents. Many fear that, as then, the islands of southern Japan are sacrificed In the name of national security. Today Central Okinawa house more than half Of the 50,000 American soldiers deployed in Japan, and the new bases in Yonaguni and neighboring islands such as Miyako and Ishigaki expand that geostrategic burden on a historically marginalized region … Read more

China has launched the largest military deployment of 2025 against Taiwan. Taiwan has just responded with the same currency

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A few days ago the news in Taiwan was not around the island, it was somewhat further. A series of images next to a video showed that, in an unidentified coast, China had displayed artificial platforms that they remembered too much to Mulberry ports with those who the allies invaded Normandy. The island has been found in the last 24 hours with a Chinese military army in the surroundings, and this time they have decided to replicate. A phrase as a trigger. China held on Monday The greatest military exercise On a large scale so far this year, and he faced Taiwan mobilizing 59 aircraft and drones, along with nine vessels, in a clear sample of force in response to the recent comments of President Taiwanés, Lai Ching-Te, who He described Beijing as a “foreign hostile force” and promised to strengthen national security against its infiltration attempts. The unusual in this case is that Taiwan has responded To the exhibition deploying aerial and maritime patrols, in addition to defensive missile systems, while its Minister of Defense, Wellington Koo, accused China of being the “disturbing of peace and stability” in the region. Increase tension. Last Thursday, Lai hardened his speech After a national security meeting, accusing China of seeking Taiwan’s annexation through influence tactics. In response, he announced stricter measures to regulate trade, travel and residence of Chinese citizens on the island. Beijing, who considers Lai and his party, the DPP, as separatists, reacted with virulence: the spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China, Chen Binhua, He described it of “destroyer of peace in the Strait” and accused him of pushing the island “towards a scenario of war and conflict.” Since the inauguration of Lai last May, China has intensified its military pressure. We have been counting it: in December, it deployed more than 90 ships from the Navy and the Coast Guard in an operation that Taiwan described as Its greatest maritime mobilization In recent history. The growing military activity China reinforces that fear that Beijing is preparing a direct confrontation scenario. The Described bridges A few days ago it is a “spicy” more to tension. The “Gray Zone”. The truth is that all these military activities of the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) of China around Taiwan is what experts describe as a “Gray Zone” strategythat is, coercion tactics that do not reach the direct armed conflict but that wears out the defensive capacity of the adversary. So that? This campaign would seek to increase the Psychological pressure On Taiwan, force their Armed Forces to operate in a constant state of alert and weaken the perception of security on the island. The United States position. Irremediably, the situation leads to Washington. Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency has added A layer of uncertainty To the equation. In the middle of the commercial war with China, Trump seeks increase your investment In defense. In addition, its administration has expressed discomfort for the impact of the island on the American semiconductor industry, threatening new tariffs to strengthen local production. No doubt, contradictory signals from Washington have generated restlessness in Taiwan. While the island’s government has expressed Your willingness to collaborate With Trump in the construction of a “democratic supply chain”, key companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) have promised investments up to 100,000 million of dollars in the United States to relieve tensions. Attempts of calm (and commitment). Amid all this uncertainty, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Raymond Greene, tried to reassure Taipei. In a statement Posted on FacebookHe said that the Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, has reiterated his commitment to Taiwan, ensuring that Trump seeks world peace and strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific to avoid conflicts. Greene emphasized that Washington cannot guarantee security of the region alone and needs allies like Taiwan to reinforce its defensive capacity. He also stressed that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have devastating economic consequences, with an impact greater than 10% of global GDP, “more serious than World War II,” he said. Be that as it may, the current increase in Chinese military activity and the surprise Taiwanese response mark a new critical point in the already tense relationship between both parties. With a most unpredictable Trump, the future of American support to the island is still uncertain. Meanwhile, Beijing continues to press with demonstrations of strength and rhetorical threats, in a context where any calculation error could serve as a fuse to trigger a conflict of unpredictable proportions. Image | 總統府 In Xataka | China has a plan with six options if things “twist” with Taiwan. World War II advocates all In Xataka | Taiwan lives an unprecedented situation in three decades: there is an army of 53 planes and 90 Chinese ships in front of the island

convert the escape of Helio de la Starliner into a great military advance

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A few weeks ago, the two “stranded” astronauts in space after leaving for the International Space Station on June 5 aboard the Starliner ship, received good news: He had decided to advance his return. For Boeing, however, the mission fiasco is far from finishing. In fact, the company is Trying to sell your bleeding space division by piecesl. The latest: it seems that China has taken “oil” from the main problem of the Starliner. Boeing’s problem as inspiration. In a surprising return of technological nut, Chinese scientists seem to have transformed the serious crisis that affects NASA (and especially Boeing) in A revolution in aerospace propulsion. The Boeing Starliner capsule suffered multiple helium leaks that incapacitated their propulsion systems, leaving the two astronauts trapped at the International Space Station. That incident turned the heliuman ultralight gas traditionally used to pressurize liquid fuels, in A symbol of technical vulnerability. Now, Chinese researchers have seen in that same weakness a unique opportunity to develop a disruptive technology, a Able to revolutionize both the military and spatial field. Solid propulsion driven by Helio. The team of scientists, led by Yang Zenan of the Harbin University of Engineering, has revealed in a recent study Published in the Magazine Aeronautica et Astronautics Sinica How helium controlled injection can considerably multiply the performance of solid fuel rocket. Specifically, they discovered that by introducing helium through microscopic pores (about 2 mm) in the combustion chamber, It is possible to increase the specific engine efficiency by 5.77%. In addition, by precisely adjusting the proportion between helium and combustion gases (a part of helium for every four parts of fuel gas), scientists They managed to instantly triple the engine thrustcarrying it from 100% to 313% according to operational needs. Advantage: Thermal camouflage and invisibility. The use of helium is not limited to potential improvements or thrust. One of its most strategic advantages lies in the drastic reduction in the temperature of the exhaust gases. The helium, Being extremely light (With a molar mass of only 4 g/mol in front of the 29 g/mol of the typical combustion gases), expand and cool the escape flow, lowering its temperature by up to 1,327 degrees Celsius. This thermal reduction implies a radical decrease in the infrared signal of the missiles propelled by this technology, making them almost impossible to detect through infrared sensors modern military satellite employees such as Spacex Starshield and interceptor systems such as The SM-3 Block IIA. Also improved stability and safety. Another relevant feature of helium, highlighted by researchers, is Its chemically inert naturewhich avoids common problems associated with unstable combustion caused by other light gases, especially hydrogen. This ensures, they explain, that The flight is soft and predictableeliminating many operational risks that traditionally hinder the practical application of more volatile alternative technologies. In addition, by absorbing excess heat generated by combustion, helium not only reduces the exhaust temperature, but also Protects internal engine materials, extending its useful life and decreasing operational risks. Military and strategic applications. They count on work that from a strategic and military perspective, technology has deep implications. The Ability to quickly modulate the thrust of a missile in flight allows Unpredictable attack trajectoriessignificantly improving your maneuverability. This aspect is especially relevant to advanced defensive systems, since the combination of lower infrared detectability and variable acceleration capacity makes interception greatly difficult, especially in the context of defense against hypersonic missiles. According to Chinese researchers, this innovation could directly solve the current challenges facing their weapons systems in terms of speed, scope and thermal stealth, presenting a real challenge to antimile defenses developed by the United States. Civil and spatial potential applications. However, the benefits of this technological innovation transcend the military. According to the research team, this technique could also revolutionize the civil and commercial field, especially in The rapid and economical launch of satellites by solid fuel rockets. As? The capacity would be particularly valuable for urgent deployments in commercial, scientific or humanitarian contexts, providing an agile, profitable and adaptable solution against the expensive current launch systems. Current context and relevance. Meanwhile, in the United States the initial crisis continues. As we explained at the beginning, NASA recently announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, affected by the Starliner’s breakdown, Finally they will return to Earth in mid -March using a Spacex ship. In the words of the NASA Traffic Program manager, Steve Stich, the incident has demonstrated once again that “the human space flight is full of unexpected challenges.” Paradoxically, that same challenge that affected NASA and Boeing has served for Chinese scientists to achieve, on paper, a disruptive innovation that could deeply redefine the rules of technological and strategic game in the near future. Image | POT, Gaystock In Xataka | After the fiasco of the Starliner ship, Boeing is trying to sell its bleeding spatial division by pieces In Xataka | The two “stranded” astronauts in space have received their first good news in months: their return will be advanced

A single island houses 70% of the US military bases in Japan. There is a weight reason for not to come out: China

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At the end of January, in the Japan islands closest to Taiwan, Many places began to evacuate the area. The action was part of a series of drills that have been intensified in the last two years preparing for “the worst”, understanding this as An armed conflict between China and Taiwan. In fact, the most important island of Okinawa prefecture has a fact that attests to tension in the area: there is no other place in Japan with such a number of soldiers in the United States, and they have been there since World War II. Okinawa: trapped between two powers. For more than a century, Okinawa has been a territory in disputemarked by the conflict between Japan, the United States and China. Its history, which goes from being an independent kingdom to become a battlefield and military baseit reflects the weight of geopolitical decisions about the lives of its inhabitants. The island was originally The kingdom of Ryukyuan independent state that maintained tax relations with both Imperial China and with the Japanese domain of Satsuma. However, in the 1870s, Japan attached the archipelagoestablishing its control over the island. During World War II, Okinawa was the stage of One of the bloodiest battlesused as a shield to prevent US troops from reaching the main islands of Japan. After the war, instead of being returned to Japanese sovereignty, Okinawa was under control of the United Statesbecoming a military strategic point. Already in 1972, after 27 years of American occupation, The island was finally returned to Japan. However, the US military presence never disappeared. In fact, Okinawa houses 70 % of US military bases in Japandespite representing only 0.6 % of the national territory. It is estimated that there are 80,000 Americans on the island, of which 30,000 are uniformed military. The “slow” withdrawn. This week had the New York Times that the departure of those thousands of American marines has already begun, more or less, although With a delay of more than 20 years Regarding the original calendar. Before Christmas, a 105 Marines contingent that would normally have been sent to the island He was redirected to the new Camp Blaz base in Guam. This small movement marked the first trimming of military personnel in Okinawa within the agreement between Washington and Tokyo to reduce that US military presence on the island that goes back to World War II. According to the pact, 9,000 marines (almost half of the troops on the island) should be relocated at some point. However, due to the construction of replacement bases, its exit could take more than a decade to complete. United States maneuvers on the island A discontent agreement. Negotiation for the reduction of military presence It began in 1995when the case of three American soldiers who raped an okinawense girl caused massive protests on the island. This led to the United States and Japan They will agree to relieve the military load on Okinawa. As? In essence, by closing The Fuutema Air Base and the construction of a new installation in the north of the island. The first plan, signed in 1996, established a period of five to seven years for relocation, but almost three decades of that agreement, the original base remains operational and the new landing track is still 12 years after being completed. Geopolitics: the brake on the reduction. In any case, the delay in the withdrawal of US troops is due, in large part, to the growing military presence of China in the region. Recently and As we countthe Japan Ministry of Defense reported that Four Chinese warships sailed between Okinawa and a nearby islandincreasing concern in Tokyo and Washington about security in the Western Pacific. The rise of China, together with the threat of North Korea and tensions in Taiwan, has changed strategic dynamics. In fact, the times told that many in Tokyo and Washington wonder If they should really reduce the presence of marines in Okinawaespecially when the island is within the range of Chinese missiles and would be a key point in any conflict in the region. China’s hat. Although historically Okinawa maintained commercial relations with China, Beijing’s current influence on the region is seen with concern for many Japanese. The tensions between China and Japan by the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands They have fueled the fear that Okinawa can become a conflict point Between both countries. An uncertain future. For all this, and despite international pressure, the transfer of the Marines progress to slow pacealmost testimonial. Japan, meanwhile, has chosen to keep the status quoinvesting in the modernization of existing bases instead of accelerating relocation. In this regard, Camp Schwab, in the north of the island, will be the new home of the Marines relocated from Fuhenma. The construction includes an area of ​​land five times greater than the pentagon to house landing clues and hangars. It does not seem, therefore, that you think too much about an exit. For its part, Camp Fosterin the southern part of Okinawa, it is being remodeled with new barracks, schools and homes, consolidating the military presence in that area. Japan spends According to the New York Times1.5 billion dollars a year in the construction of new facilities, in addition to the 2.8 billion dollars already allocated to Camp Blaz base in Guamwhich, as we said, will house a part of the displaced marines of Okinawa. Yet, Pentagon still does not provide a clear calendar For relocation. And here we return to the exit box: in case of conflict in Asia, LTo Guam’s remoteness could represent a strategic problemsince the Marines would have to return to Japan crossing a combat zone. Thus, what is clear is that the island remains a key piece on the Indo-Pacific board, trapped between the strategic needs of the United States and Japan, and the own aspirations of autonomy of its population. Image | US Indo-Pacifi In Xataka | The Japan islands closest to Taiwan have begun to evacuate the area. They have been preparing … Read more

Microsoft has canceled the development of Military Hololens. Who takes over: the founder of Oculus

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It ran the years 2015-2017 when Microsoft began to invest in a big virtual and mixed. The Redmond company integrated this technology until the deepest in Windows 10 and promoted What Meta and Apple call “Metaverso” and “Spatial computing“, respectively. However, its proposal has been diluted over time and now the company has other open fronts: the AI ​​and the cloud. The Hololens 3 They were canceled in 2022 and the production of the Hololens 2 stopped at the end of last year. The question is what would happen to ivas (Integrated visual increase system) AKA The Hololens -based helmet that Microsoft was developing for the US army. Today, we finally have an answer: the project is in the hands of Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus Rift and Anduril. Context. The development of IVA dates from 2018 and, for the moment, has not left the test phase. It does not seem to be a simple project and has not been exempt from criticism. In fact, as soon as the projects of Hololens ask Microsoft to cancel the contract (valued at about 22,000 million dollars) because the product was going to “help people to kill.” Satya Nadella came out in defense of it, claiming that Microsoft “will not hide technology to the institutions that we have chosen in democracies to protect the freedoms we enjoy.” What is ivas? It’s a Hololens -based reality visor based on Hololens For military purposes. The idea is to improve the vision of soldiers by adding information layers superimposed on the image itself. For example, thermal vision, night vision, maps, routes, etc. Although at first it was intended only to infantry, later versions added the possibility of controlling drones and helicopters remotely. Its launch was scheduled for 2021, but different problems and delays have led the date to this year, 2025. We will see. Image | Microsoft Microsoft gets off the car … Despite the lucrative of the contract, the reality is that the Hololens project has been very deflated over time. So much so that in October last year Microsoft put an end to him. The company stopped producing the Hololens 2, but announced that it would support until 2027 and, here is the crumb, which remained “totally committed to the IVA program of the United States Department of Defense.” … And Palmer Luckey is uploaded. Microsoft He has just announced A collaboration agreement with Anduril Industries, the Palmer Luckey defense company, founder and creator of Oculus Rift. As Microsoft has detailed, the objective is to “boost the following phase of the IVAS Program of the United States Army.” Image | Microsoft The agreement is aware of the approval by the Department of Defense, but from now on “Anduril will assume the supervision of production, the future development of hardware and software, and delivery deadlines.” This agreement also establishes “Microsoft Azure as Anduril’s favorite hyperscale cloud for all IVA -related workloads and Anduril’s technologies.” The idea, of course, is to take advantage of the points where each company is strong. Anduril knows about defense and military requirements, while Microsoft has taken the opportunity to get chest from Azure (its cloud) and its artificial intelligence capabilities. Cover image | Microsoft In Xataka | The greats of AI are competing for a cake as juicy as dangerous: that of the military industry

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