Sunday SITREP

Welcome to the Sunday SITREP, a special publication by The Intel Brief that covers updates and military activity in the First Island Chain.

Reporting Period: 17-22 June 2024

Bottom-Line Up Front:

• Taiwan experienced 128 aerial and 45 naval incursion by the PLA during this period.

• Taiwan conducted joint air defense drills with its air forces and air defense forces.

• China’s newest submarine was publicly observed in a PLA propaganda video for the first time.

• China has conducted live-fire exercises on U.S. airbase mock-ups in the Xinjiang region.

PLA Provocations By The Numbers:

Taiwan Conducts Joint Air Defense Drills
20 June 2024

On 20 June, Taiwan’s Air Force conducted an air defense exercise intended to prepare the country for an invasion by the PLA. The exercise was a part of Taiwan’s quarterly air defense exercises. It included various fixed-wing aircraft as well as various rotary-wing aircraft. On the ground, various air defense sensors and missile systems were in support.

The exercise focused on a “Red versus Blue” scenario in which some Taiwanese fighters roleplayed the Chinese Air Force.

Want To Read More?

• Coverage by Focus Taiwan

China’s New Submarine Was Publicly Revealed For The First Time
20 June 2024

On 20 June, the PLA Navy released a video celebrating the 70th anniversary of their submarine force. In the video, China’s Type 039C submarine was seen for the first time.

The Type 039C is a nuclear-powered attack submarine. China hyped new features on the submarine, namely an angled sail that increases its stealth capability underwater. The submarine also used an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, meaning it can operate without oxygen from the atmosphere (i.e. it can surface less often).

Want To Read More?

• Coverage by Global Times (this is a Chinese outlet)

China Conducts Mock-Up Attacks of U.S. Bases In Western Desert
21 June 2024

On 20 June, Clash Report tweeted satellite imagery from the Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang (a western province in China). The images depict mock-ups of American F-35 and F-22 fighters at an airbase.

The images were captured on 29 May 2024. The image show some of the mock-ups are destroyed, indicated that Chinese used them for live-fire training.

Comment: In May, the PLA Navy has made a mock-up of an American Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer for anti-surface warfare training.

End Brief

That concludes this Sunday SITREP. Please let me know what you thought of this special publication!