China: October 28, 1999

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Taiwan has taken delivery of two Jin Chiang patrol boats built in the local China Shipbuilding construction yard. Delivery had been delayed because of problems with the fire control system.--Stephen V Cole

The US agreed on 8 Oct to resume arms sales to Canada without export licenses after the Canadians agreed to control sensitive US technology. Canada's special status was interrupted when it was learned that the Chinese were exporting US military systems via Canada, taking advantage of the lack of export controls.--Stephen V Cole

Russian and Chinese warships held a joint naval exercise on 3-4 Oct, the first such exercise in decades. The primary purpose of the brief wargame was to determine if the ships could exchange data between their surveillance systems and sensors.--Stephen V Cole

China is reorganizing six of its 21 Group Armies, replacing the divisions with brigades. This produces a smaller, more mobile, and more flexible combat force. China had previously disbanded three of the then-24 Group Armies as part of a military reduction program.--Stephen V Cole