text: Myanmar was the first country to import the JF-17 strike-fighter, a joint Pakistan-China produced multi-role combat aircraft. In September of last year, a ten-member delegation from Pakistan met with Myanmar’s Defense Minister to solidify another arms deal that will provide upgraded (Block III) JF-17s and air to surface missiles. China is also using submarine diplomacy by providing submarines to Pakistan, Thailand, and Myanmar, as well as upgrading a Cambodian naval facility and providing significant financial assistance to the Philippines. China appears to be courting these countries along with the military junta in Myanmar in an effort to stitch together a possible “China-pact” to counter the U.S. and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.On the U.S. side of Indo-Pacific developments, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, during a visit to Fiji for talks with Pacific Islands leaders, promised more diplomatic and security resources for the region. Blinken announced plans to open an embassy in the South Pacific nation of Solomon Islands in an effort to counter China’s influence in the politically unstable island nation. The Solomon Islands recently switched allegiance to China and broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The island nation’s government has angered many of its citizens in aligning with China and civil unrest broke out late last year in response to draconian COVID policies and endemic corruption. The unrest started as peaceful protests but eventually erupted into wide-scale riots resulting in numerous Chinese and Solomon Islands’ government facilities being looted and burned.The State Department’s announcement of an embassy for the Solomon Islands along with its commitment for increased security assistance to island nations in the region is long overdue. The U.S. lack of presence in the region has allowed China to make significant inroads across the first and second island chains through its debt colonization tactics in its signature Belt and Road Initiative. – M.M.LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT INTSUMFar Left Activity Rollup & OutlookPACIFICSan Jose, CaliforniaSize: 20-25Activity: Bay Area Proud Boys organized a “Proud of your Baby” protest of Planned Parenthood in San Jose and Santa Rosa. Far Left Activists quickly organized a counter-protest of the Proud Boys by social media. Protest and counter-protest were sparsely attended. Location: 1691 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126Time: 1030 PST Saturday, 12 FEB— END REPORT