text: Good morning. Here’s your Early Warning for Thursday, 6 January 2022.TODAY’S BRIEFING:Russia attempts to restore order after Kazakh government collapseHomeland Security targets encrypted messaging appsChina deploys robotic weapons to Indian borderFar Left’s gerrymandering fears unfounded, still pushing “reform”North Korea launches missile toward Japan, claims hypersonic testDomestic Sitrep: NEW CYBER STRATEGY, DECENTRALIZED FOOD PROCESSING, SUPPLY CHAIN RISK MITIGATION Economic Warning INTSUMSITUATIONAL AWARENESSKAZAKHSTAN GOVERNMENT RESIGNS, PROTESTORS SEIZE ALMATY AIRPORT: Anti-government protesters in Kazakhstan seized control of the city of Almaty and its International Airport yesterday. The protestors stormed the Almaty mayor’s office on Wednesday setting parts of the building on fire. Additional protests have broken out, forcing the Kazakhstan government to resign. Demonstrations started on Sunday in response to skyrocketing fuel prices and COVID restrictions. On Tuesday, the government cut all internet services to the country. U.S. officials denied Russian claims of backing the protests saying such accusations are “a familiar disinformation tactic.” (Analyst Comment: The speed at which the demonstrations turned violent surprised the Kazak government. Wednesday afternoon, a Russian delegation arrived on a private jet from Moscow, likely to work with remaining government officials to create a plan to restore order. With Russia massing troops on Ukraine’s border for an anticipated invasion, massive unrest in neighboring Kazakhstan will be a concern and potential distraction to the Russian government. – M.M.)ENCRYPTION CONCERNS IN DHS: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking into solutions to deal with the perceived threat landscape, enabled by encrypted communication platforms. Domestic extremism is cited as the underlying reason for this concern in the wake of the Capitol protest. DHS Secretary Mayorkas addressed how the department is “very focused on the lone actor or a loose affiliation of individuals” that use “encrypted channels of communication.” (AC: Encryption tools readily available to the public are concerning to DHS, especially during times of civil unrest. The ability for groups to coordinate their actions without effective means for the government to intercept leads agencies to seek alternative means to bypass encryption as in the FBI’s Operation Trojan Shield and the case against the company Phantom Secure. – D.F.) CHINA DEPLOYS ROBOT WEAPONS ON DISPUTED BORDER WITH INDIA: China has ramped up its defenses at the Indian border by deploying robotic weapons platforms armed with machine guns. The automated units are intended to cover blind spots in China’s perimeter as troops struggle to handle the altitude and terrain of the Tibetan region claimed by both countries. Multiple Indian media outlets report that China has deployed unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) to the region in an effort to bolster its position along the border. According to reports, China’s People’s Liberation Army acquired the UGVs in 2014 but has largely neglected their use until now. Presently, the Chinese military utilizes two different types of UGVs, the Sharp Claw and the Mule-200. The Sharp Claw can be operated remotely in addition to performing autonomous behavior, according to National Interest. The Mule-200 can perform unmanned deliveries or operate firearms, including mounted guns. India military officials report that at least 400 of the robotic weapons platforms have been deployed along the border. (AC: The Line of Actual Control is the buffer zone between China and India located in the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains. Elevations along the LAC reach over 7000 meters above sea level. The deployment of robotic weapons allows China to conduct security patrols in areas difficult for human soldiers to operate without the use of supplemental oxygen. –