Five Things to Know, April 8, 2024

1.   The United States and three allies sent five warships and two aircraft to the South China Sea on Sunday, a move meant to discourage Beijing and others from using force and coercion in the region, according to one security expert. Forces from the U.S., Australia, Japan and the Philippines rendezvoused in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone for a “maritime cooperative activity,” with drills in communication, division tactics and formation training, said U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Luka Bakic.

2.   South Korea has successfully launched its second military spy satellite into orbit, days after North Korea reaffirmed its plan to launch multiple reconnaissance satellites this year. The Koreas each launched their first spy satellites last year — North Korea in November and South Korea in December — amid heightened animosities. They said their satellites would boost their abilities to monitor each other and enhance their own missile attack capabilities.

3.   U.S. coalition forces successfully destroyed two missiles and shot down a drone Saturday, in continuing clashes with Yemen-based Houthis. U.S. Central Command announced Sunday its forces successfully destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile in Yemen and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle over the Red Sea between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Yemen time. Later that evening, a coalition vessel detected, successfully engaged and destroyed an inbound anti-ship missile.

4.   A senior Ukrainian official has denied Russian accusations that his country’s army fired exploding drones at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which the Kremlin’s forces have been occupying and running in southern Ukraine since shortly after the war began more than two years ago. Andrii Yusov, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency suggested there had been no attack, saying Russian forces routinely fabricate strikes on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. However, the strikes on this occasion were confirmed by U.N.’s atomic watchdog agency, though it didn’t attribute responsibility for the attack to either side.

5.   Congress returns to Capitol Hill on Monday after its spring break with a long list of budget hearings on tap, including planned appearances from top Defense Department and Veterans Affairs leaders. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee for their first testimony regarding the White House’s fiscal 2025 budget request. On Thursday, VA Secretary Denis McDonough will make his first budget appearance this year before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.