Royal Navy – Mission creep sets in for the British forces in Sierra Leone – they will apparently be used to “stabilize” the situation until more UN peacekeepers arrive. 1 Bn The Parachute Regiment is now dug in around the Freetown airport. SAS units and the Paras’ Pathfinder reccee unit are agressively patroling the area around Freetown to gather intelligence on the rebel forces. 42 Commando should arrive this weekend.

• BBC News: UK extends Sierra Leone Mission
• Daily Telegraph (Registration required): Paras dig in as rebels head for airport

Chinese Navy – The Chinese government announced that last month the Chinese Navy conducted extensive naval exercises in the East China Sea.

• Hong Kong Standard: PLA flexes muscles in war games

Taiwanese Navy ???while Taiwan held naval exercises this week to simulate an invasion of Taiwan from the mainland???

• Agence France Presse: Taiwan holds live fire exercise amid stalemate with China