ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 30, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 30, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• ZeroFox Intelligence Brief - Continuity Likely After Mexico Elections
• China Announces Another USD 47.5 Billion into Its Chip Industry
• Haiti’s Transitional Council Names New Prime Minister and Foreign Intervention Imminent

ZeroFox Intelligence Brief - Continuity Likely After Mexico Elections

Like the elections in India, South Africa, and now the United Kingdom (UK), there is a clear frontrunner in Mexico’s June 2nd general election. Presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Movimiento de Regeneración Nacional (Morena) party has maintained a 15–30 percent polling lead over her main opponent, Xóchitl Gálvez, for months and is very likely to be Mexico’s next president. Morena will also likely win most of the other 20,000 posts for governor, congress, and local representatives. What matters is the margin of victory; a narrower-than-expected victory will make it difficult for the Morena party to achieve its overarching political reforms and goal of dominating Mexico’s political institutions and economy. As with most major elections around the world, orchestrated disinformation campaigns are likely to pose a threat to informed voter behavior. As is normal during Mexican campaigning, violence by criminal groups—towards voters, candidates, and even third-party entities such as election observers and journalists—remains a significant threat to the integrity of the elections.

China Announces Another USD 47.5 Billion into Its Chip Industry

China announced another USD 47.5 billion to boost its domestic semiconductor industry. The latest investment is the third phase of the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, also known as the “Big Fund." The investment focuses on chip manufacturing, design, equipment, and materials, aiming to bring the country’s semiconductor industry up to international standards by 2030. The fund represents Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambition to boost China’s position as a tech superpower, reducing its reliance on the United States and its allies for advanced technology. The fund was initiated in 2014 but has been hit by corruption scandals in recent years. The Biden administration has also made it a priority to reduce China's access to the most advanced versions of semiconductor chips, thus necessitating China to create its own domestic inductor that can produce the technology that is being withheld from it. Advanced semiconductors go into sophisticated weapons that the United States fears China will use against U.S. allies like Taiwan. Less advanced versions go into things like laptops and smartphones.

Haiti’s Transitional Council Names New Prime Minister and Foreign Intervention Imminent

Haiti's transitional government council named a new prime minister, Garry Conille, to lead the country until February 2026. Conille is the second PM named by the council after it was formed in April 2024. Fritz Bélizaire was initially named PM, but some members of the nine-member council had reportedly never heard of him, backing suggestions that the council does not accurately represent Haiti. Nevertheless, the creation of the council and naming a PM are key benchmarks Haiti must achieve before an international police force, led by Kenya, can deploy and restore security from well-armed gangs that now control most of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Haiti's security situation has stabilized somewhat in the last month as its remaining police force has regained some territory as shipments of weapons and other equipment have arrived in the lead-up to the arrival of international forces.