ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - June 27, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - June 27, 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

• Kenyan President William Ruto Rejects Finance Bill After Violent Demonstrations
• Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese Coastguards in Tense Confrontation near Quemoy
• Police on High Alert in Advance of First Round of French Legislative Elections

Kenyan President William Ruto Rejects Finance Bill After Violent Demonstrations

On June 26, 2024, President William Ruto announced that he would not sign the finance bill into law after it was passed in Parliament the previous day. The bill caused widespread violence and casualties during demonstrations due to tax hikes that the potential legislation proposed. The move comes after police officers fired live ammunition, tear gas, and water cannons at protesters in Nairobi after they stormed the parliament on June 25. At least 22 people were killed during the demonstrations and dozens more were injured. Protests are expected to resume on June 27, but it is unclear if they will resume following Ruto's announcement. Some protesters announced plans to still attend the demonstrations to demand Ruto's resignation. The tax bill aimed to relieve Kenya's growing debt burden, while protesters have called the tax hike an economic burden on Kenya's struggling population. Further violence is likely during the planned protest on June 27, and a heightened security presence will likely remain in high-risk areas, such as Nairobi.

Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese Coastguards in Tense Confrontation near Quemoy

On June 25, 2024, the mainland Chinese and Taiwanese coast guards were involved in a tense stand-off near Quemoy, the latest escalation near the Taiwan-controlled island, also known as Kinmen. Four mainland Chinese coast guard vessels entered restricted waters five nautical miles from the island’s defense outpost. Two vessels approached from the north of Beiding Island while the other two entered waters south of Fuxing Islet. The Taiwanese Coast Guard sent three patrol boats and warned mainland Chinese vessels to leave. The confrontation lasted for two hours until the mainland Chinese ships moved away. The incident is the latest escalation after two mainland Chinese fishermen drowned while they were being pursued in waters near Quemoy by Taiwan’s coast guard. China has stepped up coast guard patrol, while its Fujian Coast Guard has organized fleets to continuously strengthen law enforcement near Kinmen and the city of Xiamen in Fujian province.

Police on High Alert in Advance of First Round of French Legislative Elections

French police will operate on a high alert during the country's upcoming legislative elections on June 30 and July 7, 2024. The election is anticipated to be fiercely contested, and there is a real possibility of violence or confrontations between supporters of different parties. A candidate for the far-right RN party was confronted on the campaign trail by suspected far-left protesters in an incident initially reported as an attack that required hospitalization. It has since been reported that the confrontation led to the candidate suffering a stroke, but the initial reports of a violent attack against a candidate are difficult to dislodge. The political situation remains quite tense.