ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - September 5, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - September 5, 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

• Turkey Announces Request to Join BRICS
• Hong Kong to Screen out Undesirable Travelers but Residents’ Movement not Affected
• Southern China Suspends Work and Services Ahead of Typhoon Yagi

Turkey Announces Request to Join BRICS

On September 4, 2024, Turkey confirmed reports that it had formally requested to join the BRICS bloc of countries including Russia and China, among others. Sources claim Ankara made the request months ago, though media outlets only began reporting the development on September 2. A successful bid to join BRICS would potentially allow Turkey to bridge the gap between Asia and Europe, which would further President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s goal of transforming his country into a trade hub. President Erdogan has recently sought to improve ties with developing countries while still maintaining close relations with Europe. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the bloc’s original members. The grouping has since admitted Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates; Saudi Arabia participates in many BRICS-related activities but has yet to formally join. BRICS has been discussed as a geopolitical rival to the G7 bloc of developed economies which includes the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Hong Kong to Screen out Undesirable Travelers but Residents’ Movement not Affected

Hong Kong’s Immigration Department initiated the Advance Passenger Information System to block “undesirable” passengers. The order is reportedly targeting potential asylum seekers flying to the city and not official residents. The system is expected to take a year to be implemented as it requires connecting with over 100 aircraft operators. The system would instantly process the information and provide directions to the operators if passengers were allowed to board the flights, and potential asylum seekers would receive a no-board direction. The new measure is the latest development since Hong Kong implemented the National Security Law in March 2024, ramping up transport control on people's movements and monitoring. Critics are likely concerned the system could be used to prohibit those with critical views of mainland China from entering Hong Kong.

Southern China Suspends Work and Services Ahead of Typhoon Yagi

China's National Meteorological Centre (NMC) issued a red alert, the most severe warning level for typhoon Yagi, which will bring strong wind and heavy rain to the southern regions from Qionghai in Hainan Province to Dianbai in Guangdong Province. Local Transport, shipping services, markets, and tourist spots were shut down in Hainan until September 6. 34,707 fishing boats were recalled and 69,970 fishermen were evacuated. Typhoon Yagi could be the strongest typhoon to hit Hainan in the past 10 years and following the typhoon, winds are expected to batter the Taiwan Strait, the Bashi Channel, most parts of the South China Sea as well as parts of the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong from September 4 to September 5.