ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - November 20, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - November 20, 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

• The Philippines and the United States Sign Military Intelligence-Sharing Deal
• China Hong Kong and Peru Sign Free Trade Agreement
• Georgian President Announces Plan to Contest Parliamentary Election Results

The Philippines and the United States Sign Military Intelligence-Sharing Deal

The Philippines and the United States signed a military intelligence-sharing deal, strengthening defense cooperation between the two nations amid rising tensions with China near Taiwan and in the South China Sea. The deepening collaboration will allow the Philippines access to higher capabilities and big-ticket items from the United States and open opportunities to pursue similar agreements with like-minded nations, including Vietnam and Indonesia. China recently published a set of geographic baselines for 16 points near the disputed Scarborough Shoal after the Philippines signed two laws reaffirming its sea boundaries in the same waters, escalating tensions between the two nations.

Hong Kong and Peru Sign Free Trade Agreement

Hong Kong and Peru have signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic (APEC) Summit in Lima, removing tariffs on approximately 98 percent of tariff lines for Hong Kong’s originating goods exported to Peru. The agreement is expected to make it easier for Peruvian exporters to supply the Asian market with its agricultural products including avocados, blueberries and grapes and it will grant Hong Kong businesses to enjoy benefits spanning more than 150 sectors in Peru, including professional services, financial, transport, and research and development industries. Peru became the second Latin American nation to forge an FTA with Hong Kong after Chile, which signed a similar deal with Hong Kong and China in 2012.

Georgian President Announces Plan to Contest Parliamentary Election Results

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili held a press conference during which she outlined her plan to contest the results of Georgia's October 26 parliamentary elections. Zourabichvili said she will file a complaint with Georgia's Constitutional Court on November 19, alleging widespread violations of constitutional rights to secrecy of the ballot and universal suffrage. Zourabichvili also called for an international investigation into electoral violations so that Georgia can hold new parliamentary elections in a "free and fair" environment. She argued Georgia should maintain the same political configuration - the same parliament, government, and president that existed before the October 26 elections - during a transition period to these new elections. Zourabichvili also stressed the importance of international partners and continued mass protests in pressuring the ruling Georgian Dream party to agree to new elections. Georgians have engaged in daily mass protests since early November demanding the results be overturned and the government hold new elections.