https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/325707/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India has emerged as a major exporter of ammunition and other weapons to Europe since the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia war, but analysts caution that New Delhi has yet to secure a lasting foothold in Europe’s defence market. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh cited a Bloomberg report last Friday stating that India had become the third-largest arms exporter to Europe under the “ReArm Europe” initiative – also known as Readiness 2030 – largely because of ammunition demand. Bloomberg, citing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372348/can-india-turn-wartime-ammo-sales-lasting-european-defence-ties https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372348/can-india-turn-wartime-ammo-sales-lasting-european-defence-ties Wed, 28 Oct 2026 04:30:07 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth An American student considering studying in China attended a briefing with a senior FBI official at a Washington think tank last month to address her concerns about whether such an experience could jeopardise her prospects for a career in the federal government. The official’s message: travelling to China would not automatically disqualify her. She welcomed the clarification but said she wasn’t “completely reassured”. “I’m still wondering if it’s a good idea to go,” said the student, who... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372362/will-china-travel-hurt-american-students-careers-fbi-battles-fears-talent-pipeline-stalls https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372362/will-china-travel-hurt-american-students-careers-fbi-battles-fears-talent-pipeline-stalls Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:56:18 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea wants to take back wartime command of its troops from the United States within the next two years, but analysts say Washington is refusing to commit to a date to keep a hold on a military it sees as vital to countering China. The dispute is over wartime operational control, known as OPCON, which the US has held since shortly after the outbreak of the Korean war in 1950. If fighting were to break out again under the current arrangements, designated South Korean units would be assigned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372297/why-us-reluctant-give-south-korea-wartime-control-its-troops https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372297/why-us-reluctant-give-south-korea-wartime-control-its-troops Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:21 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Alibaba has won a preliminary court order blocking a US restriction that drove away its Washington lobbyists, after a federal judge found the Chinese technology giant was likely to succeed in challenging the measure on free-speech grounds. US District Judge Eumi K. Lee ruled on Monday that the government had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the restriction, which effectively forces lobbying firms to choose between representing Alibaba and clients seeking Pentagon... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3372356/alibaba-wins-preliminary-injunction-against-pentagon-lobbying-rule https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3372356/alibaba-wins-preliminary-injunction-against-pentagon-lobbying-rule Tue, 27 Oct 2026 21:08:18 +0000 Han Li,Seong Hyeon Choi Han Li,Seong Hyeon Choi The 2027 US defence bill, covering more than US$1 trillion in proposed defence spending, will be one of the most closely watched pieces of legislation when Congress returns after the midterm elections, with efforts to counter China running through nearly every corner of the text. The US House of Representatives passed its version of the bill, known as the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), in July. The bill faces a tougher path in the US Senate, where a July procedural vote to begin... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372355/5-things-watch-out-2027-us-defence-bill-aimed-countering-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3372355/5-things-watch-out-2027-us-defence-bill-aimed-countering-china Tue, 27 Oct 2026 20:58:44 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun will skip this week’s meeting of Southeast Asian defence chiefs and their dialogue partners in Cebu, with Beijing instead sending its defence attache in the Philippines. Dong has attended the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) for the past two years. This year’s ADMM and ADMM-Plus, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, coincide with a major Communist Party meeting known as the fifth plenum, which is running in Beijing from Monday to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3372323/chinas-defence-minister-dong-jun-miss-asean-defence-talks-fifth-plenum-convenes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3372323/chinas-defence-minister-dong-jun-miss-asean-defence-talks-fifth-plenum-convenes Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:12:28 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez US and Japanese forces have rehearsed coordinated anti-ship strikes and mobile missile deployments across Kyushu and Japan’s southwestern islands, testing tactics designed to challenge Beijing’s ability to control surrounding waters in a conflict over Taiwan. Now in its second week, the 11-day Keen Sword 27 exercise has tested how the allies could threaten Chinese warships from multiple directions while keeping their own forces harder to target. They have also practised repairing runways and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3372314/us-japan-rehearse-coordinated-strikes-challenge-pla-control-waters-near-taiwan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3372314/us-japan-rehearse-coordinated-strikes-challenge-pla-control-waters-near-taiwan Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:00:13 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The collision of two Philippine Air Force training aircraft that killed four pilots has raised questions about whether the service’s training, maintenance and safety systems can keep pace with Manila’s ambitions to acquire more advanced combat aircraft. The crash, which occurred during a fly-by rehearsal at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas province, south of Manila, on Friday has renewed calls for a comprehensive review of the Air Force’s ageing fleet, pilot instruction, maintenance... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372299/air-force-crash-revives-debate-philippine-militarys-modernisation-limits https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372299/air-force-crash-revives-debate-philippine-militarys-modernisation-limits Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:45:50 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has been urged by critics to play the latest instalment in the blockbuster Call of Duty video game franchise to better appreciate the need for defences against an invasion by the North. The call from opposition lawmakers follows the release on Friday of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, a first-person shooter depicting a full-scale surprise attack by North Korea on the South. Players fight North Korean troops as Park Hyun-jun, a private in the South Korean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372272/south-koreas-president-urged-play-call-duty-war-wake-call https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372272/south-koreas-president-urged-play-call-duty-war-wake-call Tue, 27 Oct 2026 06:58:14 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain A decision by Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar and Indonesia to jointly develop and produce weapons systems marks a major push to reduce reliance on Western armaments that come with political strings attached, observers say. Following the signing of the Badr memorandum of understanding in Doha on Wednesday, the four governments separately said they would work towards integrating their defence industries and supply chains to meet military needs. “By leveraging the capabilities of each country in the field... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372228/why-are-turkey-pakistan-qatar-and-indonesia-joining-forces https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3372228/why-are-turkey-pakistan-qatar-and-indonesia-joining-forces Tue, 27 Oct 2026 02:23:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Pentagon has assigned the USS Colorado as the first US nuclear-powered attack submarine to join a rotating force to be based in Western Australia. The 115-metre (380-foot) Virginia-class submarine, armed with land-attack missiles and sophisticated torpedoes, would sail to the new Australian base in late 2027, officials said on Tuesday. The deployment was a “significant milestone” in building up a joint US-Australia-UK deterrence in the Pacific under their Aukus defence pact, the allies said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3372225/australia-host-uss-colorado-first-us-nuclear-submarine-under-aukus-pact https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3372225/australia-host-uss-colorado-first-us-nuclear-submarine-under-aukus-pact Tue, 27 Oct 2026 01:25:06 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung Taiwan is developing an AI-powered system to coordinate drone fleets for maritime surveillance and countering “grey-zone” activities, with researchers completing a simulation involving 20 aircraft, according to the island’s Ocean Affairs Council. The system, which is funded by the council, would allow different types of drones to autonomously divide tasks, plan routes and coordinate their movements while providing wide-area, persistent surveillance for coastguard operations. The council said on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3372189/taiwan-looks-autonomous-swarms-counter-beijings-grey-zone-pressure https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3372189/taiwan-looks-autonomous-swarms-counter-beijings-grey-zone-pressure Tue, 27 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council accusing Seoul of fabricating a landmine explosion that injured three South Korean soldiers, its state media reported on Monday. Tensions between the two Koreas have soared since the South last month blamed the blast inside the heavily fortified demilitarised zone that separates the countries on landmines laid by the North, an accusation it has fiercely rejected. The North Korean permanent representative to the UN sent a letter on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372100/north-korea-tells-un-south-fabricated-border-landmine-blast https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372100/north-korea-tells-un-south-fabricated-border-landmine-blast Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:51:49 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Prosecutors indicted a 20-year-old US marine on Sunday on suspicion of robbing and murdering a woman in Okinawa earlier this month as the case renews anti-base sentiment among locals burdened with hosting the bulk of US military installations in Japan. Devin Ballard, who is stationed at Futenma Air Base, is charged with killing the woman by wrapping a phone cord around her neck at a hotel in Naha, the capital of the southern island prefecture, and taking her backpack containing a wallet on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372075/us-marine-indictment-okinawa-murder-trial-renews-anti-base-movement https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372075/us-marine-indictment-okinawa-murder-trial-renews-anti-base-movement Sun, 25 Oct 2026 11:33:33 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Elon Musk said on Saturday that his company SpaceX had throttled the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, disrupting operations that the country relies on to defend itself against Russia. Musk’s admission on social media came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links has been restored to the speeds it had before restrictions that disrupted frontline operations for more than a week. Questions have persisted since... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3372040/ukraines-starlink-speeds-restored-after-week-frontline-disruption https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3372040/ukraines-starlink-speeds-restored-after-week-frontline-disruption Sat, 24 Oct 2026 18:00:35 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korean leader Kim Jong-un urged his military to train to become the strongest in the world at a two-day meeting of company commanders in Pyongyang, state media said on Saturday. Kim’s call for what he dubbed a “Korean-style military revolution” came the same week Seoul’s military proposed talks to clarify the border after an explosion inside the heavily fortified demilitarised zone (DMZ) further strained inter-Korean ties. Seoul and Pyongyang remain technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372003/kim-jong-un-urges-north-korean-military-become-strongest-armed-forces-world https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372003/kim-jong-un-urges-north-korean-military-become-strongest-armed-forces-world Sat, 24 Oct 2026 05:45:05 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth Strategic competition between China and the US and its allies is intensifying across the Pacific islands, with both sides pursuing a growing range of security agreements to expand their influence, according to an interactive mapping tool released this week by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank. The tool details 56 security arrangements among 14 Pacific island countries and the US, Australia, New Zealand, mainland China and Taiwan in a bid to map... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371989/us-allies-and-china-vie-influence-through-pacific-security-deals https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371989/us-allies-and-china-vie-influence-through-pacific-security-deals Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:27:23 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Japanese universities and other educational institutions more than doubled their applications for defence ministry research funding this year to a record 291, up from 123 last year, as Tokyo moves to strengthen its defences. The increase is the clearest sign yet that academia’s decades-long resistance to military-linked work is easing. The bids accounted for more than half the record 560 applications received by the ministry this year, up from 340 last year, with the rest coming from public... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371931/japans-university-defence-bids-surge-post-war-taboo-fades-amid-china-concerns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371931/japans-university-defence-bids-surge-post-war-taboo-fades-amid-china-concerns Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:31:50 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The Asia Society announced on Thursday that it had marked out territory on the Washington policy landscape with the purchase of a US$17.5 million building that will give it a permanent spot alongside other US capital think tanks dating back more than a century, striving for influence. The 70-year-old institution, founded by the grandson of oil mogul John D. Rockefeller, has focused more on public policy in recent years, in addition to its traditional focus on arts, culture and education, under... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371837/asia-society-announces-new-permanent-home-historic-washington-building https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371837/asia-society-announces-new-permanent-home-historic-washington-building Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:05:58 +0000 Reuters Reuters US ⁠President Donald Trump determined ⁠on Thursday that petroleum ⁠production, refining and related activities are essential to national defence, a move that could open up US funding for fossil fuel projects. In a presidential memo, Trump also invoked part of ‌the Cold War-era Defence Production Act, allowing him to provide financial incentives for oil-related activities, pipelines and storage of liquid fuels. Prices for crude oil and diesel have surged since the US and Israel attacked Iran in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371836/trump-invokes-cold-war-era-defence-production-act-boost-oil-production-and-refining https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371836/trump-invokes-cold-war-era-defence-production-act-boost-oil-production-and-refining Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:21:42 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez From the cockpit of an F-22 fighter to an aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific, the US military is showing new ways to command uncrewed aircraft over vast distances. The United States disclosed two tests this month as Washington seeks to outpace Beijing in a technology contest that could redefine air and naval power in the region. Illustrating US military advances and their potential significance for a Taiwan conflict, an F-22 pilot controlled an autonomous YFQ-44A combat drone during flight,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371799/could-us-advances-drone-command-give-it-edge-over-pla-taiwan-conflict https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371799/could-us-advances-drone-command-give-it-edge-over-pla-taiwan-conflict Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:00:16 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India’s planned acquisition of four large amphibious warships would strengthen its ability to support naval logistics and humanitarian missions across the Indian Ocean, with security experts saying their value depends on how the navy could effectively utilise them during a crisis. The Indian Navy has invited bids for four landing platform docks (LPDs), each with a displacement of more than 30,000 tonnes. Indian Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar said at a media briefing on Monday that a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371775/india-seeks-expand-navys-reach-4-amphibious-warships https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371775/india-seeks-expand-navys-reach-4-amphibious-warships Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Australia and East Timor signed a defence deal on Thursday to boost cyber and maritime security as Canberra seeks to curb China’s influence among its island neighbours. Australia is East Timor’s largest defence and security partner and the agreement will significantly increase defence exercises, Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters. “This is a time to double down on friendship, to double down on family,” he said in East Timor’s capital Dili. Australia will provide A$62 million (US$44... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371751/australia-commits-us44-million-boost-east-timors-cyber-maritime-security https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3371751/australia-commits-us44-million-boost-east-timors-cyber-maritime-security Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:16:08 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong The two Koreas appear to be coming closer to an armed clash along their poorly marked military dividing line after a series of increasingly hostile warnings from the North, observers say. Back-to-back statements on Wednesday and Thursday by Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, appear aimed at building a case for blaming Seoul for any future exchange of fire, they say. “The two sides appear to be edging closer to accidental armed clashes,” said Oh Gyeong-seob, a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371730/what-kim-yo-jongs-border-warnings-reveal-about-inter-korean-escalation-risk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371730/what-kim-yo-jongs-border-warnings-reveal-about-inter-korean-escalation-risk Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:35:54 +0000 Tang Meng Kit Tang Meng Kit Last month, the US published the fine print of a US$686 million upgrade deal for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets. The deal is for data link systems, new encryption gear and a refit that keeps the jets flying until 2040. The notice says Pakistan can protect the technology to “substantially the same degree” as the US government. The Pakistan Air Force is also the only declared interested buyer of China’s J-35 stealth fighter, a generational leap in technology. The Chinese jet first flew at the Zhuhai... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3371561/pakistan-and-us-factor-china-looks-sell-its-j-35-stealth-jets https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3371561/pakistan-and-us-factor-china-looks-sell-its-j-35-stealth-jets Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China has allowed the Philippines to resupply a grounded warship on a disputed South China Sea reef, the coastguard said on Wednesday, as tension remains high over the Chinese ambassador’s controversial comment. The Philippines delivered necessities to its warship BRP Sierra Madre grounded at the Second Thomas Shoal on Wednesday, “with permission from the Chinese side”, the China Coast Guard said in a statement. “The China Coast Guard conducted confirmation checks and maintained full supervision... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371693/china-says-it-allowed-philippines-resupply-warship-amid-diplomatic-tensions https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371693/china-says-it-allowed-philippines-resupply-warship-amid-diplomatic-tensions Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:57:34 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez A flight-tested attack drone similar to Iran’s Shahed model that its Taiwanese maker says could reach military targets in mainland China is meant to swamp PLA air defences, analysts said. Drawing on battlefield lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, military experts broadly agree on the utility of such low-cost systems, but differ on how the drone could be deployed in a conflict with Beijing should it enter service. While some see greater value in targeting People’s Liberation Army forces in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371648/taiwans-iran-style-attack-drone-could-swamp-pla-air-defences-analysts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371648/taiwans-iran-style-attack-drone-could-swamp-pla-air-defences-analysts Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Albert Bakhtizin Albert Bakhtizin As turbulence grows in many countries, it is tempting to ask if there is a global hegemon that can sort everything out fairly. US President Donald Trump has threatened that his country would not defend Nato allies if they failed to spend enough on their defence. Together with new trade barriers, his words suggest that the US is scaling back its ambitions for global leadership and concentrating more on its own region. Our latest projections of national strength for 2027 take into account... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371409/can-china-turn-national-power-world-leadership https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371409/can-china-turn-national-power-world-leadership Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:30:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that decisions regarding Ukraine’s access to Starlink were up to SpaceX and Elon Musk, not the White House, comments that suggested ‌Musk may have restricted Kyiv’s access to the service. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Musk had ordered the slowdown of a military-grade version of Starlink that Ukraine relies on to defend itself against missile attacks from Russia. The Journal cited one source saying that Musk, President Donald... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371563/musk-ordered-slowdown-starlink-service-ukraine-military-relies-report-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3371563/musk-ordered-slowdown-starlink-service-ukraine-military-relies-report-says Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:49:12 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The commander of the US Eighth Army in South Korea said his troops must be ready for deployment outside the Korean peninsula if ordered, arguing that it would be “irresponsible” to focus “myopically” on threats there. Lieutenant General Joe Hilbert said that while his command’s focus was on fulfilling US commitments under its mutual defence treaty with Seoul, the Eighth Army’s location did not limit the missions it could undertake. It would be “irresponsible to focus myopically” on threats on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371562/us-troops-south-korea-must-be-ready-missions-beyond-peninsula-commander-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371562/us-troops-south-korea-must-be-ready-missions-beyond-peninsula-commander-says Tue, 20 Oct 2026 21:52:49 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press British police said on Tuesday that they had rearrested two men on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service in a suspected plot at a US-run airbase in England last month. Counter Terrorism Policing said the men, a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, were arrested under the National Security Act. One of the suspects was first arrested on September 27, when the suspected plot against the US-run base at RAF Fairford took place. The airbase in western... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371559/uk-rearrests-duo-suspicion-aiding-iran-alleged-plot-us-run-airbase https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371559/uk-rearrests-duo-suspicion-aiding-iran-alleged-plot-us-run-airbase Tue, 20 Oct 2026 17:49:08 +0000 Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan While US President Donald Trump has said he is open to sitting down with Chinese and Russian counterparts Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the Apec summit, it remains far from certain that the three leaders will actually meet in a few weeks. Observers said much would depend on whether the countries could agree on an agenda, with one expert describing this as a “critical lever”. Russia was set to gain most if the trilateral meeting took place, experts said, as the summit would be a potent symbol... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371544/will-xi-trump-putin-meet-apec-first-they-must-agree-agenda https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371544/will-xi-trump-putin-meet-apec-first-they-must-agree-agenda Tue, 20 Oct 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse British fighter planes will be deployed to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against increasing attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the UK government announced on Tuesday. The defence ministry said the deployment formed part of “additional defensive military support” to Riyadh. “The UK will fly defensive counter air missions to support the protection of Saudi cities and critical national infrastructure against aerial attack, using RAF Typhoon fighter jets,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371539/uk-deploy-fighter-planes-help-saudi-arabias-defence-against-houthis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/middle-east/article/3371539/uk-deploy-fighter-planes-help-saudi-arabias-defence-against-houthis Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:04:05 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Japan says it has spotted PLA aircraft, spy drones and warships, including a supply ship that could support the Liaoning aircraft carrier, in recent days as Tokyo and Washington started drills focused on a potential Taiwan contingency. Three People’s Liberation Army military aircraft – two drones and a reconnaissance plane – flew through international airspace between Japanese islands into the Pacific before heading back towards mainland China on Monday, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371525/chinese-military-vessels-and-spy-drones-track-keen-sword-war-games-japan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3371525/chinese-military-vessels-and-spy-drones-track-keen-sword-war-games-japan Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez China’s military has published what appears to be the first official photograph of a Y-20B heavy transport aircraft in PLA Air Force livery fitted with aerial refuelling pods, suggesting that the multi-role tanker-transport (MRTT) configuration has entered service. An image published by the PLA Daily newspaper on October 14 shows the four-engine aircraft painted in standard military grey, with refuelling pods beneath its wings and its rear cargo ramp open as a truck carrying equipment is behind... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371487/chinese-air-force-reveals-y-20b-tanker-transport-variant-official-training-image https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371487/chinese-air-force-reveals-y-20b-tanker-transport-variant-official-training-image Tue, 20 Oct 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez A second unusual Chinese vessel suspected of being designed to launch and recover large underwater drones has appeared in Guangzhou, raising questions over whether Beijing is developing a fleet of specialised motherships to extend its undersea operations beyond coastal waters. The smaller vessel, seen under tow on the Pearl River in images circulating online, resembles a ship about 200 metres (660 feet) long seen at a Shanghai shipyard last month that has since been launched. Both feature... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371390/china-building-fleet-drone-motherships-extend-its-naval-reach https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3371390/china-building-fleet-drone-motherships-extend-its-naval-reach Mon, 19 Oct 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India has a soaring ambition to modernise its air force, built around a fleet of domestically developed fighter jets. Yet production of these aircraft has been hampered by engine delays and other bottlenecks that defence analysts say could limit its ability to fight future air wars. On October 11 at an airbase in Jodhpur, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh strapped into a Tejas jet for the last time. It was his final fighter sortie before retiring later this month and he flew it in an Indian-built jet... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371177/india-needs-more-fighter-jets-it-cannot-build-them-fast-enough https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371177/india-needs-more-fighter-jets-it-cannot-build-them-fast-enough Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters A suspected drone exploded over Lithuania ⁠after triggering an alert that forced residents in northern and central areas to seek shelter for an hour on Sunday morning, the president and other defence officials said. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said later it regretted the incident in Lithuania’s airspace, adding that it may have resulted from Russian ‌electronic warfare diverting drones off course. The object flew into Lithuania’s airspace from Poland, Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371323/lithuanians-take-shelter-nato-jets-scramble-suspected-drone-explodes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3371323/lithuanians-take-shelter-nato-jets-scramble-suspected-drone-explodes Sun, 18 Oct 2026 15:23:41 +0000 Reuters Reuters Flames that killed four Canadian soldiers and left 19 people in critical condition began with a smouldering grass fire that quickly grew in an Alberta base’s training area where personnel were carrying out exercises, officials said on Sunday. Officials said 39 people were in hospitals as a result ‌of the fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, which Prime Minister Mark Carney described as one of the worst peacetime tragedies for Canada’s military on home soil. Winds up to 96km/h (60mph) fed the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371281/fatalities-feared-fire-erupts-canadian-military-base-alberta https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3371281/fatalities-feared-fire-erupts-canadian-military-base-alberta Sun, 18 Oct 2026 02:19:35 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Senior US commanders have highlighted the importance of land-based troops and equipment stationed in the Asia-Pacific in any conflict with China, countering assumptions that such a war would be fought mainly at sea and in the air. General Ron Clark, commander of US Army Pacific, said the “tyranny of distance” made it difficult to rely on air and naval forces during a panel discussion at the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting this week. The comments reflect mounting concerns... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371267/how-land-power-could-help-us-forces-counter-china-indo-pacific https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371267/how-land-power-could-help-us-forces-counter-china-indo-pacific Sun, 18 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠North Korea conducted an underwater ⁠test of a new torpedo weapon system on Thursday to verify technological upgrades, state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday, describing the test as a success and a significant step in ‌the country’s naval development. The test verified propulsion technology developed through more than 180 tests over the past five years, KCNA said, adding that artificial intelligence was used for target detection and guidance in the new high-speed precision-guided... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371218/north-korea-says-it-tested-new-torpedo-ai-tech https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371218/north-korea-says-it-tested-new-torpedo-ai-tech Fri, 16 Oct 2026 23:37:18 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said on Friday he accepts the deployment of US military MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft at the Futenma air station, reversing the southern Japan prefecture’s long-standing opposition to their presence. Previous prefectural governments, under governors critical of US bases, had opposed the deployment of the tilt-rotor aircraft since before they were first stationed at the base in 2012, citing safety concerns. Koja assumed the post of Okinawa governor late last... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371133/japans-okinawa-drops-opposition-hosting-crash-prone-us-osprey-aircraft https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371133/japans-okinawa-drops-opposition-hosting-crash-prone-us-osprey-aircraft Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:29:23 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea’s apparent use of different launch methods to fire two types of cruise missiles from a tactical nuclear-capable submarine raises fresh questions about the operational readiness of its growing undersea arsenal, observers have said. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Thursday the country had “test-fired two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles” off its eastern coast. The tests “contributed to inspecting the regular mobilisation readiness of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371072/north-koreas-cruise-missile-launches-test-regional-defence-arms-race-intensifies https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371072/north-koreas-cruise-missile-launches-test-regional-defence-arms-race-intensifies Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:02:32 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Australia’s navy said on Thursday it would audit bathrooms across its fleet after a video recording device was found in the cabin of one of its ships. Navy chief Matt Buckley has vowed a full investigation into the incident aboard the HMAS Leeuwin, a survey ship docked in the northeastern city of Cairns in the state of Queensland. A member of the armed forces has been identified as a “person of interest” and was assisting military police with enquiries, Australia’s defence ministry said in an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3370928/hidden-cameras-found-womens-showers-australian-navy-ship https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3370928/hidden-cameras-found-womens-showers-australian-navy-ship Wed, 14 Oct 2026 23:58:13 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called a nearly US$1.5 trillion defence budget request “absolutely critical”, warning that whoever falls behind in autonomy, robotics and AI will fall “even further behind” as Washington eyes China’s rapid military modernisation. Speaking at a panel discussion during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition on Wednesday, Hegseth said that Project Agincourt, the Pentagon’s initiative to accelerate drone and autonomous... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/politics/article/3370924/hegseth-calls-us15-trillion-defence-budget-critical-counter-china https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/politics/article/3370924/hegseth-calls-us15-trillion-defence-budget-critical-counter-china Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:45:00 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Tech billionaire Elon Musk called on Wednesday for Volodymyr Zelensky to “go” as Ukraine’s leader, after insisting any disruption to the war-torn country’s use of his satellite communications system was the fault of the US government, not his company. The comments came as Kyiv raised doubts over US support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, accusing Washington this week of helping Moscow by failing to warn it of incoming missile strikes and hobbling Kyiv’s military response through changes to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3370923/musk-suggests-us-government-behind-any-slowdown-ukraines-starshield https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3370923/musk-suggests-us-government-behind-any-slowdown-ukraines-starshield Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:29:05 +0000 Gabriel Dominguez Gabriel Dominguez Taiwan’s coastguard is buying US-designed uncrewed surface vessels for its first dedicated drone-boat programme to strengthen its ability to detect and track the growing presence of mainland Chinese vessels operating around the island. Florida-based Maritime Tactical Systems (Martac) announced on Tuesday that the deal covered an undisclosed number of its Devil Ray T24 autonomous boats, with production planned for both the United States and Taiwan. Martac described the deal as “one of the most... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370888/taiwan-turns-us-drone-boats-track-rising-mainland-chinese-sea-activity-near-island https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370888/taiwan-turns-us-drone-boats-track-rising-mainland-chinese-sea-activity-near-island Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang The PLA Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has started its second drill series in the western Pacific this year, with the training likely to coincide with an expanded US-Japan military exercise that could have implications for a Taiwan contingency. The Liaoning carrier group was carrying out the drill in “relevant waters” of the western Pacific Ocean as part of the navy’s annual training plan, China’s defence ministry said on Wednesday. While it did not disclose the exact location of the drill,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370859/chinas-liaoning-carrier-heads-pacific-us-japan-prepare-missile-drills https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370859/chinas-liaoning-carrier-heads-pacific-us-japan-prepare-missile-drills Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele A long-awaited code of conduct (COC) for the South China Sea risks becoming a toothless agreement, analysts have warned, as Beijing and Southeast Asian nations scramble to hammer out a deal by the end of 2026. More than three decades since it was mooted, the proposed pact has remained gridlocked over how to balance competing territorial claims among China and four rival claimant states – Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines. Maritime experts speaking at a conference in Kuala Lumpur this... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370850/will-south-china-seas-code-conduct-remain-elusive-deadline-looms https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370850/will-south-china-seas-code-conduct-remain-elusive-deadline-looms Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:35:11 +0000 Albee Zhang Albee Zhang For nearly five decades, the United States’ Taiwan policy has centred on strategic ambiguity by not declaring whether it would intervene militarily in a potential Taiwan conflict. This policy – designed to deter Beijing from using force while preventing Taipei from formally declaring independence – is being challenged by realist US strategists amid a broader debate over America’s role in the world, growing constraints on US military might and a shifting regional balance of power driven by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370765/best-time-us-strategists-push-abandoning-ambiguity-taiwan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3370765/best-time-us-strategists-push-abandoning-ambiguity-taiwan Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:00:06 +0000