https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/513021/feed Seong Hyeon joined the SCMP in 2022. He is from South Korea and graduated with a bachelor of journalism and master of international and public affairs from the University of Hong Kong. He worked as a research intern for Korea Chair at US foreign policy think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and as a news trainee for NK news. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371267/how-land-power-could-help-us-forces-counter-china-indo-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/politics/article/3370924/hegseth-calls-us15-trillion-defence-budget-critical-counter-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:45:00 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi As missiles and drones take a bigger role in modern warfare, major defence contractors gathered in Washington this week to showcase their latest advances in the technologies – and systems to counter them. The three-day Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition, which opened on Monday, is one of the largest ground-based weapons shows in the US. This year there was a strong emphasis on air and missile defence systems, reflecting growing concern about how to counter... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/science-technology/article/3370663/systems-counter-missiles-and-drones-take-centre-stage-us-defence-expo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/science-technology/article/3370663/systems-counter-missiles-and-drones-take-centre-stage-us-defence-expo?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:00:14 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The Pentagon announced on Thursday a new multimillion-dollar initiative for “maintaining American leadership” in quantum computing capabilities amid accelerating competition between the US and China over the military application of advanced technology. In a press release, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defence for Research and Engineering, which serves as the US Department of Defence’s chief technology adviser, announced that the new initiative, worth around US$350 million, is aimed at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/science-technology/article/3370243/pentagon-unveils-us350-million-quantum-computing-push-china-rivalry-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/science-technology/article/3370243/pentagon-unveils-us350-million-quantum-computing-push-china-rivalry-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 21:33:59 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Washington’s policy towards Taiwan is increasingly tied to its relationship with Beijing, according to former American officials who also warn that the war on Iran is weakening US military readiness for a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait. During a fireside chat in an annual symposium hosted by the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington on Wednesday, Brent Christensen, former director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), said Washington’s policy towards the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3370204/washingtons-transactional-taiwan-policy-puts-indo-pacific-risk-ex-us-officials-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3370204/washingtons-transactional-taiwan-policy-puts-indo-pacific-risk-ex-us-officials-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:00:21 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The US has conducted a non-nuclear underground experiment to enhance its ability to detect low-yield nuclear explosions that it explicitly linked with a test that Washington suspects China carried out in 2020 – an accusation Beijing denies. The US Department of Energy announced on Wednesday that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) conducted a “subsurface, non-nuclear chemical high-explosive” experiment at the Nevada National Security Site, which it said aimed to “increase the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369638/us-blast-simulation-targets-chinas-alleged-secret-nuclear-testing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369638/us-blast-simulation-targets-chinas-alleged-secret-nuclear-testing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 22:38:41 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Washington’s proposed military bases and expanded defence presence in Greenland will be akin to a “keep out” sign against potential Arctic military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, according to analysts. The US, Denmark and Greenland signed a defence deal on Tuesday that allows Washington to build two new military bases on the world’s largest island, while reaffirming Denmark’s sovereignty over it. The deal – which updates and amends a 1951 defence agreement between Denmark and the US –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368940/keep-out-why-greenland-us-militarys-new-eyes-arctic-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368940/keep-out-why-greenland-us-militarys-new-eyes-arctic-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi North Korea could be using missile tests to take its denuclearisation off the US-China summit agenda and drive home its demands for recognition as a nuclear power as a prerequisite for talks with Washington, according to analysts. On Sunday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, which, according to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, were detected three hours apart, with the first flying about 450km (280 miles), while the second travelled... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368428/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-xi-trump-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368428/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-xi-trump-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:00:06 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Cutting-edge Chinese technology could gradually be becoming part of Serbia’s weapons systems with the appearance of robot dogs in a Serbian military drill on the weekend soon after the opening of a Chinese robotics factory in the Balkan country, according to observers. Robodogs equipped with machine guns, grenade launchers and rocket launchers were among the major weapons systems unveiled at Serbia’s Pobednik 2026 large-scale tactical live-fire exercise on Sunday. The event involved its army,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368390/were-serbian-militarys-new-robot-dogs-built-using-chinese-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368390/were-serbian-militarys-new-robot-dogs-built-using-chinese-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 10:00:26 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun gave a keynote speech to the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Wednesday, with just over a week until a summit in the United States between the presidents of the two countries. In his 20-minute address, Dong outlined China’s goals for global governance, multilateralism, conflict prevention and the development of emerging technology. Global security at a ‘moment of fragility’ Dong started by warning that a “zero-sum mindset” could not resolve today’s problems. He... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367654/fragility-and-cooperation-takeaways-dong-juns-xiangshan-forum-speech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367654/fragility-and-cooperation-takeaways-dong-juns-xiangshan-forum-speech?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:12:11 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Debris from a Chinese-made short-range ballistic missile has been found in Yemen for the first time, suggesting Chinese weapons systems may have been used during the heated conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Video clips circulating on social media in the past week showed debris from the booster stage of a short-range ballistic missile with “DF-15A” written on its side found in the Raghwan district of Marib governorate, about 170km (105 miles) by road from the Yemeni capital,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367581/has-chinese-df-missile-been-used-first-time-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367581/has-chinese-df-missile-been-used-first-time-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Last month, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) released footage showing its H-6N bomber flying with a nuclear-capable Jing Lei-1 (JL-1) air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM), offering a rare look at China’s airborne nuclear strike capability. The H-6N is one of the latest modernised variants of the H-6, the country’s only strategic bomber. Its flight carrying the ALBM during a joint anti-ship exercise was featured in a documentary by state broadcaster CCTV for the PLA’s 99th anniversary. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367350/china-h-6n-bomber-enhances-nuclear-deterrence-and-second-strike-capability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3367350/china-h-6n-bomber-enhances-nuclear-deterrence-and-second-strike-capability?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Pakistan has unveiled a newly acquired Chinese-made short-range air defence system that analysts say could boost its ability to counter Indian drones and low-altitude threats in a future conflict. A social media video posted by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Sunday confirmed for the first time that it was operating the HQ-17AE short-range air defence (Shorad) system. The HQ-17AE is an export version of China’s HQ-17A air defence system – a wheeled variant of the original HQ-17 that was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366797/chinas-hq-17ae-shorad-system-boost-pakistani-drone-defence-india-tensions-simmer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3366797/chinas-hq-17ae-shorad-system-boost-pakistani-drone-defence-india-tensions-simmer?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Japan plans to deploy fighter jets in India for the first time next month, a decision experts say reflects Tokyo’s desire to strengthen security cooperation with “like-minded” countries in the Indo-Pacific region as it ramps up defence spending in response to China’s growing military power. According to a Japan Air Self-Defence Force announcement on Tuesday, Tokyo will conduct a joint training exercise, Veer Guardian 26, with the Indian Air Force between September 9 and 21 in Rajasthan in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365697/what-japans-coming-fighter-jet-deployment-india-means-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3365697/what-japans-coming-fighter-jet-deployment-india-means-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China may have “little to lose” from talks between the United States and North Korea which, analysts say, may lead to Washington watering down its security commitments. US President Donald Trump has already ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the scale of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea, criticising the exercise for both its cost and for sending “totally inappropriate and hostile” signals to Pyongyang. Citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3364914/why-china-may-have-little-lose-weakened-trump-seeks-north-korea-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3364914/why-china-may-have-little-lose-weakened-trump-seeks-north-korea-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The advancement and diversification of Beijing’s anti-ship missile platforms have bolstered its denial capabilities in the first island chain and could divert US and allied navies from warfare in a Taiwan Strait contingency, according to analysts. Last week, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV released a video of a Type 052D destroyer firing a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile from its vertical launch system, showcasing the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s increased ability to target surface... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363386/how-chinas-hypersonic-carrier-killers-could-distract-us-forces-taiwan-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363386/how-chinas-hypersonic-carrier-killers-could-distract-us-forces-taiwan-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Aug 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China and Russia are becoming more ambitious in their military cooperation, with a joint patrol around Japan sending a message to Tokyo and the United States, according to analysts. Three Chinese naval vessels and a Russian Navy corvette left Qingdao in China on July 13, passing through the western Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, as part of a 17-day joint patrol. Then on Sunday and Monday, three Chinese naval vessels – Type 055 and Type 052D... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363143/their-warships-encircle-japan-what-signals-are-china-and-russia-sending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3363143/their-warships-encircle-japan-what-signals-are-china-and-russia-sending?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:41:13 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Lyle Goldstein is a senior fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, and director of Asia engagement at the Washington think tank Defence Priorities. How do you assess the progress of the People’s Liberation Army’s modernisation drive in the past 10 years and its significance in modern military history? How do you forecast the PLA’s position in 2027, which it set forth as one of three vaguely defined modernisation benchmark years? My view is that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362782/surprising-how-quickly-chinas-military-closing-gap-us-analyst-lyle-goldstein?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362782/surprising-how-quickly-chinas-military-closing-gap-us-analyst-lyle-goldstein?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Aug 2026 22:00:07 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) carried out a missile test in the Pacific last month. The July 6 launch – in which a dummy warhead travelled 8,000km (5,000 miles) – was China’s first confirmed submarine-based missile test since 1982, and the first known firing from a nuclear-powered submarine. The type of missile used has not been officially confirmed, but a report in the Global Times – a newspaper owned by the party mouthpiece People’s Daily – suggested it was a JL-3, which can be fired from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362640/why-chinas-jl-3-made-waves-first-submarine-based-missile-test-over-40-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362640/why-chinas-jl-3-made-waves-first-submarine-based-missile-test-over-40-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Donald Trump’s demands that American allies in the Asia-Pacific region share more of the defensive burden have renewed questions about how far they can rely on the United States to help deter the likes of China and North Korea. Such concerns have led to an increasing focus on developing their own defence industries – but analysts have said that may eventually weaken American dominance in the global arms trade. Questions over Washington’s commitment In the National Security Strategy released in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362301/how-trumps-call-asia-pacific-allies-raise-defence-spending-may-backfire-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3362301/how-trumps-call-asia-pacific-allies-raise-defence-spending-may-backfire-us?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China has rejected Japanese reports that a PLA Navy ship conducted a live-fire drill within its exclusive economic zone on the weekend, saying Tokyo’s claims to the zone are illegal. Japan’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that the People’s Liberation Army vessel was one of three conducting exercises with a Russian navy ship in the Pacific on Sunday. It said that at one point the Chinese ship conducted a live-fire drill about 180km (112 miles) southwest of Okinotori Island and within Japan’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3361291/japan-says-chinese-and-russian-warships-held-live-fire-drills-within-its-eez?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3361291/japan-says-chinese-and-russian-warships-held-live-fire-drills-within-its-eez?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:20 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte defended US President Donald Trump’s criticism of the transatlantic security alliance, while saying this year’s summit showed “a huge sense of unity” and produced procurement plans worth tens of billions of dollars. During a press conference after the North Atlantic Council meeting of leaders at the Nato summit hosted by Turkey in Ankara on Wednesday, Rutte said this year’s gathering had resulted in more than US$50 billion in procurement deals as part of efforts... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359905/nato-summit-delivers-unity-and-billions-defence-deals-rutte-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359905/nato-summit-delivers-unity-and-billions-defence-deals-rutte-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:08:00 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi US President Donald Trump has promised new arms sales in Europe, including advanced air defence systems to Nato allies and Ukraine, as the transatlantic alliance ramps up its military partnership, signalling a potential thaw after Trump repeatedly railed against the coalition. In a press conference on the last day of the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, Trump said that as European nations rebuild their militaries, American equipment will be the “largest beneficiary”, claiming US$3... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359902/trump-surprises-nato-allies-arms-deals-and-praise-summit-ends-positively?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359902/trump-surprises-nato-allies-arms-deals-and-praise-summit-ends-positively?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:57:49 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Nato and its Indo-Pacific partners have pledged to expand cooperation in defence industry and advanced technology as the transatlantic security alliance boosts its military build-up in the face of deepening Russia-China ties. Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday met with top officials from the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) partner nations – Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea – on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara. The talks featured South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359861/nato-indo-pacific-4-pledge-defence-tech-boost-deeper-china-russia-ties-spark-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359861/nato-indo-pacific-4-pledge-defence-tech-boost-deeper-china-russia-ties-spark-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:10:28 +0000 Xinlu Liang,Seong Hyeon Choi,Teresa Elena Frontado Xinlu Liang,Seong Hyeon Choi,Teresa Elena Frontado US President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran was “over”, hours after American forces launched fresh strikes on the Islamic Republic and as Beijing called for both nations to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table. “I think it’s over,” Trump said on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara when asked whether the ceasefire was “done”. “I don’t want to deal with them any more.” The US president also warned that attacks on Iran would continue on Wednesday... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359842/trump-declares-ceasefire-iran-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359842/trump-declares-ceasefire-iran-over?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:53:06 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi US President Donald Trump doubled down on his criticism of Nato member states’ refusal to aid Washington’s military operation in the Middle East, while noting that his country would consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey after years of deadlock. In his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, the US president, who arrived in Ankara to attend this year’s Nato summit, said he was “very disappointed” with fellow Nato member states during Washington’s military operation... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359777/trump-still-disappointed-nato-says-us-should-control-greenland-summit-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359777/trump-still-disappointed-nato-says-us-should-control-greenland-summit-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:05:29 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Nato member states unveiled a series of defence initiatives on Tuesday aimed at strengthening weapons development, production and supply chains in response to security challenges posed by Russia and China. Speaking at the Nato Summit Defence Industry Forum (NSDIF) on the first day of this year’s summit in Ankara, Turkey, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte announced several new projects involving member states and defence contractors to bolster the alliance’s advanced military capabilities. Among... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3359775/nato-launches-defence-projects-counter-russia-and-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3359775/nato-launches-defence-projects-counter-russia-and-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:56:07 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Nato cannot be “naive” about China’s military development, as the Indo-Pacific and European theatres are becoming “more intertwined”, evident in Beijing’s support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine, Nato’s secretary general has said. During a pre-summit press conference on Monday, a day before the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, this week, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte responded to questions about a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine firing a test missile into the Pacific. Rutte said that Nato... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359642/nato-cant-be-naive-about-china-it-ramps-military-might-rutte-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359642/nato-cant-be-naive-about-china-it-ramps-military-might-rutte-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:06:52 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Nato’s 32 member states will convene in the Turkish capital this week for an annual summit expected to be dominated by efforts to secure a fragile peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, with Indo-Pacific issues taking a back seat. Analysts said the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, as well as Washington’s push for European allies to raise defence spending, could diminish discussion about the security alliance’s cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners, despite the Nato chief’s warnings about China’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359485/why-indo-pacific-might-be-back-burner-nato-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3359485/why-indo-pacific-might-be-back-burner-nato-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Chinese firms joined their global competitors at Eurosatory, the recently concluded arms fair, where the latest air defences were the centre of attention in a market made more important by the drone warfare seen in Ukraine and the Middle East. Experts said China could anticipate sales from the Global South thanks to its cost efficiency, but geopolitical constraints would continue to bar it from US-allied countries that were looking for combat-proven and interoperable systems. China’s largest... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3358646/how-china-shaping-global-competition-sell-air-defence-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3358646/how-china-shaping-global-competition-sell-air-defence-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Europe’s defence industry would gradually reduce its reliance on China during the continent’s ongoing rearmament drive, rather than decouple completely, analysts said. On Wednesday, during the Group of Seven summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, the leaders of France, Germany, the UK, Italy, the US, Canada and Japan signed a declaration on securing supply chains for critical minerals. Without naming China, the leaders agreed to “significantly reduce” their dependency on a “single supplier outside... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3357943/europe-rearms-can-it-decouple-its-military-supply-chains-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3357943/europe-rearms-can-it-decouple-its-military-supply-chains-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s largest ground-based arms manufacturer is displaying air defence systems specifically for drone warfare, along with advanced artillery equipment at this year’s Eurosatory exhibition in France. Demand for air defence solutions is skyrocketing, fuelled by the conflict in Ukraine and the US-Israeli war on Iran which have been largely defined by the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and missiles. North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) is using miniature models to display its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3357273/china-showcases-anti-drone-air-defences-paris-show-conflict-fuels-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3357273/china-showcases-anti-drone-air-defences-paris-show-conflict-fuels-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:04:27 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi One of China’s largest defence contractors displayed a model of a drone assembly line at a leading international defence exhibition, hinting that the firm is planning to make more of the weapons overseas. The state-run North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) displayed the model during this year’s Eurosatory, one of the world’s largest exhibitions of army weaponry, which is being held in Paris this week. The miniature depicted the manufacture of several Norinco drones, such as the BZK-005E... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3357197/beijing-planning-make-more-drones-overseas-middle-eastern-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3357197/beijing-planning-make-more-drones-overseas-middle-eastern-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The Tumen River has resurfaced as one of the big issues for keen observers of relations between China and North Korea but after the leaders of the two countries met this week, there was no mention of it in the official statements after the summit. The river is a natural border between China, North Korea and Russia, and a narrow strip of it that runs between North Korea and Russia blocks Chinese access to open waters. Beijing has long tried to convince its two neighbours to open the waterway to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356890/why-tiny-river-russias-border-tests-chinas-ties-kim-jong-un?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356890/why-tiny-river-russias-border-tests-chinas-ties-kim-jong-un?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:06 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi North Korea is gaining in strategic importance for China to counter the United States, but Pyongyang may refrain from intensifying military ties with Beijing, analysts say. During his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said both sides should “enhance exchanges in diplomacy, law enforcement and military affairs”, according to state news agency Xinhua. Despite pledges from both sides to strengthen strategic communications, denuclearisation of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3356659/was-xis-stand-china-north-korea-military-ties-also-message-us-russia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3356659/was-xis-stand-china-north-korea-military-ties-also-message-us-russia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Laura Zhou,Seong Hyeon Choi,Orange Wang Laura Zhou,Seong Hyeon Choi,Orange Wang Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing’s commitment to North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un was “unwavering” as he began a two-day trip to the country on Monday. It is Xi’s first foreign visit of the year, and during talks with Kim in the afternoon, he expressed strong support for the North Korean leader. “No matter how the international situation changes, the firm stance of the Chinese [Communist] Party and government in highly valuing the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356384/chinese-president-xi-jinping-pledges-unwavering-support-north-korea-and-kim-jong-un?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356384/chinese-president-xi-jinping-pledges-unwavering-support-north-korea-and-kim-jong-un?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:41:35 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi When Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday, he was entering a country undergoing notable development in both its nuclear programme and conventional combat capacity. North Korea has been aided in these developments by Russian military technology and economic aid, received in exchange for sending troops and equipment to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine. These advances could help Pyongyang threaten the balance of power against South Korea and the United States. Surface and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3356368/chinas-xi-jinping-arrives-north-korea-armed-advanced-warships-and-ai-drones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3356368/chinas-xi-jinping-arrives-north-korea-armed-advanced-warships-and-ai-drones?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:59:18 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China expanded its nuclear warhead stockpile over the past year and might have increased the number deployed with operational forces, a Swedish think tank report said, warning that major powers were “walking away” from disarmament commitments. According to the report released on Monday as part of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) latest yearbook, China added 20 warheads to its nuclear stockpile as of January 2026, bringing the total to 620, up from 600 a year... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3356269/china-adds-warheads-nuclear-powers-walk-away-disarmament-sipri?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3356269/china-adds-warheads-nuclear-powers-walk-away-disarmament-sipri?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:01:05 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi If South Korea and Japan sign a military logistics support agreement, their ties with the US would deepen as they act in concert to deter China and North Korea, analysts said. However, they noted that several “hurdles” must be cleared before the deal could be sealed, including domestic opposition in South Korea to expanding security ties with Japan due to concerns it could sour relations with China, as well as unease stemming from Tokyo’s wartime history. During the Shangri-La Dialogue in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355726/south-korea-and-japan-eye-military-logistics-pact-should-china-be-wary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355726/south-korea-and-japan-eye-military-logistics-pact-should-china-be-wary?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Washington’s plans to work with allies on warship design and construction face steep opposition at home, but analysts warn that the US must outsource shipbuilding to South Korea and Japan if it wants to close its gap in fleet size with China. The US budget submission for the next financial year includes US$1.85 billion for a study on outsourcing parts of the design and construction of frigates and destroyers, according to media reports last month. USNI News, the news service of the US Naval... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355413/why-us-navy-must-look-allies-if-it-wants-catch-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355413/why-us-navy-must-look-allies-if-it-wants-catch-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 02:00:17 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi South Korea’s plans to build nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s will spur a US-allied network of advanced underwater capabilities near the first island chain, strengthening deterrence against potential adversaries such as China and North Korea, analysts say. The South Korean defence ministry this week announced its basic plans to build the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine, giving its first detailed outline of the programme since US President Donald Trump granted initial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355292/how-will-south-korean-nuclear-submarines-alter-underwater-balance-near-first-island-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355292/how-will-south-korean-nuclear-submarines-alter-underwater-balance-near-first-island-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 09:08:45 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi South Korea’s programme to develop engines that can power flying drones to serve as loyal wingmen for fighter jets suggests that Seoul has set its sights on competing at the top level in the global market for autonomous military systems, according to observers. Hanwha Aerospace, one of the country’s largest defence contractors, announced the programme on Tuesday – a joint project with South Korean space agency Kasa to develop a 4,500lb-class (2,040kg) turbofan engine by 2029. The engine will be... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355017/south-korea-aims-join-china-us-top-tier-loyal-wingman-combat-drone-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3355017/south-korea-aims-join-china-us-top-tier-loyal-wingman-combat-drone-race?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China was the second-largest financial contributor to the UN peacekeeping mission after the US last year, with its share rising “substantially” as geopolitical tensions increasingly paralysed multilateral peace operations, according to a Swedish think tank. In a report on multilateral peace operations in 2025 released on Monday, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said that 78,633 international personnel had been deployed with UN peace operations by December 31 – some 49... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354743/china-lifts-peacekeeping-budget-share-amid-warnings-bodies-un-may-be-sidelined?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354743/china-lifts-peacekeeping-budget-share-amid-warnings-bodies-un-may-be-sidelined?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 08:15:30 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Bangladesh’s potential purchase of a Sino-Pakistani fighter jet could raise tensions in India’s sensitive northeast, as relations between Dhaka and New Delhi remain tense, analysts said. According to Pakistani media reports, the country has transferred a fully operational simulator of a JF-17 Thunder Block III combat aircraft to Bangladesh. Fighter jet simulators replicate the experience of flying an aircraft and are used to train pilots in combat tactics and systems management. Jointly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354643/why-bangladesh-could-raise-indian-red-flags-buying-china-pakistan-fighter-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3354643/why-bangladesh-could-raise-indian-red-flags-buying-china-pakistan-fighter-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi US plans to build up to 15 battleships designed to serve as a “strike-centric arsenal ship” to deter China have been called into question. Analysts said the ships would not only be vulnerable to anti-ship missiles, but would also be expensive to operate and maintain, and questioned whether the United States had the industrial capacity to build the vessels. On Monday, the US Navy outlined its shipbuilding plan for the next three decades, including a detailed layout for what the White House has... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3353878/will-trump-class-battleship-really-be-able-deter-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3353878/will-trump-class-battleship-really-be-able-deter-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Depleted US weapons stockpiles as a result of its war in Iran risk eroding Donald Trump’s bargaining power when he meets Xi Jinping in China this week. With Trump on the high-stakes trip is Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, marking the first time a Pentagon chief has accompanied a president to Beijing in decades. The weapons shortages not only raise questions about US preparedness for war in the Indo-Pacific, but may give Beijing extra leverage because of its control of the supply of critical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3353435/how-us-missile-shortages-after-iran-war-could-strengthen-chinas-hand-during-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3353435/how-us-missile-shortages-after-iran-war-could-strengthen-chinas-hand-during-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 10:01:17 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,Phoebe Zhang Seong Hyeon Choi,Phoebe Zhang China has confirmed for the first time that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during its war with India last year. During the conflict, a Chinese-made fighter shot down at least one of India’s French-made fighters. On Thursday, China’s state broadcaster CCTV aired an interview with Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, a key developer of China’s advanced fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3352863/china-confirms-it-helped-pakistans-air-force-during-last-years-war-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3352863/china-confirms-it-helped-pakistans-air-force-during-last-years-war-india?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 07:26:36 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi For most military powers, proving the success of one’s technology in real combat almost always requires undertaking the grave risks of war and human casualties. In the case of the People’s Liberation Army, Beijing continues to exercise great caution about joining any armed conflict, and the past few decades have brought astounding progress yet an extremely limited combat footprint for its weaponry. The Iran war could change that. As tensions around Iran persist, Pakistan, whose imported weapons... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3352474/will-pakistans-new-defence-pact-saudi-arabia-give-chinese-arms-risk-free-exposure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3352474/will-pakistans-new-defence-pact-saudi-arabia-give-chinese-arms-risk-free-exposure?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi South Korea’s first home-grown combat aircraft, the KF-21, still has a “long way to go” competing globally against products from the US, Europe and China, analysts say, as the fighter jet is finally rolled out. In March, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) officially unveiled the first production unit of the KF-21 Boramae, making South Korea the eighth country to join an elite group capable of indigenously developing advanced supersonic combat aircraft. The roll-out marked the start of mass... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3352500/can-south-koreas-most-advanced-fighter-kf-21-compete-china-us-and-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3352500/can-south-koreas-most-advanced-fighter-kf-21-compete-china-us-and-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 10:00:23 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,William Zheng Seong Hyeon Choi,William Zheng China’s state broadcaster has given a glimpse of the first export variant of the J-35A – the country’s second land-based fifth-generation fighter jet – with Pakistan the most likely recipient, according to reports and analysis. The CCTV clip featured during the “2026 May 1st International Labour Day ‘Heart to Heart’ Special Programme” shows a J-35A model bearing the serial number 001 rolling out of the hangar with the logo of China’s largest military aircraft manufacturer, Aviation Industry... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3352380/has-china-given-first-sign-its-ready-export-its-j-35a-fighter-jet-pakistan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3352380/has-china-given-first-sign-its-ready-export-its-j-35a-fighter-jet-pakistan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 03:00:12 +0000