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Defence

Defence
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Defence. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
US President Donald Trump arrives to deliver a speech at the Mack Trucks Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, on June 23. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
United States

Outside In | How America lost its swagger after 100 days of war against Iran

Defeated by asymmetric warfare and spurned by allies, the US has ended up boosting China’s economy and standing instead.

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US-China relations

Asia defence spending

Malaysia

Malaysia demands US$257 million from Norwegian firm over axed missile deal

US-China relations

Trump backs ‘Six Assurances’ to Taiwan but no arms sale timeline: US diplomat

Michael DeSombre confirms long-standing US policy still in place despite Trump’s apparent departure from it after Beijing meeting with Xi.

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The State Department’s top diplomat for East Asia, Michael DeSombre, said on Thursday that the long-standing US policy known as the “Six Assurances” to Taiwan is still operating. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

UN halts escort of ships through Hormuz after Singapore-flagged vessel attacked

Cargo ship was hit by a projectile close to Oman, testing a preliminary agreement to end the Iran war.

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South China Sea

US shifts South China Sea reconnaissance towards drones, Philippines: think tank

Reliance on close-in aerial reconnaissance over contested waters comes as large American vessels face growing constraints.

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US-China trade war

China vows to pursue US tariff cuts while decrying ‘malicious’ trade acts

Beijing targets ‘win-win’ ties, dangling a US$300 billion proposal while justifying fresh restrictions on American firms over a Pentagon blacklist.

Beijing said it will continue discussing reciprocal tariff reductions within the framework of a newly established trade board with Washington. Photo: AP
European Union

EU releases €3 billion loan for Ukraine’s recovery

The EU has provided €200 billion in support to Ukraine so far, and approved €90 billion more over the next two years.

South Korea

As US wavers, ex-minister says Japan and South Korea ‘only have each other’

Former Japanese defence minister Taro Kono said Tokyo and Seoul ‘need to step up our own effort for stability in the region’.

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United States

General who was last US soldier out of Afghanistan suddenly steps down

Christopher Donahue, commanding general of US Army Europe and Africa, is the latest in nearly two dozen military leaders to depart.

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US Army General Christopher Donahue (left) and Polish General Wojciech Marchwica speak to journalists at Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in Poland in February 2022. Photo: AP
China's military weapons

PLA’s advanced carrier Fujian transits Taiwan Strait amid military drills

The vessel’s passage comes a day after island starts a five-day exercise to boost its combat readiness.

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A surveillance photo released by the Taiwanese defence ministry shows the Fujian, the People's Liberation Army's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, as it transits the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo
United States

Letters | US is not retreating from Asia. It’s rewriting the terms of its security umbrella

Readers discuss Washington’s message at the Shangri-La Dialogue, facilitating Central Asia’s economic integration, and Hong Kong’s sexual health clinics.

India

India wants a self-reliant military, but can its private defence firms deliver?

Private firms now drive nearly a quarter of domestic production, but analysts warn a lack of R&D leaves New Delhi tethered to foreign tech.

South Korea

Why North Korea prefers a ‘hostile’ neighbour to Seoul’s peace efforts

One way to break the deadlock is to revive talks between the two Koreas, China and the US to end the Korean war, an analyst suggests.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observes a new multipurpose missile launching system and tactical cruise missile weapon system at an unspecified location in May. Photo: KCNA/YNA/dpa
North Korea

Kim says North Korea to arm navy with nuclear weapons, build bigger warships

The leader is aiming to construct two vessels a year, both of a larger class than the newly commissioned Choe Hon destroyer.

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Sailors salute during the commissioning ceremony of the Choe Hyon warship in the port city of Nampo in North Korea on Wednesday. Photo: KCNA via Reuters
US-China relations

Pentagon sued by Alibaba over ‘arbitrary’ military blacklist targeting Chinese firms

Technology giant says US defence department wrongly labelled it a Chinese military company without evidence.

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Ukraine war

Ukraine war: Russia says US hasn’t delivered on Trump-Putin ‘understandings’

With Kyiv claiming to be turning the tide of the conflict, Moscow’s comments signal a growing frustration with Washington.

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Japan

How Japan seeks to win over allies by refuting China’s claims of militarism

Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi questions the accuracy of China’s military spending data, contrasting it with Japan’s transparent approach.

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A sailor raises the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force ensign on board the JS Ise, a helicopter destroyer, as it docks at the international port in Manila in June last year. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy

Opinion | What does US Pacific Command name change mean for China and India?

Reverting to the long-used name reflects a more traditional maritime focus while prioritising deterring China, as the Quad loses relevance.

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US-China trade war

China adds 10 US firms to export control list, restricts 46 others

Export operators are prohibited from shipping dual-use items to the 10 firms, with China citing the need to safeguard its national security.

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Canada

Trump called Canada a freerider. This Pacific naval push is Ottawa’s reply

Ottawa is fielding its largest military contingent in years at the Rimpac drills. Whether it can sustain the commitment is another matter.

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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney meets US President Donald Trump at the White House in October last year. Photo: Reuters
South Korea

South Korea, Germany fiercely bid for US$39 billion Canadian submarine deal

Analysts say Berlin and Ottawa’s shared Nato membership remains a significant political obstacle for Seoul.

Canada’s Navy hosts South Korea’s Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine during a welcome ceremony in Esquimalt, British Columbia, last month. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP
Ukraine war

Zelensky says Ukraine drones hit Russia’s Tyumen, now have 3,000km range

Kyiv’s forces have been focusing on striking oil industry targets inside Russia to hinder Moscow’s capability in funding its war.

Ukraine war

Poland’s president strips Ukraine’s Zelensky of top award

The row began after the Ukrainian leader named a military unit after a WWII insurgent army that took part in massacres against Poles.

Ukraine war

Zelensky gives Belarus 1 week to remove equipment used in Russian attacks

‘If he doesn’t do ‌it, we’ll do it,’ the president threatened, saying that a week should be enough time for Belarus leader Lukashenko.

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A Ukraine serviceman launches an UAV for a patrol flight along the Ukraine-Belarus border on June 1. Photo: TNS
Russia

‘This is the new reality’: Ukraine drone strike brings war to streets of Moscow

Kyiv has sent drones into Russia as far as the Urals in retaliation for Moscow bombing its cities daily.

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Muscovites go about their daily life as black smoke rises from an oil refinery following a Ukranian drone attack on Thursday. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Philippines taps ‘smarter, cheaper’ Australian drones to deter China

The underwater drones could enhance Manila’s capability to record Beijing’s intrusion in its waters, analysts say.

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China's military weapons

China showcases portable laser weapons for a single soldier to shoot down drones

3-day defence equipment and tech expo in Beijing features Lijian series of high-energy lasers among displays of drone and anti-drone systems.

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