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Defence

Defence
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Defence. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The Pentagon said universities receiving taxpayer funding must meet strict research-security standards or risk losing future support. Photo: US Department of Defence
US-China relations

Pentagon orders 30 US universities to scrutinise Chinese research ties

Institutions have two weeks to audit foreign collaborations and could be required to terminate partnerships to preserve federal funding.

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US-China relations

DJI Pentagon battle, ‘Chinese Schindler’: 7 US-China relations reads

The Philippines

Is Philippines’ aim to become an arms exporter like India overly ambitious?

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South Korea

Anchors aweigh in South Korea as Trump loosens US shipbuilding grip

The president is allowing foreign shipbuilders with US investments to build up to two vessels at their parent shipyards.

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National security multimission vessel State of Maine is prepared for launch at Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia on August 26, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Japan

Japan looks to Australia, India to sustain defence readiness

Tokyo is seeking to mitigate risks linked to potential US munitions shortages and maintain credible deterrence, analysts say.

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Australia

Cable ties: Australia urged to lead Indo-Pacific in protecting subsea links

Australia should treat cable resilience not only as a domestic security issue but also as a shared regional project, analysts say.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Iran urges Qatar to release pilots shot down in Middle East war

The trio were allegedly captured after their Su-24 fighter jets went down during a sortie to the Gulf state in March.

Two Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft are seen in the Baltic Sea in April 2016. The Iranian pilots were also flying Su-24s. Photo: US Navy via AP,
Taiwan

Taiwan drone defences fall short against PLA’s evolving tech, audit reveals

Taipei’s effort to build a modern counter-drone shield has suffered setbacks, including the collapse of an army procurement contract.

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South Korea

South Korea’s president proposes formal end to Korean war talks with North

Lee Jae Myung says that through the talks, it may be possible to discuss steps to stop the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran war: Trump dismisses concerns over conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln

There have been reports of sailors jumping overboard, raising questions about their mental health during the nine-month-long deployment.

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The USS Abraham Lincoln and conducts operations in the Arabian Sea, in an image released in May 2019. Photo: Navy Office of Information via AFP
The Philippines

Philippines’ Marcos sees progress on China oil deal despite maritime row

The president also confirms for the first time a ‘provisional understanding’ with China over the resupply of WWII warship Sierra Madre.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr speaks at a Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines forum on Friday. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Zhipu launches GLM-5.3 model as China seeks Mythos-level edge in cyber defence

Company says GLM-5.3 outperformed leading US systems in cybersecurity tests, beating Anthropic’s Mythos 5 and OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 on CyberGym.

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Nato

Nato jets shoot down foreign drone after it enters Latvian airspace

Latvia’s military said a foreign drone had entered its airspace as a result of Russia’s electronic warfare activity over the Balvi region.

China's military weapons

Could new transport-tanker capability boost PLA power past first island chain?

Convertible Y-20B aircraft give PLA Air Force operational flexibility to project power deeper into the western Pacific.

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A CCTV programme says the Y-20B can switch between transport and aerial refuelling missions, which observers say has implications for sorties and other air operations beyond the first island chain. Photo: CCTV
United States

Trump orders US aircraft carriers to go back to steam catapults

The move, which comes despite opposition from navy officers, is likely to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

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The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is seen in the North Sea during an exercise in September 2025. Photo: AFP
Middle East

Opinion | How Mecca defence pact changes China’s calculations in the Middle East

Defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan presents a complex strategic calculus for Beijing, demanding a masterclass in balance.

US, Israel war on Iran

New aircraft carrier heads to Mideast amid concerns over USS Abraham Lincoln

Reports have emerged about mental health and supply issues on the current ship after a long deployment in support of the Iran war.

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China's military weapons

Satellite images show 50% boost to China’s Type 054B missile capacity

Chinese military analyst says a larger munitions payload directly affords guided-missile frigate stronger independent combat capabilities.

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New satellite imagery appears to show the vertical launch system at the bow of a Type 054B vessel has a different shape to the first two Type 054B vessels that have entered service. Photo: Satellite image ©2026 Vantor
Vietnam

Vietnam’s warship project signals modernisation, bamboo diplomacy balance

As Hanoi seeks to build its defence manufacturing capabilities with the frigate, it is likely to remain dependent on foreign know-how.

Thailand

Why Thailand is eyeing BrahMos missiles to boost maritime defence

Analysts say BrahMos could boost Thailand’s deterrence at sea and give it more options as tensions with Cambodia persist.

India

Why India is eyeing France’s fighter jet project for future air warfare

The move could boost strategic cooperation with France and ensure India has a credible sixth-generation fighter jet option, analysts say.

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Visitors watch the unveiling ceremony of the full-scale jet fighter model of the Systeme de Combat Aerien Futur, the French-German-Spanish next-generation Future Combat Air System (FCAS) at an air show near Paris in June 2019. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

US panel on China sees confidence masking economic anxiety after rare visit

Congressional advisers cite AI optimism but question Beijing’s openness after being denied access to Hangzhou tech firms.

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US and Chinese officials have sought to maintain dialogue as the two sides navigate disputes over trade, technology and Taiwan. Photo: AFP
Saudi Arabia

Erdogan wants Turkey-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact to draw more countries

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Istanbul expects Egypt to join the pact ‘in the next stage’.

Science

China is sending scientists to Iran for rare earth ‘exploration and processing’

Chinese and Iranian natural science foundations include the strategically sensitive metals in this year’s joint workshop programme.

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North Korea

North Korea missile launch hints at upgraded weapons exports to Russia

North Korea usually reports launches but its silence in the recent tests raises the possibility they involved a top-secret new missile.

People in Seoul watch a news broadcast about a North Korean missile launch on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
Vietnam

Vietnam’s To Lam eyes trade, defence boost during trip to Australia, New Zealand

China’s actions in the South China Sea will be discussed but unlikely to be explicitly condemned, observers say.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) greets Vietnamese President To Lam at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday. Photo: AAP/dpa
India

‘Islamic Nato’? Why Pakistan’s new defence pact has India on edge

Analysts say the pact could evolve into a broader ideological military bloc that could extend its influence to the Indian Ocean region.

Asean

US swaps ideology for ‘flexible realism’ and deterrence in Southeast Asia

Pentagon’s Colby urges allies to invest more in defence as Washington prioritises pragmatic Indo-Pacific partnerships over moral values.

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