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Defence

Defence
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Defence. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
South Korean soldiers join in an anti-terror drill as a part of the Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise between the US and South Korea in Seoul on Wednesday. Photo: AP
South Korea

US drill cuts threaten South Korea’s wartime command plans

By cutting Ulchi Freedom Shield short, Washington may have set back Seoul’s bid to reclaim wartime military command delegated decades ago.

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US-China relations

Golden Dome may not fully protect US from Chinese and Russian threats: experts

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Diplomacy

Opinion | Trump’s blunt remarks offer South Korea an opportunity

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United States

Trump says he plans to meet Kim Jong-un this year, citing good relationship

US president says North Korea has 57 ‘very powerful’ nuclear weapons, as Pyongyang denies direct communication between the two leaders.

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US President Donald Trump (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meet at the demilitarised zone in June 2019, the third of their three face-to-face meetings during Trump’s first term. Photo: Getty Images/TNS
Science

China’s J-36 fighter jet designers report danger of military AI hallucinations

Content generated by artificial intelligence models can ‘defy basic physics, design principles or operational constraints’.

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The Philippines

US defence chiefs tour Asia to calm fears as Trump’s drill remarks sow doubts

Visits to Manila, Seoul and Tokyo seek to reassure, even as the Iran war drains assets and White House rhetoric rattles allies.

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South Korea

US, South Korea slash joint military drills by half as Trump eyes Kim summit

The allies will complete the first, defensive phase and cancel next week’s counter-attack phase.

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US Army’s soldiers conduct a training exercise on a river in Yeoncheon, South Korea, on Tuesday. Photo: AP
South Korea

South Korea accelerates military self-reliance over Trump’s ‘unpredictability’

President Lee Jae Myung wants South Korea to regain wartime operational control in his term even as he vows to maintain the US alliance.

US, Israel war on Iran

UAE freezes all trade, financial dealings with Iran after missile attack

Tehran rejected Abu Dhabi’s accusation, calling it harmful to regional trust and security efforts.

United States

No toilets, no water: US Navy destroyer broke down for 4 days in the Pacific

The USS Benfold lost power, leaving its crew without drinking water, meals, functioning toilets and air conditioning.

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Guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold conducts routine operations in the Philippine Sea in June 2022. Photo: US Navy via AP
US-China relations

Harvard, MIT among 30 US universities ordered to audit China research ties

Higher education group says Pentagon implied wrongdoing without presenting evidence, as House China committee calls for ‘real consequences’.

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Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is among 30 US universities ordered to audit their foreign research relationships. Photo: AP
India

India’s fighter jet engine race heats up as Reliance, Rolls-Royce enter fray

Analysts say the pair gatecrashing a French firm’s bid gives India options, but questions remain about delivery.

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

From a Chinese AI surprise to US defence bill, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in the first half of August 2026.

A DJI Inspire 2 quadcopter drone flies over New York. File photo: Dreamstime/TNS
The Philippines

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

The timeline for the Philippines to develop self-reliance in defence is long, while the political will may be lacking, analysts say.

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The Indian Army’s BrahMos missile launcher on display during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26. Photo: Reuters
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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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.

An underwater cable sits on the sea floor. Australia relies heavily on subsea cables for its data. Photo: Getty Images
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.

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.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (centre) and Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back (right) listen to a military officer at an observatory on Yeonpyeong Island in South Korea in June. Photo: EPA
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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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.

Servicemen of the Latvian National Guard gather before a search operation for the debris from an intercepted drone, in Rugaji, Latvia, on Friday. Photo: Reuters
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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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.

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