Advertisement
Advertisement
-
TOPIC

Defence

Defence
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Defence. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A fisherman goes out in his boat in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. Photo: Ushar Daniele
Malaysia

Malaysia rushes to plug leaks as Sabah’s subsidised fuel flows to Philippines

The Malaysian state’s proximity to southern islands in the Philippines has made enforcement against fuel smugglers difficult.

US-China relations

Opinion | Beijing must be clear-eyed about its national interests abroad

videocam
China-Philippines relations

Asian Angle | South China Sea: 6 risks facing Philippines, China as conflict threshold lowers

videocam
Middle East

US approves US$16 billion arms sale to Israel, Saudi Arabia

The State Department says that none of the new sales will affect the military balance in the Middle East.

videocam
A Palestinian man carries his shopping past Israeli security forces during in Kafr Aqab in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Japan

Video | South Korea and Japan’s defence ministers face off in table tennis

The defence ministers of Japan and South Korea agreed to strengthen cooperation with the United States amid growing security risks, particularly with North Korea.

Japan

Japan and South Korea bolster defence ties amid regional tensions

Defence chiefs agree to joint AI, space, and drone development, aiming to stabilise the region against growing missile threats.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Cambodia

Base instincts: why US warship visit won’t calm fears over Cambodian port

The USS Cincinnati is the first US warship to dock at Ream Naval Base since its China-funded expansion was completed in April last year.

videocam
USS Cincinnati docks at Ream Naval Base’s pier in Sihanoukville on Saturday. Photo: AP
Japan

Why more Japanese than ever support strengthening the military

A record-high survey result reflects how the war in Ukraine and regional tensions have reshaped Japan’s once cautious security outlook.

videocam
5
US-China relations

Rise in Republicans wary of China as bipartisan unity declines, new survey says

Report found two-thirds of Republicans now likely to view Beijing as a threat to US, compared with 44 per cent of Democrats and Independents.

videocam
10
US-China relations

Would Chinese or US supply lines be more vulnerable in a Pacific conflict?

AI-assisted modelling by the Heritage Foundation finds critical risks to fuel and munitions on both sides.

videocam
35
According to a Heritage Foundation report, the United States’ oiler fleet would be insufficient for at-sea fuel replenishment during a prolonged conflict with China. Photo: US Navy
South Korea

Why US defence strategy may hurt leaders in South Korea, Japan

The National Defence Strategy states that the US will provide ‘more limited’ support to its allies in line with the ‘America-first’ policy.

videocam
A US B-1B bomber, South Korean F-15K, Japanese F-2, and US F-16 jets fly in a joint drill over Jeju Island, South Korea, in 2024. Photo: AFP/US Air Force/South Korea’s defence ministry
China's military weapons

The US is working on cheaper munitions. Should China follow its lead?

China’s massive industrial chain and ability to control production costs are clear advantages over the US, article says.

videocam
5
The Philippines

Filipino’s death fuels concern over coercive recruitment in Ukraine war

Observers say the case of John Patrick reflects human exploitation and the structural pressure on Russia’s manpower resources.

videocam
The Philippines

New gas find prompts Philippines to step up defence of energy frontier

The move to boost security around Malampaya East-1 is seen as a test case for protecting future offshore energy projects in contested waters.

videocam
Drilling of the Malampaya East-1 reservoir in Palawan province, Philippines, on January 19. Photo: Prime Energy via AP
North Korea

North Korea fires ballistic missiles as US signals defence shift

As the Trump administration seeks to focus on the US homeland, it is urging South Korea to take the primary role in deterring Pyongyang.

videocam
A television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test at a railway station in Seoul on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
China-Latin America relations

Xi to meet Orsi in first Latin America-China visit since US capture of Maduro

State visit from February 1 to 7 aims to promote commercial ties with Beijing despite tension in region after US operation in Venezuela.

videocam
5
India

Why India’s focus on Middle East is on trade despite defence ties with UAE

A potential defence partnership agreement between India and the UAE has fuelled speculation of more rival blocs emerging in the region.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China's military weapons

Shandong’s use of PLA dry dock near South China Sea suggests carrier milestone

China may avoid a ‘carrier gap’ and could support carrier operations along the Indian Ocean to the Middle East and beyond, analysts say.

videocam
Analysis by a US geospatial intelligence company says satellite imagery shows the first use by a Chinese aircraft carrier of a new dry dock near the South China Sea. Photo: AllSource Analysis
China’s Communist Party

China’s top general ousted in corruption investigation

The seven-seat Central Military Commission now only has two active members after the downfall of vice-chairman Zhang Youxia and fellow general Liu Zhenli.

Mainland China

Video | China removes 2 top military generals

Observers say the move highlights President Xi Jinping’s resolve to prioritise party discipline ahead of two landmark events in 2027.

European Union

Opinion | In dealing with Trump, Europe must realise power respects power

Instead of outsourcing its defence capacity to Washington and limiting economic ties with Beijing, the EU should focus on building leverage.

videocam
Illustration: Craig Stephens
Saudi Arabia

‘Anything can happen’: Saudi-UAE rift risks tearing Middle East apart

The Gulf neighbours have turned from friends to foes, fighting proxy wars across the region and forcing global powers to pick a side.

4
Yemeni separatists wave South Yemen and UAE flags during a protest against Saudi Arabia in Aden on December 30. Photo: EPA
US-China relations

US banks on strength – not confrontation – to deny China in Indo-Pacific

Pentagon says it will focus on the first island chain while urging partners to contribute more to the collective defence.

videocam
60
North Korea

Pentagon shifts North Korean responsibility to ‘capable’ South

US officials have recently been pushing to allow American troops in South Korea more flexibility to operate outside the peninsula.

Asean

Asian Angle | What a US-China ‘grand bargain’ would mean for Southeast Asia

Washington’s Venezuela raid has resurrected old fears about ‘spheres of influence’, sounding alarm bells for Southeast Asian autonomy.

US President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping after their talks at the Gimhae Air Base in Busan on October 30, 2025. Photo: TNS
China's military weapons

1 soldier, 200 drones: China showcases rapid launch in swarm warfare tactics

State broadcaster details how intelligent tech is used in the PLA’s ability to control masses of autonomous aircraft.

videocam
5
The PLA has released fresh details of its tests of AI-enabled drone swarm warfare by the National University of Defence Technology. Photo: CCTV
Indonesia

Indonesia’s defence deal with Bosnia signals Asian middle power’s clout

The deal is in line with Jakarta’s goal to pursue an ‘active and free’ foreign policy beyond its Western partners.

United States

Opinion | From Venezuela to Greenland, Trump is using US power to rewrite the rules

What troubles many is the inconsistency emanating from Washington. When power underwrites rules, principles become negotiable.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement