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Defence

Defence
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Defence. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A submarine is docked in a shipyard of warship maker TKMS in Kiel, Germany, in April. Photo: Reuters
India

How a German submarine deal could test ‘Make in India’ ambitions

The deal is expected to give India critical design and engineering know-how to help build a long-term domestic submarine industrial base.

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Japan

Why Japan is eyeing a record US$56 billion defence budget

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South Korea

US drill cuts threaten South Korea’s wartime command plans

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US-China relations

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

Experts warn Trump’s missile defence plan could fuel an arms race while leaving the America vulnerable to a large-scale attack.

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The Trump administration’s Golden Dome concept is expected to identify incoming projectiles, calculate their trajectories, and deploy interceptor missiles to destroy them mid-flight. Photo: Lockheed Martin
Diplomacy

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

Reduced US-South Korea drills complicate Seoul’s security dilemma but are also a low-cost goodwill signal to Pyongyang that could create room for dialogue.

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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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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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China’s next-generation stealth fighter is unofficially known as the Chengdu J-36. Photo: X / Rupprecht_A
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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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.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on Tuesday, Photo: Yonhap/AP
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.

Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles are displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on August 2. Photo: AFP
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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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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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.

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Indian Air Force’s Rafale jets fly during the country’s Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi in January. Photo: AFP
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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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

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.

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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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.

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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Taiwan’s defence ministry says it is accelerating work on next-generation counter-drone technologies, including systems capable of countering fibre-optic and AI-guided drones. Photo: AFP
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 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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Zhipu says it has tested GLM-5.3 with security teams in China against real-world codebases, identifying 2,436 vulnerabilities across 269 projects after expert review. Photo: Shutterstock
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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