We use cookies to tailor your experience and present relevant ads. By clicking “Accept”, you agree that cookies can be placed per our Privacy Policy

Advertisement

TOPIC

Defence

Defence

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Defence. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Recommended For You

Diplomacy

China ships collide during clash with Philippine vessel at Scarborough Shoal

11 Aug 2025 - 7:52PMvideocam

Philippine coastguard video released on Monday appeared to show a Chinese coastguard vessel and a PLA Navy ship colliding near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. A Chinese statement on Monday made no mention of a collision. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard

Diplomacy

Collision between Chinese ships expected to escalate tension in South China Sea

13 Aug 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

A Chinese coastguard vessel collided with a PLA Navy ship, numbered 164, around 10 nautical miles east of Scarborough Shoal, resulting in substantial damage to the coastguard vessel. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard

Military

Chinese military ‘warns off’ US destroyer from vicinity of Scarborough Shoal

13 Aug 2025 - 7:23PMvideocam

A file picture of the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, which has entered the South China Sea, according to the PLA Southern Theatre Command. Photo: Getty Images

Trending in China

Chinese man spends US$120,000 on 300-year gym membership, then owner vanishes

13 Aug 2025 - 8:43AM

A man in China spent US$120,000 on 300-years-worth of gym memberships and coaching lessons, then discovered that the outlet’s management had disappeared with his money. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sina

Military

Explainer | What do we know about the collision between 2 Chinese ships?

12 Aug 2025 - 6:29PMvideocam

The Chinese coastguard ship appeared to suffer extensive damage in the incident. Photo: Philippines coastguard

Television footage from March 2018 shows the launch of what President Vladimir Putin said was a new nuclear-powered intercontinental cruise missile. Putin announced in October 2023, that Russia had effectively completed the development of the Burevestnik cruise missile. Photo: RU-RTR Russian Television via AP

Putin may soon test ‘invincible’ missile that could overshadow Trump summit

The Russian leader says the nuclear-armed Burevestnik – dubbed Skyfall by Nato – has almost unlimited range and can evade missile defences.

29 minutes agovideocam

Zelensky warns Trump that Putin is ‘bluffing’ ahead of summit

39 minutes agovideocam

The Philippines

Philippine military slams ‘fabricated’ video of stand-off with Malaysian navy

6 hours ago

India’s navy gets a double dose of stealth with twin warship launch

Analysts say the two stealth frigates, a part of India’s Project 17A, are set to become key assets in countering China’s regional presence.

13 Aug 2025 - 6:30PM

A photo shared by the Indian Navy on social media on Monday shows the new stealth frigates INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, which are set to be commissioned on August 26. Photo: X/indiannavy

Japan scraps military parade, citing pressures from China, Russia, North Korea

Japan’s military is also planning to deploy drones to boost its defence amid a manpower shortage and increasingly aggressive neighbours.

13 Aug 2025 - 3:54PMvideocam

How a US$7 billion warship deal is reshaping Japan-Australia defence ties

Analysts say the warships deal will create ‘long-term coordination’ between the two navies amid mutual concerns over China’s rise.

13 Aug 2025 - 3:04PMvideocam

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

New details emerge about Trump’s US$175 billion Golden Dome missile shield

Golden Dome, which faces an ambitious 2028 deadline, will be equipped with satellite tracking and 11 short-range missile batteries.

13 Aug 2025 - 2:10PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump makes an announcement regarding the Golden Dome missile defence shield at the White House on May 20. Photo: Reuters

South Korea, Vietnam join forces amid US-China rivalry

The two nations have pledged to nearly double bilateral trade and explore closer military ties, with expanded arms sales on the cards.

13 Aug 2025 - 4:16PM

South China Sea

Collision between Chinese ships expected to escalate tension in South China Sea

Analysts predict China will move to restore its image at sea while ramping up exercises to improve navy-coastguard coordination.

13 Aug 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

‘Modernise’ or pay up: US pressures South Korea to redefine alliance

A top US commander’s comments on ‘strategic flexibility’ show Washington wants Seoul to help counter China and Russia, analysts say.

3 hours agovideocam

South Korean and US warplanes conduct a combined aerial exercise in 2023. The US is pushing South Korea to increase defence spending and burden-sharing. Photo: US Air Force

South China Sea

Philippines slams ‘reckless’ Chinese ships over collision at Scarborough Shoal

China criticised the Philippines for its ‘malign’ moves in Monday’s incident, saying it had ‘seriously harmed peace and stability at sea’.

13 Aug 2025 - 4:19AMvideocam

A Chinese navy vessel collided with one from its coast guard while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea on Monday. Manila has called on Beijing to observe rules on preventing collision at sea. Photo: AFP

Singapore, US scrap plans for F-15 fighter jet training in Guam

The planned deployment, which would have been Singapore’s fourth training detachment on US territory, was set to begin in 2029.

12 Aug 2025 - 9:48PM

Unpacking North Korea’s ‘unusual’ reaction to this year’s US-South Korea drills

Observers say they’re surprised by Pyongyang’s shift in tone towards the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, which begin on August 18.

12 Aug 2025 - 8:00AMvideocam

China's military weapons

China releases rare footage of DF-100 cruise missile to deter US

‘If it can be launched close to urban areas, it will be more difficult for adversaries to locate, identify, target and destroy it’: analyst.

11 Aug 2025 - 11:00PMvideocam

In 2019, China unveiled its DF-100 cruise missiles during a parade. In the past week the public has gained a rare glimpse of the weapon via a PLA documentary aired on state media. Photo: AP

India’s US$8.7 billion defence splurge sparks calls for clarity

New arms package to fill defence gap felt during India-Pakistan conflict, but analysts warn of vulnerabilities in foreign collaboration.

11 Aug 2025 - 8:16PMvideocam

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) during a visit to Adampur Airforce Base in Punjab. Photo: Indian Press Information Bureau / AFP

The Philippines

Amid China tensions, what ‘valuable lessons’ can Philippines learn from Poland?

Analysts say Manila should pursue strategic cooperation with Warsaw to learn from its military build-up and ‘self-reliant defence posture’.

11 Aug 2025 - 4:06PMvideocam

South China Sea

Opinion | Under Trump, is the US no longer interested in playing maritime referee?

The delay in the release of the US Navy’s annual report on freedom of navigation could signal a change in the country’s strategic approach.

11 Aug 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

India-Pakistan tensions

India downed 6 Pakistani aircraft in May clash, air force chief says

Most of the aircraft were downed by India’s Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system, citing electronic tracking data as confirmation.

9 Aug 2025 - 10:57PM

A Rafale fighter jet taxis on the tarmac during its induction ceremony at an air force station in Ambala, India, on September 10, 2020. Photo: Reuters

China-India relations

China urged to monitor disputed border as India upgrades road to move tanks

New Delhi is doing major work on Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie Road while also building alternative route with minimal exposure to Chinese patrols.

9 Aug 2025 - 6:28PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Germany suspends arms exports to Israel for use in Gaza

Berlin’s move, a drastic change of course from a staunch ally, comes in response to Netanyahu’s plan to take control of Gaza City.

9 Aug 2025 - 2:35AMvideocam

Singapore’s Shanmugam meets China envoy for bilateral, security talks

Their meeting comes after the Chinese embassy took issue with local media linking cyberthreat group UNC3886 to China last month.

9 Aug 2025 - 2:59PM

Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam. Photo: Handout

Japanese warships return to Wellington after 90 years, boosting Pacific ties

The last time a Japanese naval vessel visited the New Zealand capital was in 1936.

8 Aug 2025 - 1:16PM

Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s JS Ise and JS Suzunami tied up in the port of Wellington, New Zealand, on Friday. Photo: AP

US-China relations

People’s Daily spells out PLA’s mid-century goal, with US as a benchmark

Defence academic explains Xi Jinping’s ‘world-class military’ goal and why the PLA must dominate.

8 Aug 2025 - 3:56PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Israel approves plan to take control of Gaza City, escalating war

Israel’s Netanyahu says he wants military control of entire coastal territory, but not to act as governing body.

8 Aug 2025 - 6:54PM

Is Seoul delaying joint drills with US to avoid antagonising Pyongyang?

South Korea cites heatwave for postponement but timing aligns with broader effort to ease tensions on the peninsula.

7 Aug 2025 - 2:31PMvideocam

A South Korean soldier uses an anti-drone gun during an anti-terror drill held alongside the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises at Seoul Metro headquarters, August 2022. This year’s UFS drills begin on August 18 with scaled-back field training. Photo: AFP

‘We will not talk about it’: US, South Korea to shun Taiwan issue at summit

The session between both leaders is set to yield only a broad agreement to elevate the bilateral alliance into a ‘comprehensive strategic alliance’.

7 Aug 2025 - 1:25PMvideocam

Marines aboard an amphibious assault vehicle take part in defence drills on the border island of Baengnyeong in the Yellow Sea, South Korea, on May 22. Photo: Republic of Korea Marine Corps
/EPA-EFE/Yonhap

US-China relations

US debuts hypersonic missile in Australia. Is it a deterrent against China?

Chinese analysts say Washington is showing the importance of US-Australia relationship, but missile system unlikely to affect China.

7 Aug 2025 - 11:35AMvideocam

Aviation accidents

Ghana defence and environment ministers killed in helicopter crash

A total of three crew and five passengers died after the aircraft dropped off the radar and went down in a heavily forested area.

7 Aug 2025 - 12:15PM

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement