Head of US space command warns that China’s space development is make its terrestrial forces ‘more precise, more lethal and more far ranging’.

Anonymous defence intelligence bureaucrat casts doubt on system design of first Chinese strategic weapon of its kind.

Swedish think tank finds regional expenditure on armed forces rises at its highest rate in a decade.

Beijing will feel ‘inconvenient’ as Washington steps up trilateral military cooperation to stem Pyongyang threats, expert says.

Two PLA Navy ships are the only vessels to have docked at the Chinese-financed Ream naval base since upgrades last year, according to a US intelligence report.

Mid-range launcher now in the Philippines is a ‘powerful weapon’ capable of retaliatory strikes on mainland China, analysts say.

The call between Dong Jun and Lloyd Austin comes after a series of clashes between the Chinese coastguard and the Philippines, a US ally.

Possible enlargement of the Indo-Pacific cooperation pact could leave China more isolated, with a more complex network of potential adversaries.

‘If China and Vietnam work well on this’, Manila would ‘not go too far to provoke’ Beijing, analyst says.

New weapons programmes to counter China in the air and space held up by political obstruction, stopgap measures, Senate subpanel told.

Chinese foreign ministry says China does not compete with other nations in military power and ‘firmly pursues a defensive national defence policy’.

Beijing is expected to view Seoul’s mass production of its latest jet as a ‘threat’ to its own arms trade, experts say.

First images of the aircraft – referred to as the Z-21 – emerged on social media last week.

The event included an address by a Taiwanese minister and follows moves by President Yoon Suk-yeol to strengthen ties with the US.

US and China likely to continue developing hypersonic weapons while also improving their defensive capabilities to neutralise these systems: analyst.

Submarine building and nuclear deterrence are expected to be core concerns of US defence in the coming year, experts say.

Joint exercises in Gulf of Oman focus on rescuing hijacked merchant ships and feature Chinese and Iranian special ops teams and PLA guided-missile destroyer.

Maritime Security Belt – 2024 is second time China has conducted joint drills in Indian Ocean following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel and start of Gaza war.

Ukraine remains a big source of gas turbines and engines for Chinese destroyers and aircraft.

Assistant US secretary of state Daniel Kritenbrink says he raised issues around Ream base during Phnom Penh visit.

Beijing says a Philippine coastguard vessel ‘deliberately rammed’ one of its ships near the disputed reef, but Manila blames ‘reckless and illegal’ actions by China.

Official findings out of South Korea show how much Beijing’s efforts to advance Chinese tech prowess have paid off in recent years, meaning Seoul has its work cut out as it plays catch-up.

It comes as Sweden and the Philippines have been negotiating on a deal for the procurement of defence equipment that could include fighter jets amid tensions with China.

The aircraft is still in the development phase and will have to be able to handle ski-jump and electromagnetic catapult systems, analyst says.

But Philippine coastguard calls this ‘inaccurate’ and says fisheries vessel is ‘actively ensuring the security of Filipino fishermen in that area’.

Export version on display until Sunday said to feature ‘fire support’ for ground forces, and improved resistance and attack power.

Proposals targeting Chinese companies express ‘some degree of hostility towards China without being effective’, think tank head says.

Top diplomat Wang Yi to take part in annual conference in Germany, dubbed ‘Davos for defence’, which is likely to address wars in Middle East and Ukraine. While in Europe, the Chinese foreign minister will also visit Spain and France.

Unprecedented increase in naval power to the region is intended as a signal to Washington’s allies and rivals, especially Beijing, analysts said.

The threat of a wider conflict could encourage nations in the region to expand their fighter jet forces but China has challenges in eroding US dominance.