https://www.scmp.com/rss/522290/feed Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI): A prominent Canberra-based research institute and think tank, ASPI was established by the Australian Government in 2001. It is dedicated to providing policy-relevant research and analysis to inform government decisions and public understanding of strategic and defence issues. Its main areas of focus include defence, national security, cyber, technology, and foreign interference, particularly concerning the Indo-Pacific region. ASPI is recognised... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem Australia has emerged as an alternate defence partner to long-time US ally the Philippines amid mounting uncertainty over American commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific. Canberra’s evolving ties with Manila hinge on its own strategic interests that may now align more closely with the Southeast Asian country’s than even those of Washington, observers say. Australia has committed to building eight infrastructure projects this year at five military bases in Luzon. Canberra will lead the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342824/why-australia-picking-tab-philippine-military-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342824/why-australia-picking-tab-philippine-military-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong Fears over the weakening of global momentum to rein in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions have mounted with the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New Start) between the United States and Russia, with observers warning that an emboldened Pyongyang could also spark a domino effect regionally. For 15 years, the treaty functioned as a stabilising force between the world’s two largest nuclear powers, setting limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems while... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342556/bad-news-south-korea-us-russia-nuclear-pact-expires-sparking-fears-arms-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342556/bad-news-south-korea-us-russia-nuclear-pact-expires-sparking-fears-arms-race?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Indonesia has signed a new defence cooperation agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina in a move analysts say marks another step in Jakarta’s bid to expand its security partnerships beyond traditional Western partners. The pact was signed during a meeting between Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and his Bosnian counterpart Zukan Helez in Sarajevo on January 11, according to Indonesian media reports. “This visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exploring avenues for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340982/indonesias-defence-deal-bosnia-signals-asian-middle-powers-clout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340982/indonesias-defence-deal-bosnia-signals-asian-middle-powers-clout?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:00:12 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow The decision to keep details of a recent US review into the Aukus defence pact under wraps is seen as a deliberate move to shield the three-nation submarine deal from any doubts over its viability that could undermine political or public backing, analysts say. The Pentagon announced last Thursday it had completed its assessment of the programme and identified ways to place it on the “strongest possible footing”, citing US President Donald Trump’s push to drive the arrangement “full steam... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336198/why-us-review-aukus-submarine-deal-australia-kept-secret?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336198/why-us-review-aukus-submarine-deal-australia-kept-secret?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 07:34:43 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow The Quad nations have completed a major round of naval drills, pressing ahead with their defence cooperation even as political tensions test the cohesion of the regional security bloc. The decision to continue joint exercises reflects a “growing convergence of strategic interests” among the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’s members and defence remaining high on the agenda despite trade and other disagreements among some of the bloc’s members, according to analysts. Comprising Australia, India,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333536/naval-drill-sign-india-other-quad-members-can-look-past-differences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333536/naval-drill-sign-india-other-quad-members-can-look-past-differences?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:09:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Australia must learn from past guerrilla insurgencies and adopt an “unconventional deterrence” policy in facing down threats from China, Russia and elsewhere, one of the country’s leading think tanks said on Wednesday. Australia, under the tripartite Aukus pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, will acquire at least three Virginia-class submarines from the US within 15 years, with an eye to eventually build its own. Until then, Canberra faces a major gap in its defences, warned the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3329081/australia-urged-adopt-guerrilla-singapores-poisonous-shrimp-defence-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3329081/australia-urged-adopt-guerrilla-singapores-poisonous-shrimp-defence-tactics?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 06:29:08 +0000 Wang Huiyao Wang Huiyao As China transitions from the 14th to the 15th five-year plan, its economic trajectory is once again under scrutiny. External commentary often focuses on the short-term headwinds from a cooling property market and commensurately lowered growth, but these challenges obscure a more important story. Beneath the surface, China has a vibrant backbone made strong by the synergistic effects of infrastructure, human capital, technology and an unparalleled commitment to a green transition. These... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3326515/critics-are-missing-big-picture-chinas-economic-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3326515/critics-are-missing-big-picture-chinas-economic-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow A sweeping review by the United States of the landmark Aukus submarine pact could usher in stricter conditions on technology transfers, cost-sharing and fresh concessions from Australia, raising questions about the future of the trilateral deal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had privately assured Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles that the pact would not be terminated, The Washington Post reported earlier this month, citing sources familiar with the discussions. The Aukus... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326159/aukus-faces-america-first-review-will-trumps-agenda-scupper-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326159/aukus-faces-america-first-review-will-trumps-agenda-scupper-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:09 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen From a new border agreement to resuming direct flights and deepening economic cooperation, China and India appear to be entering a new diplomatic chapter following Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s first visit to New Delhi in three years. There could be a further thaw in ties when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Tianjin at the end of the month – his first trip to China in seven years – for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, when he could also meet Chinese leader Xi... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322621/china-and-india-are-rebuilding-relations-will-it-be-cold-peace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322621/china-and-india-are-rebuilding-relations-will-it-be-cold-peace?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Aisyah Llewellyn Aisyah Llewellyn Indonesia’s government is reportedly considering a ban on Roblox, the widely used online game-creation platform, after the education minister warned that it could expose children to violence and other harmful behaviours. “There is a lot of violence in the game. Sometimes children don’t understand that what they see isn’t real,” Indonesian education minister Abdul Mu’ti said on August 4, adding that the platform could drive an increase in youth violence if young students mimic behaviours... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321476/indonesia-considers-roblox-ban-over-child-safety-concerns-immoral-content?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321476/indonesia-considers-roblox-ban-over-child-safety-concerns-immoral-content?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 04:30:09 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Geopolitics is stifling academic freedom and scientific research, but a university head in eastern China believes there is a way to ease the situation on campuses – by letting more foreign students in. Xi Youmin, president of Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, said easing visa restrictions for foreign students and visitors could help improve understanding of China. “The world is in a state of division defined by wars, geopolitics and the US tariff war,” Xi... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321213/university-bridges-china-and-west-geopolitics-biggest-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321213/university-bridges-china-and-west-geopolitics-biggest-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 22:00:14 +0000 Winston Mok Winston Mok Just ahead of the July 9 deadline to reach an agreement on tariffs, US President Donald Trump announced his decision on the tariffs levels for 14 countries – including a rate of 25 per cent on Japan and South Korea – effective August 1. Trump accused Japan of not buying enough rice and cars from the US. It’s worth noting that the American car industry is simply not competitive in Japan. Germany, Japan and China are the top three auto exporters. Those countries, along with South Korea, have... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3317197/how-china-japan-and-south-korea-can-be-titans-tech-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3317197/how-china-japan-and-south-korea-can-be-titans-tech-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 08:30:06 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi America’s view of China as a “pacing threat” has shaped its defence priorities as the military seeks to maintain an edge over a rapidly modernising PLA. In the second of a three-part series on how US budget tensions will affect efforts to deter China, we look at the race for air superiority. The high-stakes race for air superiority between China and the United States will have profound implications should a conflict break out – including how a war over Taiwan would be fought. Both militaries are... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316518/what-budget-infighting-means-americas-f-47-and-conflict-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316518/what-budget-infighting-means-americas-f-47-and-conflict-over-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 22:00:08 +0000