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Defence

Defence
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Defence. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Tugboats assist a container ship as it prepares to dock at the Manila International Container Terminal on April 8. Photo: AP
The Philippines

US tech supply chain hub tackling China hits Philippine sovereignty wall

Manila pushes back against reports that a US-backed AI industrial hub will come under US laws and diplomatic protections.

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Thailand

Budget cuts leave Thailand’s twin-sea navy at risk of falling behind

New Zealand

‘We depend on sea’: NZ to invest in drones, ships for maritime security

South China Sea

Why the largest-ever US-Philippine drill, and Japan’s role, makes China uneasy

The scale of this year’s Balikatan exercise has been described as part of a trend that will ‘exacerbate regional instability’.

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Troops from New Zealand, the Philippines, the US and Australia pose for a photo after taking part in counter-landing live-fire drills during the Balikatan exercises on April 27. Photo: Reuters
Russia

Bordering Russia, Norway adopts ‘total defence’ mode, focuses on civil readiness

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned earlier this year that ‘war could once again come to Norway’.

The Philippines

Why Sara Duterte is altering tone on South China Sea dispute

The vice-president’s calls to ‘defend sovereignty’ are an attempt to please voters at home while not alienating Beijing, experts say.

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US, Israel war on Iran

Israel thrusts a reluctant UAE into the open over defence ties

Disclosures about Iron Dome batteries and secret meetings have exposed ties analysts say the UAE would rather handle ‘more discreetly’.

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Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets in October 2023 during the opening days of the Gaza war. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia

US denies role in Norway’s cancelled missile sale to Malaysia

Washington said it supported the deal after the row raised questions over US influence on weapons with American-made parts.

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Japan

US to send powerful missile systems to Japan for drills amid China tensions

After the joint exercises, the systems will move to a US military base in Japan for storage.

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Singapore

How Singapore’s weaponised drone trials could fuel Southeast Asian tensions

As Southeast Asian militaries adopt cheap, lethal systems, experts warn a lack of established rules could prove dangerous.

A US Navy drone parks beside a Philippine C130 plane at the airport of Zamboanga, southern Philippines last year. Photo: AP
Greenland

US needs to ‘put its footprint back on Greenland’, Trump envoy says

Jeff Landry was on his first visit to the Arctic island – despite not being officially invited – since his appointment six months ago.

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Protesters rally against US President Donald Trump in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, in January. Photo: Reuters
European Union

EU picks tungsten, rare earths, gallium for first critical mineral stockpile

The move marks one of the bloc’s most concrete steps to reduce reliance on China for elements vital to defence and tech.

Malaysia

Did US restrictions sink Malaysia’s US$147 million Norway missile deal?

Analysts say US-controlled parts may have been a factor in Norway’s revoked export licences, underscoring risks for Asian defence buyers.

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Japan

Japan plans island drone deployment to monitor Chinese naval activity

Tokyo hopes deploying US-built SeaGuardians on Iwo Jima and Chichijima will eliminate a Pacific surveillance ‘blind spot’.

Japan plans to deploy MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones on Chichijima and Iwo Jima. Photo: Handout
The Philippines

More than a missile? Why the Philippines wants Japan’s old Type 88

Manila’s military already operates superior weapons, but analysts say Tokyo’s Cold War-era hardware still has something to offer.

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Japanese soldiers stand beside a Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, on May 6. Photo: AFP
China’s military drills

Can PLA training catch up with China’s rapid weapon development?

‘No matter how advanced the equipment is, if people cannot effectively operate it, it remains nothing more than cold steel’: PLA Daily.

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Ukraine war

Belarus begins nuclear weapons drills with Russia

Minsk claims drills pose no security threats ⁠in the region, but Kyiv urges tightened sanctions in response.

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Science

China’s northeast, poor in rare earths, scores big find

A new type of deposit in Heilongjiang and Jilin promises easier, cheaper mining than in southern clay-rich areas, say scientists.

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A rare earth mine at Bayan Obo, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region of China, seen in 2011. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
North Korea

North Korea to turn southern border into ‘impregnable fortress’

Experts say the plans reflect awareness of drone and other types of hi-tech warfare amid the Russia-Ukraine and Iran conflicts.

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United States

Trump-backed mass prayer rally draws thousands to Washington

Worshippers flock to the National Mall for an America-themed jubilee featuring Trump reading from the Bible in a video.

The Philippines

Western powers ramp up support for Philippines’ Luzon economic hub

Eight more countries will invest in the project as they accelerate regional trade diversification in sectors ranging from AI to energy.

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Containers at the Manila North Harbour Port in Manila, Philippines. Development of the Luzon Economic Corridor will involve eight more countries. Photo: AP
Ukraine war

‘Stay inside’: Finland warns of drone scare near capital Helsinki

The early hours warning – the first for the capital city – said a drone could be heading towards an area on the south coast.

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A view of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. File photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Why Japan’s ruling party is pushing for 5% military spending

The ruling party is expected to debate raising outlays to as much as 5 per cent of GDP, in line with that of many Nato members.

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Science

Does China’s Jiuzhang 4.0 computer herald the age of quantum supremacy?

New programmable photonic quantum computing prototype completed a complex calculation in microseconds, developers say.

The Philippines

Why airport at former US naval base in Philippines has Washington’s backing

The trend in defence is for civilian infrastructure that can be rapidly adapted for military use during contingencies, experts say.

An artist's impression of the Sangley Point International Airport project. Photo: Handout
Diplomacy

Opinion | North Korea is not Iran. The same pressure tactics won’t work

North Korea’s nuclear reality and the overlapping interests of the US, China and Russia make tension reduction a prerequisite.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
US-China relations

US Senate warns of China’s nuclear capabilities hours before Xi-Trump summit

Beijing engaged in ‘unprecedented nuclear expansion’ in recent years that includes ‘hundreds of new missile silos’, senator tells hearing.

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US, Israel war on Iran

UAE denies Israel’s Netanyahu made secret visit during Iran war

Netanyahu’s office claims a ‘historic breakthrough’, but Abu Dhabi dismisses reports of any clandestine meeting.

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