North Korea launches multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward sea

SEOUL: North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday, its neighbors said, days after the UN’s nuclear watchdog warned that North Korea was making “very serious” advances in efforts to build nuclear weapons. The missiles fired from the North’s Sinpo area flew about 140 kilometers (87 miles) each in a direction […]

Read More

India should be ready for renewed escalation of West Asia conflict: Defence minister

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday termed the ground situation of the West Asia conflict as uncertain and volatile, and emphasised the need for India to remain prepared for any fresh escalation. In a post on X, he wrote that “the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to take swift […]

Read More

How Trump’s Beijing bargaining could derail Taiwan’s multibillion-dollar defence budget

By Lawrence Chung in Taipei Taiwan’s parliament is set to prioritise review of a disputed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defence budget bill when its new session begins on Tuesday, as pressure mounts from Washington. But US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about consulting Chinese President Xi Jinping on arms sales could complicate the debate, […]

Read More

US missile deployments in Philippines signal deeper strategic shift in region

By Jeoffrey Maitem The United States’ plan to expand deployments of advanced missile systems and unmanned platforms in the Philippines is less about hardware than geography and what it signals about Washington’s long-term strategy in the region, analysts said. Announced after the 12th Philippines–US Bilateral Strategic Dialogue this week, the move reflects a steady effort […]

Read More

What is China’s Central Military Commission and how does it operate amid anti-graft drive?

By Liu Zhen The Central Military Commission, the top decision-making body overseeing the People’s Liberation Army, is set for a leadership reshuffle after the downfall of most of its members. President Xi Jinping is now in his third term as chairman of the commission. But now five of the other six members of the commission […]

Read More

Would Chinese or US supply lines be more vulnerable in a Pacific conflict?

By Liu Zhen The US faces critical “sustainment risks” that might lead to rapid defeat in a conflict with China, according to a Heritage Foundation report, which also found that while such a scenario could start in the Taiwan Strait, it would not be contained there. Based on the findings of an AI-based study called […]

Read More

EU and India to explore defence cooperation, draft document says

The European Union and India will explore possibilities for Indian participation in European defence initiatives, according to a draft security and defence partnership document seen by Reuters. The new partnership comes at a time when Europe is seeking to reduce its dependence on the US and China and deepen its diplomatic and economic ties to […]

Read More

Indonesia receives first Rafale advanced fighter jets from France, official says

JAKARTA: Indonesia has received three Rafale fighter jets from France in the first deliveries from ​a multi-billion-dollar defense deal between the two countries, a defense ministry official told Reuters on Monday, marking a major upgrade to the country’s aging military hardware. Jakarta, France’s main arms client in Southeast Asia, has placed orders for as many […]

Read More

China says top military official under probe for ‘serious violations of discipline’

BEIJING: China said on Saturday the senior vice chairman of its powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) and another high-ranking official were under investigation for suspected “serious violations of discipline,” a common euphemism for corruption. The announcement marks the latest push in a sweeping drive to root out graft at all levels of the party and […]

Read More

India to recreate ‘Operation Sindoor’ at upcoming Republic Day parade

The Indian military is set to recreate its tri-services campaign against Pakistan from last May during the 77th Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on 26 January. The display, an annual exhibition of the country’s military and diplomatic reach, will feature the specific aircraft formations and hardware used during the 88-hour conflict. Air Commodore Manish […]

Read More