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

    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, potentially giving Taipei’s opposition parties greater room to manoeuvre and reshape the final version of the bill, according to analysts.

    The renewed push follows an unusual bipartisan letter from 37 US lawmakers on February 12 urging Taiwan’s legislature to fully fund the eight-year package.

    The lawmakers warned that Beijing’s “military pressure is intensifying” and that approving only part of the budget proposed by Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te in November “could weaken deterrence”.
    They stressed that Taipei “must demonstrate resolve by increasing defence spending” in line with Lai’s proposal.

    In response, Taiwan’s legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu said the bill would be “given top priority” once lawmakers returned to work on February 24 after the Lunar New Year recess.

    He described Taiwan-US ties as “grounded in shared democratic values and a joint commitment to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific”.

    Source :SCMP

  • US missile deployments in Philippines signal deeper strategic shift in region

    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 to reinforce the so-called First Island Chain and bolster the US–Philippines alliance’s defensive posture in both the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

    In a statement released after Tuesday’s meeting, the US Embassy in Manila said both countries would “continue and work to increase deployments of US cutting-edge missile and unmanned systems to the Philippines, expand and modernise the Philippines’ civilian and military cyber defence capabilities and ability to detect and disrupt cyber threats”.

    Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez, who attended the dialogue, said US and Filipino defence officials had discussed the possible deployment this year of upgraded US missile launchers that Manila might later decide to purchase.

    “It’s a kind of system that’s really very sophisticated and will be deployed here in the hope that, down the road, we will be able to get our own,” Romualdez said, as quoted by Associated Press.

    The announcement builds on earlier deployments that have already drawn sharp protests from Beijing.

    Source :SCMP

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

    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 – who were all originally expected to serve a five-year term, ending in 2027 – are no longer active.

    Last month Zhang Youxia, first-ranked vice-chairman of the CMC and China’s most senior uniformed general, and Liu Zhenli, chief of its Joint Staff Department, were placed under investigation on suspicion of corruption.

    What is the Central Military Commission?

    China’s top military decision-making and command body performs many of the functions a ministry of defence carries out in other countries. Its mandate includes decisions on strategy, development, equipment, personnel and funding.

    In China, the Ministry of National Defence is mainly used for diplomatic and public relations purposes and the defence minister is usually – though not always – a member of the commission.

    The CMC consists of 15 departments, such as the Joint Staff Department and the Logistical Support Department. It also oversees the headquarters of the PLA’s five theatre commands, its different service branches and several affiliated research institutions and academies.

    Above them all sits a seven-member committee, which is elected every five years by the Communist Party’s national congress.

    Source :SCMP

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

    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 Tidalwave – after a 1943 operation of the same name – the right-wing think tank urged Washington to immediately strengthen American fuel and munitions reserves and logistical networks.

    At the same time, China’s fuel and ammunition systems were “vulnerable to a range of US tools before and during conflict and more visible or exposed than the forces they support”, the study said.

    “Allowing the systems that support the PLA to operate with impunity before and during conflict would carry grave strategic consequences,” the report added, referring to the People’s Liberation Army.

    AI-assisted simulations based on more than 7,000 data sources focused on fuel and ammunition vulnerabilities for both sides in scenarios based on a 365-day US-China conflict in the western Pacific Ocean.

    The study found that both the Americans and Chinese faced critical risks in sustaining supplies of fuel and munitions, making the first 30-60 days crucial in determining the long-term shape of the war by quickly reducing numbers of aircraft and ships.

    Source :SCMP

  • EU and India to explore defence cooperation, draft document says

    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 other regions.

    “The EU and India will consult on their respective defence initiatives, including through exchanges on defence industry-related matters,” the draft partnership, which is set to be signed on Tuesday, said.

    “They will explore, where there are mutual interest and alignment of security priorities, possibilities for India’s participation in relevant EU defence initiatives, as appropriate, in line with respective legal frameworks,” it added.

    The partnership envisages an annual dialogue between the EU and India on security and defence, as well as deepening cooperation on maritime security, cyber issues, and counterterrorism.

    “The growing complexity of global security threats, rising geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change underscore the need for closer EU-India dialogue and cooperation in security and defence,” the document said.

    India and the EU are also expected to announce on Tuesday the conclusion of protracted negotiations for a free trade pact.

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

    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 as 42 Rafales, built by Dassault Aviation, as well as French frigates and ‌submarines, as the archipelago ‌steps up defense spending under ‌President Prabowo ⁠Subianto, ​a ‌former special forces commander. “The aircraft have been handed over and are ready for use by the Indonesian Air Force,” Defense Ministry spokesperson Rico Ricardo Sirait said in a message in response to a Reuters query — the first confirmation that Indonesia has possession of the advanced military ⁠aircraft after striking an $8 billion deal with France in 2022 and ‌expanding it last year.

    Sirait said the ‍three aircraft arrived on ‍Friday and were stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base ‍in Pekanbaru, located on the western island of Sumatra.

    Three more jets are expected to arrive later this year, he added.

    Indonesia has been one of the biggest players on the international ​fighter jet market as it looks to upgrade its aircraft, setting aside big budgets for ⁠defense spending. It has been considering a number of options alongside the Rafales, including China’s J-10 fighter jets and US-made F-15EX jets. For the longer term, it has also signed a contract to buy 48 KAAN fighter jets from Turkiye, a fifth-generation aircraft powered by General Electric F-110 engines that are also used in fourth-generation Lockheed Martin F-16 jets. Reuters also reported that Indonesia and Pakistan discussed a potential deal earlier this month for Jakarta to buy ‌combat jets and killer drones.

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

    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 state since President Xi Jinping came to power more than a decade ago.

    “Following a review… it has been decided to initiate an investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli,” the defense ministry said in a statement.

    The two men were “suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law,” the ministry said.

    Zhang Youxia, 75, is the more senior general of two CMC vice chairmen.

    He shares the title with Zhang Shengmin, a general in Beijing’s secretive rocket force and who is no relation.

    Zhang Shengmin was promoted to the post in October after Beijing expelled his predecessor in another sweeping corruption purge.

    Both generals rank below Xi, who has held the CMC chairmanship since 2012.

    Liu, 61, is the chief of staff of the CMC’s joint staff department.

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

    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 Sabharwal told the media during a briefing that the military aims to showcase all platforms used during the operation.

    A highlight of this year’s flypast will be a special seven-aircraft formation consisting of two Rafales, two Su-30s, two MiG-29s, and a single Jaguar aircraft, all of which were active participants in “Operation Sindoor” between 7 and 10 May last year.

    Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army on 7 May last year following a ‘militant attack’ in Pahalgam, a popular tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead.

    India stated the offensive was aimed at dismantling what it claimed as ‘militant infrastructure’ across the border.

    Wing Commander Rajesh Deshwal noted that the tableau would move down Kartavya Path in formations mirroring a battle scenario, beginning with reconnaissance and followed by logistics and personnel in full battle gear.

    The tri-service tableau is being framed by Indian defence officials as an authoritative representation of a “decisive transition” to precision and integrated warfare.

    The display will open with the Indian Navy’s maritime dominance, transitioning to the Army’s M777 Ultra-Light Howitzer guns.

    The demonstration may also feature the Akash Air Defence System and loitering munitions, the latter of which was reportedly used to neutralise radar systems during the conflict.

    The sequence further illustrates the Rafale executing strikes with SCALP missiles and the SU-30 MKI launching BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles against hardened shelters.

    The display culminates with the S-400 system, which India claims executed the operation’s longest-range engagement at 350km against an airborne early-warning platform.

    The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will also use the parade to unveil several indigenous technologies.

    Chief among these is a hypersonic glide missile designed for coastal defence. The missile is reportedly capable of flying at low altitudes with high speed and manoeuvrability, making it difficult for ground and ship-based radars to detect.

    The parade will be witnessed by several foreign dignitaries, including European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who are attending as guests of honour.

  • Bankim Chandra’s Vande Mataram to be main theme of India’s Republic Day parade

    Bankim Chandra’s Vande Mataram to be main theme of India’s Republic Day parade

    India has selected the national song Vande Mataram as the main theme for the Republic Day parade to be held in New Delhi on 26 January, marking 150 years since it was written.

    Bengali litterateur Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed Vande Mataram in the 1870s as a poem, and it remains a prominent cultural and patriotic symbol in India.

    This year’s parade, which commemorates the country’s transition to a republic in 1950, will feature multiple elements inspired by the song.

    A series of paintings created by Tejendra Kumar Mitra in 1923, illustrating verses of Vande Mataram and published in the Bande Mataram Album, will be displayed as view-cutters along Kartavya Path, the venue of the parade.

    A banner depicting Vande Mataram will be unveiled, and rubber balloons will be released at the conclusion of the parade, which traditionally showcases India’s military strength and cultural diversity.

    Pan-India band performances based on the theme will be organised from 19 to 26 January by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and other paramilitary forces.

    One of the venues listed is Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s ancestral home and birthplace at Kanthalpara, Naihati, in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

    Floral decorations in front of the main rostrum will also follow the Vande Mataram theme. The invitation card and tickets for the parade have been designed around the theme, and videos related to the song will be played on screens at Kartavya Path.

    Tableaux presented during the parade will fall under broader themes of Vande Mataram and nationalism.

    President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will attend as chief guests.

    The Indian government is also marking 150 years of Vande Mataram through year-long commemorative events, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated in November last year.

    In a break from tradition, the enclosures for spectators this year will be named after major rivers of India, including the Ganges, Teesta, Brahmaputra, Beas, Chambal, Chenab, Gandak, Ghagra, Godavari, Sindhu, Jhelum, Kaveri, Kosi, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, Pennar, Periyar, Ravi, Sone, Sutlej, Vaigai and Yamuna.

  • Pakistan’s arms deals cleared for take-off as JF-17 orders soar from Muslim countries

    Pakistan’s arms deals cleared for take-off as JF-17 orders soar from Muslim countries

    By Tom Hussain

    Pakistan is increasingly confident of making billion-dollar arms sales, headlined by the JF-17 fighters its co-produces with China, as up to six Muslim-majority countries look to upgrade their air forces amid growing geopolitical turbulence and civil wars.

    A preliminary deal worth US$4 billion was struck last month with the Libyan National Army for an unspecified number of JF-17s and other training aircraft manufactured by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Reuters reported, citing Aamir Masood, an unofficial spokesman for Pakistan’s military.

    The Libyan National Army, backed by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, controls Libya’s east and rivals the internationally recognised Islamist government in Tripoli, which is supported by Qatar and Turkey.

    Masood, a retired Pakistan Air Force air marshal, said a separate US$1.5 billion package had effectively been finalised with Sudan’s military government for light-attack aircraft, surveillance, suicide drones and possibly JF-17s. The deal could help Khartoum gain a decisive advantage over the rebel Rapid Support Forces.

    Pakistan is also discussing a US$4 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, according to Masood. Both countries signed a mutual defence pact in September, soon after Israeli warplanes bombed Hamas negotiators in Qatar.

    Islamabad has reportedly floated an “arms-for-debt” component worth around US$2 billion, possibly involving Riyadh’s financing of the Sudan sale. But such a proposal is politically complicated by the fact that Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey support the Sudanese military regime, while the UAE backs the Rapid Support Forces.

    Source :SCMP