Central Asian military spending surges amid border tension, regional conflict fears

BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN —Military spending is surging in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, a development officials link to regional conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, although experts doubt the buildup will increase stability. While Russia was the dominant arms supplier to these countries for more than three decades, other countries including Turkey, China […]

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Thai government to meet banks over alleged transactions for Myanmar arms

Thailand’s government will meet next week with commercial banks and state agencies to investigate transactions allegedly used for weapons purchases by Myanmar’s junta, and urge tighter scrutiny, the foreign minister said on Thursday. Thai bank representatives last week told a parliamentary committee they had followed regulations but lacked capacity to investigate all transactions that could […]

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Xi Jinping called on regional leaders to stop US hegemony

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Security Summit is underway in Kazakhstan. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting on the sidelines of this. The two top leaders met on Wednesday to discuss strategies to counter US hegemony around the world. In the meeting, Xi Jinping urged the heads of state […]

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Putin wants to create a new ‘security framework’ for Asia

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to create a “reliable security framework” for the Asia-Pacific region. He expressed his interest in a military ceremony in Vietnam on Thursday. A day after signing a military aid deal with North Korea, Putin was greeted by a 21-gun salute at a military ceremony in Vietnam. Bhuysi praised the Vietnamese […]

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Contrasting Visions of Global Security: Chinese and Ukrainian Leaders Address the Shangri-La Dialogue

In a dramatic juxtaposition at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy took center stage, presenting sharply contrasting visions of global and regional security. The conference, held in Singapore, saw both leaders address delegates on issues deeply significant to their respective nations. Dong Jun’s Fiery Rebuke on Taiwan Dressed […]

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Rare spat shows China, North Korea still at odds on nuclear weapons

North Korea’s rare swipe at China this week underscored how Beijing and Pyongyang do not entirely see eye-to-eye on the latter’s illicit nuclear weapons arsenal, despite warming ties in other areas, analysts and officials in South Korea said. The North condemned China, Japan and South Korea on Monday for discussing denuclearisation of the peninsula, calling […]

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Rakhine, Rohingya leaders should take immediate steps to defuse tensions: International Crisis Group

With the war in Myanmar escalating as both Junta and rebels make gains and losses. The Rohingya people have once again been caught in the crossfire. Despite the Arakan Army(AA) attempting to improve relations with the Rohingya before November 2023, however, recent events have put that peace at risk. The Myanmar military has most actively […]

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US Lawmaker Assures Taiwan of Imminent Weapons Deliveries Amid Rising Tensions with China

In a significant visit to Taipei, a senior US lawmaker confirmed that long-awaited weapons destined for Taiwan are on the way, emphasizing the urgency of bolstering the island’s defense capabilities in light of China’s recent military maneuvers. Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, underscored the importance of these deliveries during a […]

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Russo-Chinese Power Play in Central Asia: A Global Concern with Far-Reaching Implications

By M Masum Billah In the geopolitical theater of Central Asia, the ongoing power play between Russia and China is not just a regional affair but a global concern with far-reaching implications. As Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Beijing underscores, the alliance between these two giants, rooted in shared suspicion of the West […]

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