Tag: asia pacific
40 articles
Japan Overhauls Intelligence Structure to Deepen Ties with Australia
Japan is revolutionizing its intelligence structure to strengthen its partnership with Australia, starting with a new National Intelligence Council and Agency that will oversee and streamline its intelligence operations. This overhaul will enable more secure and effective intelligence sharing, likened to pouring precious juice into sturdy cups.
KMT Budget Cuts Stifle Taiwan's Drone Defense Push
Taiwan's bid to bolster its drone defense has hit a roadblock after the Kuomintang-led legislature slashed a special military budget from $40 billion to $25 billion, stripping out crucial domestic programs and a plan for 200,000 small drones. This cut threatens to leave Taiwan vulnerable, undermining its goal of becoming a formidable "hedgehog" that can defend itself against threats.
China Expands Jurisdiction with New Law Targeting Overseas Critics
A new Chinese law that kicked in on July 1 can now label work done legally in Australia by journalists, analysts, and academics as a crime under Chinese law, sparking concerns about its global reach. This law allows China to pursue individuals outside its borders who are deemed to undermine its ethnic unity or promote division.
Taiwan's Drone Industry Sparks Defense Spending Showdown
Taiwan's ruling party is pushing for a NT$210 million budget to supercharge its drone industry with 208,200 coastal attack drones and over 3,000 other unmanned systems, but opposition parties are fiercely resisting, warning that backing down would be political suicide. The contentious spending plan has sparked a heated showdown over Taiwan's defense strategy.
China Eyes Recovery of Russian Far East Coast to Outflank Island Chain Defenses
China is seeking to reclaim a vast stretch of Pacific coastline, including Russia's strategic Vladivostok naval base, lost under the 19th-century Treaty of Aigun and Convention of Peking, which Beijing still considers unequal and a historical injustice. This long-standing territorial dispute has been a point of friction between the two nations for over a century.
China's Third Carrier Exposes Operational Limits
China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, recently made a significant move by transiting through the Taiwan Strait, prompting Taiwan's military to spring into action with enhanced surveillance measures. The move was closely monitored by Taiwan, which even released a striking aerial image of the carrier - with one notable detail: its flight deck was eerily empty.
Japan Air Force Renamed to Reflect Expanded Space Domain Role
Japan is taking a giant leap in its defense strategy, renaming its air force to the Japan Aerospace Self-Defense Force to reflect its expanded role in the space domain. This move, approved by parliament on June 26, 2026, will take effect on April 1, 2027, and marks a significant shift in Tokyo's military capabilities.
Australia, Japan forge counter-disinformation pact
As China criticizes Japan's intelligence reforms, experts say Australia and Japan are joining forces to tackle a pressing issue: countering state-backed disinformation that fuels tensions across the region. By working together, they aim to mitigate the impact of false narratives and promote a more stable international landscape.
INTERPOL Warns of Rising Cybercrime in Asia-Pacific
Cybercriminals are wreaking havoc in Asia-Pacific, using cutting-edge tactics like AI and ransomware to scam and steal on a massive scale. Phishing is the region's most costly and widespread crime, with a third of countries reporting over 10,000 cases in just 15 months.
Cyber Trust Erodes as AI, Tools Enable New Attacks
Trust is crumbling in the digital world as hackers exploit AI and tools to launch devastating attacks, turning trusted platforms into malware delivery mechanisms. The latest threat: hijacked Google Ads and AI developer tools used to funnel over 2,000 victims to malicious download pages.
Cybercrime Exploits APAC's Rapid Digitalization
Cybercrime is rapidly overtaking traditional crime in APAC, with nearly a third of crime in over half the region's countries now online, according to Interpol's latest report. The alarming trend highlights the urgent need for stronger cross-border collaboration to combat the evolving threat.
Cybercrime Surges Across Asia and South Pacific, Hits 30% of All Crime
Cybercrime is surging across Asia and the South Pacific, now accounting for over 30% of all recorded crime, with organised networks leveraging AI, ransomware, and social engineering on a massive scale. The rapid rise is driven by rapid digital adoption and new technologies.
US Power Anchors South China Sea Maritime Rights
A free and open South China Sea region won't become a reality through mere wishful thinking - it demands decisive action, strong deterrence, and a unified response to China's increasingly assertive moves. The Philippines has aptly described China's strategy as "talk and take," where diplomatic engagement goes hand-in-hand with the incremental expansion of its physical presence and control.
Japan Weighs Homegrown Defense Export System to Bolster Security Ties
Japan is poised to revolutionize its defense export game with a homegrown system that could supercharge its security alliances - and Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro is betting that production capacity will be the key to deterrence. A proposed Japanese-style Foreign Military Sales system and new agency could soon make Tokyo a major player in the global arms trade.
China Decommissions Aging Submarines Amid Regional Naval Shifts
A glimpse into a decommissioned Type 035G Ming-class submarine reveals a surprisingly domestic touch - an oversized round chopping block and stainless-steel steamer pots - giving the vessel a distinctly Chinese kitchen feel. This unique detail highlights the blend of Soviet naval lineage and Chinese character in these aging submarines.
China Tests Advanced HQ-16F Missile as Pakistan Eyes Export Variant
China just took a major leap in its military tech with the first live-fire test of its advanced HQ-16F missile, showcasing its impressive range and precision in a desert trial over 1,000 km from its home base. The successful intercept of an airborne target at 50 km range marks a significant milestone in the development of this cutting-edge weapon.
China's Military Expands, Encircles Japan
Japan's security landscape has been forever altered after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan sparked a furious reaction from China, escalating military tensions and encircling the island nation. The diplomatic fallout has significant implications for Tokyo's strategic calculations.
UN Loss to Philippines Bolsters Case for Minilateral Security Pacts
Kyrgyzstan has secured the Asia-Pacific seat on the UN Security Council for 2027-2028, defeating the Philippines in a decisive 142-49 vote after a surprise fourth-round collapse. This unexpected margin has sparked intrigue about the dynamics at play in the UN General Assembly.
Chinese Cybercrime Group TA4922 Expands Global Reach
Stay vigilant, organizations worldwide: a rapidly evolving Chinese cybercrime group, TA4922, is expanding its global footprint, rewriting the rules for corporate network exploitation and monetization. From East Asia to the UK, Germany, and beyond, this financially driven threat actor is localizing its attacks to hit closer to home.
Philippines' Security Council Bid Targets Enforcement of Global Rules
The Philippines is vying for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, with a vote on June 3 in New York, and its bid is centred on pushing for stronger enforcement of global rules. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is leading the charge, urging the international community to take a stand and call out breaches of international rules.
Japan Counters China’s Militarism Allegations with Defense Policy Defense
Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi hit back at China's militarism allegations, calling them "strange" and reaffirming Tokyo's commitment to international law and the UN charter. He emphasized Japan's goal of supporting regional stability through defense cooperation, not aggression.
China Shifts Military Pressure Beyond Taiwan Strait
China ramped up its military presence around Taiwan in May, conducting four intense joint combat readiness patrols that signaled a significant increase in operational pressure. This unusual surge in activity was marked by sorties on May 1, 6, 19, and 25, keeping Taiwan on high alert.
US-South Korea Alliance Evolves Beyond OPCON Transfer
US and South Korea are redefining their 70-year alliance, shifting from a structurally asymmetrical relationship to one of shared accountability, with the OPCON transfer being a crucial milestone. This evolution aims to achieve a "Koreanization of Korean defense," empowering a more balanced partnership.
Japan Weighs Taiwan Security Ties Amid Defense Export Reforms
Taiwan's navy is in urgent need of an upgrade, with 15 of its 25 major surface combatants over 25 years old, and some vessels even pushing 50 years of service. The Taiwanese navy is now eyeing Japan's cutting-edge Mogami-class frigate as a potential game-changer for its next-generation surface combatant plans.