10 h. ago Pentagon reliant on Chinese suppliers and ‘not prepared’ for war, report warns

The US defence industrial base remains dependent on Chinese suppliers despite efforts to decouple – and that raises concerns over war readiness, according to a report by data analytics firm Govini. Chinese firms still made up 9.3 per cent of the primary contractors, or Tier 1 suppliers, involved in major US defence programmes across nine critical sectors in 2024, Govini said in its annual National Security Scorecard. “The United States is not prepared for the war that we may have to enter if...

Events

2 d. ago Japanese angered by Trump’s Iran strike comparison to atomic bombings

Japanese leaders and survivors of the atomic bombings have denounced President Donald Trump’s comparison of the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities to the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, describing his remarks as deeply inappropriate and historically insensitive. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki condemned Trump’s comments, saying the use of nuclear weapons was “unacceptable” no matter the circumstances – a lesson that should be self-evident from the...

Events

5 d. ago China hosts Iran defence minister and others on warship, condemns ‘hegemony’

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun has hosted his Iranian counterpart and other senior defence staff on an advanced Chinese warship days after the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities, while stating “hegemony” is the biggest source of global chaos. Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was among defence chiefs received by Dong on the ship on Wednesday alongside the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers meeting in Qingdao, a two-day event that ends on Thursday. Nasirzadeh...

Politics

5 d. ago Interstate mediation in a multipolar world: how can Hong Kong best play a role?

If there is any consistent theme at all in international relations and global affairs throughout these past years, it is that we are now living in a multipolar world. With the end of the Cold War, the world entered a period of Western dominance that is now giving way to a more complex and fragmented world order. Disputes and differences between states will only continue to proliferate, but with a multipolar world comes an increasing number of them questioning the role of international law in...

Economics

5 d. ago US strike on Iran highlights China’s need for strategic bombers, analysts say

Strategic bombers remain “irreplaceable” for China’s military – even as it makes progress with sixth-generation fighters and long-range missiles – given their role in global strikes and nuclear deterrence, analysts say. They pointed to the American B-2 stealth bombers that hit Iran’s three nuclear sites on Saturday, dropping bunker-buster bombs directly over the facilities before returning unscathed. Seven of the B-2 bombers were flown nearly 27,000km (16,700 miles) – supported by more than 100...

Events

8 d. ago Trump claims Israel, Iran agree to ceasefire amid reports of renewed bombing

US President Donald Trump claimed that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire that is meant to take effect in 24 hours, a dramatic change in direction just hours after the Middle East crisis appeared to widen. Earlier on Monday, Iran struck back against the United States by firing missiles at an American military base in Qatar, a development that built on weeks of rising tensions between arch-rivals Iran and Israel – and now, Israel’s key ally, the US. Shortly after Trump’s ceasefire...

Politics

8 d. ago China ‘unlikely to take decisive role’ as US bombing of Iran tests influence

Even as US air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities put China’s influence to the test in the strategically important region, most observers expect Beijing to avoid direct intervention of any kind. They said Beijing was likely to instead focus on diplomatic support for Tehran as the US became more entangled in the Israel-Iran conflict. US bombing over the weekend reportedly damaged three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, marking the most significant Western military action against Tehran since the...

Events

8 d. ago China’s support for Tehran grows more restrained as U.S. enters war between Israel and Iran

China’s support for Tehran grows more restrained as U.S. enters war between Israel and Iran  CNBC

Politics

9 d. ago As the US bombs Iran and enters another war, China is the likely winner

As the US bombs Iran and enters another war, China is the likely winner  Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Events

3 w. ago Still ‘over’? Stephen Roach says Hong Kong a surprise winner in US

American economist Stephen Roach has said that Hong Kong has benefited from the US-China trade war despite last year having declared the city to be “over”, even as he claimed that other aspects of the financial hub had worsened. The former Morgan Stanley Asia chairman sparked debate last year after he penned an opinion piece which argued, in part, that Hong Kong would be caught in the “crossfire” of the worsening US-China rivalry. “The word caught is the word that, if I had to write the piece...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong’s still ‘over’ but Stephen Roach says city a surprise trade war winner

American economist Stephen Roach has said that Hong Kong has benefited from the US-China trade war despite last year having declared the city to be “over”, even as he claimed that other aspects of the financial hub had worsened. The former Morgan Stanley Asia chairman sparked debate last year after he penned an opinion piece which argued, in part, that Hong Kong would be caught in the “crossfire” of the worsening US-China rivalry. “The word caught is the word that, if I had to write the piece...

Events