59 m. ago Malaysia’s fighter jet deal to ‘quietly’ boost South China Sea defences

The United States’ approval of Malaysia’s purchase of dozens of fighter jets is set to bolster the Southeast Asian country’s air capabilities – especially in the South China Sea – as part of a strategy to “quietly” build deterrence while also preserving cordial ties with China. Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief General Tan Sri Asghar Khan Goriman Khan confirmed during a June 17 briefing that Washington had approved Malaysia’s request to acquire up to 33 used F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets...

Politics

11 h. ago US secretary of state hints at possible meeting with Chinese foreign minister

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that he was working on a possible sit-down in coming days with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of an Asean meeting in Malaysia amid a contentious trade dispute. If realised, the meeting on the periphery of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations conclave would be the first time the two top diplomats will have met in person since Rubio assumed his position in January. Rubio, who also holds the post of national security...

Politics

22 h. ago Malaysian teenage couple charged with murder of Cyberjaya student in dorm

A Malaysian teenage couple were charged with murder in a court on Thursday over the killing of a 20-year-old student last month, in a case that has caused nationwide concerns over security for students living in the country’s flagship tech hub of Cyberjaya. Prosecutors accused Sri Darvein Manthavan, 19, of killing Malaysian Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara at her dorm on June 23, aided by his girlfriend Thineswary V Devendran, also 19. Both suspects face the death penalty if found guilty, or an...

Events

34 h. ago Head of US House panel urges schools to reconsider ‘nefarious’ Chinese scholarship programme

Representative John Moolenaar, the head of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, is calling on seven American universities, including Dartmouth College, to reconsider partnerships with a Chinese scholarship organisation. The move is the latest congressional attempt to curb the flow of Chinese students to the US over national security concerns. Since taking over as chair of the committee, Moolenaar, a Michigan Republican, has made ending US-China partnerships a priority. In...

Politics

40 h. ago Hong Kong waiter charged with inciting subversion under national security law

A waiter has become the latest person charged under the national security law, with prosecutors accusing him of inciting others to overthrow Beijing and the Hong Kong government in a series of social media posts. Chan Ho-hin, 22, on Wednesday saw his original sedition charge upgraded to one of inciting subversion after West Kowloon Court approved a prosecution request to amend the indictment. The defendant has been remanded in custody since he was first charged on April 30 with a count of...

Events

55 h. ago Trump admin launches National Farm Security Action Plan to ban China’s farmland purchases, halt dangerous research

Trump admin launches National Farm Security Action Plan to ban China’s farmland purchases, halt dangerous research  New York Post

Politics

55 h. ago FBI: 'Significant' national security threat arrested in Italy

FBI: 'Significant' national security threat arrested in Italy  KHOU

Events

59 h. ago Trump admin increasing scrutiny of Chinese, other foreign farmland ownership in US

US President Donald Trump’s administration is expanding scrutiny of Chinese and other foreign ownership of American farmland and starting to cancel agricultural contracts with entities from “countries of concern” amid apprehension over the national security risks of such foreign involvement. As part of a new seven-part National Farm Security Action Plan, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told reporters on Tuesday that “swift legislative and executive action” would be taken at “every level of...

Politics

5 d. ago Donald Trump says US and China will hold talks on TikTok deal early next week

US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his interest in visiting China and announced that talks between Beijing and Washington were set to start early next week on a possible TikTok deal that could determine the future of the popular video-sharing platform. The fate of TikTok, which faces a potential ban in the US over national security concerns, has long been a sticking point in US-China relations. Under a law passed by the US Congress last year, ByteDance Ltd, the Beijing-based parent company...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump says US and China will hold talks on TikTok deal early next week

US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his interest in visiting China, while announcing that bilateral talks are set to start early next week on a possible TikTok deal that could determine the future of the popular video-sharing platform. The fate of TikTok, which faces a potential ban in the US over national security concerns, has long been a sticking point in US-China relations. Under a law passed by the US Congress last year, ByteDance Ltd, the Beijing-based parent company of the social...

Politics

5 d. ago China says quiet part out loud: Beijing tells EU it can't afford Russia losing war against Ukraine; wants

China says quiet part out loud: Beijing tells EU it can't afford Russia losing war against Ukraine; wants  Times of India

Events

7 d. ago National security offenders to be disqualified from Hong Kong’s Legco elections

Hong Kong authorities have proposed disqualifying anyone convicted of offences endangering national security from being nominated to run in a Legislative Council election or serving as a lawmaker. The Electoral Affairs Commission said a public consultation for the proposed guidelines, which include several changes related to national security, was launched on Thursday and would wrap up on August 1. The proposals were shared months before the next Legco election on December 7, the second to be...

Politics

7 d. ago Veteran Chinese diplomat warns Trump’s policies risk ‘shared destruction’

The Trump administration’s national security mindset could push humanity towards more conflicts and even “shared destruction”, the head of the Communist Party’s diplomatic arm has warned. Liu Jianchao, who leads the International Department of the party’s Central Committee, pitched China’s vision of international relations – a rejection of the ethos reflected in American foreign policy language – as a viable path to lasting global peace on Thursday. The veteran Chinese diplomat rejected...

Events

7 d. ago Hong Kong plans to update prison rules to better guard national security

Hong Kong’s security and prison agencies plan to update the current prison rules to tighten visiting criteria for specific lawyers, doctors and chaplains to ensure they safeguard national security, prevent crime and maintain order and discipline of those behind bars. In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Thursday, the Security Bureau and the Correctional Services Department laid out five “key purposes” that would form the grounds for prison staff to impose additional restrictions,...

Events

7 d. ago Hong Kong crowds welcome aircraft carrier Shandong as city leader hails visit

China’s first independently designed aircraft carrier, the Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong waters on Thursday morning, with thousands of people flocking to the coast and hilltops and even renting water taxis to welcome the vessel and three other warships to the city. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu inspected a guard of honour on the deck of the 70,000-tonne carrier, accompanied by two senior naval officers, and was given a tour of the ship in the late afternoon. He attended a welcoming ceremony...

Politics

8 d. ago Beijing wary as US plots quiet trade war to isolate China; India in negotiation room

Beijing wary as US plots quiet trade war to isolate China; India in negotiation room  The Economic Times

Events

8 d. ago Live: Chinese aircraft carrier’s visit shows national security ‘rock

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its accompanying strike group entered Hong Kong waters on Thursday morning as part of a five-day trip, marking the first time one of the country’s fully domestically built carriers has visited the city. The 70,000-tonne warship is being escorted by...

Society

8 d. ago Chinese aircraft carrier’s visit shows national security ‘rock

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its accompanying strike group entered Hong Kong waters on Thursday morning as part of a five-day trip, marking the first time one of the country’s fully domestically built carriers has visited the city. The 70,000-tonne warship is being escorted by...

Events

8 d. ago Developing | Chinese aircraft carrier’s visit shows national security ‘rock

Developing | Chinese aircraft carrier’s visit shows national security ‘rock-solid’: John Lee  South China Morning Post

Events

8 d. ago 'Threats to national security': US charges two Chinese nationals with spying; slams Beijing for trying to 'infiltrate military'

'Threats to national security': US charges two Chinese nationals with spying; slams Beijing for trying to 'infiltrate military'  Times of India

Events