7 d. ago ‘Not Nato only’: UK declares ‘new golden age’ of defence ties with Japan

Britain and Japan are set to usher in a “new golden age in defence cooperation”, the UK’s defence minister has said, as London seeks to cement Tokyo as its closest security partner in Asia. UK Defence Secretary John Healey made the declaration aboard HMS Prince of Wales on Friday, the Royal Navy’s 65,000-tonne flagship, moored at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal for the two-day Pacific Future Forum. The visit marked the first time a foreign aircraft carrier had entered Tokyo Bay, lending...

Politics

1 week ago China’s military strides, future of Malaysian oil and gas: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China’s military has made a dramatic about-turn. The world is watching 2. Malaysia’s oil and gas future finds itself adrift in the South China Sea 3. Award-winning HIV scientist Shan Liang exits US for Chinese research institute 4. Mixed signals from US lead Japan to broaden defence ties to...

Events

1 week ago PLA makes strides, Chinese man sold to Myanmar scam hub freed: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China’s military has made a dramatic about-turn. The world is watching 2. Malaysia’s oil and gas future finds itself adrift in the South China Sea 3. Award-winning HIV scientist Shan Liang exits US for Chinese research institute 4. Mixed signals from US lead Japan to broaden defence ties to...

Politics

1 week ago What Taiwan’s largest presence in US drills says about American defence ties

Taiwan’s biggest-ever participation in American-led military exercises has been thrust into the open by Pentagon-linked media, widely seen as a deepening of Washington’s defence ties with Taipei despite the Trump administration’s transactional approach to policy. Analysts said the unusually high-profile disclosure was aimed not only at deterring Beijing but also at countering rising distrust of the United States among Taiwanese people during Donald Trump’s second term as president. Citing a...

Politics

2 w. ago Mixed signals from US lead Japan to broaden defence ties to counter China

Japan’s latest naval drills signalled its desire to broaden military ties as uncertainties grow over US defence support, while also sending a message to China, analysts said. Earlier this month, F-35B Lightning II fighters from the British Royal Navy’s 809 Naval Air Squadron conducted landings and launches on the Japanese destroyer-carrier JS Kaga as part of a multinational exercise in the Philippine Sea. The British Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, as well as the US Marine Corps, were present on...

Politics

3 w. ago How a US$7 billion warship deal is reshaping Japan–Australia defence ties

Japan and Australia’s landmark A$10 billion (US$6.5 billion) deal for next-generation warships not only promises to reshape the Indo-Pacific’s security order, analysts say, but also revive Tokyo’s once-moribund defence industry. Under the deal, announced earlier his month, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will produce Mogami-class 11 stealth frigates for the Royal Australian Navy to replace its ageing Anzac-class vessels with a larger, faster and more lethal fleet. The Mogami-class is a...

Economics