36 h. ago A ‘Pacific eyes’ intelligence body would offset China’s growing presence: report

Australia should lead the creation of a formal Five Eyes-style intelligence club in the Pacific amid the alleged threat of China’s growing presence in the region, a prominent foreign policy think tank suggests. Dubbed “Pacific Eyes”, the proposed intelligence-sharing alliance could help plug institutional gaps that “external powers” – particularly Beijing – were eager to exploit, the Sydney-based Lowy Institute argued in a report released on Tuesday. It recommended that the dedicated framework...

Politics

36 h. ago Call for ‘Pacific Eyes’ intelligence body to offset China’s growing presence

Australia should lead the creation of a formal Five Eyes-style intelligence club in the Pacific amid China’s growing presence in the region, a prominent foreign policy think tank has suggested. Dubbed “Pacific Eyes”, the proposed intelligence-sharing alliance could help to plug institutional gaps that “external powers” – particularly Beijing – were eager to exploit, the Sydney-based Lowy Institute said in a report released on Tuesday. It recommended that the dedicated framework initially consist...

Politics

54 h. ago Trump downplays Beijing threat to Taiwan as Australia touts rare earths deal

After nearly a year waiting to meet US President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sought to argue his country’s strategic value Monday – only for the “America first” leader to dominate the encounter by opining that Beijing had no plans to invade Taiwan and posed no real threat in the Indo-Pacific. “China doesn’t want to do that,” he insisted on Taiwan, during a press gaggle alongside Albanese, but later stated that the island will be one of the topics of discussion when...

Politics

7 d. ago New Zealand calls on US to counter China’s Pacific mineral push

New Zealand’s defence minister warned in an interview that small countries in the South Pacific face growing pressure from great power competition for their rare minerals and fisheries wealth, and that more action was needed from regional neighbours to help in preserving island nations’ sovereignty. Judith Collins, who also oversees New Zealand’s intelligence and space portfolios, spoke on Wednesday before departing for Washington, where she will meet Trump administration officials including...

Politics

7 d. ago Australia urged to adopt guerrilla, Singapore’s ‘poisonous shrimp’ tactics

Australia must learn from past guerrilla insurgencies and adopt an “unconventional deterrence” policy in facing down threats from China, Russia and elsewhere, one of the country’s leading think tanks said on Wednesday. Australia, under the tripartite Aukus pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, will acquire at least three Virginia-class submarines from the US within 15 years, with an eye to eventually build its own. Until then, Canberra faces a major gap in its defences, warned the...

Politics

7 d. ago Potential typhoon in Pacific could enter South China Sea: Hong Kong Observatory

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. A potential typhoon forming in the northwestern Pacific could enter the South China Sea, the Hong Kong Observatory has said. The forecaster on Wednesday estimated that an area of low pressure would gradually develop over the seas east of the Philippines in the next couple of days. It was likely to edge closer to the vicinity of Luzon by the weekend, and have...

Politics

2 w. ago Press Release: Senator Pete Ricketts Criticizes China’s Actions in Indo

Press Release: Senator Pete Ricketts Criticizes China’s Actions in Indo-Pacific as "Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive, and Deceptive"  Quiver Quantitative

Politics

2 w. ago Beijing aids gold’s record run, kidney transplant first: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Pentagon nominee hints at Aukus changes, says Taiwan should ‘pay its way’ The Aukus defence technology-sharing pact between the US, Britain and Australia could be made more “sustainable”, according to the Donald Trump administration’s pick as its next assistant defence secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. 2. China’s central bank aids gold’s...

Politics

2 w. ago China Wants America out of Pacific, Former Pentagon Official Warns

China Wants America out of Pacific, Former Pentagon Official Warns  Newsweek

Events

2 w. ago Pentagon nominee hints at Aukus changes, says Taiwan should ‘pay its way’

The Aukus defence technology-sharing pact between the US, Britain and Australia could be made more “sustainable”, according to the Donald Trump administration’s pick as its next assistant defence secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. At his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, John Noh, currently deputy assistant defence secretary for East Asia, also said he “strongly” believed that Taiwan needed to “do its part and pay” by increasing its spending on defence against possible attack from...

Politics

2 w. ago Singapore to deepen defence ties with Asia’s ‘resident power’ Australia

Australia and Singapore are in discussions to boost bilateral defence ties, including enhanced reciprocal access to naval and airbases, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Wednesday. Under the deal, Australia will be able to deploy more of its forces in Asia and “will mean stronger facilitation for Australia to participate in Asia”, Wong said during a joint press conference in Canberra, adding that the details are still being worked out. “We see Australia as a resident power in Asia and your...

Politics

2 w. ago What Australia’s ‘Pukpuk’ pact with Papua New Guinea means for the Pacific

A new chapter in Pacific security began this week as Australia and Papua New Guinea signed a mutual defence agreement that draws the strategically vital yet volatile Melanesian nation further into Canberra’s sphere of influence – as China watches closely. The “Pukpuk Treaty”, signed in Canberra on Monday by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Papua New Guinean counterpart James Marape, is Australia’s largest Pacific security pact in seven decades. Named after the Tok Pisin word...

Politics

2 w. ago Power of Siberia 2: Russia’s Political Bet, China’s Diplomatic Win

Power of Siberia 2: Russia’s Political Bet, China’s Diplomatic Win  The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine

Politics

2 w. ago Australia/China/France • English book about DGSE on way, Australia

Australia/China/France • English book about DGSE on way, Australia-India defence conclave, DRSD in Strasbourg, China and 'invisible' corruption  Intelligence Online

Politics

2 w. ago Cathay Pacific is broadening and deepening its Mainland China network

Cathay Pacific is broadening and deepening its Mainland China network  Centre for Aviation

Politics

2 w. ago How China’s Air Force Is Readying to Fight America over the Pacific

How China’s Air Force Is Readying to Fight America over the Pacific  The National Interest

Events

2 w. ago Rugby and Rivalry: Use Sports Diplomacy to Counter China in the South Pacific

Rugby and Rivalry: Use Sports Diplomacy to Counter China in the South Pacific  Center for International Maritime Security

Sport

2 w. ago Will Australia’s defence pact with Papua New Guinea curb China’s Pacific sway?

Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved a bilateral defence treaty with near neighbour Australia, paving the way for the nations’ leaders to sign a landmark agreement that US allies hope will curb Chinese influence in the region. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape confirmed on Thursday that the treaty had been formally approved by his cabinet. “Australia has only one other mutual defence treaty of this type and at our request Papua New Guinea will now sign this treaty,” Marape said in...

Politics

2 w. ago China Coast Guard Holds National Day Ceremony Near Disputed South China Sea Shoal

China Coast Guard Holds National Day Ceremony Near Disputed South China Sea Shoal  The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine

Politics

3 w. ago Cathay Pacific Group Continues Its Mainland China Network Growth

Cathay Pacific Group Continues Its Mainland China Network Growth  Aviation Week Network

Politics