The US and South Korea have secured a landmark deal to counter the North Korean nuclear threat. Washington has agreed to periodically deploy US nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea and involve Seoul in its nuclear planning operations. In return, South Korea has agreed to not develop its own nuclear weapons. The Washington Declaration will strengthen the allies’ co-operation in deterring a North Korean attack, US President Joe Biden said. Concern has been rising on both sides about the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. Pyongyang is developing tactical nuclear weapons that can target South Korea, and refining its long-range weapons … Continue reading US and South Korea agree key nuclear weapons deal

Australia will speed up efforts to buy longer range missiles to counter the growing threat from China, a major defence review says. It warns the country can no longer be protected by its geographic isolation in the “missile age”. The government will spend some A$19bn ($12bn) to deliver the report’s immediate recommendations. The 110-page study is described as the biggest overhaul of Australian defence since World War Two. The Defence Strategic Review (DSR) comes amid increasing regional tension over China’s stance towards Taiwan, which it has repeatedly vowed to take by force if necessary. The Chinese navy has also established … Continue reading Australia to increase missile purchases from the US after defence review

French President Emmanuel Macron has defended his recent comments about Taiwan, in which he said France should not get caught up in an escalation between the US and China. He made the comments in an interview over the weekend following his three-day state visit to China. He also said that being a US ally did not mean being a “vassal”. His remarks have drawn criticism from politicians and other public figures on both sides of the Atlantic. But on Wednesday during a visit to the Netherlands he said he stood by the comments. “Being an ally does not mean being … Continue reading French President Macron says France is ‘An ally not a vassal’ over his comment on Taiwan

The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills a day after China concluded large-scale exercises around Taiwan. Over three days, China’s military rehearsed blockades of Taiwan in response to the island’s leader meeting the US House Speaker last week. Washington criticised China’s display of firepower as disproportionate, while Taiwan President Tsai said it was “irresponsible” and she had the right to make visits to the US. The US drills had been earlier planned. Washington announced last month that their annual Balikatan exercise with the Philippines would be their largest ever – involving more than 17,000 troops, … Continue reading US, Philippines begin largest-ever drills after China exercises

China has finished three days of military drills around Taiwan, which included “sealing off” the island and simulating targeted strikes. Taiwan said it had detected jets to its east, while China said its Shandong aircraft carrier had taken part. Beijing began the exercises on Saturday after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met the US House Speaker in California. After the drills ended, Taiwan’s defence ministry said it would not stop strengthening its combat preparedness. The drills have not been as big as those that followed Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei last August. Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state. China sees it … Continue reading China aircraft carrier ‘seals off’ island on third day of miltary drills

India has reacted sharply to China’s attempts to rename places in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and said it “outright rejects” the move. The state has been and will always be an “integral and inalienable part of India,” foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Tuesday. His comments came after reports said that China had renamed 11 places along a disputed Himalayan border region in the state. China and India share a disputed 3,440km (2,100 mile) long de facto border – called the Line of Actual Control, or LAC – which is poorly demarcated. The presence of rivers, lakes … Continue reading India rejects China’s attempt to rename disputed places

Finland will become the 31st member of Nato after Turkey’s parliament voted to approve its application. Turkey had delayed Finland’s bid to join the West’s defensive alliance for months – complaining the Nordic nation was supporting “terrorists”. Sweden, which applied to join Nato at the same time last May, is still being blocked by Ankara over similar complaints. Any Nato expansion needs the support of all its members. Finland will now be formally admitted into Nato at its next summit, taking place in July in Lithuania. In a statement following the Turkish vote, the Finnish government said joining the alliance … Continue reading Turkey approves Finland NATO membership bid

Two Russian strategic bomber planes flew over the Sea of Japan for more than seven hours, the Russian defence ministry said on Tuesday in a statement released as Japan’s prime minister was beginning a visit to Ukraine. The Tupolev Tu-95MS planes are capable of carrying nuclear weapons and Moscow regularly flies them over international waters in the Arctic, North Atlantic and Pacific as a show of strength. The timing of the latest flight appeared more pointed than usual, as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was due in Kyiv later on a visit to show solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy … Continue reading Russia flies strategic bomber planes near Japan as its PM visits Ukraine

The US, UK and Australia have unveiled details of their plan to create a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, aimed at countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Under the Aukus pact Australia is to get its first nuclear-powered subs – at least three – from the US. The allies will also work to create a new fleet using cutting-edge tech, including UK-made Rolls-Royce reactors. Beijing said the major naval deal “hurts peace and stability”. China’s UN mission also accused the Western allies of setting back nuclear non-proliferation efforts. But US President Joe Biden said the deal was aimed at … Continue reading US, UK and Australia agree on nuclear submarine project

Russia has started deploying tactical nuclear weapons-armed vessels in the Baltic Sea for the first time in three decades, according to a Norwegian intelligence report. The annual report released by the Norwegian Intelligence Service states that the vessels belonged to Russia’s Northern Fleet, reported The New Voice of Ukraine. The fleet’s warships regularly went to sea with nuclear weapons during the Soviet era, but this is the first time the Russian Federation has deployed them, the report stated. “The key part of the nuclear potential is on the submarines and surface ships of the Northern Fleet,” it said. “Tactical nuclear weapons … Continue reading Russia deploys ships armed with tactical nuclear weapons for first time in 30 years, says Norway

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Sunday he saw no reason why the Philippines should not have a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Japan if it would boost maritime security and ensure greater protection for Filipino fishermen. Marcos, however, also told reporters he would exercise care in pursuing a potential pact with Tokyo “because we do not want to appear provocative.” Marcos’ first visit to Japan since taking office came after he recently granted the United States access to additional military bases in the Philippines under a VFA, a move which China said undermined regional stability and raised tensions. The … Continue reading Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos jr open to a troop pact with Japan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested that Ankara may agree to Finland joining Nato, but not Sweden. He criticised Sweden’s refusal to extradite dozens of people allegedly tied to Kurdish militant groups and other critics of his government. “If you absolutely want to join Nato, you will return these terrorists to us,” said Mr Erdogan. His comments come days after Turkey suspended talks to accept the two Nordic nations as members. The move was prompted by a series of controversial protests in Stockholm, including one during which a copy of the Koran was burned. Swedish officials have condemned the … Continue reading Erdogan says Turkey may block Sweden’s Nato membership bid