U.S. Defense Secretary Austin Vows to Keep Pressure on China
He said “risky intercepts” by Chinese planes in international airspace would not deter the United States and allies from patrolling, and he restated U.S. support for Taiwan.
South China Sea
Eye on US-China rivalry, Australia’s PM stresses ‘collective responsibility’ in key speech
“Doing our part to fulfill the shared responsibility all of us have to preserve peace and security,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. “And making it crystal clear that when it comes to any unilateral attempt to change the status …
Inside the navy’s search for war grave robbers in the South China Sea
The crew of the HMCS Montreal was searching for a Chinese boat allegedly willing to disturb graves for a shot at Second World War memorabilia.
U.S. says China jet ‘buzzed’ an Air Force plane over international waters
China seems to be continuing its practice of “buzzing” Western aircraft as a new incident with a U.S. plane has come to light over the South China Sea in international airspace.
Chinese pilot performed ‘aggressive maneuver’ near US plane, military says
The incident is the latest in a season of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing this yearA Chinese fighter pilot performed an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” near an American surveillance aircraft operating over the South China Sea las…
Malaysia investigates Chinese barge suspected of links to looting of British WW2 wrecks
Search of vessel registered in Fuzhou, China, reveals cannon shell suspected to date from second world warMalaysia’s maritime agency has said it found a cannon shell believed to be from the second world war on a Chinese-registered vessel and was invest…
South China Sea shipwrecks give clues about historic Silk Road trade routes
Archaeologists begin excavation of two 500-year-old vessels filled with porcelain and timberTwo 500-year-old shipwrecks in the South China Sea, filled with Ming-era porcelain and stacked timber, provide significant clues about the maritime Silk Road tr…
Philippine army head sees China threat ‘every day in South China Sea’
“Whenever we fly in our own territorial waters, we are challenged by the Chinese, challenged because they say we are in their territory, when in fact it is our territory,” Lt. Gen. Romeo Browner, commanding general of the Philippine Army sa…
Biden hails ‘deep friendship’ with Philippines and boosts military ties amid China tensions
White House announces transfer of three C-130 aircraft and coastal patrol vessels during Washington visit of Ferdinand Marcos JrJoe Biden has said the US is “ironclad” in its commitment to defending the Philippines, including in the highly contested So…
US-Philippines discuss ‘roadmap’ for weapon buys, including potential multi-role fighter sale
Leaders discussed what US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called “a security-sector assistance roadmap to support the delivery of priority defense platforms over the next five to 10 years, including radar, unmanned aerial systems, military transpo…