Category: Military
Pentagon Report Shows Not Much Has Changed in Chinese Military Engagement in the Global South
The Pentagon has issued its annual report on China’s military capability. While it notes an increase in China’s overall military strength, especially how fast it’s building up its nuclear arsenal, not much has seemingly changed in terms of China’s military expansion in the Global South.
India Plans Air Defense Buildup in Confronting China
India is planning to spend up to $36 billion in the next seven years to improve its air defenses as part of ongoing hostilities with China and Pakistan, according to the head of its air force. Air Chief Marshall Vivek Ram Chaudhari outlined India’s defense planning at the Indian ...
Ongoing Tensions at Shoal Amid U.S.-Philippines Naval Exercises
The Philippine press is reporting that the Chinese coastguard is using rubber boats to control access to the contested Scarborough Shoal to Philippine fishing boats. Henrelito Empoc, a spokesperson for a fishing group, said, “The Chinese coast guard is on standby outside, but ...
Philippine Fishing Fleets Urged to Maintain Presence at Disputed Shoal as Tensions Build
The Philippine coastguard called on its country’s fishing fleets to keep operating around the Scarborough Shoal (known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Dao in China) despite the large Chinese presence in the disputed South China Sea area. Coastguard ...
China, Philippines Tensions Surge After Manila Removes Barrier in South China Sea
Already strained ties between China and the Philippines worsened further on Tuesday following the announcement by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that it successfully removed a 300-meter barrier that Chinese maritime forces installed in a disputed area of the South China Sea.
China Reacts to U.S.-Vietnam Arms Talks
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin commented on a report this weekend that the United States is in talks with Vietnam about a massive arms deal. Wang’s response was measured: Asian countries share a desire for stability, cooperation and development. We hope that when ...
Chinese Flag Mysteriously Appears at Protest in Niger
Russian flags have become a regular sight among supporters of military juntas that have thrown governments across West Africa this year -- but never a Chinese flag, until now. A bright red five-star Chinese flag mysteriously appeared at a protest in ...
Coups in the Sahel: Where China, U.S., and EU Should Work Together
Niger's coup leaders have been unfazed by military threats and economic blockade of food and medicine by neighboring countries and have not returned to their barracks. The unfolding coup is the latest event in ongoing chaos across the Sahel. Sudan fights a civil war, jihadism menaces the ...
The Downward Spiral of China-India Relations
There was a glimmer of hope last month that China and India would pull back from their increasingly contentious standoff when military commanders concluded talks along their disputed border on a somewhat optimistic note. The hope was that these talks would ...
Philippines Pushing for Permanent Structure on Second Thomas Shoal
The Philippine parliament is reportedly calling for funding to construct a permanent structure on the Second Thomas Shoal (known as the Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines and Ren’ai Jiao in China.) The atoll is at the heart of competing territorial claims between the two countries. ...