By Huang Wei
Covers the PLA, the South China Sea, regional defense spending and the emerging security architecture of the Indo-Pacific.
Bangladesh weighs joining Mecca defense pact, unsettling India
Bangladesh has signaled interest in joining the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a collective security pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pa
Japan's drone surge faces industrial hurdles in mass production
Japan's ATLA fast-tracked a contract for Terra Drone's interceptor, but scaling production faces industrial and testing bottlenecks. Experts
CIA chief's unannounced Moscow trip raises questions about Ukraine's fate
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced trip to Moscow in late August, sparking speculation about its purpose. The visit, which invo
China's YJ-20 hypersonic missile reshapes Pacific naval power
China's YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile is now deployed on Type 052D destroyers, expanding its reach beyond the elite Type 055 class. Thi
Nuclear brinkmanship returns to Europe as US reviews tactical options
The Pentagon is updating US nuclear policy amid fears Russia could use tactical weapons in Ukraine or against NATO. Moscow's Iskander-M depl
Hormuz insurance shock reveals the strait's real balance sheet
War-risk insurance on tankers through Hormuz has surged from 0.15% to as high as 10% of vessel value, cutting daily transits by up to 95%. T
US Reaper drones face obsolescence as attritable mass reshapes air war
The MQ-9 Reaper, a mainstay of US drone operations, is increasingly vulnerable to modern air defenses. The Pentagon is now shifting toward c
Russia's Khabarovsk submarine tests Pacific deterrence in a new era
Russia's Khabarovsk submarine, designed to deploy Poseidon nuclear drones, has started sea trials. The vessel's Pacific deployment could res
Trump's North Korea overture is really a test for Seoul and Beijing
Trump's decision to reduce US-South Korea military exercises is a strategic move aimed at Seoul, not just Pyongyang. The real audience may b
China's Type 054B upgrade signals shift toward missile-heavy frigate fleet
Satellite imagery shows China's next Type 054B frigate will carry 48 VLS cells, a 50% increase over earlier ships. The upgrade underscores B
Seoul should have a seat at the table on tactical nuclear options
A recent survey finds 75% of South Koreans support redeploying US tactical nuclear weapons, yet many doubt Washington would retaliate if Nor
Mecca Defense Pact: Strategic Insurance, Not an Eastern NATO
The Mecca Joint Defense Pact binds Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan to mutual defense, but it lacks the institutional depth of NATO. It's