US intel fears Iran war handed China strategic advantage – WaPo
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh The US-Israeli war against Iran has handed China a strategic opening to chip away at US influence on every major front, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing a classified intelligence analysis. Two US officials familiar with the matter told the newspaper that the document was produced by the Joint Staff’s…
Defence Tech Firm Accelerates Indo‑Pacific Expansion
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh The Pentagon has signed new agreements with Palmer Luckey’s Anduril and several other defence‑tech startups, creating a pathway for faster evaluation and deployment of emerging military systems. The framework is designed to overhaul slow traditional procurement cycles and more rapidly bring autonomous technologies, advanced sensors, and AI‑driven platforms into U.S. military…
Taipei Watches Trump’s China Visit With Cautious Resolve
Frank Williams, Phnom Penh Taiwanese officials and analysts will be closely monitoring the U.S. president’s visit to Beijing, viewing the high‑profile talks as a significant moment for regional stability. While the discussions centered on easing friction between Washington and Beijing, political leaders in Taipei remain steady but alert. From Taiwan’s perspective, great‑power dialogue is generally…
US Senators Press Trump to Fast‑Track Delayed Taiwan Arms Sale Amid China Visit
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh A bipartisan group of US senators is urging President Donald Trump to advance a long‑pending US$14 billion arms package for Taiwan, which has been paused ahead of Trump’s upcoming trip to China. The sale, approved in principle last year, has reportedly been stalled as the White House seeks to avoid friction…
MI5 warnings after first UK conviction of Chinese spy ring
Richard Sanders, Bangkok MI5 issued an extraordinary public alert on Friday after the first-ever conviction of a Chinese espionage network operating in Britain, warning that foreign governments are directing crimes against dissidents living in the UK. The Security Service released new guidance on the threat of transnational repression, outlining how victims may face physical intimidation,…
China‑Focused Balikatan Drills Tighten Alliances
Francis Tuchek, Taipei Regional militaries wrapped up this year’s Balikatan exercises in the northern Philippines, drilling for large‑scale combat in the very waters that would matter most in a conflict over Taiwan. Troops from the Philippines, United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and France trained across Luzon and the Bashi Channel—territory that would sit…
China slams African nation over Taiwan leader’s visit
Frank Williams, Associate Editor China has condemned Eswatini for hosting Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, accusing the southern African kingdom of giving a platform to “Taiwan independence,” in an escalating diplomatic row. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Wednesday that Beijing opposes Eswatini’s decision to receive Lai, who arrived in the kingdom on Saturday for a…
U.S. Pressure on Iran Seen by Analyst as Part of Wider Effort to Constrain China’s Energy Supply
Francis Tuschek, Taichung Washington’s pressure campaign on Iran is drawing renewed scrutiny as the Trump administration weighs military options ranging from targeted airstrikes to the possibility of a more extensive bombing campaign coming soon. Officials say the White House remains committed to maintaining its blockade on Iranian ports and energy exports, a policy that has…
US failed to set back Iran’s nuclear program – Reuters
Frank Williams, Associate Editor US-Israeli strikes on Iran have failed to push back the timeline for Tehran potentially acquiring a nuclear weapon, Reuters reported on Monday, citing intelligence sources. Tehran could still reportedly produce a bomb in roughly a year – the same estimate as after last June’s attacks on its key nuclear facilities. While…
Trump’s Anti-Christian Bombing Campaign
Yoichi Shimatsu, Editor at Large The White House decision to rush to Israel’s aid against Iran – the boldest defender of Palestinian rights against Netanyahu’s fascistic extermination campaign – is backfiring as a consequence of U.S. airstrikes against a slew of targets, some connected with the Revolutionary Guards and others quite obscure, especially given the…
