China’s Military Flights Near Taiwan Halt for Nearly Two Weeks
Richard Saunders, Phnom Penh Taiwan’s skies recently saw an unexpected pause in Chinese military activity that left defense observers guessing. For nearly two weeks, no People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft were recorded flying near the island—a rare silence in what has become a near-daily pattern of incursions. According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, Chinese warplanes resumed…
Beyond Rhetoric: Calls for Concrete Action to Address Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination in Newsrooms
Associate Editor, Taipei As the international community including Taiwan observes this year’s International Women’s Month, the Federation of Eastern African Journalists has noted with concerns about unacceptable working conditions women journalists are subjected to by both local and international media houses. We urge local and global media industry to move beyond rhetoric and implement meaningful…
Xi Jinping Vows Tougher Military Anti-Corruption Drive Amid Espionage Concerns
Richard Saunders, Phnom Penh – Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to intensify his campaign against corruption in the armed forces, warning that disloyalty and graft will not be tolerated as Beijing faces mounting scrutiny over internal discipline and foreign espionage threats. Speaking to delegates from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed…
Iran’s Decentralized Defense Strategy Sends Shockwaves Through Global Energy Markets
Francis Tuschek, Kaohsiung Iran’s decentralized “Mosaic Defense” strategy has intensified regional instability, disrupting global energy flows and raising concerns in Asia over supply security. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has adopted a war of attrition, deploying waves of drones and missiles to overwhelm U.S. and Gulf defenses while targeting energy infrastructure critical to the…
China Condemns US-Israeli Strikes on Iran, Taiwan Watches Regional Fallout
Francis Tuschek, Associate Editor– China has sharply criticized the recent joint US-Israeli military strikes on Iran, describing them as a “flagrant violation” of the UN Charter and a departure from “fundamental norms of international relations,” according to a March 1 report from state-run Xinhua News Agency. Beijing’s reaction mirrors its earlier denunciation of Washington’s capture…
UK Labour MP’s Husband Among Three Arrested in China Espionage Probe
Richard Saunders, Phnom Penh he husband of Labour MP Joani Reid has been detained as part of a national security investigation into alleged spying for China. David Taylor, 39, was arrested in London on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, an offence under the National Security Act 2023. He remains in custody alongside two…
Former US F-35 instructor charged with conspiring to train Chinese military
Richard Saunders,Phnom Penh A former US Air Force fighter pilot with more than two decades of experience with nuclear delivery systems and aircraft, including advanced F-35 stealth jets, has been arrested and charged with conspiring to help the Chinese military. Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, was arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana, on Wednesday and charged with…
Taiwan to Attend Pacific Islands Forum in Palau
Richard Saunders, Phnom Penh Taiwan has confirmed it will participate in this year’s Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), marking a significant diplomatic moment for Taipei as it continues to strengthen ties with its allies in the Pacific. Last year’s summit in the Solomon Islands excluded Taiwan, the United States, and China, raising concerns about the influence…
US ramps up nuclear claims against China
Richard Saunders, Subic Bay Taiwan is closely monitoring reports after a senior U.S. official reiterated claims that China conducted an underground nuclear explosion in June 2020 — an allegation Beijing has again dismissed as baseless political manipulation. Speaking at an event hosted by Washington’s Hudson Institute, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Arms Control and Nonproliferation Christopher…
Britain’s China Reset Reflects Pragmatic Shift in Western Diplomacy
Richard Saunders- Subic Bay When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing in late January, his visit signaled more than a revival of diplomatic routine. It marked London’s entry into a new phase of foreign policy calculation, one defined by economic necessity and geopolitical restraint, as Western capitals recalibrate their approaches to China amid…
