Richard Sanders In a significant move to bolster national security, President William Lai (賴清德) announced yesterday a special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (approximately US$39.9 billion), which aims to enhance Taiwan’s military capabilities, including a state-of-the-art “Taiwan dome” air defense system. This funding, set to span eight years from next year through 2033, was detailed…
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh As tensions between Taiwan and China escalate, the island nation can glean critical insights from Ukraine’s war with Russia, particularly in the arenas of defense strategies, information warfare, and civil preparedness. The ongoing crisis in Ukraine serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that arise when confronting an aggressive neighbor,…
Ed Castro Venezuela has requested assistance from Russia, China, and Iran to strengthen its defenses amid the ongoing standoff with the US, the Washington Post claimed on Friday, citing US government documents. According to the newspaper, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping requesting radar detectors and directly citing the “escalation”…
Francis Tuschek A series of leaked documents have uncovered evidence that Russia is actively assisting China in its military buildup targeting Taiwan, including the sale of advanced weaponry and specialized training for Chinese forces. The cache, comprising roughly 800 pages of contracts and correspondence, was obtained and verified by an independent think tank. The documents…
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh The US is working to ramp up missile production in preparation for a potential conflict with China, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing officials familiar with the matter. The Pentagon is reportedly pressing defense contractors to double or quadruple output amid mounting concerns over insufficient weapons stockpiles. The US Department…
Richard Sanders In the escalating arms race across the Pacific, the United States and its allies are ramping up their military capabilities in a bid to counter China’s expanding influence and potential threats, particularly concerning Taiwan. As the geopolitical tension heightens, new missile systems are set to play a crucial role in regional security strategies….
Richard Sanders Chinese researchers have successfully tested a non-nuclear hydrogen bomb that created a sustained fireball, far outperforming traditional explosives, the South China Morning Post has reported. In an article on Sunday, the newspaper cited the researchers’ study published last month in the Chinese-language Journal of Projectiles, Rockets, Missiles and Guidance. According to the report,…
Richard Sanders Israel is considering a “limited strike” on Iran’s nuclear facilities in the coming months, despite Washington’s refusal to support military action, Reuters reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The deliberations come as the second round of US-Iran negotiations have concluded in Rome, with expert-level talks expected to continue on April 26 in…
Francis Tuschek The US military would be unprepared for a protracted war with China due to shortcomings in the defense industrial base, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff has said. In his written testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday – part of the confirmation process – retired…
Richard Sanders US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has unveiled a strategic directive aimed at reorienting the U.S. military’s focus to prioritize deterring China’s potential acquisition of Taiwan, with an emphasis on bolstering homeland defense. This internal memo, entitled the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance, has been characterized as influentially shaped by the conservative think tank,…