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 During a visit to Poland, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung emphasized the urgent need for Europe to stand with Taiwan, as both face threats from authoritarian neighbors. Addressing the Warsaw Security Forum, Lin highlighted that Taiwan and Europe share similar risks from countries like China and Russia, which challenge the international rules-based order…
Ed Castro North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has hinted that the country has developed “secret weapons” to bolster deterrence against the US and its allies. In a speech carried by the state-run KCNA news agency on Monday, Kim said Pyongyang must “continuously stockpile even more formidable forces capable of repelling all military threats,” and accused…
Ed Castro US President Donald Trump has refused to approve a weapons package for Taiwan, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing five people familiar with the matter. The Post linked the decision to Trump’s efforts to negotiate a trade deal with Beijing and his potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is expected…
Ed Castro and Greg Chen, Manila Gray zone operations, lawfare, cyberattacks, and the disruptive use of emerging technologies are intensifying security risks in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. These urgent warnings were raised at the high-level forum, “Navigating Asymmetric Threats: Cross-Regional Strategies for Europe and the Indo-Pacific,” convened by the Stratbase Institute in partnership with the European…
Richard Sanders The Taipei Aerospace and Defense Exhibition officially opened yesterday, marking a significant milestone with the display of 51 new military systems and a record-breaking number of participating exhibitors. The three-day event, which runs through tomorrow at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center’s Hall 1, features 490 exhibitors across 1,500 booths—more than doubling the number from…
Richard Sanders The Philippine Navy officially inaugurated a new forward operating base in Mahatao, Batanes, last Thursday, marking a significant step in enhancing the country’s northern defenses. Located just 185 kilometers from Taiwan, this base holds critical strategic importance amid increasing regional tensions. Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca emphasized that the facility…
Richard Sanders Plans for China’s so-called “super embassy” in London have been delayed after UK officials demanded clarification over “greyed-out sections” of its design and Beijing refused to disclose further details, according to the Financial Times. China has slammed the move. The project, dubbed a “super embassy” in British media, would be the largest such…
Richard Sanders In a significant display of military collaboration, more than 500 Taiwanese troops took part in the annual Northern Strike military exercise held in Michigan, a U.S. Pentagon-run event. The drill, which concluded this past Sunday, involved a total of 7,500 military personnel from 36 countries and territories worldwide, according to a report by…
by Francis Tuschek Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) yesterday said he has received information about a possible US government investment in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and an assessment of the possible effect on the firm requires further discussion. If the US were to invest in TSMC, the plan would need…