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Conflicts - Tensions
Taiwan expects to deploy two new submarines by 2027, security advisor says
Reuters Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two new, domestically developed submarines by 2027 and possibly equip later models with missiles to strengthen deterrence against the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and protect key supply lines, the head of the submarine program said. Taipei has made the program a key part of an ambitious project to…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Philippines vows to protect sovereignty in dismantling Chinese barrier it calls ‘clear violation’ in Scarborough Shoal
FORUM Staff Philippine officials in late September 2023 condemned the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for installing a floating barrier designed to keep Filipino boats out of a prime South China Sea fishing location. In dispatching divers to the disputed Scarborough Shoal waterway to dismantle the ropes and netting, the Philippine Coast Guard called the barrier a navigation hazard and…
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Global Commons
Japan, U.S. collaborating on hypersonic missile interceptor
Felix Kim Japan and the United States have embarked on a venture to counter the growing threat of hypersonic missiles from nations such as North Korea, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia. The joint effort aims to develop a missile system capable of intercepting hypersonic weapons during their glide phase, representing a significant leap in defense technology. The…
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Northeast Asia
Japan, South Korea, U.S. unite against North Korean missile threats
Felix Kim Enhanced defense communication among Japan, South Korea and the United States, including real-time sharing of missile defense data, promises to boost deterrence against North Korean missile threats. When combined with trilateral defense exercises, it also will send a strong message to Pyongyang and Beijing to refrain from seeking to disrupt the regional status quo by force, experts say.…
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Northeast Asia
USSTRATCOM Commander meets with key Indo-Pacific Allies
U.S. Strategic Command The leader of the United States military command tasked with deterring strategic attacks recently met with senior leaders from Japan and South Korea, affirming the U.S. commitment to safeguarding both nations’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. “I want to be able to display the extended deterrence that we offer to our Allies, in particular [South] Korea and Japan,”…
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Global Commons
Modi elevates India’s profile as voice of Global South as Xi skips G20 Summit
FORUM Staff What Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping intended as a snub to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by skipping the Group of 20 Summit in Delhi in early September 2023 — the Chinese leader’s first absence at the annual gathering since coming to power in 2012 — instead allowed Modi to raise India’s profile as a steady…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
U.S., Allies, Partners look to confidence-building measures to protect sea routes, enhance security
FORUM Staff With Indo-Pacific tensions mounting over territorial disputes, increasing maritime incidents and expanding gray-zone activities, militaries are turning to confidence-building measures (CBMs) to maintain peace. CBMs are agreements among two or more entities on conducting information exchanges and verification processes that cover military forces, weapons and equipment. The measures, as described in military doctrine, strive to increase transparency and…
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Northeast Asia
As North Korea unveils submarine, experts cite ‘signs of deception’
FORUM Staff A rattled Kim Jong Un exaggerated claims about North Korea’s arsenal in early September 2023 when the regime showed off a submarine that reportedly can launch a nuclear attack, analysts contend. Pyongyang’s state-run news agency claimed the vessel can fire tactical nuclear weapons from underwater but did not specify how many missiles it can carry or launch, The…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Taiwan urges PRC to stop ‘destructive’ military activities
Reuters Taiwan’s Defense Ministry urged the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to stop “destructive, unilateral action” after reporting a sharp rise in military activities near the self-governed island in mid-September 2023, warning that such behavior could spike tensions. The Chinese Communist Party, which claims Taiwan as its territory even though it has never been part of the PRC, has staged…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Allies, partners prepare to counter PRC maneuvers to block sea lines of communication
FORUM Staff The People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to threaten sea lines of communication (SLOCs) worldwide, undermining international maritime security norms and laws. In 2023, for example, the PRC has repeatedly postured to potentially blockade the Taiwan Strait through which more than a trillion dollars in trade passes every year. In April, the PRC sent patrol vessels, sanctioned by…
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