Conflicts – Tensions
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ROK successfully tests hypersonic missile
FORUM Staff The Republic of Korea (ROK) launched its first domestically built hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) in October 2026, joining the handful of Indo-Pacific countries operating or developing hypersonic missile…
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Chinese militia boat spotted for first time off eastern Taiwan
Reuters A Chinese militia boat, operating with two other vessels, was spotted off Taiwan’s Pacific coast in August 2026, the first known sighting of such a craft in the sensitive…
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North Korean land mines injured ROK Soldiers in DMZ, officials say
FORUM Staff Three Republic of Korea (ROK) Army Soldiers were injured by North Korean land mines in the Korean Peninsula’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), ROK leaders said. ROK Defense Minister Kang…
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North Korea, Russia evade U.N. sanctions to buttress Moscow’s drone
FORUM Staff North Korea has sent workers to Russia to manufacture military drones, violating United Nations Security Council resolutions, an international monitoring team reported, noting the number of North Koreans…
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Australia, U.S. bolster Pacific Island nations’ maritime enforcement
FORUM Staff Australia and the United States pledged $580 million in security and infrastructure assistance to Pacific Island Countries, including to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Canberra and…
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More than 40 countries urge 24-hour notice before ballistic missile tests
Sentry A United States-led group of more than 40 nations called on governments to give at least 24-hour notice before testing long-range ballistic missiles or launching space rockets. The alert…
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China’s coercion includes interdicting nearly 200 ships in Philippine Sea, study says
FORUM Staff China’s Coast Guard illegally questioned operators of nearly 200 commercial ships transiting the Philippine Sea, demanding information about their port calls and crews, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative…
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Indo-Pacific nations strengthen defenses against malign information
Felix Kim Malign information campaigns by foreign actors are emerging as one of the Indo-Pacific’s most pressing security challenges. Intelligence agencies, defense ministries and multilateral coalitions across the region are…
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Scarborough Reef Maritime Activity
Scarborough Reef has seen a sharp spike in China Coast Guard activity throughout 2026, surpassing the record levels set in 2025. In just the first half of 2026, 933 patrol…
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China’s military drills do not alter Philippines’ legal claim to Scarborough Reef
FORUM Staff China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval and airborne exercises around the contested Scarborough Reef do not change the Philippines’ legal claim to the South China Sea location, the…
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