Asia-Pacific

Japan on Monday activated a new military command that will take operational control of all three of its armed forces, as the country bolsters its defense posture amid rising regional tensions.

Asia-Pacific

The Chinese naval exercises, in international waters, are legal but nonetheless sparked expressions of alarm from officials in Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand’s defense minister said the exercises involved “the most significant and sophisticated [vessels] that we have seen this far south.”

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Asia-Pacific

Australia is investing in education to support the AUKUS nuclear submarine program amid jitters that President-elect Donald Trump could scrutinize the deal.

Asia-Pacific

The diplomatic overtures to Japan, India, the U.K. and Australia underscore changing calculations by Beijing — and its counterparts — in anticipation of a possible return of an unpredictable U.S. president. They may help China buffer against economic turbulence from steep tariffs that would decimate commerce.

Asia-Pacific

Australia will buy U.S. missiles at a cost of $4.7 billion to boost its long-range strike capabilities as the country continues to reshape its military stance since the election of the center-left Labor government in May 2022.

U.S.

The competition between the United States and China has seen geopolitical and economic flash points sprawl across continents.

Asia-Pacific

Deep in the outback, a flurry of construction by Australia and the United States is transforming this once quiet military installation into a potential launchpad in case of conflict with China.

Middle East

Hundreds of mourners attended funeral prayers for slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar, on Friday, amid tight security as the region braced for potential fallout from his death. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said that he had a “very direct” conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the killing did not help ceasefire talks.

Asia-Pacific

The United States and its allies have accused China’s Ministry of State Security of directing cyberattacks against government and private sector entities through a group of hackers known as Advanced Persistent Threat 40.