DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe tiny Pacific nation of Palau has urged the United States military to build bases on its territory — which lies in a region where Washington is pushing back against growing Chinese influence. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper visited the island nation last week and accused Beijing of “ongoing destabilising activities” in the Pacific. Palau […]https://www.defencetalk.com/palau-invites-us-military-to-build-bases-as-china-seeks-regional-clout-76253/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkChina on Wednesday condemned a Pentagon report for claiming Beijing wants to double its stockpile of nuclear warheads within a decade as it seeks to deter the United States from any intervention linked to Taiwan. The Pentagon’s annual study on China’s military power issued Tuesday said it has already matched or outstripped the US military […]https://www.defencetalk.com/beijing-pillories-pentagon-report-on-chinese-military-ambitions-76233/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkChinese experts warned that the United States military is “walking on thin ice” by allowing one of its U-2 spy planes to trespass into a no-fly zone over Chinese live-fire military drills, calling the move extremely provocative and prone to misjudgement. On Tuesday, a Lockheed U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft trespassed into the no-fly zone that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-walking-on-thin-ice-with-spy-plane-flight-76208/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Friday there was “no need” for another summit with the United States unless Washington offered a “decisive change” in approach. Kim and US President Donald Trump first met in Singapore two years ago but talks over Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal have been stalled since their […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kims-sister-says-no-need-for-another-us-n-korea-summit-75885/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkUS military aircraft reportedly conducted close-up reconnaissance operations on China’s southern coast for three consecutive days, which is a dangerous sign, as the moves could let the US grasp the technical parameters, locations and movements of the Chinese military’s weapons and equipment over the South China Sea and Taiwan island, Chinese military experts warned on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-militarys-frequent-close-up-air-recons-on-chinas-coastal-area-dangerous-75882/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkJOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii: One B-52 Stratofortress bomber from the 96th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, took off from home station and participated in a maritime integration exercise with the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike groups in the South China Sea before landing at Andersen Air […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-sends-b-52-bomber-over-south-china-sea-as-china-steps-up-naval-drills-75849/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe Pentagon said Thursday it was “concerned” about Chinese military exercises around a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea, noting the maneuvers will “further destabilize” the region. “The Department of Defense is concerned about the People’s Republic of China (PRC) decision to conduct military exercises around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-china-military-exercises-will-further-destabilize-s-china-sea-75831/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkNorth Korea rebuked Washington on Thursday for criticizing its decision to cut communication links with Seoul, warning it to stay out of inter-Korean affairs if it wanted to ensure a smooth presidential election. In a statement carried by the KCNA news agency, a senior North Korean foreign ministry official slammed the “double-dealing attitudes” of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-warns-us-to-stay-out-of-inter-korean-affairs-75723/

DefenceTalkBeijing will “never tolerate” Taiwan’s separation from China, a spokesman at the mainland’s top Taiwan body said Wednesday, after President Tsai Ing-wen was inaugurated for a second term. China considers the democratic, self-governing island as part of its territory, and has repeatedly advocated for its eventual reunification with the mainland — using military force if […]https://www.defencetalk.com/beijing-will-never-tolerate-taiwans-separation-from-china-75601/

TAIPEI: The Philippine president’s proposed cancellation of a 32-year-old military pact with the United States gives regional power China chances to strengthen its influence in Asia as U.S. military units would visit less often. Chinese naval ships, military aircraft and coast guard-escorted fishing vessels would find it easier to move around the disputed South China […]