With governments focused on conflicts in the Gulf and Ukraine, China is pressing ahead with a more assertive military and strategic posture across the Pacific, particularly around its immediate neighbourhood.
The latest concerns include suspected Chinese unmanned underwater vehicles found in waters near Indonesia and the Philippines. Maritime analysts said one object discovered near Bali was almost certainly an unmanned recording platform potentially used to monitor shipping.
China has also increased military activity in the South China Sea, including repeated confrontations with Philippine vessels and drills near the disputed Scarborough Shoal., which China calls Huangyan Island.
In July, China test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the South Pacific, while reports also linked Beijing to a sharp rise in cyberattacks against Taiwan.
Beijing's growing assertiveness is forcing countries across the region to balance economic ties with China against security concerns.
Japan has warned that a Chinese move against Taiwan could pose an “existential” threat, while Chinese patrols near disputed Japanese islands have increased. Australia and the Philippines are strengthening defence cooperation with Washington while maintaining economic ties with Beijing.
Indonesia has similarly sought to maintain relations with both powers, including taking part in joint naval manoeuvres with China.
Despite the rivalry, some diplomats believe Washington and Beijing may be entering a period of strategic stability as both sides seek to reduce their dependence on one another.
China's dominance in critical minerals and technology remains an important source of leverage, while Western defence and technology companies continue to face difficulties sourcing non-Chinese components.
The broader challenge for countries across the Indo-Pacific is how to manage growing Chinese influence while maintaining security ties with the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia, with preparations under wa...
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are warning that gaps in contact tracing and continued deaths outside treatment centre...
Hurricane Polo closed in on Mexico's Baja California Sur on Monday evening, threatening its Pacific coastline ...
Iran has called for a diplomatic solution after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected its Hormuz proposal, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was awaiting a definitive U.S. response through mediators.
A Russian guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
British police have arrested five men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act after a major security incident was declared near RAF Fairford, a British air base used by U.S. air forces in Gloucestershire, England.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia, with preparations under way to send another 10,000.
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are warning that gaps in contact tracing and continued deaths outside treatment centres are contributing to a renewed rise in Ebola transmission, as the country’s latest outbreak passes 8,000 confirmed cases.
Hurricane Polo closed in on Mexico's Baja California Sur on Monday evening, threatening its Pacific coastline with destructive wind, flash floods and a storm surge before crossing the peninsula and making a second landfall on the mainland.
The European Union's decision to simultaneously advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania marks its most ambitious enlargement effort in more than two decades.
Taxpayer-funded television advertisements featuring U.S. President Donald Trump are drawing criticism from Republicans and Democrats while legal experts question whether public money can be used for spots resembling campaign messaging ahead of the midterm elections.
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