The recent airspace closure around El Paso, Texas, was caused by the U.S. Military shooting down a party balloon amid a behind-the-scenes spat with air safety officials, multiple reports say. That contradicts the explanation provided on Tuesday by administration officials, which claimed the closure was necessary because drones operated by Mexican drug cartels were being…
America’s top defence official declared that the US must achieve unquestioned AI “dominance” to prevent adversaries from gaining a technological edge, as he unveiled a strategy that includes integrating Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s announcement did not mention China by name, but it came a month after a report to the…
We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Pentagon says Chinese aircraft carriers, 6th-gen fighters make US ‘vulnerable’…
Nine Republican lawmakers, including several congressional committee chairs, sent a letter this week urging US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to add more than a dozen Chinese technology firms to the Pentagon’s list of companies alleged to have links to the Chinese military. The letter, released on Friday after US President Donald Trump signed a US$900…
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! China denounced the United States for approving a massive $11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan, warning that the deal risks turning the island into a “powder keg” and driving the region toward “military confrontation and war.” The unprecedented sale includes 82 HIMARS launchers paired with 420 ATACMS…
The reported US seizure of a ship allegedly carrying Chinese-made dual-use components to Iran might signal Washington was “testing the waters” on reviving an old tactic to pressure Beijing’s ties with its adversaries, but such moves risked breaching international law, analysts said. An American special operations team boarded a ship from China bound for Iran…
The US Congress is readying votes on a sprawling bill that would restrict US outbound investment to China in sensitive sectors as well as federal government contracting with Chinese biotechnology companies, two controversial measures that were left out of similar legislation last year. The provisions were included in a compromise defence bill released on Sunday…
The US defence chief touted a message of peace, communication and “flexible realism” with China in a speech over the weekend, foreshadowing an American national defence strategy that is expected to be released soon. In his keynote address at the annual Reagan National Defence Forum on Saturday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was…
How Republicans are coming after Pete HegsethPete Hegseth entered Donald Trump’s second administration as one of its most trusted loyalists — a Fox News star turned defence secretary who promised to bring ideological clarity, forceful military action and a Trump-first worldview to the Pentagon. Ten months later, the Republican establishment that backed him is now…
Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-understand articles provide context to grasp what’s happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page. Rare earth minerals are crucial for many technologies, from smartphones to electric vehicles and weapons. China is…