China has released a White Paper on defence — its first such report in four years — reiterating three broad strategic goals for the modernisation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) over the next 30 years.
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday returned to the Kingdom from his China trip and announced that President Xi Jinping has agreed to grant $90 million in aid to strengthen Cambodia’s defence sector.
Japan has announced new defence guidelines under which the country’s defence budget over the next five years will be increased, new weapons platforms purchased from the US, and more funds allotted to new domains of warfare.
Indonesia and India plan to develop maritime cooperation, with a strategic Indonesian naval port in the Indian Ocean.
If left unchecked, a decline in Australia’s influence will continue quite rapidly over the coming decade, writes Nick Bisley.
Among the many discussion topics were economic relationships, trade, defence and security cooperation, and crime fighting and counter- terrorism.
