According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence, among the 19 Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 12 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line.
Australia announced its plans to build its largest navy since the Second World War, allocating more than USD 35 billion for the defence project over the next 10 years, CNN reported.
Japan wants to dramatically expand its defence capacity because it has been alarmed by China's expanding military ambitions, while Russia's invasion of Ukraine has also stoked fears that China may move to take over Taiwan, a self-governed democracy claimed by Beijing.
Stating that Washington's aim is not to ‘contain’ Beijing, US President Joe Biden on Saturday said that it wants China to grow economically while ensuring it follows established international rules.
United States, Japan and South Korea, in a joint statement on Friday, condemned the “dangerous and aggressive behaviour” by China and expressed stern opposition against any attempt to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific.
Similar to Tokyo's current Status of Forces Agreement with the United States, the Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement will make it easier for Australian Defence Force and Japanese Self-Defense Force personnel to deploy more quickly.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that Washington stands with the nations resisting China's "bullying behaviour," as he began bilateral talks in Australia to oppose Beijing's sweeping claims in the Asia-Pacific.
"Both Prime Minister and the President focused on the challenges that our strategic interests face all over different parts of the world. Naturally, in this regard, the developments in the Indo-Pacific area have always been an important area of cooperation between India and the US. And th
"The challenges to the peace and stability and prosperity in the region were also discussed and how India and Australia, being strategic partners, can work together not just to accentuate and amplify and harness the opportunities but also take active steps to mitigate the challenges that
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday held a meeting with US President Joe Biden in which the two leaders concurred on continuing to work closely together in addressing issues related to China and also confirmed the importance of cooperating with China on shared challenges.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be participating in the European Union (EU)'s second Indo-Pacific ministerial forum that will be hosted by Sweden on May 13 this month, co-chaired by EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and
Conducted by a former foreign minister and defence chief, the review said Australia is facing a "radically different" strategic environment, including a military build-up by China, which is "the largest and most ambitious of any country since the end of the (World War II)."