Democratic Asia must bolster defenses, no matter who wins the U.S. election
Brian P. Klein is founder of RidgePointGlobal, an international strategic advisory firm, and a former U.S. diplomat.
Security asian news
Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan’s illegal marriage conviction overturned
A Pakistan court overturned former prime minister Imran Khan’s conviction on illegal marriage charges on Saturday, though he remains jailed over allegations of inciting riots.
South Korea risks ‘crossfire’ by partnering Nato amid Ukraine war, US-China rivalry
At the summit, Stoltenberg said Nato would enhance cooperation in “flagship projects” on Ukraine and new technologies, and discuss defence industry partnerships with South Korea, the Yonhap news agency said.
Pakistan court acquits former PM Imran Khan, wife in unlawful marriage case
Acquittal comes after another appeals court upheld the couple’s conviction, but Khan’s lawyer says he won’t be released.
Australia's Guzman y Gomez plans big expansion after splashy IPO
SYDNEY -- Australian fast-food chain Guzman y Gomez, which recently listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and reached a market capitalization of 3 billion Australian dollars ($2 billion), plans to continue growing through ambitious expansion. But questions about its profitability linger.
Malaysia’s dire naval shortfalls, reliance on US laid bare in damning audit
The auditor-general’s report exposed a troubling reality: the Royal Malaysian Navy has received only four of its 18 planned new vessels, severely handicapping its ability to patrol the nation’s vast maritime domain, which spans over half a million 500,000 sq km, exceeding its land area.
China looms large as Philippines-Japan defence pact heads for Senate showdown
On July 8, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), enabling the two nations to jointly train troops and provide mutual aid during natural disasters. However, the full text of the RAA remains shrouded in secrecy, known only to the presidential palace and the agreement’s signatories.
Chinese military simulations of attacks on US air bases in Japan alarms Tokyo
This Week in Asia has not been able to verify the images and there has been no official comment from China.