Support us by contributing to StratNewsGlobal on the following UPI ID
ultramodern@hdfcbank
Strategic affairs is our game, South Asia and beyond our playground. Put together by an experienced team led by Nitin A. Gokhale. Our focus is on strategic affairs, foreign policy and international relations, with higher quality reportage, analysis and commentary with new tie-ups across the South Asian region.
You can support our endeavours. Visit us at www.stratnewsglobal.com and follow us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
र 500 per month
र 1000 per month
र 5000 per year
र 10000 per year
Donate an amount of your choice
र 500 per month
Donate र 500 per month
र 1000 per month
Donate र 1000 per month
र 5000 per year
Donate र 5,000 per year
र 10000 per year
Donate र 10,000 per year
Donate an amount of your choice
Donate an amount of your choice
Taiwan to Begin Testing F-16V Jets After U.S. Delivery Delays
Taiwan’s air force will begin test flights of its new F-16V fighter jets this month, marking a key milestone in a major defence upgrade project that has faced repeated delays. Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Ching-jan told lawmakers on Monday that 54 of the 66 aircraft ordered from the United States are now in production, up from 50 in October.
The $8 billion deal, approved by Washington in 2019, will boost Taiwan’s fleet to more than 200 F-16 jets, making it one of the largest and most advanced in the Asia-Pacific region. However, production setbacks and software issues have repeatedly delayed delivery, frustrating Taipei as it faces mounting military pressure from Beijing.
Lockheed Martin Working to Speed Deliveries
The F-16V, produced by Lockheed Martin, features upgraded avionics, weapons systems, and radar designed to enhance Taiwan’s ability to counter the Chinese air force, including China’s J-20 stealth fighters.
Lockheed said last month that it was taking steps to accelerate deliveries to Taiwan following the delays. The company’s efforts come amid growing U.S. efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s defences as Beijing increases its military activities around the island.
Rising Urgency Amid Chinese Pressure
Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, has repeatedly complained of delays in U.S. weapons shipments. These include aircraft, missiles, and other systems crucial to strengthening the island’s air defence and deterrence capabilities.
Speaking in parliament, Lee said test flights will begin later this month as production ramps up. “The programme is moving forward,” he said, emphasising that Taiwan continues to coordinate closely with U.S. partners to ensure timely delivery.
The upgraded F-16Vs equipped with advanced AESA radar, precision-guided weapons, and enhanced electronic warfare systems are seen as a cornerstone of Taiwan’s strategy to maintain air superiority against China’s expanding military.
As regional tensions rise, the start of flight testing signals renewed momentum in Taiwan’s long-delayed defence modernisation effort.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Amazon and Google Launch Joint Multicloud Network to Boost Connectivity
Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud have jointly launched a new multicloud networking service designed to provide faster and more reliable connectivity between their cloud platforms.
The announcement, made on Sunday, marks an unprecedented partnership between two of the world’s largest cloud providers, reflecting growing customer demand for secure and efficient data exchange across multiple clouds.
The new service enables customers to set up private, high-speed connections between AWS and Google Cloud within minutes rather than weeks, a significant improvement in deployment speed. The move comes as even brief internet outages can have costly ripple effects across industries increasingly reliant on cloud-based systems.
Response to Rising Outage Concerns
The collaboration follows a major AWS outage on October 20, which disrupted thousands of websites and popular apps, including Snapchat and Reddit. Analytics firm Parametrix estimated that the incident cost U.S. businesses between $500 million and $650 million.
The joint service merges AWS Interconnect – Multicloud with Google Cloud’s Cross-Cloud Interconnect, improving network interoperability between the two platforms. “This collaboration between AWS and Google Cloud represents a fundamental shift in multicloud connectivity,” said Robert Kennedy, vice president of network services at AWS.
Rob Enns, vice president and general manager of cloud networking at Google Cloud, said the new initiative would simplify how customers move data and applications between clouds. “It’s about giving users flexibility and resilience without the complexity of managing multiple separate systems,” he added.
Early Users and Market Impact
Salesforce has already adopted the joint approach as one of its early users, according to a Google Cloud statement. The partnership is expected to appeal to large enterprises that depend on multiple cloud providers for redundancy, data sovereignty, or compliance reasons.
AWS remains the world’s largest cloud provider, followed by Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. In the third quarter, Amazon’s cloud division generated $33 billion in revenue, more than double Google Cloud’s $15.16 billion.
The collaboration underscores how major tech firms are investing billions to strengthen digital infrastructure and support the explosion of data-intensive technologies such as artificial intelligence. As AI workloads grow, the ability to move information seamlessly and securely across cloud environments has become increasingly critical.
The new service aims to ensure that global customers from governments to startups can maintain uninterrupted access to the tools driving their digital transformation.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Finland To Close Islamabad Mission By 2026
Finland will shut its embassies in Islamabad, Kabul and Yangon by 2026 as part of a sweeping restructuring of its diplomatic network, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs said on Friday.
The move is aimed at aligning Helsinki’s overseas footprint with long-term foreign policy priorities.
Citing “operational and strategic reasons,” the ministry said political developments in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar, along with their limited commercial and economic links with Finland, informed the decision.
In a statement, the embassy in Islamabad said the overhaul will allow Finland to redirect diplomatic and economic resources to regions offering greater strategic value. Preparations to wind down the three missions are underway, with closure expected in 2026 pending a presidential decree.
The announcement follows a strategic review launched earlier this year to assess whether Finland’s diplomatic presence supports its evolving foreign policy needs and Team Finland’s trade-promotion goals. As part of the same process, Finland has expanded its presence in the United States with a new Consulate General in Houston and plans further commercial offices at former Business Finland sites in 2026.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the reforms reflect the need to adapt to a rapidly shifting global environment. “We will systematically develop Finland’s network of missions abroad to meet future challenges,” she said.
While Helsinki did not explicitly cite regional instability in ending its mission in Islamabad, the move comes amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Kabul has accused Pakistan of repeated airspace violations, and recent cross-border clashes have been the deadliest since the Taliban’s return to power. Afghan officials alleged this week that ten civilians were killed in Pakistani airstrikes, an accusation Islamabad denied.
The three embassies are expected to close in 2026 once the presidential decree is issued.
(With inputs from agencies)
South Korea Probes Worst Coupang Data Breach In A Decade
South Korean police said Monday they are tracking IP addresses and examining potential security weaknesses at Coupang after the e-commerce giant experienced the country’s most significant data breach in more than ten years.
Security Failure
The personal data of more than 33 million customers was leaked in a breach believed to have started on June 24 through overseas servers, though the company did not learn of the problem until November 18.
South Korea‘s Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said on Sunday that the perpetrator had “abused authentication vulnerabilities” in Coupang’s servers, adding that authorities would be investigating whether the company violated rules regarding the protection of personal information.
Coupang, which is backed by Japan’s SoftBank Group, has said the breach exposed customers’ names, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses and certain order histories, but not payment details or login credentials.
Suspicion of China’s Involvement
Broadcaster JTBC has reported that after conducting an internal investigation, Coupang suspects that a Chinese former employee, who was responsible for authentication tasks, was a key figure in the data breach.
A former employee used their authentication key that was still active after the termination of the person’s contract to get access to customer information, lawmaker Choi Min-hee said in a statement on Monday.
Police and Coupang declined to comment on possible suspects.
As of Monday afternoon, internet postings showed that more than 10,000 people planned to join a possible class action lawsuit against Coupang. Lawyer Ha Hee-bong said the potential class action could seek compensation of more than 100,000 won ($68) per person.
Coupang, founded by Korean-American Harvard graduate Bom Kim in 2010, is the country’s most popular e-commerce platform. It has overtaken family-owned conglomerates like Shinsegae in South Korean e-commerce and is also expanding into food delivery, streaming and fintech.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Australia Overhauls Defence Department To Boost Efficiency and Oversight
Australia will revamp its defence department by establishing a Defence Delivery Agency and naming a national armaments director, aiming to enhance the efficiency of defence spending and project delivery, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Monday.
The changes to start in July next year will merge the existing Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Group, and Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group. The new agency will report directly to the defence minister.
The three groups are currently responsible for nearly 40 per cent of defence spending.
Reforms and Budget Impact
“This is one of the most significant reforms to defence that we have seen. It will greatly change the way defence operates,” Marles said in a press briefing in Canberra.
The reforms “will see a much bigger bang for buck for the defence spend”, as Australia plans to spend an extra A$70 billion over the next decade, Marles said.
According to the ABC report, the government assured that the merger would not lead to job losses, emphasizing instead its goal to strengthen the department’s capacity to handle complex projects as Australia moves forward with the ambitious AUKUS nuclear submarine program.
Reducing Reliance on Consultants
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the Labor government had already reduced reliance on consultants in Defence while simultaneously strengthening in-house expertise to manage increasingly complex contracts.
“We’ve brought in 500 highly skilled public servants across these three areas and cut a substantial number of contractors and consultants,” he stated.
Defence industry representatives have repeatedly argued that the department is overly top-heavy, slow-moving, and risk-averse.
The government has long signaled plans for a restructure, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles criticizing the department’s performance in June and saying that “everything was on the table” regarding potential reforms.
Defence currently operates with an annual budget of nearly $60 billion, but that is expected to grow to around $100 billion by 2034, driven by China’s rapid military expansion and pressure from the Trump administration on allies like Australia to increase defence spending.
(With inputs from Reuters/agencies)
Trump Confirms Phone Call with Venezuela’s Maduro Amid Rising Tensions
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro but declined to share details about the discussion. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said simply, “I don’t want to comment on it. The answer is yes.”
Trump Confirms Contact but Keeps Details Private
The New York Times earlier reported that Trump and Maduro had spoken by phone earlier this month, discussing the possibility of a meeting in the United States. When asked how the call went, Trump said, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly, it was a phone call.”
The revelation comes as Trump continues to mix harsh rhetoric with occasional diplomatic signals toward Venezuela. His administration has maintained strong pressure on Maduro, whom it accuses of facilitating drug trafficking operations. Maduro has denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated.
Confusion Over “Closed Airspace” Remarks
On Saturday, Trump declared that airspace above and around Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety,” without offering further explanation. The statement caused alarm and uncertainty in Caracas. When asked if his comment signalled imminent military action, Trump replied, “Don’t read anything into it.”
Reports from Reuters indicate that Washington has been reviewing several options to challenge Maduro’s government, including covert efforts to remove him from power. The US military has already increased its presence in the Caribbean, carrying out months of strikes on suspected drug boats near Venezuela’s coast.
Human Rights Concerns and Military Operations
Human rights organisations have condemned these US strikes as illegal and potentially involving extrajudicial killings. Several US allies have also voiced concern that Washington may be breaching international law.
Trump said he would review claims that US forces had conducted a second strike in September that killed survivors of an earlier operation. “I would not have wanted such a strike,” he said.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operations, describing them as “lawful” and “lethal.” Trump recently told service members that land operations aimed at stopping Venezuelan drug traffickers would begin “very soon.”
Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials have not commented on the reported phone call. When asked about it, National Assembly head Jorge Rodriguez said the matter was not part of his press conference, which focused instead on a parliamentary investigation into the US boat strikes.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Airbus Recall Eases After Rapid Software Fix
Airbus fleets resumed normal operations Monday after the planemaker rushed through software fixes, following a JetBlue A320 incident linked to solar flare vulnerability.
Dozens of airlines worldwide completed the regulator‑mandated retrofit, as Airbus sought to shift safety scrutiny long centered on rival Boeing.
Sources familiar with the matter said the unprecedented decision to recall about half the A320-family fleet, or 6,000 jets, was taken shortly after the possible but unproven link to a drop in altitude on the JetBlue jet emerged late last week.
Following talks with regulators, Airbus issued its 8-page alert to hundreds of operators on Friday, effectively ordering a temporary grounding by ordering the repair before next flight.
The instruction was seen as the broadest emergency recall in the company’s history and raised immediate concerns of travel disruption particularly during the busy U.S. Thanksgiving weekend.
Impact Revised Down
At first airlines struggled to gauge the impact since the blanket alert lacked affected jets’ serial numbers. A Finnair passenger said a flight was delayed on the tarmac for checks.
Over 24 hours, engineers zeroed in on individual jets.
Several airlines revised down estimates of the number of jets impacted and time needed for the work, which Airbus initially pegged at three hours per plane.
The fix involved reverting to an earlier version of software that handles the nose angle. It involves uploading the previous version via a cable from a device called a data loader, which is carried into the cockpit to prevent cyberattacks.
At least one major airline faced delays because it lacked enough data loaders to handle dozens of jets in such a short time, according to an executive speaking privately.
Industry executives said the weekend furore highlighted changes in the industry’s playbook since the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, in which the U.S. planemaker was heavily criticised over its handling of fatal crashes blamed on a software design error.
It is the first time Airbus has had to deal with global safety attention on such a scale since that crisis. CEO Guillaume Faury publicly apologised in a deliberate shift of tone for an industry beset by lawsuits and conservative public relations.
(With inputs from Reuters)
China Launches Nationwide Fire Safety Inspections After Deadly Hong Kong Blaze
China announced a nationwide inspection of fire safety standards in high-rise buildings on Saturday, following a devastating fire in Hong Kong that killed at least 128 people. The move aims to prevent similar tragedies on the mainland and reinforce public safety oversight.
Focus on Building Renovations and Safety Management
The Ministry of Emergency Management said inspectors would give special attention to high-rise buildings undergoing external wall renovations or interior modifications. “We must comprehensively strengthen fire safety management of high-rise buildings to effectively protect people’s lives and property,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the State Council Work Safety Committee has issued a notice to local authorities, launching the inspection campaign immediately.
Lessons from Past Disasters
Chinese authorities have been particularly alert to incidents that could affect social stability. In 2022, a fatal blaze in Xinjiang killed 10 people and sparked rare nationwide protests during China’s strict COVID-19 lockdowns. The recent Hong Kong fire, which erupted on Wednesday, poses a significant test for Beijing’s leadership and its ability to maintain confidence in the city’s safety standards.
Beijing’s swift response highlights the importance it attaches to the tragedy and its determination to prevent a similar event elsewhere in China.
Key Inspection Areas and Strict Enforcement
The ministry said the new inspection campaign would cover four main areas: flammable materials used in wall insulation systems, banned construction materials such as bamboo scaffolding, fire safety equipment, and emergency evacuation routes.
Local authorities have been instructed to carry out comprehensive inspections and take “immediate corrective actions” where risks are detected. “Strict enforcement measures will be taken against serious violations, and those failing to eliminate major safety hazards will be held accountable,” the ministry warned.
The Hong Kong fire spread rapidly through seven of eight 32-storey apartment towers undergoing renovation, where bamboo scaffolding and foam insulation materials were in use. The incident has renewed scrutiny of building safety practices across the region.
(with inputs from Reuters)
China’s Military Firms See Revenue Drop Amid Corruption Crackdown
Revenues at China’s leading military companies fell sharply last year as corruption investigations disrupted arms procurement and contract approvals, according to a new study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report contrasts China’s downturn with strong global growth in defence industries driven by ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and rising international tensions.
Corruption Allegations Delay Contracts
SIPRI said multiple corruption allegations within China’s arms procurement system led to postponed or cancelled contracts in 2024. Nan Tian, director of SIPRI’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, noted that the delays created “deep uncertainty” over the pace of China’s military modernisation and the rollout of new technologies.
The corruption crackdown, launched by President Xi Jinping in 2012, reached deeper into the military in 2023 when the elite Rocket Force came under investigation. Eight senior generals, including He Weidong, the nation’s second-highest-ranking officer and a member of the Central Military Commission, were expelled from the Communist Party on graft charges.
Regional Revenue Contrasts
SIPRI data showed that revenues of China’s top military firms fell 10% in 2024, while Japan’s rose 40%, Germany’s climbed 36%, and US defence companies saw a 3.8% increase. Globally, the world’s 100 largest arms firms recorded a 5.9% revenue rise to a record $679 billion. China’s decline made Asia-Oceania the only region where major defence firms reported lower earnings.
Despite decades of rising defence spending and an ongoing rivalry with the United States, China’s arms revenues declined amid tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea. Analysts say the full impact of the corruption crackdown on China’s military build-up remains unclear.
Impact on Major Defence Firms and Modernisation Goals
Revenue fell across China’s largest state-owned arms manufacturers, including AVIC, Norinco and CASC. Norinco suffered the biggest drop, down 31% to $14 billion. Leadership changes at Norinco and CASC led to project reviews and delays, while AVIC’s aircraft production also slowed, SIPRI said.
Researcher Xiao Liang warned that the timeline for deploying advanced systems such as hypersonic missiles, drones and cyber capabilities may now be exposed. This uncertainty could affect the People’s Liberation Army’s goal of achieving full modernisation by its 100th anniversary in 2027.
Still, SIPRI expects China to sustain its long-term investment in defence. Liang said that while the corruption probes would bring “programme delays, higher costs and tighter control of procurement,” political backing for modernisation efforts would remain strong.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Taiwan Taps Civilian Firms For New Surveillance Push
Small Taiwanese operator Apex Aviation, known for its pilot training and charter services, is now offering surveillance flights to the government, which has begun turning to civilian companies to support new technologies under its “whole-of-society resilience” initiative.
The government has invited businesses, research groups and other organisations to take on more active roles, including backing up communications and logistics, shoring up cyber defences and, potentially contributing to surveillance and intelligence-gathering.
While common in countries such as the United States, this joint military-civilian approach is new for Taiwan, whose armed forces are increasingly hard-pressed responding to daily Chinese incursions in the skies and waters around the island.
Taipei has said it aims to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2030 and will introduce a $40 billion supplementary budget, including “significant” new U.S. arms purchases.
Apex is seeking a role in that build-up. But unlike companies that have received defence contracts so far, the airline wants to run its surveillance operation in-house, while remaining open to transferring equipment to authorities.
Open To New Ideas
Taiwan’s defence ministry has so far been cautious about external partners, it is able to effectively monitor Chinese activities and currently has no plans for cooperation. But it said it was open to new ideas.
Taiwan’s coast guard said it is working to boost its own reconnaissance capacity and will prioritise drones before gradually expanding the effort to include manned aircraft.
Apex has spent more than T$400 million ($13.07 million) to convert an 11-seater Italian-made Tecnam P2012 Traveller propeller plane into a reconnaissance aircraft equipped with a U.S.-made synthetic aperture radar under its fuselage.
Apex said it could also market the relatively low-cost patrol service to friendly governments in the region that monitor Chinese activity, adding it can quickly build a reconnaissance fleet with both aircraft and drones.
Sea Drones At The Forefront
Apex has been buoyed by a growing government push for companies with limited or no defence pedigree to develop products for military use.
One of the initiative’s biggest highlights is a new generation of sea drones developed by remote control model car, aircraft and boat producer Thunder Tiger.
The company’s SeaShark 800 drone can carry 1,200 kg (2,600 lbs) of explosives and travel up to 500 km (310 miles), and featured prominently at a summer “beauty show” where operators offered their wares to Taiwan’s military.
One senior Taiwan security official said joint military-civilian initiatives were an idea the government needed to take seriously.
(With inputs from Reuters)