Chinese warships in show of force off coast of Sydney
A Chinese naval task group was sailing just 150 nautical miles off Sydney on Wednesday in an unprecedented projection of power.
Defence
Lights are flashing red across the board for Burgess
As if the world wasn’t bleak enough already. According to the nation’s intelligence chief, it is only going to get worse. There is no longer a single threat that stands out on the priority list.
Beijing ‘a threat to maritime safety’
One of Australia’s top naval officers has called out Beijing’s aggressive conduct in the South China Sea and the severing of undersea cables by Chinese vessels.
Japan intensifies frigate sales pitch with port visits
Japan is ramping up its bid to sell $10bn worth of new warships to Australia, dispatching one of its Mogami-class frigates for port visits to Darwin and Fremantle in coming weeks.
China blames Australia for fighter jet’s flare drop
China accused the RAAF P-8A Poseidon of ‘deliberately intruding into China’s airspace’ while Australia lodged an official protest over the incident that risked the lives of up to a dozen Australians.
Red alert for AUKUS submarine reactors
A Rolls-Royce program set to supply reactor cores for Australia’s nuclear submarines has been branded as ‘unachievable’ in a blow to the nation’s AUKUS ambitions.
Forced removal of Gazans ‘against international law’: minister
It is one of the clearest red lines drawn by the government since US President Donald Trump announced his Gaza Strip “take over” plan.
Former commando wants apology from ABC over edits
Former special forces veteran Heston Russell wants an unconditional apology from the ABC acknowledging that he did not shoot at unarmed civilians from a helicopter in Afghanistan.
Cook Islands’ Beijing pact triggers strategic waves across Pacific
The small but strategically important Cook Islands has blindsided its neighbours with the news its Prime Minister is heading to Beijing to sign a murky ‘strategic partnership’ with China.
‘Unique’ AUKUS deal earns Trump approval
President Donald Trump has flagged his support for the complex defence arrangement with Australia after the Albanese government delivered a $798m payment.
Marles pays US an AUKUS advance
Australia has made its first AUKUS down payment to the US as the Albanese government looks to lock-in Trump administration support for the submarine program.
Report on ABC’s ‘doctored audio’ scandal blames lawyers
A report has blamed ABC lawyers for failing to pass on complaints by former commando Heston Russell that extra gunshots had been edited into an ABC news report.
Key industries warned off DeepSeek
Home Affairs has urged critical infrastructure operators to keep Chinese AI app DeepSeek off their systems but stopped short of an enforced ban like that imposed on government users
ADF recruit process faces cultural fight
Peter Dean has lashed the government for being ‘exceptionally slow’ on addressing the defence force’s workforce crisis, warning young recruits are struggling with the lack of connection to the outside world.
‘Who will fight for nation?’: ex-army chief’s alarm
Peter Leahy has warned a decline in national pride is at the heart of the Australian Defence Force’s personnel crisis.
Marles ‘excited’ over defence ties with US
Richard Marles says he is ‘excited’ to work with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth after a phone call with his newly confirmed counterpart on Wednesday.
‘Give us proof PoW is alive’: Ukraine
Ukraine has demanded Moscow produce video evidence that Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins is alive after Russia’s ambassador told the Albanese government he was in custody, not dead as previously feared.
Campbell’s latest post another hit for Diggers
Once again a Canberra ‘mate’ is getting a top job, but in my view and many others, he simply doesn’t deserve it.
Lambie slams ex-ADF chief’s Brussels posting
Jacqui Lambie is threatening to roll out a nationwide ad campaign mobilising voters’ support on veterans’ welfare, as she criticises Angus Campbell’s top diplomatic posting.
Coalition frontbench reshuffle unveiled ahead of election
Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price will take on an extra role as ‘government efficiency’ spokeswoman – evoking Elon Musk’s role under the US Trump administration.
Trump is AUKUS’s last best hope
Trump and his administration are likely to speak kindly of AUKUS. This will be highly deceptive for Australians.
Ex-defence chief lands key posting in Europe
Former defence chief Angus Campbell has been appointed as Australia’s next ambassador to Brussels, in a diplomatic posting that will require all the retired general’s military nous.
PM, Dutton warn Moscow of ‘strongest action possible’ if Australian PoW executed
Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese present a bipartisan threat of clear and immediate action against the Kremlin if Australian foreign fighter Oscar Jenkins is confirmed to have been executed.
‘Help us unmask the spies among us’
Australians are being encouraged to take a more proactive role in uncovering foreign spies, with intelligence agencies warning that more private citizens and businesses are being targeted than ever before.
Biden lauds AUKUS as key achievement
In his final foreign policy speech, Joe Biden declared the US is ‘winning the worldwide competition’, citing the AUKUS defence pact as a pivotal achievement in countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Not quite as bad as Gough but it’s close
The Albanese government provides no rationale or narrative for its disconnected actions. Everything is spin. We’ve seldom seen a government this poor in such critical fields at such a dangerous time.
How AUKUS is creating big waves on the ground
There are billions earmarked to be spent, and this Perth-based engineer is among those on the front lines of a defence revolution.
AUKUS safe port: bipartisan US support amid foreign storm
Leading Democrats and Republicans say the pact is a model for how the US should engage with allies, as Donald Trump entertains using force against friendly nations to expand America’s footprint.
Kennett slams shrine’s ‘commercialisation’
Jeff Kennett says the Shrine of Remembrance’s new commercial deal with catering and events company Peter Rowland Group is ‘totally inappropriate’.
Trump’s land grab raises big questions over AUKUS
Trump’s talk of acquiring Greenland, reclaiming the Panama Canal and campaigning for Canada to become the 51st state raises questions about his attitude to AUKUS.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/page/7