Asia Times

Australia and Fiji signed a defense pact called the Ocean of Peace Alliance (Veitacini Treaty) on July 6 in Suva. The agreement states that an armed attack on either party in the Pacific will be treated as a shared security threat, with both governments committing to act against it. The article notes the pact is not just about China.

Volkswagen is leading Europe’s automotive retrenchment due to a structural crisis marked by excess capacity, weaker demand, and intensifying competition from China, resulting in plant closures and job losses.

The collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire is causing significant impacts in Asia, with surging food prices and renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. The region is described as being 'slammed back into the blast zone' due to the resumption of hostilities.

Canada selected Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems as the preferred bidder for 12 new conventionally powered submarines, opting for German-Norwegian units over South Korean alternatives. The decision reflects a strategic alignment with NATO and Pacific security frameworks.

Iran's move on Hormuz is a short-term strategy, but failure to act could lead regional opposition. US attacks aim to reopen the Strait of Hormuz against Tehran's claims, with undefined duration but limited objectives.

China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, may be equipped with a weapon designed to counter incoming torpedoes. The South China Morning Post reported the Fujian could become the first carrier with such technology.

The US has indicted jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his alleged North American associate Satinderjeet Singh for the 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, as part of the multinational Operation Hard Ball. The indictments signal a broader effort targeting organized crime.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed agreements on artificial intelligence, batteries, critical minerals, defense manufacturing, energy resilience, and financial cooperation during a meeting in New Delhi. The agreements highlight the India-Japan convergence reshaping the Indo-Pacific's power balance.

The article criticizes JD Vance's opposition to GDP as misguided, arguing that GDP remains a valid measure despite its limitations. It references a quote from Captain Picard to underscore the debate over GDP's value.

The article discusses how maritime shipping lanes, crucial for over 80% of global trade, are becoming military targets in economic warfare. It references the war in Iran, where Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, prompting a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

Drone warfare is transforming oil from a strategic asset into a liability. The article references a Soviet-era flight that refueled at Omsk's airport, highlighting the region's historical connection to oil infrastructure.

The article criticizes NATO for increasing military spending and arms production despite its members' history of using force in violation of international law in countries like Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Libya, Syria, and through the open-ended War on Terror. It questions the effectiveness of militarized security strategies.

Washington and Tehran have resumed direct military confrontation for the second time since the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed. The US struck 80 targets in Iran following Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz without coordination with Tehran.

Australia and Fiji signed a defense treaty in 2026 to counter China's influence in the South Pacific, which has become a focal point of great-power competition. The pact marks a strategic shift in the region's geopolitical dynamics.

House Democrats had rare public discussions about Israel following a Republican amendment threatening aid, but leadership avoided resolving the debate. The discussions occurred during closed-door meetings described as intense by participants.

South Korea's market turmoil is serving as an early warning system for potential AI-driven economic risks in the region. The situation highlights concerns over over-reliance on artificial intelligence in financial and technological sectors.

The article discusses how Japan's weakening yen might lead to a US financial crisis. It highlights the long-standing financial relationship where the US borrows heavily, and Japan invests in US Treasury bonds, maintaining low interest rates for the US.

South Korea began enforcing a new law on July 7 targeting false and manipulated information. The law allows punitive damages up to five times proven losses against news organizations and online channels that knowingly distribute prohibited content for harm or profit. Repeat violations after a final determination of falsehood may result in further penalties.

On May 31 near Sadipur in Jashore’s Sharsha upazila, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) discovered a cut border fence with over a dozen people, including women and children, on the far side. These individuals were reportedly driven to the location by India’s Border Security Force (BSF).

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman prioritized climate diplomacy in his first major international address at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian. He focused on this topic instead of traditional economic requests.