Has the US lost the plot in South China Sea?
As the South China Sea transforms into a spider web of interconnected military facilities designed to lock out uninvited guests, one would have thought that the Shangri-La Dialogue, held earlier this month, would have put the South China Sea issue front and centre.
The area, the size of India, has been commandeered by the Chinese military with virtually no physical resistance, beyond the decision by The Hague last year in a legal challenge by the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal that determined that China had no historical rights based on its nine-dash-line map.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US and
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Defence Notes
-
Canada seeks to strengthen industrial ties with the US on classified programmes
Ottawa explores expanding defence-industrial cooperation with Washington into sensitive programmes, an approach that could reshape NORAD modernisation, strengthen North American supply chains and create new opportunities for defence contractors.
-
UK’s latest defence robotics and autonomy competition looks to break new ground
The UK Ministry of Defence is backing early-stage, high-risk autonomy concepts that could redefine how military systems are developed and deployed.
-
How AI is reshaping defence procurement through sustainment
Artificial intelligence is not just changing how defence equipment is maintained but how defence programmes are won, creating new opportunities for industry by influencing acquisition decisions and shaping competition.
-
NATO signs agreements worth billions of dollars on missiles, air defence and aircraft
Announcements on aircraft deals and agreements for trans-alliance cooperation to boost the production and purchase of weapons and equipment were key takeaways from this week’s NATO summit.
-
Ukraine experience forces rethink of counter-UAS doctrine
A panel session at Eurosatory 2026 brought together industry, academia and the French armed forces to assess how Ukraine’s battlefield reality is reshaping counter-UAS (CUAS) technology, air defence doctrine and Western procurement priorities.