The US military is attempting to identify shipyards in Indo-Pacific countries, including India, South Korea, and Japan, that it could use for naval maintenance work during wartime. If approved by Congress, the military will conduct maintenance on as many as six American naval ships at international shipyards in fiscal year 2025.
On Thursday, Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir recalled the India-Pakistan situation of 2019, saying that New Delhi is Islamabad’s “arch rival.” Additionally, he highlighted that Pakistan will continue to provide moral, political, and diplomatic support for Kashmir, which, he claimed, India has illegally occupied.
India has refuted reports of Indian companies taking over visa issuance at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo. The Indian High Commission to Sri Lanka said the companies are based somewhere else, and any reference to India is “unwarranted.”
Top US intelligence officials informed Congress on Thursday that China’s joint military drills with Russia near Taiwan have prompted new US defence planning. During a Senate hearing, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse of the Defense Intelligence Agency stated that these operations have led to a reassessment of joint-force requirements. The Pentagon is currently revising its strategies to account for this cooperation, reflecting heightened tensions in the region.
The death toll from a collapsed highway in southeastern China rose to 48 on Thursday. The incident occurred in Meizhou city, Guangdong province, around 2 am on Wednesday following heavy rains. Twenty-three vehicles plunged down a steep slope, with some catching fire. Three individuals remain unidentified, pending DNA confirmation, potentially raising the death toll to 51.
At a joint press conference on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin criticised China’s injuring of Filipino crew and causing damage to Philippine vessels in the South China Sea as “irresponsible behavior that disregards international law.” Meanwhile, Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro emphasised the importance of building capacity and deterrence to prevent situations that could trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty.