Current Events in Asia-Pacific

Days after the announcement, Japan loosened decades-old restrictions on defence exports, in a long-anticipated change that will allow it to further ramp up arms sales, with analysts predicting some US allies — including Australia — will increasingly turn to Tokyo for key defence equipment ... https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-27/us-allies-turn-to-japan-defence-supplies-as-iran-war-drags-on/106607656?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-26/netherlands-buys-bushmaster-fleet-australia-commits-to-more/106608000?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-24/us-navy-awards-contract-for-aukus-submarine-deal/106601042?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

Australia enters homegrown missile race — but can it really stand alone? SBS NewsAustralia enters homegrown missile race — but can it real...As Australia ramps up missile production, experts say supply chain gaps and export challenges could limit its independence.

From Australian ABC news service: By Tom Lowrey Germany's defence minister is continuing his tour of Australia, taking the opportunity to check out some of Australia's newest military hardware. Boris Pistorius will join Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy at RAAF base Amberley this morning near Brisbane, checking out Australia's 'Ghost Bat' aerial drones. Last year, the federal government signed contracts to acquire six Australian-made Ghost Bats from Boeing Australia. More than $2.34 billion has been committed to the ghost bat program since 2019. Ghost Bats are designed to operate as wingmen for manned Australian fighter jets, such as the F-35 or F-18. They are fully…

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-06/adf-helicopter-evasive-action-chinese-military/106426388?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

From Australian ABC news service https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-05/aukus-review-pentagon-donald-trump-administration/105588512

From Australian ABC news service https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-20/chinese-fighter-jet-released-flares-close-to-australian-aircraft/105913308?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

From aussie ABC news service https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-02/australian-army-apache-helicopters-arrive-in-townsville/105833650?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

From Australian ABC news service https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-10/ghost-shark-underwater-drone-fleet-plan/105758720?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link

From Australian ABC news service https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-04/military-gift-warship-artifical-reef-illegal-dumping/105728244?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=otherp

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-08/why-new-zealand-plans-to-nearly-double-its-defence-spending/105151326?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

From the australian ABC news service. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-05/australia-japan-navy-frigates/105613688?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

It hit its target over 300 kilometres away in four minutes and three seconds, reaching speeds of roughly 4,050 kilometres per hour — more than three times the speed of sound https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-26/australia-army-tests-precision-strike-missile-in-mount-bundey-nt/105576916?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

From Australian ABC news service: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-13/taipan-helicopter-fly-again-talisman-sabre-nz/105522512?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link

From ABC (Australia) news service: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-08/heritage-honour-for-ships-sunk-in-battle-of-the-coral-sea/105386230?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link

https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-03-07/peoples-liberation-army-navy-vessels-operating-near-australia

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-23/chinese-warships-australian-coast-live-fire-drills-new-zealand/104970682?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/02/new-zealand-fires-penguin-missile-for-the-first-time/