06/03/2026

FRIDAY | MAR 6, 2026

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Repatriation flight from Dubai arrives in Singapore

The latest rise keeps China’s spending at a third of that of the United States, but the Asian power is working to close the gap. Beijing plans to spend 1.9 trillion yuan (RM1.09 trillion) on defence, according to a report published at the opening of the annual “Two Sessions” parliamentary meeting. Premier Li Qiang told delegates that China will aim to strengthen the military and “carry out major defence-related projects” over the next five years. Analysts said the budget would finance military salary increases, training, manoeuvres around Taiwan, cyber-warfare capabilities and advanced equipment purchases, among other things, according to the report. The increase marks a degree of Filipinos arrested over alleged spying for Beijing MANILA: Philippine authorities have apprehended three defence personnel who allegedly spied on behalf of China in what the country’s security agency has described as a “serious national security matter”, its spokesperson said yesterday. The trio, who worked for the Philippine Defence Department, navy and coast guard, provided their Chinese handlers with lists of military personnel and other sensitive information, National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Cornelio Valencia told AFP. Operational details about resupply missions in the contested South China Sea were also included in the information handed over, he said. “There was cooptation over a period of time,“ he said on the efforts to woo the defence personnel, who he described as low-level analysts. “At the end of the day, it is always money,“ he said on their motives. Valencia said the trio, whose names and genders he did not disclose, are now actively cooperating with the government “to ensure we no longer have a problem”. In a statement on Wednesday, the NSC said it has “addressed and terminated” operations taken at “the behest of Chinese intelligence”, without offering details of the alleged espionage. “For reasons of national security, we cannot discuss identities, methods or timelines so as not to jeopardise ongoing operations. “Necessary actions have been taken against the individuals concerned, all Filipino nationals who have all confessed their complicity in espionage activities and are cooperating with authorities.” The NSC and the Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to AFP comment requests. The Philippines and China have been involved in an escalating conflict over disputed areas of the South China Sea, with vessels from the two sides clashing frequently in recent years, resulting in injuries and damage. – AFP

have more ships than any other country, but it lags behind the US navy in tonnage, nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. “The United States remains the world’s first-class armed forces in terms of its military hardware and the hard operational experience of its personnel,“ said Singapore-based Nanyang Technological University Chinese military specialist James Char. Swanstrom noted that the United States benefits from its superior global logistics, more advanced submarines and stealth technology, a larger nuclear arsenal, combat-experienced personnel and extensive alliance networks. However, the balance would be radically different closer to China’s shores if the US navy were to intervene militarily, for example, to support Taiwan against Beijing. “Most critically, neither side could ‘win’ meaningfully. Economic devastation, casualties and nuclear escalation risks would be catastrophic for all parties.” – AFP the travellers. Singapore is also working on a repatriation flight to bring home its citizens from Muscat, Oman tomorrow, said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang. She said the repatriation flight will cater to Singaporeans in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, where about 60% of Singaporeans who have e-registered with the Foreign Ministry are located. Gan said in the coming days, the ministry will also establish assisted overland trips to help Singaporeans in Bahrain and Qatar travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where commercial flights are still available. “We will be reaching out to Singaporeans who have recently indicated that they would like assistance to return to Singapore,” she told reporters on Wednesday, the Straits Times reported. The ministry will work with airlines and local authorities in the Middle East to explore the feasibility of further repatriation flights, subject to flight routes and airport reopening schedules. Meanwhile, Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan expressed appreciation to the Gulf states for their efforts to ensure the safety of Singaporeans amid the ongoing conflicts. He highlighted that the welfare of Singaporeans remains a priority, and the republic’s overseas missions are focused on providing consular assistance to Singaporeans in the region. “We are doing our best to get Singaporeans to safety under these volatile circumstances.” He added that the republic endorses the Asean Foreign Ministers’ statement on the Middle East situation, describing the outbreak of conflict as deeply concerning. – Reuters

its citizens in the United Arab Emirates to secure flight tickets from Emirates and Etihad Airways to leave the country. The Singapore Foreign Ministry and its overseas missions in the Middle East are conducting a survey to gauge the interest of Singaporeans in the region for an assisted departure due to ongoing airport closures. “Please note that this is a survey to assess the interest for assisted departures and is not a confirmation that evacuation operations will be mounted,” they said. They noted that all costs, including but not limited to air tickets, land transportation, travel documentation, visas and temporary accommodation, will be borne by

o Survey being conducted to assess interest for assisted departures: Foreign Ministry

SINGAPORE: The first commercial flight carrying Singaporeans stranded in the Middle East amid ongoing conflicts touched down here yesterday morning. Emirates flight EK314 departed Dubai for Singapore at 9pm local time on Wednesday and landed at Changi Airport at 8.15am yesterday, CNA reported. According to travel updates posted on the Emirates website, the airline continues to operate a limited flight schedule.

All scheduled Emirates flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until tomorrow due to airspace closures across the region. “We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority on these limited flights. Emirates continues to monitor the situation and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly,” the airline said. On Wednesday, the Singapore Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate-General in Dubai advised

A family being greeted by relatives upon arrival in Singapore yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

China boosts defence spending with eye on US, Taiwan BEIJING: China yesterday announced a 7% boost to its defence budget for 2026 as it steadily increases spending to counter the United States and enforce its claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea. continuity as Beijing pursues a sweeping anti-graft purge of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which included the ousting of top general Zhang Youxia in January. “China pursues an independent and self-reliant foreign policy. “However, without robust believed to be vast natural resources. The United States remains the world’s biggest military spender, shelling out US$997 billion (RM3.9 trillion) in 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri). to the several hundred held by the United States. “However, the absolute spending level (second globally) and rapid capability development concern neighbours,“ said Swanstrom.

China’s military buildup is fuelling an arms race in Asia and prompting some countries, particularly those with territorial disputes with China, to draw closer to Washington. In Taiwan, leader Lai Ching-te wants to increase military spending in response to Beijing, which does not rule out the use of force to take control of the island. The Philippines has also granted US access to more of its military bases. Japan has been shedding its strict pacifist stance, with a record defence budget worth US$58 billion approved in December for the coming fiscal year to expand its military capabilities. The question of whether China could win a conflict against the United States remains unanswered. The Chinese navy is considered to

China has maintained a steady increase in military spending of between 7% and 8% each year since 2016. However, its military spending as a percentage of GDP remains modest. China’s defence budget stood at 1.7% of GDP in 2024, well behind the US figure of 3.4% and Russia’s 7.1%, according to Sipri. “That is proportional to its economy and legitimate defence needs,“ explained Institute for Security and Development Policy director Niklas Swanstrom in Stockholm. China claims that its defence policy is solely aimed at protecting its territory, which it says includes self-ruled Taiwan. It has only one military base abroad, in Djibouti, in contrast

military capabilities and technological prowess, our diplomatic stance would inevitably be subject to coercion or even dictated by certain nations, including the United States,“ said military commentator Song Zhongping, a former Chinese army instructor. “China is unwilling to be a vassal state,“ said Song, who maintained that, by comparison, Japan and South Korea “only submit to American dictates”. He added that the PLA must strengthen its capabilities to “fully restore” Chinese jurisdiction over the disputed Spratly Islands, a chain of reefs and atolls in the South China Sea that are also claimed by the Philippines and where there are