Latest news with #US-designed
Straits Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
China-linked hackers target Taiwan's chip industry with increasing attacks, researchers say
The previously unreported hacking campaigns were carried out by at least three distinct Chinese-linked groups primarily between March and June of 2025. TAIPEI - Chinese-linked hackers are targeting the Taiwanese semiconductor industry and investment analysts as part of a string of cyber espionage campaigns, researchers said on July 16. While hacking to steal data and information about the industry is not new, there is an increase in sustained hacking campaigns from several China-aligned hacking groups, researchers with cybersecurity firm Proofpoint said in a new analysis. 'We've seen entities that we hadn't ever seen being targeted in the past being targeted,' said Mr Mark Kelly, a threat researcher focused on Chinese-related threats at Proofpoint. The previously unreported hacking campaigns were carried out by at least three distinct Chinese-linked groups primarily between March and June of 2025, with some activity likely ongoing, Proofpoint said. They come amid rising restrictions by Washington on exports to China of US-designed chips that are often manufactured in Taiwan. China's chip industry has been working to replace its dwindling supply of sophisticated US chips, especially those used in artificial intelligence. The researchers declined to identify the hacking targets, but told Reuters that approximately 15 to 20 organisations ranging from small businesses, analysts employed by at least one US-headquartered international bank, and large global enterprises faced attacks. Major Taiwanese semiconductor firms include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, MediaTek, United Microelectronics Corp, Nanya Technology and RealTek Semiconductor. TSMC declined to comment. MediaTek, UMC, Nanya and RealTek did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters was unable to identify the specific hacking targets or determine whether any of the efforts were successful. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington told Reuters in an email that cyber attacks 'are a common threat faced by all countries, China included', and that the Asian country 'firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyber attacks and cyber crime – a position that is consistent and clear'. The activity ranged from one or two emails sent as part of the more targeted campaign focused on specific people, to as many as 80 emails when trying to gain information from the company at large, Mr Kelly said. One group targeted semiconductor design, manufacturing and supply-chain organisations using compromised Taiwanese university email accounts to pose as job seekers and send malware via PDFs with URLs leading to malicious files, or a password-protected archive. Another targeted financial analysts at major unnamed investment firms focused on the Taiwanese semiconductor industry by posing as a fictitious investment firm and seeking collaboration. Two of the entities are based in Asia, while the third is based in the US. The FBI declined to comment. A representative of TeamT5, a cybersecurity firm based in Taiwan, told Reuters that it had also seen an increase in emails being sent targeting the semiconductor industry tied to a few hacking groups, 'but not a wide or general phenomenon'. Targeting of semiconductors and the supply chain around them 'is a persistent threat that has existed for long,' the representative said, and a 'constant interest' for Chinese-related advanced hacking operators. These groups often target 'peripheral suppliers or related industries', the representative said, such as a situation in June where a China-linked hacking group identified by TeamT5 as 'Amoeba' launched a phishing campaign against an unnamed chemical company that plays a critical role in the semiconductor supply chain. REUTERS
Japan Forward
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Japan Has an Army — Here's How It's Different
Does Japan Have an Army? Ask around outside Japan, and you'll get a range of answers, from "No, they're pacifist" to "Sort of?" to "Isn't it just the United States protecting them?" The confusion is understandable. Japan is the world's third-largest economy and has one of the most advanced militaries, yet its Constitution renounces war and prohibits the maintenance of land, sea, and air forces. The reality is more nuanced. Japan does have a military — a large, well-equipped one. But it operates under strict legal constraints and a different name: the Self-Defense Forces (自衛隊, Jieitai). Established in 1954 from a US-designed police reserve, the SDF is structured into Ground, Maritime, and Air branches. It exists only for self-defense, disaster response, and peacekeeping. The legal basis for this posture is Article 9 of Japan's postwar Constitution. It "forever renounces war" and declares that Japan will "never maintain" armed forces. Successive governments have interpreted this to allow the minimum necessary for self-defense. For decades, this excluded offensive weapons and overseas combat. That began to shift in 2014, when then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration interpreted the law to permit collective self-defense, supporting allies under attack. Their analysis deemed that this was possible without formally amending the Constitution. Security laws passed later, in 2015–16, allow limited use of force abroad, but only under strict conditions. Namely, Japan must face an "existential threat," and any action must be proportionate and defensive in nature. Members of the Ground Self-Defense Force fire a 155mm howitzer FH70 during the Fuji General Firepower Exercise, August 25, 2019, at the Ground Self-Defense Force Higashifuji Training Range in Shizuoka Prefecture. (©Sankei by Yosuke Hayasaka) Shaped by this "defense-only" mandate, the SDF is nevertheless a modern force. It fields advanced equipment, like F-35 fighter jets, Aegis destroyers, and PAC-3 missile systems. Also, it is acquiring long-range counterstrike capabilities. However, its mission is strictly defensive — to intercept missiles, secure sea lanes, support allied forces logistically, and respond to attacks on Japanese territory. It cannot conduct independent combat operations abroad. International deployments remain limited to peacekeeping and disaster relief. In other words, even under the authority of collective defense, the SDF's use of force is tightly restricted. For example, its support of US forces cannot include frontline combat. Any deployment abroad must be justified under Japanese law, and offensive actions remain politically sensitive. Rising threats from North Korea and China have spurred public support for changes. Japan is increasing its defense budget dramatically, with spending reaching ¥7.7 trillion JPY ($48.5 billion USD) in 2024, about 1.6% of GDP. It plans to hit 2% by 2027. The SDF is also gaining new capabilities: counterstrike missiles, integrated missile defense, cyber forces, and advanced surveillance systems. Some argue this stretches the definition of purely defensive, especially as Japan looks to deter gray zone aggression, such as cyberattacks, air and maritime incursions, before they escalate. Nevertheless, the government firmly maintains that all new capabilities are consistent with its defensive posture and deterrence strategy. While Japan maintains a quasi-alliance with Australia and various defense-related agreements with other countries, its only true alliance is with the United States. It hosts major US bases for the region, and the two work closely on missile defense and joint operations. In 2025, Japan joined a new trilateral defense dialogue with the US and Australia. Furthermore, it welcomed the creation of a Joint Operations Command with America's Indo-Pacific Command. Japan is also increasing cooperation with NATO and has taken part in joint cyber and intelligence exercises. In addition, it has contributed aid and equipment to Ukraine. These moves also reflect growing concern over China's maritime aggression and North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. Japan cites these threats in its national security strategy to enable new spending and expanded roles for the SDF. Japan's defense model is rare: a major economy with advanced military capabilities but no formal "army" and no conscription. Its 250,000 active personnel operate under civilian control and are limited to non-offensive roles abroad. In some ways, this resembles Germany's postwar military, but Japan's constitutional constraints are even tighter. These are compounded by the country's postwar nuclear allergy, which has constrained serious debate about deterrence. Japan's adherence to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles has restricted its strategic options and limited the effectiveness of US-extended nuclear deterrence. As a result, Japan's current security posture may be inadequate in the face of growing nuclear threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. A JSDF member carefully transfers a mock shell into a blast-resistant container during an unexploded ordnance disposal drill. April 2024, Naha City (©Sankei by Naoki Otake). Despite its strength, the SDF cannot legally call itself a military and remains tightly bound to a self-defense posture. That makes Japan an outlier among advanced nations, balancing modern security needs with lingering postwar pacifism. This balance is under debate. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has long supported revising Article 9 to explicitly acknowledge the SDF. In 2024, then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's party backed a proposal to clarify the SDF's legal status. A 2025 Asahi Shimbun poll found 53% of Japanese support constitutional revision. So, Japan does have a military — powerful, professional, and evolving — but it remains legally unique. Driven by external threats and shifting public opinion, the Self-Defense Forces are growing in strength and responsibility. Yet their role is still bounded by law, politics, and history. Whether Japan's defensive creed can adapt to modern challenges without losing its identity is one of the country's defining security questions. Author: Daniel Manning
News18
27-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Russian Missile ‘Thwarts' US Patriot, Ukraine Stunned By Upgraded Iskander-M's "Evasive Maneuvers"
US-designed Patriot air defence systems are struggling to keep pace with Russia's missile technology, Ukraine's military has admitted. Kyiv has long praised the MIM-104 Patriot as a vital part of its arsenal following the deployment of the first battery in April 2023. However, it now turns now that the American system is showing critical limitations in the face of Russia's of May, Ukraine is reported to have deployed six Patriot systems primarily donated by the US and Germany. Russia has reportedly enhanced its Iskander-M ballistic missiles, posing new challenges for US-supplied Patriot air defence systems. According to Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukrainian Air Force, these upgrades include radar decoys and a quasi-ballistic trajectory, making the missiles harder to intercept.'It is about shooting down radar traps that each missile can release during the approach to the target,' Ihnat said. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION1:42 UPGRADED ISKANDER-M 'THWARTS' US PATRIOT SYSTEMS2:45 WHAT IS THE ISKANDER-M MISSILE?3:45 'WE DON'T HAVE MORE PATRIOTS FOR UKRAINE'
Gulf Insider
22-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
OpenAI To Build World's Largest AI Data Centre In Abu Dhabi, UAE
In a landmark collaboration, OpenAI confirmed that it is developing a massive AI data centre in Abu Dhabi, marking the first international deployment of Stargate, OpenAI's cutting-edge AI infrastructure platform. This project is a crucial step in the UAE's ambition to become a global leader in AI technology, leveraging the country's strategic position and innovation drive to make advanced AI more accessible across the globe. The new facility is being developed in partnership with key players in the tech industry, including G42, an AI company backed by the UAE's sovereign wealth fund, along with Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank. The development is a part of OpenAI's broader strategy to extend AI infrastructure to key regions worldwide, bringing powerful AI capabilities to more countries in a secure and sustainable way. Once completed, the Stargate UAE data centre will be 5 gigawatts in size, significantly larger than any facility OpenAI or its closest rivals have previously built. The project's massive capacity, which is set to span approximately 10 square miles in Abu Dhabi, will dwarf the 1.2GW planned for Stargate's first U.S. campus in Abilene, Texas. The UAE centre is expected to be a critical hub in expanding the reach of AI technologies, particularly US-designed AI software, to new global markets. 'This initiative is a bold leap forward for the AI industry, with the UAE playing a key role,' said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in a statement on Thursday. 'By establishing the world's first Stargate outside of the US in the UAE, we're turning a bold vision into reality. This is a step toward ensuring some of this era's most important breakthroughs — whether it's safer medicines, personalized learning, or modernized energy — can emerge from more places and benefit the world.' The Stargate UAE project is also a significant milestone in strengthening the growing AI partnership between the UAE and the US. Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, emphasized that the partnership was a 'significant step in the UAE–US AI partnership,' reflecting the strong ties between both nations in advancing AI infrastructure. This joint initiative builds on existing collaborations, including President Trump's recent visit to the Gulf, where several AI infrastructure projects were announced. As part of this collaboration, the UAE will also become the first country to offer ChatGPT services nationwide, with the tool being integrated across government agencies and key sectors such as energy, healthcare, and education. Furthermore, all UAE residents will receive ChatGPT-Plus subscriptions, ensuring that OpenAI's tools are accessible to everyone in the country. The new data centre also holds the potential to serve as an AI infrastructure and compute capacity hub within a 2,000-mile radius, reaching up to half of the world's population. This capability aligns with OpenAI's broader ambition to create a globally distributed, democratically powered AI network, helping AI adoption to accelerate across multiple countries. By bringing the Stargate infrastructure to the UAE, OpenAI is creating an environment where AI can continue to thrive, making it easier for governments and businesses to integrate cutting-edge technologies into their daily operations and services. With future Stargate facilities planned for other regions, OpenAI is laying the groundwork for a more connected world driven by AI technologies. This project is just the beginning of a larger global initiative that aims to place AI infrastructure at the heart of innovation in economies across the globe. The Stargate UAE facility represents a game-changing moment in the world of AI technology, enabling faster access to cutting-edge tools while solidifying the UAE's role in the future of global AI innovation. With OpenAI, G42, and other tech giants leading the charge, the UAE is set to be a key player in shaping the future of AI, not just regionally but globally.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AI tops Trump's agenda in the UAE
US President Donald Trump lands in Abu Dhabi today, with cooperation on artificial intelligence atop the agenda. His visit to the United Arab Emirates comes at the end of a Gulf tour that has covered ground including chips, defense, and investment: Saudi Arabia reached deals to buy $142 billion of defense equipment while Qatar agreed to purchase 210 Boeing aircraft. The UAE, however, is hyper-focused on becoming a global AI hub, and wants to ramp up imports of US-designed chips as a result. The two countries have a preliminary agreement to allow the UAE to import 500,000 of Nvidia's most advanced AI chips annually, according to Reuters, and Washington this week loosened curbs on selling semiconductors to Gulf nations.
