Indo-Pacific 5x5: June 25th 2025
DeepSeek & the PLA - Indonesia's Free Trade Agreements - tensions in the US-Australia relationship strained - China may have refueled sats in orbit - South Korea, AI & national security
DeepSeek under scrutiny for intelligence support and chip acquisition strategies
"These aren't isolated accusations; they are part of a growing body of existing concerns. Indications of a link between DeepSeek and the Chinese state apparatus are based on various pieces of evidence. Among the most significant are over 150 references to DeepSeek found in the procurement records of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and other Chinese defense-related entities. These references suggest that the company has provided direct technological services to PLA research institutes, indicating a collaboration well beyond the mere open-source availability of its AI models."
"Furthermore, there have been reports regarding the sharing of user information and statistics with Beijing's surveillance apparatus. Although Chinese law requires companies to provide data to the government upon request, this practice raises serious privacy concerns for DeepSeek's millions of global users. US lawmakers had previously expressed fears that the company was transmitting American user data to China via backend infrastructure connected to China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications giant. Analysis of DeepSeek's code has even revealed direct links to China Mobile's authentication and identity management systems, suggesting a deeper state involvement."
FTA/CEPA Amid Global Conflict: Opportunity or Trap?
"Against this backdrop of fragmentation, Indonesia should focus on fully utilizing its existing FTAs, CEPAs, and PTAs as a strategy to diversify markets. Bilateral deals include those with Japan, South Korea, Australia, Chile, and the UAE; PTAs exist with Pakistan, Mozambique, and Palestine. Regionally, Indonesia is part of ASEAN FTAs with China, India, Korea, Japan, and Australia–New Zealand, and also a founding member of RCEP—the largest regional trade deal globally, covering 30% of world GDP and nearly one-third of the global population."
"Indonesia must now prioritize partnerships in the relatively stable Indo-Pacific. With minimal disruptions, this region offers the best path to secure and deepen trade. Through RCEP, Indonesia can access a vast market, simplify rules of origin, and remove 90% of tariffs across member states. It’s an opportunity to shift away from raw commodity exports and move toward industrial transformation through value-added manufacturing in sectors like automotive, electronics, and chemicals, particularly with Japan, Korea, and China seeking reliable production partners."
https://jakartaglobe.id/opinion/ftacepa-amid-global-conflict-opportunity-or-trap
Beneath the Mateship, a Quiet Crisis Is Brewing in the U.S.-Australia Alliance
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
"There is little question that Australia will need to find some way to boost its defense spend. This is not just a question of mollifying Trump and the Pentagon. The fact is, Australia under its current budget cannot afford both the full scope of investments envisioned under AUKUS and the other needed investments in conventional capabilities. Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers have moved toward a record AU$55.7 billion (U.S. $36.8 billion) defense budget for the next fiscal year, a 6.3 percent increase but one that equates to 2.02 percent of GDP and falls short of their publicly stated goal of 2.3 percent by 2033–2034. "
"Unlike the U.S.-Japan alliance, where roles, missions, and wartime operational control are much more clearly delineated, a real-world crisis will throw much of this decisionmaking between Canberra and Washington into the realm of politics. Americans and Australians have a long history of fighting shoulder to shoulder, beginning with the Battle of Hamel in 1918 when U.S. forces even served under an Australian commander, General Sir John Monash. What they do not have is a deep history of divvying up roles and missions as part of a combined operational concept."
https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/06/us-australia-alliance-quiet-crisis
2 Chinese spacecraft just met up 22,000 miles above Earth. What were they doing?
"Optical tracking by the space situational awareness firm s2a systems shows a close approach between the two on June 14, with the pair, at times, virtually unresolvable from the other. This suggests that Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 made at least a test-run close approach and may have even performed a docking and undocking test."
"The test aims to demonstrate on-orbit refueling and mission extension capabilities, helping to improve the sustainability of space operations."
"Shijian-25 launched in January to demonstrate on-orbit refueling and satellite servicing, while Shijian-21 launched in 2021 and towed a dead satellite out of geosynchronous orbit and into a higher, 'graveyard' orbit."
AI Security Strategy and South Korea's Challenges
Center for Strategic and International Studies
"Despite these broad efforts, South Korea’s AI strategy and legal framework still focus more on industry promotion and safety than national security. Article 4 of the AI Basic Act excludes national defense and security uses of AI from its scope, based on the assumption that other agencies handle those areas separately and are hard to align with civilian regulations. However, even outside the act, there is no clear legal basis for using AI in national defense or security, making it difficult to build solid strategies for such uses."
"Also, unlike the EU AI Act—which classifies risk into four levels and applies regulation accordingly—South Korea’s framework minimizes or excludes regulation for most low-risk AI systems. But even low-risk systems can become serious national security threats if misused intentionally or systematically. This means a security-centered update is needed."
https://www.csis.org/analysis/ai-security-strategy-and-south-koreas-challenges
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Disclaimer: Headlines, and content selections, presented here are taken directly from the referenced articles and online platforms, and do not reflect any personal value judgment, statement or opinion. I make no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or truthfulness of the content of these articles. All news and information presented should be carefully scrutinized, considering the credibility of each source, the documented or discernible facts, the statements presented, and the strength of supporting evidence. Readers should form their own conclusions through the application of informed critical analysis. In detail >