China and Russia have agreed on a road map to deepen co-operation on military patrols and exercises. The agreement was announced a few days after the two countries' air forces held joint patrols over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea that featured Chinese H-6K (pictured) and Russian Tu-95 bombers. (Japan Air Self-Defense Force)

China and Russia have agreed to expand military collaboration over the coming five years, Russia's Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 23 November. The move will facilitate deeper co-operation in joint patrols and military exercises.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has issued harsh words against China in his statement during a summit hosted by Beijing with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries on 22 November.

The rare rebuke came in the wake of a stand-off between Chinese and Philippine vessels at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The feature, also known as the Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, is claimed by both Beijing and Manila as part of their respective maritime territories.

In 1999 the Philippine Navy deliberately grounded a landing ship tank, BRP Sierra Madre

The Brazilian Army line up a series of mobile field equipment to address CBRN risks. (Victor Barreira)

The Brazilian Army has embarked on a new effort to modernise its chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defence capabilities.

Service officials are acquiring new equipment to gradually replace hardware that is reaching the end of its life cycle in a bid to boost existing capabilities, the Commander of the 1st CBRN Defence Battalion (1º Btl DQBRN), Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Otávio Domingues Costa, told Janes.