Dzirhan Mahadzir

About Dzirhan Mahadzir

Dzirhan Mahadzir is a freelance defense journalist and analyst based in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Among the publications he has written for and currently writes for since 1998 includes Defence Review Asia, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Navy International, International Defence Review, Asian Defence Journal, Defence Helicopter, Asian Military Review and the Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter.


Recent Posts By the Author


Makin Island ARG Docks in Busan, 3 LCS Now Underway in Indo-PACOM

Makin Island ARG Docks in Busan, 3 LCS Now Underway in Indo-PACOM

USS Makin Island (LHD-8) conducts a photo exercise and replenishment-at-sea with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93), March 15, 2023. US Navy Photo

The Makin Island Amphibious Group (ARG) docked at the port of Busan in the Republic of Korea (ROK) as part of their participation in the U.S.-ROK Exercise Ssangyong this week. Read More

INDOPACOM: China Has Not Responded to U.S. Attempts to Establish Communication

INDOPACOM: China Has Not Responded to U.S. Attempts to Establish Communication

Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, listens to a brief during the USINDOPACOM Commander’s Summit in Hawaii on Dec. 13, 2022. U.S. Navy Photo

China has not responded to any of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s requests to establish direct communication channels between its commander and the commanders of China’s main military commands, Adm. John Aquilino said Thursday. Read More

Chinese Warship, Cutter Violate Pag-asa Island Territorial Sea, Says Philippine Coast Guard

Chinese Warship, Cutter Violate Pag-asa Island Territorial Sea, Says Philippine Coast Guard

A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy off the coast of Pag-asa Island on March 3, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard Photo

A Chinese warship, a China Coast Guard ship and 42 Maritime Militia ships operated within the 12-nautical mile territorial sea around Pag-Asa Island, internationally known as Thitu island, in the Spratly Island archipelago Saturday, according to a Philippine Coast Guard statement. Read More

America ARG, Makin Island ARG Will Join Cobra Gold 2023

America ARG, Makin Island ARG Will Join Cobra Gold 2023

An MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron (VMM) 362 (Rein.), 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), lands on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8) in the Gulf of Thailand, Feb. 22, 2023. US Navy Photo

The Navy’s two Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG) deployed in the Indo-Pacific – the Makin Island ARG and the America ARG – will participate in major exercises in Thailand and Japan on Monday with the multinational Cobra Gold 2023 exercise in Thailand and the bilateral Iron Fist 23 exercise in Japan. Read More