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


China Coast Guard Harass Second Thomas Shoal Resupply Mission

China Coast Guard Harass Second Thomas Shoal Resupply Mission

A Second Thomas Shoal resupply mission intercepted by China Coast Guard on Oct. 4, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard Photo 

The Philippines conducted a successful resupply mission on Wednesday to its outpost on BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57), grounded at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands, despite China’s attempts at obstruction. Read More

Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Underway from Japan After 11-Day Delay

Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Underway from Japan After 11-Day Delay

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) underway on Sept. 29, 2023. Photo via X

This post has been updated with a statement from U.S. 7th Fleet.

Carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) got underway on Friday after canceling its departure six times since Sept. 18. Meanwhile, the Navy’s two Ghost Fleet unmanned surface vessel prototypes, which pulled into Yokosuka on Sept. 18, carried out drills on Wednesday with a U.S. Littoral Combat Ship and a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) frigate. Read More

Russian Pacific Fleet Holds Exercises Off Siberia, Near Alaska

Russian Pacific Fleet Holds Exercises Off Siberia, Near Alaska

Russian Navy cruiser RFS Varyag (011) and destroyer RFS Marshal Shaposhnikov (543). Japan MOD photo

Over the past two weeks, the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet has been conducting drills in the Chukchi and Bering Seas and the Chukchi Peninsula of Eastern Siberia, some of which have been observed by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Meanwhile, Royal Australian Navy ships have set out for a regional presence deployment to Southeast and Northeast Asia. Read More

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Shandong Back in South China Sea

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Shandong Back in South China Sea

CNS Shandong (17). JMSDF Photo

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Shandong Carrier Strike Group returned to the South China Sea on Friday, according to a release by the Japanese Ministry of Defense. At the same time, five of the eight PLAN surface ships that had entered the Philippine Sea Monday via the Miyako Strait returned to the East China Sea Friday by the same route. Meanwhile, Western media outlets are reporting that Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu is under investigation for corruption and will likely be removed from office. Read More

Chinese Aircraft Carrier, Warships Massing for Major Exercise Near the Philippines

Chinese Aircraft Carrier, Warships Massing for Major Exercise Near the Philippines

A Taiwanese destroyer monitoring the People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier CNS Shandong (17). Taiwan Ministry of Defense Photo

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Shandong Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Philippine Sea, being shadowed separately by Republic of China Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyers, according to both countries. Read More

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Operating Again Near Japan

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Operating Again Near Japan

CNS Shandong (17) underway on Sept. 10, 2023. JMSDF Photo

Five months after it made its first deployment to the western Pacific, People’s Liberation Army Navy carrier CNS Shandong (17) is back conducting drills, according to Taiwan Ministry of National Defense. Also on Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported a total of eight PLAN ships transited the Miyako Strait to enter the Philippine Sea. Read More

Chinese Warships Shadow Canadian, U.S., Japanese Warships in East China Sea, the Philippines Resupply Second Thomas Shoal

Chinese Warships Shadow Canadian, U.S., Japanese Warships in East China Sea, the Philippines Resupply Second Thomas Shoal

HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341), JS Izumo (DDH-183) and USS Ralph Johnson underway in the East China Sea. JMSDF Photo

A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer shadowed U.S., Japanese and Canadian warships as they conducted a trilateral exercise in the East China Sea on Wednesday according to an report by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Meanwhile, on Friday, the Philippines successfully carried out a resupply mission to its outpost at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands, despite opposing actions by China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia ships. Read More