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Flashpoints
Will China’s military rival the United States’ in the Pacific? Will Japan abandon the constitutional fetters on its own military? How will India respond to the String of Pearls strategy? The Diplomat has put together a team of leading analysts to offer must-read, regular commentary on the big defense and security issues in the Asia-Pacific.
The Next Step for Japan-South Korea-US Security Cooperation: An Alternative to the UN Panel of Experts
By Kyung-joo Jeon and Bee Yun Jo
Now that Russia has killed the U.N.’s mechanism for reporting on North Korea sanctions enforcement, the trilateral should craft an alternative.
China Advances Its Space Capabilities, Enlarging Its Strategic Advantage
By Namrata Goswami
From new mega-constellations of satellites to its successful lunar missions, China's emphasis on its space program is paying strategic dividends.
The Strategic Imperative for South Korea’s Nuclear Armament
By Lakhvinder Singh
A signature campaign in support of South Korea developing its own nuclear weapons represents a profound shift in policy, driven by doubts about U.S. extended deterrence.
Philippines Protests Chinese Air Force Jets’ Firing of Flares in the Path of Patrol Plane
By Jim Gomez
The encounter over Scarborough Shoal was the first aerial run-in since high-seas hostilities between Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea started to flare last year.
The Growing Rift Between Islamic State Khorasan Province and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
By Muhammad Imad Abbas
The two South Asian jihadist groups, both prominent in their extremist ideologies and territorial ambitions, have increasingly found themselves at odds.
The Cyberspace Impact of a Maritime Crisis in Southeast Asia
By Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman
A China-U.S. maritime conflict would heavily impact Southeast Asia – including in the cyber domain.
Can China and the Philippines Save Their South China Sea Understanding?
By Christian Schultheiss
An analysis of the Philippines’ recent resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal suggests that the understanding can, in fact, satisfy both sides’ red lines.
US, Australia, Canada, Philippines Stage Naval and Air Force Maneuvers in Disputed South China Sea
By Jim Gomez
The Philippine military said three Chinese navy ships “tailed” the four-nation maneuvers off the western coast of the Philippines.
The SCO Needs To Be More Than a China-Russia Front Against the West
By Syed Nasir Hassan
The regional bloc has shifted its focus to serve as a geopolitical counterweight to Western institutions led by the U.S., while becoming ambivalent to the SCO’s own core principles.
Will Kinmen Be Taiwan’s Crimea?
By Sam Goodman
A relatively pro-China population and proximity to the mainland mean Beijing might test the waters by attempting to annex the Kinmen Islands.
Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Has a Strong Message for China
By Rishi Gupta
While the statement indicates an ever-more cohesive grouping, concerns still linger about the lack of a leaders' summit this year.
The Jaishankar-Wang Meeting and the Future of China-India Ties
By Ali Yawar M.
Even if New Delhi and Beijing decide to collaborate on the economic front, it might not be enough to shift the needle on their relationship.