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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.
Chinese National Indicted in US Economic Espionage Case, Extradited to US
By Ankit Panda
In a first, a Chinese national has been extradited to the United States in an economic espionage case.
CAATSA's Out of the Bag: Sanctions, Intellectual Property, and US-China Relations
By Robert Farley
Push sanctions too far and China may decide that it’s past time to challenge U.S. financial and legal hegemony.
3 Types of Chinese Reactions to Mike Pence’s China Speech
By Dingding Chen
These diverse views show that China is still debating how to handle an increasingly aggressive United States.
US-North Korea Diplomacy Picks Up With a Pompeo-Kim Encounter in Pyongyang
By Ankit Panda
The meeting marks the highest level contact between the two countries since the Singapore Summit in June.
Floating Nuclear Power Plants in Northeast Asia? A Daunting Prospect.
By Tom Corben
Weak multilateral architecture, territorial disputes, and natural disaster vulnerability compound the unknowns of Russia’s new energy platform.
US-North Korea Talks Are About to Spin Up Again: What Does Pyongyang Really Want?
By Ankit Panda
North Korea is looking to open up a path to sanctions relief.
COMCASA and the Future of India's Defense Industrial Base
By Robert Farley
Greater U.S.-India defense integration is expected to continue.
'Unsafe' Incident between US and Chinese Warships During FONOP
By Steven Stashwick
PLA Navy ship crossed 45 yards ahead of USS Decatur in the Spratly Islands.
A First: Japan's Largest Warship Visits Sri Lanka on Indo-Pacific Deployment
By Ankit Panda
Japan's defense and security cooperation with Sri Lanka continues to deepen.
Pentagon: Chinese Warship in 'Unsafe' Encounter With US Destroyer During Freedom of Navigation Operation
By Ankit Panda
The incident represents the most dangerous and direct Chinese challenge to U.S. freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea.
The US-China Trade War Has No Winners—Yet
By Dingding Chen
Neither the United States nor China is winning right now and the trade war will be a long one.
US Navy Destroyer Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation Near Gaven, Johnson Reefs
By Ankit Panda
The latest U.S. FONOP testing Chinese maritime claims comes at a time of heightened U.S.-China bilateral tensions.