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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.
China’s New ‘Standard Map’ Does Not Mean What You Think It Means
By Mark Raymond and David A. Welch
Nothing in the map suggests that China is making a novel territorial claim. In fact, Beijing may be quietly walking one particularly questionable claim back.
The Significance and Challenges of the Japan-US-South Korea Summit
By KAWASHIMA Shin
The summit statement’s wording is revealing.
North Korea Launches Ballistic Missiles After US Flies Bomber During Drills
By Hyung-jin Kim
Hours after the U.S. flew a B-1B bomber to the Korean Peninsula as part of field exercises with South Korea, the North launched two short-range ballistic missiles.
India’s Space Cooperation With the Middle East
By Anuttama Banerji
While the traditional view holds that India’s engagement with the region is primarily focused on economics, especially energy, space cooperation is an increasingly important area.
Growth and Incoherence: BRICS 2023 Summit in South Africa
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
BRICS eyes expansion, but without a coherent agenda. Meanwhile, rhetoric about respect for international law sours beside Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
BRICS Is Getting 6 New Members
By Gerald Imray and Mogomotsi Magome
China has been keen to expand BRICS as a direct counter to the U.S.-led G-7, but other members were more hesitant.
North Korea Fails to Launch Reconnaissance Satellite on 2nd Try
By Takahashi Kosuke
It was the second failed launch in three months, but Pyongyang has vowed to try a third time in October.
Malabar Exercise Brings Quad Navies Together in Australia
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
After returning to the long-running exercise in 2020, Australia played host to Malabar 2023.
The Japan-South Korea-US Summit: A Game Changer for the Indo-Pacific
By Mina Pollmann
Different threat perceptions as well as Japan’s colonization of Korea and atrocities committed during World War II have made even basic trilateral cooperation difficult – until now.
The Japan-South Korea-US Summit Is Bad News for China
By Shannon Tiezzi
The summit’s deliverables directly contradict previous assurances Beijing had sought on limits to trilateral cooperation.
Beyond Borders: Navigating Asia’s Water Challenges
By Farwa Aamer and Susanne Schmeier
Solving Asia's water stress will require a concerted diplomatic effort on the international stage.
South Korea’s Yoon Calls for Strong Security Cooperation with US, Japan Ahead of Camp David Summit
By Hyung-jin Kim
Yoon said the importance of Seoul-Washington-Tokyo security cooperation is growing on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.