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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.
Are Fears of a Chinese Port Facility on Manus Island Justified?
By Ankit Panda
Manus Island would be a strategic outpost for China, astride the western Pacific Ocean.
The Folly of Great Expectation From India-China Relations
By Radhey Tambi
The Chinese defense minister's visit to India is not a cure-all for what ails the relationship.
South China Sea: US, China Tussle Over Military Overflight
By Ankit Panda
The United States continues to highlight Chinese rule-breaking in the South China Sea.
Making Sense of the August Fizzle in the US-North Korea Negotiations
By Ankit Panda
U.S.-North Korea diplomacy is at an impasse. Will September produce a breakthrough or a collapse?
How Real Is the Chinese Threat to the United States?
By Charles V. Peña
Threat is a function of both capability and intention.
How Far Can South Korea's Indigenous Defense Industry Go?
By Robert Farley
Aerospace, in particular, presents both great upside and downside for South Korea.
Will the US-China Trade War Spill Over Into the South China Sea?
By Robert Farley
Can the South China Sea become a front in the U.S.-China trade war?
Deconstructing the US Trade War Against China
By Jin Kai
The Trump administration is employing a “gray zone” strategy to prevent China from emerging as a threat to U.S. dominance.
Did the Obama-Xi Cyber Agreement Work?
By Robert Farley
How does the 2015 agreement between the U.S. and China on cyber activities hold up?
Submarines in the South China Sea Conflict
By Tyler Headley
Since 1991, five of seven countries with a claim in the South China Sea have purchased at least one attack submarine.
Trump's Iran Sanctions Reimposition Takes the JCPOA One Step Closer to Collapse
By Ankit Panda
The core bargain at the heart of the JCPOA doesn't exist in the way it was designed to any longer.
Can the US Compete With China in Southeast Asia?
By Dingding Chen and You Wang
Both countries have advantages in Southeast Asia, and the competition will be a long game.