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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.
Will the Trump Administration Send a US Aircraft Carrier Through the Taiwan Strait?
By Ankit Panda
The Trump administration may be setting the stage for a show of reassurance toward Taipei.
South China Sea: US Flies Nuclear-Capable Bombers Near Scarborough Shoal
By Ankit Panda
The bombers were en route to Guam from Diego Garcia.
India, US, and Japan to Hold ‘Malabar’ Naval War Games This Week
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The trilateral naval exercise has grown in complexity over recent years.
The South China Sea Conundrum for the United States
By Robert Farley
What is left for the United States to do about China's militarization of the South China Sea?
The 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue: Probing the 'Indo-Pacific' and Deterring the Fait Accompli
By Ankit Panda
Familiar themes and new anxieties were apparent at Asia's premier security dialogue in 2018.
Former US Defense Intelligence Agency Officer Arrested, Charged With Attempted Espionage for China
By Ankit Panda
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged a former U.S. intelligence officer with attempted espionage.
Will ‘Flammable Ice’ Be a Critical Factor in Asia’s Regional Security?
By Mayuko Yatsu
As China, Japan, and others aim to commercialize methane hydrate, its security implications should be examined.
Don’t Forget: North Korea Is a Country, Too
By Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein
North Korea is more than its negotiators and official statements on the state news agency.
India-US-China: Aligning Interests or Managing Threats?
By Monish Tourangbam and Pooja Bhatt
India’s pursuit of its national interests will be tested by how it manages its relationships with the U.S. and China.
20 Years After Pokhran-II: Have Nuclear Weapons Made India More Secure?
By Travis Wheeler and Heather Byrne
20 years later, what are the effects of India's nuclear weapons on South Asia's security environment?
US Navy Carrier Strike Group Departs for Patrol in Western Pacific Ocean
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The U.S. Navy’s forward deployed carrier USS Ronald Reagan departed Japan for a regularly scheduled patrol in the western Pacific on May 29.
The Missing Ingredient for a 355-Ship US Navy
By Robert Farley
What will it take for the U.S. Navy to get to 355 ships?