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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.
Could China Flash Invade Taiwan?
By Ian Easton
A look at what would be the ultimate nightmare scenario for Taiwan.
Tokyo to Host 7th China-South Korea-Japan Trilateral Summit
By Ankit Panda
The trilateral Northeast Asian summit will meet for the first time since 2015, with a focus on North Korea.
The Case of ZTE and US-China Relations
By Dingding Chen
We might be entering a new era in the economic relationship between China and the United States. ZTE's case shows why.
Why US-North Korea Talks Will Fail
By Yukari Easton
The most likely outcome is that we will essentially end up where we began.
F-35 Brains in an F-22 Body: Thinking Through Japan's Next-Generation Fighter Options
By Robert Farley
Getting there won't be easy, but an updated F-22 is, in theory, a formidable concept.
Consensus by Deletion: Reviewing the 32nd ASEAN Leaders' Summit and the South China Sea
By Carl Thayer
A close look at the recent summit's chairman's statement shows the grouping's continued subdued treatment of the South China Sea disputes.
After the Moon-Kim Summit: A Time for Hope?
By Harry Sa
Much of what we saw at the Panmunjom summit has happened before.
North Korea’s Nuclear Test Site Has Collapsed: Chinese Scientists
By Charlotte Gao
Chinese scientists urge the authorities to monitor and prevent potential radioactive leakage.
G7 Foreign Ministers Issue Communique Addressing East & South China Seas, Connectivity, and More
By Ankit Panda
The statement takes aim at China without mentioning it by name.
What North Korea Really Wants: A Normalized Relationship With the United States
By Justin Fendos
The answer is actually simple, if you've been paying attention.
North Korean Denuclearization: What it Might Look Like
By Davis Florick
To be successful, North Korean denuclearization must be verifiable and enforceable.
Rethinking the Early Years of the US-Japan Alliance and Soviet Competition
By Robert Farley
The early years of the U.S.-Japan alliance in the post-war era were rocky.