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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.
Japanese Fighter Jets Intercept Nuclear-Capable Russian Bombers Near US Base
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Two Russian bombers hurtled close to U.S. and Japanese bases including Misawa Air Base, Yokosuka Naval Base and Atsugi Air Base.
How Can the US Manage a Rising China?
By Robert Farley
The United States needs to rethink how it approaches international order.
Trump Open to Joint Freedom of Navigation Operations With Australia
By Ankit Panda
The U.S. president said he "would love" to see Australia join the U.S. Navy in the South China Sea.
In New Era of China-US Ties, Both Countries Must Manage Their Competition
By Dingding Chen
As tensions grow, the United States and China must maneuver to avert conflict.
Quad 2.0: Sense and Sensibilities
By Tan Ming Hui and Nazia Hussain
The reborn Quad should not be read as a first step toward an “Asian NATO.”
China's Rise and the Future of Liberal International Order: Asking the Right Questions
By Robert Farley
As China rises, what sort of challenge will it pose to the U.S.-led status quo?
What's a Recent Chinese Naval Deployment to the Eastern Indian Ocean About?
By Ankit Panda
What should be made of an exercise by Chinese naval vessels in the Indian Ocean amid a crisis in the Maldives?
A Nuclear Angle to the 2014 PNS Zulfiquar Attack?
By Ankit Panda
Was a nuclear weapon really on PNS Zulfiquar when al-Qaeda terrorists tried to seize control of the ship?
Duterte: China's South China Sea Installations Aimed at the United States, Not the Philippines
By Ankit Panda
The Philippine president made clear that he does not view China's South China Sea installations as a direct threat.
Chinese Oceanography Echoes the Contest for Undersea Dominance Against the US
By Steven Stashwick
The military balance between China and the United States will rest largely on which is best able to exploit the ocean depths.
What Could the United States Have Done – If Anything – To Prevent China's Rise?
By Robert Farley
The United States did not undertake the difficult and expensive steps necessary to prevent the economic and military rise of China.
The British Royal Navy Will Send a Frigate to the South China Sea
By Ankit Panda
A Royal Navy frigate will transit the South China Sea to spotlight freedom of navigation.