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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.
North Korean Hackers May Have Seen Secret US-South Korea War Plans
By Ankit Panda
North Korean hackers may have glimpsed OPLAN 5027.
US, ROK, Japan Navies Conduct First Joint Anti-Submarine Warfare Drill
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The three navies will conduct a trilateral antisubmarine warfare exercise off the Korean Peninsula April 4-6.
Does It Make Sense to Think About Naval Power in 15 to 30 Year Cycles?
By Robert Farley
Technological cycles can render a just-modernized army obsolete.
Russia’s Naval Policy and the War in Syria
By Robert Cobb
Why the Russian Navy's deployment of a carrier strike group to the Mediterranean was a qualified success.
Taiwan and Japan's East China Sea Dispute Back in the Spotlight
By Ankit Panda
Taipei and Tokyo will convene later this year to discuss oceanographic survey rights for Taiwan.
Expect a Positive First Trump-Xi Meeting at Mar-a-Lago
By Dingding Chen
We can expect a positive Xi-Trump summit in Florida, but uncertainties still lie ahead.
The Myth of a 'Special' North Korea-Iran Relationship
By Luciano Arvin
Iran-North Korea relations aren't as deep or important as Western observers sometimes assume.
Chinese Defense Ministry: Opposition to THAAD 'Will Definitely Not Stay On Words Only'
By Ankit Panda
Chinese rhetoric remains hotly in opposition to THAAD, but what else will Beijing do?
US State Department Employee Accused of Lying About Contacts With Chinese Spies
By Ankit Panda
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has charged a State Department employee with lying about contacts with Chinese spies.
Will Hybrid Warfare Protect America’s Interests in the South China Sea?
By Tobias Burgers & Scott N. Romaniuk
The pros and cons of increasing the use of unmanned vehicles in the South China Sea.
Nuclear South Asia and Coming to Terms With 'No First-Use' With Indian Characteristics
By Ankit Panda
Let's make one thing clear: India can explore a pre-emptive first strike without changing its 2003 nuclear doctrine.
Deterring Pyongyang: US, South Korea Conclude Military Exercise
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The United States and South Korea finished the 2017 iteration of their annual Foal Eagle exercise on March 23.