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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.
Holding the Line Against China’s Maritime Bullying: The Philippines Sets a New Standard
By Lisa Curtis
The Philippines’ bold and creative moves to defy China provide a powerful example to the other Southeast Asian nations on how they, too, can resist Chinese interference.
Amid War and Uncertainty, India’s Middle East Interests Evolve
By Seamus Duffy
If New Delhi cannot insulate itself from the ongoing Israeli-Iranian tensions, then no amount of hedging or switching between strategic initiatives will bring its ambitions to fruition.
Why Does Lithuania Need an Indo-Pacific Strategy?
By John Garrick and Konstantinas Andrijauskas
Several European countries have released their own Indo-Pacific strategies, but Lithuania's stands out in using particularly strong language regarding China.
Don’t Count on China’s Belt and Road Initiative to Disappear
By Jacob Gunter
The BRI is not set to fade away. It has already changed China’s position in the world, and it will continue to do so moving forward.
Philippine Military to Create ‘Cyber Command’ to Combat Online Attacks
By Sebastian Strangio
Gen. Romeo Brawner said that the country is being subject to daily attacks by malicious actors, some of them foreign.
Evidence Shows Hamas Militants Likely Used Some North Korean Weapons in Attack on Israel
By Hyung-jin Kim, Kim Tong-hyung and Jon Gambrell
Video and weapons seized suggest that Hamas using Pyongyang's F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired weapon that fighters typically use against armored vehicles.
A Consequence-based Approach Is Needed for Space Security
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
While consensus on legal measures remains elusive, a behavior-based approach is a good first step. A consequence-based approach to dealing with interference in space is a step further.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Taliban’s Economic Dreams
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
The specter of insecurity in Afghanistan has been replaced by a lack of governance and widespread incompetence. Investors from China or any other country can be expected to be deeply wary.
Is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Dead on Arrival?
By Jürgen Rüland and Elisabetta Nadalutti
The escalating war between Israel and Hamas may have wrecked IMEC before it even began.
The Israel-Palestine Conflagration Is a Cautionary Tale for India’s Global Ambitions
By Chietigj Bajpaee
The eruption of war in Israel and Gaza is a dark reminder that buried conflicts – like India’s disputes with Pakistan and China – can erupt at any time.
US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in South Korea as North’s Leader Kim Exchanges Messages With Putin
By Hyung-jin Kim
The USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group came to the southeastern South Korean port of Busan after participating in a trilateral South Korean-U.S.-Japanese maritime exercise.
What the Israel-Palestine Conflict Means for China-US Competition
By Wang Jin
The war between Israel and Hamas is upending new diplomatic trajectories in the Middle East.