Blog
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.
China, Nepal Plan First-Ever Military Drill
By Ankit Panda
Few details have been released so far regarding the size, scope, and location of the exercise.
US Unveils New Sanctions on Russia for Hacking
By Catherine Putz
The measures put President-elect Donald Trump in an awkward position.
How the Islamic State Could Be Reborn in Afghanistan
By Daud Khattak
Although the ISKP is at a disadvantage, several factors could help it rise again in 2017.
Is This What the Pentagon's 'Third Offset' Has Been Missing All Along?
By Robert Farley
Have changes to the U.S. industrial and technological sector posed new challenges for defense procurement?
Would South Korea Really Go Nuclear?
By Lami Kim
Only if Donald Trump seriously undermines the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
The Next South China Sea Flashpoint: Unmanned Systems
By Elsa Kania
Both China and the U.S. are increasingly using unmanned vehicles in contested waters.
Iran and the US: A Roadmap to Peace
By Sina Azodi
The path to a possible U.S.-Iran detente.
Iran, Russia See Opportunity to Encircle the US in Afghanistan
By Atta Nasib
Moscow and Tehran see an opportunity to fatal distract the United States in Afghanistan.
Why China’s Behavior in the South China Sea Is Not Surprising
By Ong Weichong
China's seizure of a U.S. underwater drone is consistent with Beijing's strategy, policy, and actions.
The ASEAN Crisis, Part 3: What Should ASEAN Do About the South China Sea Dispute?
By Linh Tong and Linh Tong
Three ways ASEAN can improve its ability to mediate in the South China Sea disputes.
The ASEAN Crisis, Part 2: Why Can’t ASEAN Agree on the South China Sea?
By Linh Tong and Linh Tong
How internal and external factors hamstring ASEAN when it comes to the South China Sea.
The ASEAN Crisis, Part 1: Why the South China Sea Is a Critical Test
By Linh Tong and Linh Tong
The South China Sea dispute is a threat to the unity of ASEAN as a regional organization.