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.
The Strait of Hormuz and the Indo-Pacific: Strategic Shockwaves
By Lauren Dagan Amos
The potential closure of the strait raises a difficult question for Indo-Pacific policymakers: how can states shield themselves from strategic chokepoint shocks?
Reframing the French Indo-Pacific: Wallis and Futuna: Of Monarchies, Catholicism… and Rugby
By Paco Milhiet
The archipelago may not hold major strategic weight in the Indo-Pacific, but it offers a fascinating case study of institutional hybridity within the French Republic.
Coded Dependence: How China’s AI Expansion is Locking in Southeast Asia
By Alvin Camba and Jessica C. Liao
Once a country builds and adopts Chinese AI systems, transitions to alternative providers will become exceedingly costly and complex.
Russia’s Arctic Bet: Can Asia Deliver on NSR Ambitions?
By Hong Nong
Moscow sees China, India, and other Asian powers as critical for the future of the Northern Sea Route, but their involvement remains limited.
How India and Pakistan’s Digital Authoritarianism Sows the Seeds of War
By Shumaila Hussain Shahani and Disha Verma
In both countries, the goal is not just censorship; it’s shaping public opinion through information control.
Why Israel’s Attack on Iran Is a Geopolitical Blow for India
By Gaurav Sen
A weakened Iran will jeopardize India's foothold in the region, while benefitting archrival Pakistan.
Reframing the French Indo-Pacific: Les TAAF, a ‘Fictional Collectivity’ of Real Strategic Interests
By Paco Milhiet
The TAAF’s recent integration as a component of France’s Indo-Pacific strategy marks a new chapter in the atypical connectivity between three very different areas.
Students for Supply Chains: What the China-US Deal Reveals About Trade Diplomacy Today
By Moon Hwan Lee
Access to education now moves in step with trade, technology, and supply chain leverage.
No War, No Peace: India’s Limited War Strategy of Controlled Escalation
By Nishank Motwani
By asserting that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal no longer provides blanket immunity for cross-border terrorism, India is discarding old constraints.
Tracking Conflict in the Asia-Pacific: June 2025 Update
By ACLED Asia Pacific Team
An overview of conflict, from protests to military and militant violence, in the Asia-Pacific in May 2025.
Reframing the French Indo-Pacific: Mayotte, a Contested Sovereignty
By Paco Milhiet
Mayotte's contested sovereignty has given rise to a complex nexus of challenges: mass irregular migration, mounting social tensions, and regional isolation.
Europe Must Beware of Potential Risks in the China-US Strategic Competition
By Li Qiang
The EU must confront a hard truth: the evolving policies of both Washington and Beijing raise questions about their reliability as enduring strategic partners.
Page 1 of 421