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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.
The Trump-Kim DMZ ‘Handshake Summit’: What It Changes and What It Doesn’t Change
By Ankit Panda
Critics who have described the DMZ summit as a simple photo-op are correct.
Getting the World to Comply With the US Huawei Ban Won’t Be Easy
By Robert Farley
The question of enforcement is critical.
South Korea’s President: 3rd Trump-Kim Summit Under Discussion
By Adam Schreck, Hyung-Jin Kim, and Kim Tong-Hyung
Moon told reporters that the U.S. and North Korean leaders' “willingness to engage in dialogue has never faded.”
Another North Korean Provocation Ahead of the G20 Summit? Don’t Count On It
By Grace Liu
North Korea is keeping its options open amid warming ties with the United States and China.
Trump Wants China to Pick Up the Slack in the Strait of Hormuz
By Ankit Panda
The PLAN might not mind.
When a China Propaganda Campaign Infiltrated the United States
By Robert Farley
The case of a pro-Nationalist propaganda network in the United States in the 1930s reinforces the fact that foreign interference in U.S. politics is far from new.
Report: 2 Russian Tu-95 Strategic Bombers Violate Japan's Airspace
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Two nuclear-capable Tu-95 long-range bombers have violated Japanese airspace on June 20, according to the country’s defense ministry.
Russia, China Block UN From Saying North Korea Violated Sanctions
By Edith M. Lederer
Moscow and Beijing blocked a U.S. request to declare that North Korea violated the cap on imports of refined petroleum.
Japan Scrambles Fighter Jets in Response to Chinese Spy Plane Over Miyako Strait
By Franz-Stefan Gady
For the first time in over a month, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has publicized the interception of a foreign military aircraft.
Chinese Vessel Rams, Sinks Philippine Fishing Boat in Reed Bank
By Steven Stashwick
Philippine crew rescued by Vietnamese fishermen in disputed South China Sea waters.
Global WMD Risks Are Rising. It’s Time to Do Something About It
By James Revill, John Borrie, and Augusta Cohen
Treaties to control chemical, biological and nuclear weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are at risk.
The Risks of a ‘Total’ US-China Competition
By Robert Farley
Even China hawks need to make a careful appraisal of what sparks joy in the Sino-American relationship.