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.
Taliban Declare Start of Spring Offensive Amid Talks With US
By Amir Shah
Even though Taliban attacks never quite ceased during the winter, the insurgent group made its annual spring announcement.
Japan Confirms F-35A Fighter Crashed
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force confirmed that a missing F-35A has crashed.
American Bourbon Isn’t Safe From Trump’s Trade War With China
By Robert Farley
The market for American whiskey in China is worth nearly $9 million.
British Royal Navy Vessel Reports North Korean Illicit Ship-to-Ship Transfer in East China Sea
By Ankit Panda
The British Royal Navy successfully spotted and reported the illicit activity to the United Nations.
G7 Foreign Ministers Address Maritime Asia, North Korea in Communiqué
By Ankit Panda
The G-7 continues to express concern about the East and South China Seas and the Korean Peninsula.
China’s Rise and Modern Military Technology: Part I
By Andrea Gilli and Mauro Gilli
What are the proper historical analogies to use when analyzing China's military-technological rise in recent decades?
Misplaced Confidence? The US Private Space Sector vs. China
By Namrata Goswami
American confidence that its private space sector can take on China alone is wildly misplaced.
Why a US Sale of Fighter Jets to Taiwan Matters
By John Lee
It wouldn’t change the military balance across the Taiwan Strait, but would signal a shift in U.S. support for Taipei.
Japan Intercepts 2 Chinese Long-Range Bombers, Spy Plane Over East China Sea
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force aircraft conducted another incursion into the Miyako Strait on April 1.
Perceptions of India’s Nuclear Capability Buildup: Ghost Hunting and a Reality Check
By Manpreet Sethi
The basic philosophy of nuclear deterrence in India has not changed, despite recent arguments.
Taipei Slams ‘Provocative’ Chinese Air Force Fighters Cross Taiwan Strait Median Line
By Ankit Panda
The flight comes amid growing reports of a possible U.S. sale of fighters to Taiwan.
After US Missile Defense Salvo Test Against ICBM, China Warns of Proceeding ‘Carefully’
By Ankit Panda
Missile defense is an important “strategic stability” issue, a Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson emphasized.