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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 Geopolitics of the New India-Middle East-Europe Corridor
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
IMEC is touted as a counter to China’s BRI, but the scale and scope of the latter initiative is much greater.
3 Takeaways From the North Korea-Russia Summit
By Takahashi Kosuke
Russia-North Korea military ties have grown closer since the start of the Ukraine War.
Southeast Asian States Need to Tackle the Dangerous Shadow Tanker Activities in Their Waters
By Jan Stockbruegger and Vonintsoa Rafaly
The region has become a major hub for the "dark fleet" of tankers that carry sanctioned oil around the world.
The Strategic and Geopolitical Significance of India’s Chandrayaan 3 Lunar Mission
By Namrata Goswami
As the race to commercially exploit the Moon heats up, India’s latest mission has big ramifications.
Taiwan Strait Tensions Will Stabilize – But Only Temporarily
By Denny Roy
Taiwan’s election season will likely stabilize the cross-strait situation, but all bets are off when the new administration comes into office.
India-US Space Cooperation Gets a New Fillip
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
The latest Biden-Modi summit followed up on major space cooperation initiatives announced during Modi's state visit in June.
North Korea Unveils New Nuclear-Capable Submarine
By Kim Tong-hyung
Kim Jong Un attended the launch ceremony for North Korea’s first nuclear attack submarine, but Seoul says the North is exaggerating the sub’s capabilities.
How Lithuania Is Shaping Great Power Competition With China
By Andris Banka
Lithuania defies the conventional wisdom that small states have little ability to influence larger powers.
The G20 Is in a Precarious State, But Global Problems Don’t Take a Breather
By Sarang Shidore
A set of Asian and Global South states may be key to the group’s future viability, as both Beijing and Washington play spoiler.
India’s Conundrum in the Next Taiwan Strait Crisis
By Ayush Mohan
Given the stakes involved, India needs to prepare for a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait. But how?
Defining ‘Responsible Behavior’ in Space Is a Growing Necessity
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Amid worsening geopolitical dynamics and contested great power relations, even obvious good behavior needs to be spelled out clearly.
China’s New ‘Standard Map’ Does Not Mean What You Think It Means
By Mark Raymond and David A. Welch
Nothing in the map suggests that China is making a novel territorial claim. In fact, Beijing may be quietly walking one particularly questionable claim back.