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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.
China’s Military-Civil Fusion Space Program
By Ashwin Prasad and Rakshith Shetty
China is actively pursuing space superiority while acquiring and developing counter-space capabilities and technologies.
Why the Japan-US WMD in Space Resolution Was Critical
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
The resolution, which failed due to a Russian veto, sought to reaffirm and extend critical norms against placing weapons of mass destruction in space.
Pursuing Rapprochement Between China, Japan, and South Korea
By Daria Kurushina
Restarting the trilateral could be a remedy for the growing geopolitical rift and help ensure stability in the Asia-Pacific.
Toward Germany-South Korea Cooperation in Economic Security
By Seungjoo Lee and Max J. Zenglein
The two manufacturing powerhouses face similar challenges, including coercion and competition from China. Can they weather the tide together?
India’s Place in Australia’s National Defense Strategy 2024
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
The pace of growth in the Australia-India strategic relationship is quite impressive, but New Delhi’s hesitance on hard security issues may hamper further developments.
Iran’s Mass Strike on Israel Highlights Why Taiwan’s Air Defenses Can’t Hold up
By A. B. Abrams
The Iranian operation highlights the difficulties that air defense efforts face, particularly when relying on costly Western equipment to counter large volumes of low-cost drones and missiles.
Enhancing Cybersecurity in Outer Space
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
As technologies evolve, so do threats.
How Would China Weaponize Disinformation Against Taiwan in a Cross-Strait Conflict?
By Scott W. Harold
What might China’s future disinformation operations against Taiwan focus on and how can Taipei and its partners combat them?
The Quad: Responding to China’s Moves Into the Indian Ocean
By NAGAO Satoru
To counter China’s advances, it is important to avoid creating a power vacuum.
Is Singapore Doing Enough to Safeguard Itself Against Cybersecurity Attacks and Scams?
By Ronald Lee and Edmund Lim
Despite its efforts so far, there is more that the city-state can be doing to plug the gaps in its cyber-defenses.
AI Chips for China Face Additional US Restrictions
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
China has criticized the latest round of new rules by saying that it will “disrupt the international semiconductor market as well as cooperation among enterprises.”
Are We Bugs? The Geopolitics of Netflix’s ‘3 Body Problem’
By Brandon Valeriano
The geopolitics of first contact is an interesting question. Does it really matter who speaks for humanity first?