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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.
Is North Korea Preparing for a Satellite Launch? Here’s What We Know
By Ankit Panda
Is Kim Jong Un planning on heading to space?
From the Dreadnought to Modern Stealth: Seeking Military Technological Superiority
By Robert Farley
Which military technologies are the most difficult to master for would-be U.S. competitors?
Vietnam Investigates Fishing Boat Sinking in South China Sea
By Ankit Panda
China and Vietnam have presented different accounts of what led to the sinking of a fishing boat near in the Paracel Islands.
Is China’s Path to Military Parity With the US Through Intellectual Property Theft Doomed?
By Robert Farley
A new article turns conventional wisdom on competitive military modernization on its head.
India and Pakistan: Living on Borrowed Time
By Jeff M. Smith
Pakistan’s security establishment must be convinced the cost for using terrorism as an instrument of state policy outweighs the benefits.
What the Hanoi Summit Tells Us About North Korea’s Nuclear Intentions
By Christopher J. Watterson
Overall it would be unwise to interpret North Korea’s overtures at Hanoi as demonstrating a sincere commitment to denuclearization.
US Air Force Flies 2 B-52H Bombers Over East and South China Seas
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The U.S. has conducted a B-52H bomber mission over contested waters in the Indo-Pacific region on March 4.
Pakistan’s Navy Spotted, Warned Indian Submarine in Arabian Sea
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Pakistan’s Navy claimed that it has “detected and blocked” an Indian Navy submarine from entering Pakistani territorial waters.
How Does China Really Think About WTO Reform?
By Junyang Hu and Dingding Chen
The WTO needs China to survive, and vice versa.
Has the ‘Free Tibet‘ Movement Fizzled Due to China’s Rise?
By Robert Farley
Tibetan separatists may see a new wave of enthusiasm amid great power competition.
Amid Kashmir Crisis, Russia and China Join India in Statement Condemning Use of Terror for ‘Geopolitical Goals’
By Ankit Panda
Chinese support, in particular, will remain limited.
Pulwama, Balakot—What Next? Escalation Risks and the India-Pakistan Crisis
By Ankit Panda
The ball is now in Pakistan’s court, bringing the crisis back to an inflection point, with further escalation now probable.