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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.
What China Gains With Its Détente With South Korea Over THAAD
By Ankit Panda
Why China doesn't necessarily "lose" by tolerating the U.S. THAAD deployment on the Peninsula.
Trump Wonders Why Japan Didn't Shoot Down North Korea's IRBM Launches
By Ankit Panda
There are a number of good reasons why Japan has decided it won't shoot down North Korean launches over its territory.
US Combatant Commands With Chinese Flare: The PLA’s New Joint Command Structure
By Ben Lowsen and Wilson VornDick
A China specialist and a military strategist discuss The PLA’s emerging command structure.
Why the US Seized the Philippines at the End of the 19th Century
By Robert Farley
McKinley did not have much in the way of a well-thought out plan for seizing the Philippines.
Quantum Communications and Chinese SSBN Strategy
By Raymond Wang
China's quantum lead may have important implications for its SSBN force.
US Aircraft Carrier Scrambles Jets to Intercept Russian Strategic Bombers
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The bombers were reportedly intercepted as they were approaching a U.S. carrier on October 29.
The CIA's Newly Released Osama Bin Laden Files and the Iran Angle
By Ankit Panda
Was the bulk release of Osama Bin Laden's Abbottabad data trove an act of transparency or something else?
Will Trump's Visit to Asia Mark the Moment US Leadership in the Region Is Irrevocably Ceded to China?
By Carl Thayer
Trump must show that he can think strategically and not just transactionally to avoid the worst.
India, Russia Conclude Major Military Exercise
By Franz-Stefan Gady
This year’s joint Indo-Russian military drill included army, navy, and air force elements for the first time.
China Has a New Grand Strategy and the West Should Be Ready
By Dingding Chen
The world has yet to grapple with what Xi Jinping's post-19th Party Congress foreign policy vision entails.
Japanese Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Bombers
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Japanese fighter jets scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers approaching Japan's airspace.
US Sends Nuclear-Capable Bomber to Pacific Ahead of Trump Visit
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The U.S. sent a long-range stealth bomber on a long-range training mission to the Pacific last weekend.