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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 Danger of China-Philippines South China Sea Joint Development
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Immediate opportunities mask serious risks related to the past, current context, and the near future.
North Korea's New KN19 Coastal Defense Cruise Missile: More Than Meets the Eye
By Ankit Panda
North Korea's new coastal defense cruise missile is notable for more than its integrated all-terrain launcher.
East China Sea: 2 Chinese Fighters Conduct 'Unsafe' Intercept of US EP-3 Surveillance Aircraft
By Ankit Panda
The incident is the third of its kind this year and the second to take place over the East China Sea.
North Korea May Test a Second Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Any Day Now
By Ankit Panda
North Korea's Hwasong-14 ICBM may fly again soon.
China-Vietnam South China Sea Spat in the Spotlight
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Reports indicate Beijing’s coercive efforts continue even as it plays up a cooling down period in the South China Sea.
Alarming Escalation in the South China Sea: China Threatens Force if Vietnam Continues Oil Exploration in Spratlys
By Carl Thayer
A new pattern of Chinese bellicosity?
Countering Hegemony: The US-China Balance
By Monish Tourangbam
The geopolitical game is a constant; only the actors change.
Are Chinese Navy Spy Ships Within Exclusive Economic Zones Soon to Be a Fact of Life?
By Ankit Panda
China's double standard on military surveillance within exclusive economic zones becomes clearer.
What Happens When the United States Develops a Credible Reputation for Incompetence?
By Robert Farley
What if the United States develops a credible reputation for incompetence?
Beware the Illusion of South China Sea Calm
By Prashanth Parameswaran
The cooling down some are playing up masks underlying tensions and broader strategic realities.
China's North Korea Solution
By Son Daekwon
A PLA publication helps explain China's priorities and strategy for the Korean Peninsula.
Be Honest About the B-21: When Strategic Bombing Works and When It Doesn't
By Robert Farley
Supporting the B-21 Raider means looking back critically at previous strategic bombing failures.