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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.
North Korea Just Tested a Missile That Could Likely Reach Washington DC With a Nuclear Weapon
By Ankit Panda
Even with early data, North Korea's July 28 missile launch answers questions about the capability of its ICBMS.
Al-Qaeda's South Asia Branch Makes a Bid for Global Jihad Leadership
By Sajid Farid Shapoo
The new Code of Conduct from AQIS is an attempt to wrest back leadership from Islamic State.
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?
China's North Korea Solution
By Son Daekwon
A PLA publication helps explain China's priorities and strategy for the Korean Peninsula.