Blog
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 the Taliban Still a Threat to US Security?
By Wali Shaaker
16 years later, the original rationale for the war on Afghanistan still holds true.
US Government Agent Charged With Giving China Classified Documents
By Ankit Panda
Kevin Mallory is facing charges for selling highly classified U.S. documents to Chinese intelligence agents.
2nd US Navy Carrier Strike Group Arrives in Asia Pacific
By Franz-Stefan Gady
A second supercarrier has entered the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet area of operations.
Nixed China-Vietnam Meeting Highlights Illusion of South China Sea Calm
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Incident is a warning that despite attempts to downplay the flashpoint, tensions could quickly escalate.
Following Death of Otto Warmbier, US Sends Strategic Bombers off Korean Peninsula
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The U.S. Air Force dispatched two B-1B Lancers for joint drills with Japanese and South Korean military aircraft.
Whatever the New US Strategy in Afghanistan, It Can't Succeed Without China
By Daud Khattak
Without China's buy-in, any attempt to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan is doomed.
The Crash of the USS Fitzgerald: What Happened and What Comes Next?
By Steven Stashwick
Japan-based destroyer suffers massive damage, highlights dangers of operating at sea.
Vietnam, Japan Coast Guards Hold First-Ever South China Sea Drill on Illegal Fishing
By Ankit Panda
The exercise took place near Danang and is the first of its kind.
Making the US Navy's South China Sea Presence Count
By Ankit Panda
FONOPs may generate a bit too much buzz for their own good.
Is the Focus on FONOPs Muddying Strategic Discourse on the South China Sea?
By Robert Farley
It is proving extremely difficult for Washington to convince Beijing of its seriousness in the South China Sea.
Asia’s Minilateral Moment
By Tongfi Kim
With fear of U.S. abandonment on the rise, Asian states are looking to increase cooperation with each other.
After Joint Military Exercise in South China Sea, US Warship Visits China
By Franz-Stefan Gady
A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer arrived in Zhanjiang, China for a scheduled port visit on June 12.