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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 Do Asian Governments Think About the US Strike on Syria?
By Catherine Putz
A look at what China, Indonesia, Australia, and other Asian states had to say about the strike.
South Korea Test Fires New Ballistic Missile
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The new 800-kilometer missile can purportedly hit targets anywhere in North Korea.
Xi, the South China Sea, and Mar-a-Lago
By Donald K. Emmerson
If the South China Sea issue is relegated to the sidelines, it will send the wrong signal to China.
China and India’s Shared Pathway to Great Power
By Chris Ogden
The two rising Asian powers have points of contention, but they also have much in common.
Ex-CIA Director's Take on THAAD in South Korea Will Vindicate China's Skepticism
By Ankit Panda
Michael Hayden's recent comments on THAAD will vindicate Beijing's view on the missile defense system.
North Korean Hackers May Have Seen Secret US-South Korea War Plans
By Ankit Panda
North Korean hackers may have glimpsed OPLAN 5027.
US, ROK, Japan Navies Conduct First Joint Anti-Submarine Warfare Drill
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The three navies will conduct a trilateral antisubmarine warfare exercise off the Korean Peninsula April 4-6.
Does It Make Sense to Think About Naval Power in 15 to 30 Year Cycles?
By Robert Farley
Technological cycles can render a just-modernized army obsolete.
Russia’s Naval Policy and the War in Syria
By Robert Cobb
Why the Russian Navy's deployment of a carrier strike group to the Mediterranean was a qualified success.
Taiwan and Japan's East China Sea Dispute Back in the Spotlight
By Ankit Panda
Taipei and Tokyo will convene later this year to discuss oceanographic survey rights for Taiwan.
Expect a Positive First Trump-Xi Meeting at Mar-a-Lago
By Dingding Chen
We can expect a positive Xi-Trump summit in Florida, but uncertainties still lie ahead.
The Myth of a 'Special' North Korea-Iran Relationship
By Luciano Arvin
Iran-North Korea relations aren't as deep or important as Western observers sometimes assume.