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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.
'Optionality' and the Future of US Defense Procurement
By Robert Farley
“Optionality” may someday become one of the buzzwords that we simultaneously bemoan and find useful.
2017: Year of the North Korean Intercontinental Ballistic Missile?
By Ankit Panda
Kim Jong-un lays out an offer for Donald Trump in his new year's address.
Chinese Military Recruitment Video Features East China Sea Air Encounter With Japan
By Ankit Panda
"This is China Naval Aviation Force on guard. Attention! You are about to violate Chinese air territory."
12 Asian Geopolitical Trends and Events From 2016 That'll Matter in 2017
By Ankit Panda
Here's wishing the Asia-Pacific a happy and prosperous new year. Watch these issues in the coming year.
China, Nepal Plan First-Ever Military Drill
By Ankit Panda
Few details have been released so far regarding the size, scope, and location of the exercise.
US Unveils New Sanctions on Russia for Hacking
By Catherine Putz
The measures put President-elect Donald Trump in an awkward position.
How the Islamic State Could Be Reborn in Afghanistan
By Daud Khattak
Although the ISKP is at a disadvantage, several factors could help it rise again in 2017.
Is This What the Pentagon's 'Third Offset' Has Been Missing All Along?
By Robert Farley
Have changes to the U.S. industrial and technological sector posed new challenges for defense procurement?
Would South Korea Really Go Nuclear?
By Lami Kim
Only if Donald Trump seriously undermines the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
The Next South China Sea Flashpoint: Unmanned Systems
By Elsa Kania
Both China and the U.S. are increasingly using unmanned vehicles in contested waters.
Iran and the US: A Roadmap to Peace
By Sina Azodi
The path to a possible U.S.-Iran detente.
Iran, Russia See Opportunity to Encircle the US in Afghanistan
By Atta Nasib
Moscow and Tehran see an opportunity to fatal distract the United States in Afghanistan.