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.
Beware the Myth of Warring US-China Trade Pacts
By Prashanth Parameswaran
We need to be clear-eyed about where there is competition and where there is not.
The Secret Driver of the South China Sea Disputes: China's Hunger for Fish
By Adam Bartley
China’s fish problem is an underappreciated source of tension in the East and South China Seas.
Is China Getting Better at Charming Southeast Asia on the South China Sea?
By Bill Hayton
Beijing looks to be getting better at how it uses soft power in the region.
Rebalancing Cybersecurity in Asia
By Taylor M. Wettach
The next president will have an opportunity to elevate the status of cyber issues in U.S. Asia policy.
India’s Defense Minister on No First Use: What Did He Mean?
By Ali Ahmed
Manohar Parrikar admitted he personally questions the wisdom of NFU.
Islamic State Khorasan Province: Pakistan’s New Foreign Policy Tool?
By Khyber Sarban
ISKP is nothing but Pakistan’s new terror syndicate to prolong the war in Afghanistan under the banner of ISIS.
An Alliance Between Islamic State and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in Pakistan Was Inevitable
By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
Anti-Shia ideology and mutual interest bind the two terrorist groups together.
Is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor a 21st Century East India Company?
By Abdur Rehman Shah
A closer look at the hidden dangers CPEC could bring for Pakistan.
Modi in Japan: Why China Should Be Worried
By Varun Tomar
Japan and India are expected to advance defense, economic, and even nuclear cooperation.
Imagining the American Foreign Service Under Donald Trump
By Robert Farley
How will the professional U.S. diplomatic corps handle a Trump presidency?
Trump Wins: Implications for US Allies and Partners in Asia
By Yuki Tatsumi
U.S. allies will face new levels of uncertainty (and anxiety) under President Trump.
Type 075 Watch: China's Navy May Soon Be Second to the US Navy in Amphibious Assault
By Robert Farley
It looks as if China will shortly join the Big Amphib Club.