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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.
China's Maritime Strategy on the Horizon
By Tuan N. Pham
There's a fleeting strategic opportunity for the U.S. to influence Beijing’s looming and evolving maritime strategy.
Japan’s Military Deploys Abroad With New Rules of Engagement
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The Japanese government has approved new duties for Japanese peacekeepers in South Sudan.
A US Navy With 350 Ships... But What For?
By Robert Farley
What would the United States use 350 ships for if not its obligations to global order?
President Trump and the War in Afghanistan: What You Need to Know
By Shawn Snow
A situation report on the current terrain.
Is a Nuclear Freeze an Option for North Korea?
By Hyuk Kim
Lessons from the Agreed Framework show the International Atomic Energy Agency must play a key role in any deal.
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.