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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.
Reframing the French Indo-Pacific: French Polynesia, a Model of Shared Sovereignty?
By Paco Milhiet
French Polynesia is a pivotal element of France’s strategy in the Pacific – and offers a compelling case study for shared sovereignty within the French Republic.
Iran’s Failed Deterrence: Lessons for North Korea
By Alon Levkowitz and Pyung Hwa Park
The strikes on Iran offer crucial lessons for North Korea regarding deterrence, intelligence penetration, and the potential consequences of asymmetric warfare and proxy dynamics.
Iran’s Nuclear Sites Under Fire: What It Means for Pakistan
By Tayyaba Khurshid
Any precedent that legitimizes or supports strikes on nuclear infrastructure increases security risks for Pakistan.
Is the Islamic State of Khorasan Province Losing Momentum?
By Abdul Basit
This year, ISKP’s propaganda output has seen a sharp decline, and its external attack capability has also weakened. What changed?
Can Malaysia Avoid Becoming a Loophole in the Global AI Ecosystem?
By Nuurrianti Jalli
The rapid expansion of Malaysia's data center capacity has far outpaced the government's ability to regulate it.
Strikes on Iran Could Trigger a Nuclear Disaster. Japan Knows the Risks All Too Well.
By Takahashi Kosuke
Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors’ groups strongly protest against Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The Strait of Hormuz and the Indo-Pacific: Strategic Shockwaves
By Lauren Dagan Amos
The potential closure of the strait raises a difficult question for Indo-Pacific policymakers: how can states shield themselves from strategic chokepoint shocks?
Reframing the French Indo-Pacific: Wallis and Futuna: Of Monarchies, Catholicism… and Rugby
By Paco Milhiet
The archipelago may not hold major strategic weight in the Indo-Pacific, but it offers a fascinating case study of institutional hybridity within the French Republic.
Coded Dependence: How China’s AI Expansion is Locking in Southeast Asia
By Alvin Camba and Jessica C. Liao
Once a country builds and adopts Chinese AI systems, transitions to alternative providers will become exceedingly costly and complex.
Russia’s Arctic Bet: Can Asia Deliver on NSR Ambitions?
By Hong Nong
Moscow sees China, India, and other Asian powers as critical for the future of the Northern Sea Route, but their involvement remains limited.
How India and Pakistan’s Digital Authoritarianism Sows the Seeds of War
By Shumaila Hussain Shahani and Disha Verma
In both countries, the goal is not just censorship; it’s shaping public opinion through information control.
Why Israel’s Attack on Iran Is a Geopolitical Blow for India
By Gaurav Sen
A weakened Iran will jeopardize India's foothold in the region, while benefitting archrival Pakistan.