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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.
October 27, 2022
China’s 20th Party Congress Escalates Cross-Strait Tensions
By Mariah Thornton
A new amendment to the CCP constitution demonstrates a significant escalation in the party’s approach to Taiwan.
October 25, 2022
Northeast Asia’s Changing Security Environment
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Worsening tensions, from North Korea's provocations to the fallout from Russia's Ukraine invasion, underline the failure of existing policy dialogues.
October 21, 2022
China and Taiwan: The Geopolitical Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight
By Peter Birgbauer
Can the international community see through the fog of its current crises and adequately prepare for an even bigger crisis further down the road?
October 19, 2022
North Korea Fires Hundreds of Artillery Shells
By Mitch Shin
In a response to South Korea’s annual Hoguk military exercise, North Korea fired about 350 artillery shells in 14 hours.
October 18, 2022
China and the ‘Two Arctics’
By Marc Lanteigne
As Arctic multilateralism fractures over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s approach to the region is in need of a rethink.
October 14, 2022
Following Spate of Artillery Fire, North Korea Warns of the South’s Military Activities
By Mitch Shin
A day after it announced testing of a long-range strategic cruise missile, North Korea fired about 560 artillery shots and a short-range ballistic missile.
October 13, 2022
North Korea Tests Long-Range Strategic Cruise Missile
By Mitch Shin
Kim Jong Un guided the test-launch on Wednesday, KCNA reported, continuing his heavy emphasis on North Korea’s tactical nuclear weapons.
October 10, 2022
North Korea Continues Blitz of Missile Testing With 2 SRBMs
By Mitch Shin
North Korea conducted its seventh round of ballistic missile tests in two weeks, and Kim Jong Un oversaw drills by “tactical nuclear operation units.”
October 06, 2022
China’s Real Takeaway From the War in Ukraine: Grey Zone Conflict Is Best
By Tobias Burgers and Scott N. Romaniuk
The steep costs of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will bolster China's continued use of its effective salami-slicing and grey zone tactics.
October 06, 2022
North Korea Fires 2 SRBMs as US, South Korea, Japan Organize Missile Defense Drills
By Mitch Shin
Two days after it launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast.
October 04, 2022
North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Over Japan
By Mitch Shin
In its fifth round of ballistic missile tests within nine days, North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday.
October 03, 2022
North Korea Conducts 4th Round of Ballistic Missile Tests Within a Week
By Mitch Shin
North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the ocean off its east coast on Saturday.