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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.
Evidence Shows Hamas Militants Likely Used Some North Korean Weapons in Attack on Israel
By Hyung-jin Kim, Kim Tong-hyung and Jon Gambrell
Video and weapons seized suggest that Hamas using Pyongyang's F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired weapon that fighters typically use against armored vehicles.
A Consequence-based Approach Is Needed for Space Security
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
While consensus on legal measures remains elusive, a behavior-based approach is a good first step. A consequence-based approach to dealing with interference in space is a step further.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Taliban’s Economic Dreams
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
The specter of insecurity in Afghanistan has been replaced by a lack of governance and widespread incompetence. Investors from China or any other country can be expected to be deeply wary.
Is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Dead on Arrival?
By Jürgen Rüland and Elisabetta Nadalutti
The escalating war between Israel and Hamas may have wrecked IMEC before it even began.
The Israel-Palestine Conflagration Is a Cautionary Tale for India’s Global Ambitions
By Chietigj Bajpaee
The eruption of war in Israel and Gaza is a dark reminder that buried conflicts – like India’s disputes with Pakistan and China – can erupt at any time.
US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in South Korea as North’s Leader Kim Exchanges Messages With Putin
By Hyung-jin Kim
The USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group came to the southeastern South Korean port of Busan after participating in a trilateral South Korean-U.S.-Japanese maritime exercise.
What the Israel-Palestine Conflict Means for China-US Competition
By Wang Jin
The war between Israel and Hamas is upending new diplomatic trajectories in the Middle East.
Centering Climate Change in the China-US Competition
By Matt Holbrook
Climate change in the Indo-Pacific will have a very real impact on the outcome of any potential great power conflict within the region.
India-China Tango Continues in Sri Lanka
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Once again, the pending visit of a Chinese research vessel to Sri Lanka has touched off Indian objections.
Weathering The Storm: China’s Latest Maritime Challenge Against Japan
By Andrew Orchard
An overview of China’s recent deployment of an oceanographic/weather buoy inside the Japanese exclusive economic zone and Japan’s response.
No One Knows What BRICS Expansion Means
By Anjali Bhatt
The 11 members of the expanded group have so little in common that it’s tough to decode what their purpose will be.
Challenges to Underwater Sovereignty and Indonesia’s Naval Modernization
By Iqbal Bagus Alfiansyah and Muhammad Fauzan Malufti
The country's military modernization drive needs to include measures to improve its underwater defense capabilities.