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.
What the US Can Learn From Its Own History About a Naval Logistics Agreement With India
By James R. Holmes
How would the United States have seen LEMOA 69 years out from its independence?
South China Sea: The Real Questions About US ‘Freedom of Navigation’ Operations
By Graham Webster
What does the U.S. government wish to accomplish with its South China Sea policy?
Latest US-China 'Unsafe' Intercept Incident Shows Continued Disagreement on EEZ Surveillance
By Ankit Panda
The United States and China continue to disagree on when and where surveillance is appropriate.
The Indian Ocean Won't Be a 'Nuclear Free Zone' Anytime Soon
By Ankit Panda
Undersea nuclear deterrence in the Indian Ocean is here to stay.
China's Military May Almost Have 3000 Aircraft, But What About Everyone Else?
By Robert Farley
Raw numbers tell part of the story of national air power.
South China Sea: 2 Chinese Fighters Conduct 'Unsafe' Intercept of US EP-3 Recon Aircraft
By Ankit Panda
The incident could have violated existing bilateral procedures between the United States and China.
South China Sea Homework for Taiwan’s President-Elect
By Chung Chieh
Tsai will need to have a strategy for handling Taiwan's sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.
What If the United States Had Told the Soviet Union About the Bomb?
By Catherine Putz
In 1945, U.S. nuclear scientists urged the government to talk to the Soviets about the bomb--of course, they didn't know the Soviets knew.
China's Military Has Nearly 3000 Aircraft. Here's Why That Matters
By Robert Farley
The 2016 Defense Department report on Chinese military strength says China may have 3,000 military aircraft.
US, Japan, South Korea Plan Missile Defense Exercise on RIMPAC 2016 Sidelines
By Ankit Panda
The exercise will involve Aegis-equipped warships from the three countries.
China: US Report 'Deliberately Distorted' China's Defense Policy
By Ankit Panda
The Chinese government has rejected a recent U.S. report on its military.
What the Pentagon Thinks of China’s Military
By Ankit Panda
The U.S. Department of Defense’s 2016 report on China’s military offers a detailed look into the PLA.