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.
Japan Extends Anti-Piracy Mission off Somalia For Another Year
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Two Japanese destroyers and two maritime patrol aircraft will continue their anti-piracy mission into 2017.
Reality Check: Who Lacks Self-Restraint in the South China Sea?
By Jacqueline Espenilla
A look at the legal precedents that help define China and the Philippines' favorite accusation.
China’s ‘Historic Rights’ in the South China Sea: Made in America?
By Bill Hayton
The current understanding of "historic rights" in the South China Sea in China can be traced back to a U.S. diplomat.
China’s Foreign Policy Needs More ‘Doves’ Like Wu Jianmin
By Dingding Chen
Wu Jianmin was a rational dove, seeking to defend China’s national interests.
The Torkham Incident: Why Afghanistan and Pakistan Exchanged Fire
By Rohan Joshi
The tensions that led to an explosion of hostilities across the Afghan-Pakistan border have been long simmering.
A Third 2016 Natuna Stand-Off Highlights Growing Indonesia-China Tensions
By Ankit Panda
A third stand-off between Indonesian authorities and Chinese fishermen highlights rising tensions in the Natuna Sea.
Afghanistan: 14 Nepali Security Guards Killed in Suicide Bomber Attack in Kabul
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Bomb attacks in Kabul and other parts of the country killed at least 23 on Monday.
Defeating China's Fortress Fleet and A2/AD Strategy: Lessons for the United States and Her Allies
By James R. Holmes
China's built a fortress fleet to operationalize its A2/AD ambitions. How can the U.S. and her allies counter this?
Revealed: The Truth Behind ASEAN's Retracted Kunming Statement
By Carl Thayer
New details on the June 14 meeting between ASEAN and China shed light on the imbroglio surrounding ASEAN's statement.
The ASEAN-China Special Meeting Mystery: Bureaucratic Snafu or Chinese Heavy-Handedness?
By Carl Thayer
Was ASEAN consensus undermined or is there a more mundane bureaucratic explanation for the confusion surrounding the statement?
Why China Isn’t Too Worried by Expanding US-India Ties
By Walter Andersen and Dániel Balázs
India continues to balance ties between Washington and Beijing, to seek maximum advantage.
The US Congress Just Lost a Big Asia Defense Wonk. That's a Shame
By Robert Farley
Rep. Randy Forbes lost his congressional seat, depriving the U.S. House of Representatives of a defense stalwart.