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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.
Afghanistan: 6 American Soldiers Killed in Taliban Suicide Attack
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The attack occurred during a joint Afghan-U.S. patrol in the village of Bajawryan near Bagram airbase.
The Transformation of Chinese Diplomacy: What Should the World Pay Attention To?
By Dingding Chen
Scholars in both the United States and China need new paradigms in understanding one another.
The Costs and Benefits of an 'Accidental' FONOP in the South China Sea
By Ankit Panda
An unintentional B-52 flyby within 12 nautical miles of Cuarteron Reef may be fortuitous for the United States.
Is the Pentagon Out of Step with the White House on China?
By Amitai Etzioni
Recent events suggest it might be.
China’s Cyber Turn: Recognizing Change for the Better
By Greg Austin
In 2015, there was a sharp turn in China’s policy on international aspects of cyber behavior.
Why Post-WWII Reconciliation Failed in East Asia
By Robert Farley
The legacy of the war endures, impacting modern regional relations.
China’s Unilateral Assertiveness ‘Unacceptable’ in Asia: US Navy Commander
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Scott Swift voices alarm about Beijing's South China Sea behavior.
Did Australia Secretly Conduct Its Own Freedom of Navigation Operation in the South China Sea?
By Shannon Tiezzi
An accidental scoop by a BBC reporter suggests so.
The US, China and an Abundance of Cyber-Caution
By Robert Farley
Is restraint the chief characteristic of conflict in the cyber-age?
China Decries US P-8 Deployment in Singapore as 'Regional Militarization'
By Shannon Tiezzi
In announcing its displeasure with the deal, China is careful to lay the blame on Washington, not Singapore.
US, Singapore Agree Spy Plane Deployment Amid South China Sea Tensions
By Prashanth Parameswaran
China-Mali Relations After the Bamako Attacks
By Benjamin David Baker
Chinese companies have a surprisingly large stake in Mali. How could this relationship unfold in the future?