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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.
Lassen Faire in the South China Sea: Takeaways From the First US FONOP
By Ankit Panda
What does the U.S. Navy's first freedom of navigation operation near a Chinese man-made island really mean?
Indonesia Calls for South China Sea Restraint Amid US-China Tensions
By Prashanth Parameswaran
President Jokowi calls for calm in US visit as Washington and Beijing trade barbs.
Did China Just Hack the International Court Adjudicating Its South China Sea Territorial Claims?
By Jason Healey and Anni Piiparinen
Sometimes context and timing can be damning evidence.
After Months of Waiting, US Finally Begins Freedom of Navigation Patrols Near China's Man-Made Islands
By Ankit Panda
The USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese man-made island on October 27, 2015.
US Navy Set to Send Destroyer Within 12 Nautical Miles of Subi, Mischief Reefs
By Ankit Panda
The USS Lassen is expected to imminently begin FONOPs near Subi and Mischief Reefs.
Undersea Cables: How Russia Targets the West’s Soft Underbelly
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Washington is worried about Moscow’s ability to disrupt global Internet communications.
China’s Lighthouses in the Spratlys
By Ting-Hui Lin
The legal significance of China’s lighthouse construction on two features in the Spratlys.
Top US Admiral: ‘Nobody Owns’ the South China Sea
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The U.S. Navy's most senior officer is adamant about enforcing "international rules and norms" in the South China Sea.
China’s Maritime Trap
By Wei Zongyou
China needs to rethink its approach to its maritime disputes.
Watch Out, F-35: Korea May Have an Ace Up Its Sleeve
By Robert Farley
Will the European defense industry profit from the United States' refusal to share sensitive technology with Seoul?
Why US South China Sea FON Operations Don’t Make Sense
By Sam Bateman
It’s not exactly clear just what Washington is protesting with this deliberate provocation.
China’s Dirty Money: How Dangerous Is the China-UK Nuclear Deal?
By Greg Austin
Is Beijing "friend or foe" in cyber nuclear joint development?