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.
Interview: What Prospects for Korean Unification?
By Rafał Tomański
Cho Han-bum of the Korea Institute for National Unification on inter-Korean relations and the specifics of unification.
Australia and South Korea to Deepen Defense Ties
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The defense and foreign ministers of both countries agreed to a new defense and security cooperation blueprint.
How India Fought Pakistan 50 Years Ago
By Rohan Joshi
Fifty years ago, India and Pakistan fought a war that would change the subcontinent forever.
South China Sea: Satellite Imagery Shows China’s Buildup on Fiery Cross Reef
By Victor Robert Lee
The new capabilities may include sophisticated over-the-horizon radar.
Chinese Admiral: South China Sea ‘Belongs to China’
By Franz-Stefan Gady
At a recent naval conference a Chinese Vice Admiral did not mince words.
Should the US Navy Sail Within 12 Nautical Miles of China's Fake Islands?
By Ankit Panda
Plus, North Korea and the Iran deal, Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and more. Must reads.
Indian Air Force Chief Visits Vietnam
By Ankit Panda
India and Vietnam continue to expand their strategic security cooperation.
China Is Recreating the American 'Hub-and-Spoke' System in Asia
By Lee Jaehyon
What China's doing should be familiar to observers of U.S. Asia policy.
Watch Out China: Vietnam's Coast Guard Will Fight Back
By Ankit Panda
A new Vietnamese regulation will allow its coast guard to use weapons to deter and repel ships.
Explaining China's New 'Commitments' on the South China Sea
By Xue Li and Liu Mingyi
At the August ASEAN meetings, China unveiled its "five commitments" on the South China Sea. What changed?
For the First Time Since the B-17, America Might Have a Bomber Designed for Asia
By Robert Farley
The LRS-B could turn out to be the bomber that gives Washington the edge it needs in the Asia-Pacific.
South China Sea: Satellite Imagery Makes Clear China’s Runway Work at Subi Reef
By Victor Robert Lee
New satellite imagery shows work well advanced on a combat-capable air facility.