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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.
75% of World Piracy Attacks Were in Asia in 2014
By Prashanth Parameswaran
A new report says piracy is a rising concern for the region.
ISIS Is Now Operating in Afghanistan
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Could a new front line emerge in South and Central Asia?
Relax, China Won't Challenge US Hegemony
By Dingding Chen
The US should believe Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang's words: China will not seek hegemony.
Explaining Indonesia’s ‘Sink The Vessels’ Policy Under Jokowi
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Jakarta’s policy of sinking illegal vessels looks set to continue despite lingering concerns.
Main Battle Tanks in Asia: Useful Junk
By Ankit Panda
Why Asia's militaries will hang on tanks, even as the United States moves on.
China, India, and Sri Lanka’s Change of Guard
By Harsh V. Pant
Sri Lanka's surprising election result will have complex effects on the India-China-Sri Lanka strategic triangle.
The Unique American Experience of War
By Franz-Stefan Gady
In the history of war, the American experience is an unusual one.
The Main Battle Tanks of Asia: Junk or Still Useful?
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The main battle tank will remain part of Asian-Pacific military arsenals for some time to come.
Majority of Australians Support Neutrality in Hypothetical China-Japan Conflict
By Ankit Panda
Plus, Indian Air Force gets new Su-30s, invading North Korea, Putin and Tea Party conservatives, and more. Links.
How Close Is China to Another South China Sea Airstrip?
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Beijing could have a second airstrip in the South China Sea by the end of 2015.
Perceptions and the Creeping Militarization of US Foreign Policy
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The militarization of U.S. foreign policy makes it more likely that other countries will perceive the U.S. as dangerous and hostile.
Nicholas Spykman and the Struggle for the Asiatic Mediterranean
By Francis P. Sempa
A remarkably prescient WWII geostrategist foresaw a struggle between the U.S. and China for control of the “Asian Rimland.”