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.
How the Army Should Pivot to Asia
By John R. Deni
Anachronistic basing arrangements are preventing the U.S. Army from achieving its full potential in the Indo-Pacific.
Does China Care About its International Image?
By Dingding Chen
China values its national interests, including sovereignty, over its international image.
Japan's Most Famous Battleship: The Yamato
By Robert Farley
No battleship became a cultural icon in the same way that the Imperial Japanese Navy's Yamato did.
Linking U.S. Statecraft to Grand Strategy
By Julianne Smith & Jacob Stokes
U.S. statecraft must overcome six major challenges if America is to be successful abroad.
The Benefits of a Sluggish Pivot to Asia
By Ankit Panda
Sure, the U.S. pivot to Asia is slower than expected, but that's a good thing.
How America Must Lead
By Julianne Smith & Jacob Stokes
The pertinent question today is not whether America will lead but how it will do so.
China May Build ‘Artificial Island’ in South China Sea
By Zachary Keck
The island would be used as a military base to enforce a South China Sea air-defense identification zone.
Erectile Dysfunction and Strategy
By Robert Farley
Let's not get too caught up in the notion of credibility.
China’s Air Force Modernization: ‘Unprecedented in History’
By Zachary Keck
The Pentagon's annual report on China says that the scale of the PLAAF's modernization is "unprecedented in history."
Cruise Missiles: China’s Real ‘Carrier Killer’
By Zachary Keck
U.S. military analysts warn of the growing threat Chinese cruise missiles pose to the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region
Chinese, Vietnamese Coast Guard Boats Collide
By Ankit Panda
A collision between coast guard vessels from the two countries indicates a minor escalation.
The Geopolitical Logic of Russia Lifting its Arms Embargo on Pakistan
By Ankit Panda
The Kremlin made a major change in its South Asia policy -- was it a sensible one?