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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.
Implications of the US Withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
It is difficult to say what the future of arms control might be given the increasingly contentious nature of major power relations.
Flashpoints on the Periphery: Understanding China’s Neighborhood Opportunism
By Suyash Desai
How is China taking advantage of the pandemic to pursue its foreign policy goals?
China Calls Charges of Pandemic Opportunism in South China Sea ‘Sheer Nonsense’
By Ankit Panda
Have China’s ways in the South China Sea changed at all?
Afghan Government to Free 900 Prisoners; Taliban May Extend Truce
By Associated Press
There are hopes that the prisoner release could lead to new reductions in violence.
It Is Time for Space Governance Talks
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
The window of opportunity for such talks is shrinking, and delay could see space emerge as an active domain for conflict.
Assessing China’s Assertiveness at Commodore Reef
By Christian Vicedo
Implications for the future of international law and good order at sea in the South China Sea.
Fistfighting in the Himalayas: India and China Go Another Round
By Jeff Smith
The Indo-Chinese borderlands are rumbling again.
India’s Defense Chief Opposes Aircraft Carrier Plans
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
CDS General Bipin Rawat reiterated doubts about acquiring a third carrier in a recent interview.
COVID-19 Could Spark a New Era of Piracy in Southeast Asia
By Drake Long
Amid the impending economic disaster from the pandemic, increased crime in Southeast Asian seas is inevitable.
Why China’s Technology Theft Poses a Bigger Challenge Than That of the Soviet Union
By Robert Farley
China can better incorporate what it takes to “catch up.”
US B-1B Bombers Conduct Indo-Pacific Activities
By Ankit Panda
American B-1Bs conducted flights through the East and South China Seas in recent weeks.
Does a US Presidential Military Experience Gap Really Matter?
By Robert Farley
What are the strategic consequences of leadership that lacks direct military experience?