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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.
Vietnam’s Quiet Strategy at the Shangri-La Dialogue
By Khang Pham
At the Shangri-La Dialogue, Hanoi has sought to shape the terms of the regional security debate.
What Does Quad’s New Surveillance Initiative Mean for Indian Ocean Security?
By Rushali Saha
An Indian Ocean-focused initiative is welcome. But it will need to support a democratic information-sharing culture, if it is to attract participation from all regional countries.
China and Maritime Chokepoints: Hormuz, Malacca, and Indo-Pacific Vulnerability
By Scott N. Romaniuk, László Csicsmann, and Amparo Pamela Fabe
Disruptions in Hormuz immediately generate concern regarding Malacca, another vital maritime chokepoint.
How the China-US Reset Recasts the Quad
By Anuradha Chenoy
With the shift in China-U.S. relations, India is emerging as the strategic cog in the U.S. wheel, Pakistan as a tactical partner, NATO as the anchor of the Atlantic alliance, and the Quad as a tool to serve the Indo‑Pacific.
What the Latest China-Russia Summit Means for Ukraine
By Vita Golod
The Putin-Xi joint statement is not merely a statement of bilateral friendship. It is a war-era manifesto.
Transporting Oil to China by Rail Will Not Solve Iran’s Export Headache
By Justin Mitchell
The overland route presents a limited lifeline for Tehran, but cannot substitute for sea-based oil trade.
Australia’s View of the Evolving Quad
By Grant Wyeth
Canberra’s position – that Indo-Pacific stability depends not only on military deterrence, but also on the protection of trade flows, energy supplies, critical technologies, and economic sovereignty – has moved to the fore.
The West Indulges China in Its Backing for Russia Against Ukraine
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan and Justin Bassi
With democracies having little appetite to take on any economic risk, China’s support for Russia continues, and so too does the war.
Amid Rumors of a Visit by China’s Leader, North Korea Fires Close-Range Ballistic Missiles
By Mitch Shin
North Korea intends to press ahead with its own military modernization timeline regardless of the diplomatic calendar.
No, the Quad Isn’t Dead. This Week’s Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Proves It.
By Justin Bassi and Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Public-facing work, such as leaders’ meetings, is necessary, but even without it the Quad provides a vital mechanism for its members to collectively counter China’s behavior.
India, China, and Claims over Tawang: Views From a Field Visit to Arunachal Pradesh
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
In the face of the Chinese irredentist claims over Arunachal, New Delhi has attempted to transform a geopolitically sensitive frontier into a living, breathing part of the Indian nation.
The Real Key Moment for Taiwan Comes After the Trump-Xi Summit
By Yi-Chuan Chiu
Trump’s summit with Xi deferred the real Taiwan test: whether U.S. arms sales to Taipei will preserve credible support under strategic ambiguity, and how far Beijing will go to enforce its red line.
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