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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.
Can Trump Restart Talks With North Korea?
By MIYAMOTO Satoru
There is reason to be skeptical.
Tracking Conflict in the Asia-Pacific: March 2025 Update
By ACLED Asia Pacific Team
An overview of conflict, from protests to military and militant violence, in the Asia-Pacific in February 2025.
How China Can Retaliate in the US Trade War
By MacKenna J. Rawlins
The inconsistent trade policy coming from Washington leaves Beijing with no clear path to take to get out of the crosshairs. That leaves retaliation as the most likely response.
The COVID-19 ‘Lab-Leak Origin’ Theory: Fact or Fiction?
By Florence Débarre
The U.S. government is increasingly supporting the “lab leak” theory. But with no new evidence released, it’s impossible to evaluate the accuracy of that conclusion.
Zelenskyy at the White House: The Rapid Crumbling of US Leadership Creates a Golden Opportunity for China
By Zi Yang
Amid a near-complete reversal in U.S. foreign policy, more nations may look to China to fill the role that the United States once played – an unthinkable prospect just a few months ago.
Budget Cuts, Insufficient Implementation, and Weak Enforcement Are Undermining Taiwan’s Cyber Defenses
By Eryk Waligora
The question is no longer if Taiwan will be targeted, but whether it will be ready when the next cyberattack hits.
Is There an Axis of Autocracy?
By Bonnie Girard
At heart, what binds China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia is a set of transactional relationships.
China Coast Guard Vessels Regularly Enter Territorial Waters of Disputed East China Sea Islands
By Takahashi Kosuke
Each month, the CCG conducts what appears to be a ceremonial intrusion into the territorial waters of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which are administered by Japan but claimed by China.
The Unnoticed Beneficiary of the Mauritius-UK Chagos Island Deal? India.
By Krzysztof Iwanek
New Delhi has far more influence on Mauritius than may be noticed in Europe.
The Quantum Tech Race Is Heating Up
By Naba Fatima
With the U.S. and China each boasting new breakthroughs, the real-world application of quantum computing is moving closer – with major implications for national security.
How Did Asian Countries Vote in the 2025 UN Resolution Condemning Russia’s Ukraine Invasion?
By Shannon Tiezzi
The U.S. was a notable flip-flop, for the first time siding with Russia in voting against such a resolution. Were there any notable changes in Asia-Pacific voting?
China’s Live-Fire Exercises Between Australia and New Zealand Spark Soul-Searching
By Donald R. Rothwell
China didn’t violate any rules with its live-fire naval exercises. So, why are Australia and New Zealand so worried?
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