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.
The Kuril Flashpoint: Putin’s Visit and the Future of Japan-Russia Ties
By Varuna Shankar
The Kuril Islands dispute is not just a territorial dispute between Russia and Japan but reflects the larger complexity of geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific Region.
Taiwan: A Growing Economic Partner for the EU in Troubled Times
By Jun-Rong Lin and Philippe Le Corre
EU-Taiwan relations increasingly resemble a form of functional strategic partnership, despite the lack of formal diplomatic recognition.
Trump Suddenly Wants a Summit With Kim Jong Un. Why Now?
By Mitch Shin
With the Iran war stalled and Seoul slow to deliver on a $350 billion pledge, the U.S. president is dangling a one-on-one summit that could sideline South Korea.
China’s Own Version of Ambiguity in the Taiwan Strait
By Shinan (Austin) Hao
As the U.S. mulls “strategic clarity,” China may be shifting its pressure campaign away from highly visible military coercion toward methods that are less easily classified.
What Are the Implications of the Mecca Pact for India?
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
New Delhi needs a new roadmap for navigating relations in the Gulf and increasing its security profile.
Why the World’s Hedging Responses to China’s Rare Earth Dominance Have Failed
By Tobias Burgers and Hoang Trung Vu
At the heart of the global effort to diversify away from Chinese supply of critical minerals is the tension between friendshoring and strategic autonomy.
Putin’s Visit to Disputed Island Exacerbates Japan-Russia Tensions
By Mina Pollmann
The Kuril Islands/Northern Territories have been a constant thorn in Japan-Russia relations. Putin just made it worse.
6 Reasons Why Kim Jong Un Might Want to Meet With Trump
By Sungmin Cho
Kim is in a stronger position today than he was during his summit diplomacy with Trump in 2018 and 2019. But that doesn't mean he has nothing to gain from a meeting.
How Southeast Asia and the Gulf Can Shape the Future of AI
By Kelly Forbes, Bruce Li, and Hamzah Bin Zaid
Neither region can compete directly with China and the United States, but together they have the potential to show how middle powers can shape the AI economy.
Taiwan’s Urban Resilience Drills Are Becoming a Core Part of Deterrence
By Phoebe Pham
The Han Kuang drills are a useful step, but it should lead to more measurable questions for Taiwan’s ability to weather a crisis.
How China Is Normalizing Its Presence in the Waters East of Taiwan
By KAWASHIMA Shin
Accidents, the ‘normalization’ of law enforcement and integration into a sphere of influence
Indonesia Is the Latest Country to Validate China’s Claim to Taiwan – Unwittingly or Not
By Thijs Stegeman
From Indonesia to Africa and Oceania, China is enlisting foreign countries to support its increasingly strict interpretation of the One China principle.
Page 1 of 445
