In the restive eastern province, Cold War realpolitik continues to reverberate.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/indonesian-imperialism-is-alive-and-brutal-in-west-papua/
This year, the Chinese station is slated for two cargo spacecraft missions and two manned spaceflight missions.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/china-launches-new-3-member-crew-to-its-space-station/
What did Kishida and Biden accomplish?
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/the-us-japan-alliance-after-the-biden-kishida-2024-summit/
The Karen National Union said that its forces were pulling back from the important border hub to avoid harm to the local population.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/myanmar-military-reoccupies-myawaddy-base-as-karen-rebels-withdraw/
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s naval diplomacy mission has expanded to meet foreign policy needs.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/indo-pacific-deployment-2024-highlights-japans-naval-diplomacy/
The Strategic Support Force is no more, and its functions are being separated into three separate arms: the Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, and Information Support Force.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/rip-ssf-unpacking-the-plas-latest-restructuring/
Central Military Commission Vice Chair Zhang Youxia said China’s territorial sovereignty “brooks no infringement” and “cannot be challenged.”
Japan’s minister of defense said the cause was still being investigated, but called a mid-air collision a “high possibility.”
Insights from Naoko Aoki.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/the-japan-us-security-upgrade/
The pace of growth in the Australia-India strategic relationship is quite impressive, but New Delhi’s hesitance on hard security issues may hamper further developments.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/indias-place-in-australias-national-defense-strategy-2024/
The military junta and ethnic Karen rebels continue to fight for control of the town of Myawaddy on the border with Thailand.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/thousands-of-refugees-flee-fighting-in-southeastern-myanmar/
Conventional wisdom suggests that economic development driven by a hegemonic power leads to economic prosperity and peace. That may no longer be true.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/reconceptualizing-asias-security-challenges/
The Houthis’ activities in the Red Sea and the Chinese actions around Second Thomas Shoal have notable similarities in tactical conduct and adversarial responses.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/comparing-gray-zone-tactics-in-the-red-sea-and-the-south-china-sea/
The Iranian operation highlights the difficulties that air defense efforts face, particularly when relying on costly Western equipment to counter large volumes of low-cost drones and missiles.
This year's exercise, the 39th iteration since 1991, will be the first to take place outside the Philippines territorial waters.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/us-philippines-to-kick-off-expansive-balikatan-exercise/
Maldives has launched its first tactical drones. The eyes in the sky will improve the country’s defense force’s monitoring, surveillance, and data capabilities.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/is-maldives-ready-for-its-tactical-drones/
New security and military arrangements will have knock-on effects for both Japan and South Korea, their respective U.S. forces, and the regional security architecture.
In the face of China’s stunning naval buildup, competition in the Asia Pacific is entering a new era with consequences for the naval balance of power. Optimism bias stands in the way.
As technologies evolve, so do threats.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/enhancing-cybersecurity-in-outer-space/
Can studying combat in the Black Sea improve the battle-readiness of the PLA Navy?
While the Hwasong-16B’s introduction is a very significant development in and of itself, its potential broader implications for regional security remain far greater.
What might China’s future disinformation operations against Taiwan focus on and how can Taipei and its partners combat them?
The integration of command-and-control authorities of Japanese and U.S. forces in an emergency remains a critical issue, especially on the U.S. side.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/deeper-and-wider-defense-integration-tops-japan-us-summit-agenda/
While Tajiks in Russia have and will likely continue to face mistreatment and repression, this is not their first time weathering such a storm.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/what-repercussions-are-tajiks-facing-after-the-moscow-terror-attack/
The deportation risk faced by many Afghan refugees in Pakistan is rooted in the lengthy U.S. resettlement process. Forced to wait, the risks of deportation mount.
The China-backed Techo Funan Canal, which will connect the Mekong River to the country’s coast, has given rise to environmental and security concerns.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/1-7-billion-cambodian-canal-project-draws-increasing-scrutiny/
To counter China’s advances, it is important to avoid creating a power vacuum.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/the-quad-responding-to-chinas-moves-into-the-indian-ocean/
Despite its efforts so far, there is more that the city-state can be doing to plug the gaps in its cyber-defenses.
Despite flashes of actual conflict along their border, and New Delhi’s increased outreach to the West, relations between China and India have never completely broken down.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/the-hot-peace-between-china-and-india/
India’s indigenous nuclear reactor prototype and abundant thorium reserves hold the key to the country’s future energy security.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/how-indias-beaches-can-unlock-a-nuclear-powered-future/
The agreement, set to be signed in the coming months, offers an opportunity for Jakarta to bolster its domestic defense industry and clarify its position on AUKUS.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says that he is "horrified" by the prospect that his predecessor brokered a "gentleman's agreement" with Beijing over the maritime disputes.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/philippine-president-denies-secret-agreement-on-south-china-sea/
Current industrial and policy evolutions in Japan are at a crucial but wavering intersection for Tokyo’s role as a guarantor of stability in the region at large.
The impending fall of the border town of Myawaddy to ethnic Karen rebels has raised fears of junta air attacks that could drive thousands of civilians into Thailand.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/thailand-ready-to-accept-100000-refugees-foreign-minister-says/
China’s population is already shrinking. The further demographic consequences of a Taiwan invasion would be devastating.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/the-demographic-costs-of-a-taiwan-war/
The road to the historic meeting was paved by the growing security cooperation between and among the three countries.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/the-road-to-the-first-japan-philippines-us-trilateral-summit/
Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness comes from decades of regulation and work in building structural and societal resilience. It must do the same in preparation for a potential conflict with China...
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/taiwans-earthquake-resilience-lessons-for-a-cross-strait-conflict/
The fall of the town of Myawaddy to resistance forces could shift the battlefield and diplomatic dynamics of the country's conflict.
The Koreas each launched their first spy satellites last year – North Korea in November and South Korea in December – amid heightened animosities.
The U.S. president is set to deliver the warning at this week's trilateral summit with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/biden-to-warn-china-on-south-china-sea-report-claims/
India increasingly evaluates its own power through its ability to flout global norms and get away with it.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/why-india-might-want-to-pursue-transnational-killings/
Multiple photos of the Yokosuka-based USS Ronald Reagan were also allegedly taken by a Chinese drone. The authenticity of the footage hasn’t been determined yet.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/japan-investigates-alleged-chinese-drone-footage-of-js-izumo/
China has criticized the latest round of new rules by saying that it will “disrupt the international semiconductor market as well as cooperation among enterprises.”
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/ai-chips-for-china-face-additional-us-restrictions/
Small arms procurements for internal security agencies could be a step toward more substantial purchases of U.S. hardware for Vietnam's military.
The daring kamikaze drone attack did not cause much damage, but its political significance cannot be underestimated.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/myanmar-resistance-forces-launch-drone-attack-on-capital/
Tokyo wants long-range strike assets, but these demand the support of a robust intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance architecture.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/whats-missing-from-japans-defense-buildup/
The current stand-off over the Philippine-occupied shoal is a microcosm of the broader security dilemma in the South China Sea.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/steadying-the-waters-navigating-the-tensions-at-second-thomas-shoal/
Ukraine’s use of USVs has given the world’s navies a genuine view of what large scale future naval warfare might look like.
Insights from Liselotte Odgaard.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/china-in-the-south-china-sea-and-the-arctic/
Although Russia is still India’s biggest weapons supplier, weapons sales from the U.S. to India have increased dramatically.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/us-india-defense-ties-marching-ahead-fast/
The country's new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept is part of a gradual reorientation from an internal to an external security focus.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/a-paradigm-shift-in-the-philippines-defense-strategy/
Collaborative efforts among regional and international actors can pave the way for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.
The Islamic State organization and its violent progeny, ISKP, have viewed Moscow as their enemy since the group’s inception.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/islamic-state-escalates-anti-russian-militant-campaign/
The announcement of the joint South China Sea maneuvers is expected to be announced at a trilateral summit between the three nations next week.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/philippines-to-hold-joint-maritime-patrols-with-us-japan/
With tensions persisting on the Sino-Indian border, Delhi’s efforts to bolster its infrastructure in critical areas continues.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/sela-tunnel-indias-border-infrastructure-push-makes-progress/
The former president called into question the U.S. force presence in Korea – the foundation for the alliance.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/what-the-return-of-trump-would-mean-for-south-korea/
Marcos' warning is the latest sign of the escalating disputes between China and the Philippines in the contested waters of the South China Sea.
The suicide bombing near Besham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was the third attack on Chinese nationals and projects in less than a week.
Russia itself is accused of violating the sanctions through its weapons purchases from North Korea.
Although with deep hesitation, the country as a whole is beginning to reconfigure the meaning of pacifism.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/is-japan-leaving-pacifism-behind/
The Summit for Democracy in Seoul highlighted the challenges posed by AI, disinformation, and outright hacking. How is South Korea preparing?
The leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines will meet in Washington amid shared and growing concerns about China.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/what-to-look-for-out-of-the-us-japan-philippines-summit/
The focus on and understanding of ISKP’s core area in Afghanistan and Pakistan needs to be expanded to include the large frontiers of Central Asia.
As Taiwan’s first cohort of one-year conscripts complete their basic training, the public remains heavily supportive of the policy change.
Lucas Webber, the co-founder and editor of militantwire.com, discusses the horrific attack in Russia, and the links to Islamic State’s Afghan branch, also known as ISKP.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/why-did-the-islamic-state-target-russia/
The outcome of Taiwan's domestic debate about whether President Tsai Ing-wen should visit Itu Aba could have regional implications.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/taiwan-debates-a-presidential-visit-to-the-south-china-sea/
The country's new defense plans will only work if adequately funded, and if Australian policymakers can avoid the spending decision mistakes other nations have made.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/australias-smart-investment-in-its-naval-fleet/
The Kishida administration’s decision to export advanced fighter jets is part of a long evolution in Japan’s understanding of what it means to be a peaceful nation.
Undersea cables must be understood as critical infrastructure, and their vulnerability – to intentional tampering and accidental damage – acknowledged.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/undersea-cables-are-increasingly-critical-and-vulnerable/
In the wake of the horrific Crocus City Hall attack, allegedly perpetrated by Tajik nationals, Bishkek has issued a recommendation that its citizens avoid unnecessary travel to Russia.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/kyrgyzstan-warns-citizens-against-travel-to-russia/
The victims were construction workers and engineers working at the Dasu Dam, Pakistan’s largest hydropower project.
The armed forces were forced to issue a rare apology after a video showing soldiers torturing a Papuan separatist fighter was posted online.
It is promising that the CMD met just months after it was announced, seeming to indicate that all involved are serious about scaling up Central Asia’s role in global critical mineral supply cha...
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/the-c51-critical-mineral-dialogue-what-it-means-and-how-we-got-here/
The Kremlin has made a concerted effort to implicate Ukraine, despite the absence of evidence linking Kyiv to the attack. Meanwhile, ISKP poses a clear threat to Russia.
Without timely replenishment, India could end up with a submarine fleet similar to that of Pakistan.
The incident took place during the regular resupply of the Philippine outpost on Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/china-coast-guard-again-damages-philippine-boat-near-disputed-shoal/
The announcement came a day after the two countries signed a defense and security pact.
Among other things, the recent MIRV test confirms a poorly kept secret -- the military utility of India’s civilian ISRO.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/indias-space-ambitions-buttress-mirv-efforts/
South Korea's approach highlights the evolving paradigm of global defense, where collaboration, joint training, and agility are increasingly central in upholding peace and stability.
China’s counter-piracy Escort Task Forces are once again conducting naval engagements as part of Beijing’s post-COVID foreign policy.
While differences remain, the two nations are experiencing an increasing strategic convergence on the South China Sea.
Peace agreements in Northeast India have a dismal track record. Will the latest deal be different?
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/will-the-tiprasa-accord-bring-peace-to-indias-tripura/
The launches came after South Korean-U.S. military drills concluded and as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Seoul for a democracy summit.
A few hours later, the Afghan Taliban retaliated by targeting Pakistani military posts near the border.
As resistance forces move within striking distance of the capital of Rakhine State, many of its inhabitants are seeking a way out.
Whatever the Kishida administration might want, there are still strong domestic constraints to the country taking part in any conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/no-japan-will-not-defend-taiwan/
India's MIRV breakthrough will incentivize Pakistan to modernize its own nuclear force.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/indias-agni-v-test-implications-for-regional-strategic-stability/
The LDP was able to convince its traditionally pacifist partner, Komeito, to okay yet another loosening of defense export rules.
MIRV is a complex technology, and India’s test this week puts it among a small group of countries that have managed to develop it.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/maiden-test-for-indias-agni-5-mirv-missile/
More and more Myanmar troops are seeking refuge in Bangladesh. Dhaka can use this situation to its advantage.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/how-should-bangladesh-handle-myanmars-fleeing-soldiers/
Exploring the technical aspects and strategic implications of India’s MIRV breakthrough – and the impact on nuclear doctrine.
https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/strategic-shifts-indias-mirv-milestone-and-nuclear-policy-dynamics/
The Philippine leader said that the meeting will address closer maritime cooperation between the U.S., the Philippines, and Japan.
The Osprey aircraft has had a troubled history, including the November crash that killed 8 U.S. troops in Japan.
Rumors are circulating in Imphal that the government is considering ceasefire agreements with Indian separatist groups sheltering in Myanmar.
Over the past decade, the PCG has become a respectable force – with a little help from Manila's friends
New Delhi has faced setbacks in military access to Seychelles and the Maldives, making the deal with Mauritius all the sweeter.