Written by Monika Chansoria
Any potential reconsideration on the Okinawa bases will likely have a cascading effect on the US-Japan alliance and Tokyo’s national security strategy at large. After all, Okinawa is not merely a peripheral Japanese prefecture, but the lynchpin of American and Japanese strategic positioning in the East China Sea.
Read MoreWritten by Hunter Marston
It is unlikely that the United States will arm various factions to topple the military — nor should it, as doing so would only add more fuel to an already raging fire. Only by helping the elected government deliver basic governance to the people who elected it can the country hope for a future in which the military steps aside and allows the restoration of democracy.
Read MoreWritten by Rohan Mukherjee
ASEAN can then continue to hold together and take a middle path, offering security cooperation to the Quad, economic cooperation to China, and institutionalised opportunities for diplomacy all around. The Quad for its part can continue growing its footprint without maintaining the pretence of ASEAN centrality and the need to convince smaller regional states to irrationally become the tip of the spear aimed at China.
Read MoreWritten by Ong Kian Ming
ASEAN must also be willing to push the envelope when it comes to economic diplomacy in a manner that would strengthen the unity of the grouping and safeguard the interests of its members.
Read MoreWritten by Nivedita Kapoor
In the long term, Russia has the potential to become a regional energy supplier as well as provide connectivity via the Arctic Northern Sea Route (instead of via the Straits of Malacca), which could mitigate the contradictions in the SCS.
Read MoreWritten by Chirayu Thakkar
Even though there would remain a considerable gap between the EU’s policy commitment to the Indo-Pacific and actual maritime efforts, India should appreciate and build upon the moral strength that the policy brings to multilateral efforts.
Read MoreWritten by Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy
Lithuania’s decision to open an office in Taiwan sets a precedent for Latvia and Estonia, neighbours who face similar threats from China — and Russia — and must urgently address similar vulnerabilities at home.
Read MoreWritten by Zachary Abuza
Myanmar might not be a failed state yet, but it is teetering towards becoming one. And the capture of the state by EAOs and transnational syndicates will impact Thai security for years to come.
Read MoreWritten by Michael Brodka
Diversification policy and supply chain alternatives provide the mechanisms for Indo-Pacific countries to lessen their dependence on Chinese REEs; however, further action is necessary. Any long-term REE strategy must also contain plans to reduce consumption, improve the efficiency of the resource, and emphasise recycling.
Read MoreWritten by Ryan Lucas
Too often, foreign policy analysts have focused principally on the hard power component of China’s ambitions in the South China Sea. This security-centric approach, while important, risks downplaying a critical piece of China’s South China Sea strategy in the post-pandemic era.
Read MoreWritten by Velina Tchakarova
India’s geopolitical choices are either joining the US-led bloc of predominantly Anglosphere allies and close partners such as Japan and Australia against China, or, once again, building partnerships of non-aligned middle powers that can navigate through the complex relationship between Washington and Beijing without taking sides.
Read MoreWritten by Murray Heibert
Beijing is unlikely to step up its role in Myanmar unless there is a sudden and massive outpouring of refugees across the border into China or opponents of the junta begin threatening Chinese infrastructure in the country.
Read MoreWritten by Lucas Knotter
New Zealand and the Five Eyes should continue to give strong signals in opposition to China’s international and domestic conduct, but it is hard to countenance a positive outcome from antagonistic machismo rhetoric.
Read MoreWritten by Manali Kumar
On-the-ground stories of inadequate testing and outright manipulation of test results lend credence to findings from the IHME’s latest modelling: the true extent of the pandemic may in fact be about 6.76 million cases per day.
Read MoreWritten by Mariana Vieira
Because the ‘China threat’ debate is premised upon the American understanding of 1945 as year-zero of its own global hegemony, proponents struggle to grapple with the potential for different, past and future, conceptions of a global order.
Read MoreWritten by Aniruddha Saha and Neha Dwivedi
Any move that might signal another era of India-US bilateral ambivalence could significantly rupture the improving ties as both nations have a history steeped in anxiety, insecurity, and distrust.
Read MoreWritten by Beverley Loke
On the whole, Biden has demonstrated consistency between discourse and deeds. His achievements in renewing America’s global role and rejuvenating a liberal rules-based order undergirded by Washington’s leadership have not been trivial.
Read MoreWritten by Joe Varner
Nevertheless, a golden opportunity exists for Canada in the aftermath of the recent Quad anti-submarine warfare exercise to put itself forward to join the Quad, but the question is — given its spotty performance to date — will Canada be welcome?
Read More
