Strategic Intentions: China’s Military Strategy White Paper
On Tuesday, China published its latest defense white paper. Unlike its’ eight predecessors, this document was the first time that...
A nation must think before it acts.
Asia Program
Ready for a Fight?: How America Could Respond to a South China Sea Crisis
Last Monday, an American littoral combat ship, the Fort Worth (pictured below), sailed just over 12 nautical miles from...
Japan’s Security Role in Southeast Asia (and the South China Sea)
Only a few years ago, it would have seemed inconceivable that Japan would have any security role outside of...
Digging In: Land Reclamation and Defenses in the South China Sea
The U.S. Department of Defense’s latest assessment of the Chinese military provided new detail on China’s land reclamation efforts...
In China: “A Peaceful Democratic Transition?”
Nothing appears by accident in the Global Times, Beijing’s mass-circulation tabloid owned by the People’s Daily and run by...
Bundeswehr 2.0: A German Military for a New Normal
A visit to Germany’s military history museum in Dresden reveals just how deeply ambivalent modern Germany is about its...
Wanting It Both Ways, Principled and Practical: U.S. Policy toward Thailand
The increased strain between the United States and Thailand, longtime allies in Southeast Asia, was evident during their 34th...
Decline in Oil Prices, Currency Pairs, and National Power
Last autumn, headlines began to declare national “winners and losers” from the precipitous drop in oil prices over the...
Lines in the Water: The United States and China’s Claims in the South China Sea
Last Friday, the U.S. Department of State released a 26-page technical report on China’s maritime claims in the South...
China Details Argument in South China Sea Dispute: China’s Position Paper and Philippine Diplomatic Gains
Yesterday, China’s foreign ministry released a position paper related to its maritime dispute with the Philippines in the South...