By Huang Wei
Covers the PLA, the South China Sea, regional defense spending and the emerging security architecture of the Indo-Pacific.
Houthi strike on Riyadh airport exposes gaps in Saudi air defenses
On October 10, Houthi forces launched a coordinated drone, cruise missile, and ballistic missile attack on Riyadh's King Khalid Internationa
China adapts to Ukraine war tactics but resists command overhaul
China's military is quickly absorbing tactical lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, from sea drones to fiber-optic FPVs. But a new CSIS stud
Anduril's $6.6B bet to revive US submarine production amid China's naval rise
Anduril Industries is investing $6.6 billion in a new Maryland shipyard to boost US submarine production. The move aims to address chronic d
Afghanistan's Wakhan road opens new route to China, challenging Pakistan's leverage
Afghanistan has opened a 121-km road through the Wakhan Corridor to the Chinese border, offering Beijing an alternative to Pakistan. The mov
India's Akash missile exports to Central Asia signal new strategic alignment
India is exporting its Akash surface-to-air missile system to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, offering an alternative to Russian hardware. The
US-Australia hypersonic test masks deeper Pacific base vulnerabilities
The US and Australia conducted the first flight-test release of the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile over an Australian range. But experts c
America's Iraq exit is a strategic pivot, not a retreat
The US departure from Iraq is not an end but a strategic pivot to remote containment. Washington aims to disarm Iran-backed groups to clear
Russia's Taliban courtship complicates Pakistan's Afghan calculus
Russia hosted Taliban observers at its Center-2026 war games while Pakistani troops drilled alongside. Moscow's balancing act reflects a bro
Russia's new strategy targets Ukrainian cities to force capitulation
Russia is struggling on the battlefield and at sea, so it is turning to a strategy of making Ukrainian cities unlivable. Attacks on bridges,
Taiwan's new F-16Vs buy time against China's air coercion
Taiwan received its first two F-16V Block 70 fighters, part of a 66-jet deal to counter China's record air incursions. The new jets extend f
China's quiet role in the Iran conflict tests US strategy
China remains Iran's largest oil buyer and a key economic partner, blunting US sanctions. Washington's response risks turning the Iran confl
Hegseth taps Musk, Luckey, Gingrich to lead Pentagon's future warfare project
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has appointed Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich to co-lead Project Meridian, a 120-day Pentagon