China India Japan Korea Southeast Asia Economy Politics
Newsroom · Security & Defense

By Huang Wei

Covers the PLA, the South China Sea, regional defense spending and the emerging security architecture of the Indo-Pacific.

183 published stories
Russian Naval Patrols Deter Estonia from Inspecting Sanctions-Busting Oil Tankers
Security

Russian Naval Patrols Deter Estonia from Inspecting Sanctions-Busting Oil Tankers

Estonian Navy Commander Ivo Vark stated his forces will no longer board Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers in the Baltic Sea, citing heightened

Medieval Christian Rhetoric Fuels Modern Islamophobia in US-Iran Conflict
Security

Medieval Christian Rhetoric Fuels Modern Islamophobia in US-Iran Conflict

US political figures are invoking medieval Christian critiques of Islam to frame the conflict with Iran. Historians trace these tropes from

The Third China Shock: How Cost Asymmetry is Reshaping Indo-Pacific Defense
Security

The Third China Shock: How Cost Asymmetry is Reshaping Indo-Pacific Defense

A new era of defense economics, termed the 'Third China Shock,' prioritizes mass-produced, low-cost systems over expensive, exquisite platfo

US Air Force Faces Critical Shortfalls in Sustaining a Prolonged Conflict with China
Security

US Air Force Faces Critical Shortfalls in Sustaining a Prolonged Conflict with China

Multiple US defense studies warn the Air Force is too small and outdated to sustain a prolonged conflict with China, particularly over Taiwa

AI-Driven Biology Outpaces Governance, Raising Dual-Use Risks Across Indo-Pacific
Security

AI-Driven Biology Outpaces Governance, Raising Dual-Use Risks Across Indo-Pacific

AI models like OpenAI's GPT-5 are autonomously designing and executing tens of thousands of biological experiments via robotic cloud labs. T

Trump's Vatican Clash Highlights Foreign Policy Strains with Asian Implications
Security

Trump's Vatican Clash Highlights Foreign Policy Strains with Asian Implications

Former US President Donald Trump's social media attack on Pope Leo XIV centers on Vatican criticism of his Iran policy and war rhetoric. The

Iran Conflict Traps Trump Administration as Asian Economies Face Energy Shock
Security

Iran Conflict Traps Trump Administration as Asian Economies Face Energy Shock

The US naval blockade of Iranian ports is squeezing major Asian economies like Japan, South Korea, and India, which rely on Hormuz Strait oi

Trump Orders Hormuz Blockade After Iran Talks Collapse in Islamabad
Security

Trump Orders Hormuz Blockade After Iran Talks Collapse in Islamabad

President Donald Trump declared a military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, citing Iran's refusal to trust US negotiators. The mo

Iran Ceasefire Collapse Highlights Limits of Middle-Power Mediation in Asia
Security

Iran Ceasefire Collapse Highlights Limits of Middle-Power Mediation in Asia

A ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran brokered by Pakistan with Chinese support collapsed within hours, despite multiple regional med

China Conducts Nuclear Response Drills Amid Rising Taiwan Strait Tensions
Security

China Conducts Nuclear Response Drills Amid Rising Taiwan Strait Tensions

China's Eastern Theater Command has held drills simulating a response to a nuclear attack, focusing on detection and decontamination. Analys

Iran War Does Not Immediately Shift Taiwan Calculus, but Reveals US Capabilities and Constraints
Security

Iran War Does Not Immediately Shift Taiwan Calculus, but Reveals US Capabilities and Constraints

The US military campaign against Iran demonstrates operational competence but diverts key assets from the Indo-Pacific. China sees both a wa

The Theological Roots of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Rhetoric
Security

The Theological Roots of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Rhetoric

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's religious rhetoric is rooted in the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a network advocating for