By Kenji Watanabe
Covers the politics of the Indo-Pacific, from Washington DC back to Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei.
China's Flawed Arms Sales Still Forge Strategic Dependencies Across Asia
China's weapons exports face reliability and support problems, but serve a larger strategic goal of creating dependencies. Pakistan and Myan
Nuclear Power Drives a New Space Race Across Asia and Beyond
NASA aims to launch the first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft by 2028. China, Japan, and India are also developing space nuclear r
Power Prevails but Law Still Matters in the South China Sea
The 2016 South China Sea arbitration award rejected China's historic rights claim within the nine-dash line. Despite China's non-compliance,
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries Threaten Economic Crisis
Ukraine has accelerated attacks on Russian oil refineries, claiming to have shut down over 42% of output. The strikes are causing fuel short
Pentagon's AI Targeting Systems Lack Civilian Harm Pause
The Pentagon's Maven Smart System, used in thousands of strikes in Iran, lacks a civilian harm stop rule. After the Minab school tragedy, qu
Crimea Declares Emergency as Ukraine's Drone Campaign Pressures Russia's War Machine
Ukraine's relentless drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have forced President Vladimir Putin to admit fuel shortages. Crimea has
India's Nuclear Buildup Sharpens Deterrence as Pakistan and China Probe Below the Threshold
India's nuclear arsenal has grown to an estimated 190 warheads, driven by rivalries with Pakistan and China. But both rivals are testing the
After Three Decades, the International Push to Denuclearize North Korea Has Failed. What Comes Next?
After more than 30 years, the mission to end North Korea's nuclear program has failed. Experts give denuclearization just a 3% probability b
Trump Sons Poised to Profit from US-Funded Kazakh Tungsten Mine
President Trump's eldest sons are set to profit from a tungsten mining deal in Kazakhstan, backed by up to $1.6 billion in US federal financ
Trump's Fulbright Cuts Signal Collapse of US Soft Power in Asia
President Trump's budget proposes slashing Fulbright by 80% in its 80th year. The program's shift toward Indian-American grantees and reject
NATO's Core Mission: Guarding Against Russia, Not Appeasing Trump
NATO's central mission is deterring Russia, not appeasing the United States under Donald Trump. European members have leverage through US ba
Iran's Strait of Hormuz Toll Plan Faces Legal and Practical Hurdles
Iran's plan to impose permanent tolls on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz is legally untenable under international law and practically