Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mocks Trump's Strait of Hormuz Toll Plan
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi mocked President Trump's plan to charge a 20% fee for guarding the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi
Why US Military Force Alone Cannot Secure the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's attacks on Gulf vessels in Omani waters have triggered a new cycle of US-Iran escalation. Washington's reliance on punitive airstrike
US Munitions Strain Doesn't Erase China's Taiwan Invasion Risks
US airstrikes in Iran have drained key munitions, but China's path to invading Taiwan remains fraught with military limitations, economic ri
Canada's German Submarine Deal Signals Shift Away from Indo-Pacific Ambitions
Canada selected Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to build 12 Type 212CD submarines, bypassing South Korea's Hanwha Ocean. The Arctic-op
Ukraine's Drone Campaign Turns Sea of Azov Into a Strategic Battleground
Ukraine has escalated drone strikes on Russian-controlled vessels in the Sea of Azov, targeting oil tankers, tugs, and cargo ships. The camp
US Offers Ukraine PAC-3 Missile Production License, But Key Limits Remain
The US has agreed to license Ukraine to produce PAC-3 interceptor missiles, but only the older variant, not the advanced MSE version. Ukrain
How Washington's Strategic Muddle Turned the Iran War Into a Quagmire
The US-Iran ceasefire, built on wishful thinking, has broken down as renewed airstrikes hit Bahrain and Kuwait. The weak framework deferred
Assassinating Iran's Supreme Leader Backfires as Hardliners Tighten Grip
The killing of Iran's supreme leader and his family was meant to trigger a popular revolt. Instead, it galvanized a hardline succession, ren
US Deterrence Plan Against China Strained by Industrial and Political Gaps
Admiral Sam Paparo warns Congress that the risk of conflict with China is rising, requesting $122 billion for deterrence. The US plan faces
US-Iran Ceasefire: A Ritual of Failure That Reshapes Asian Energy Security
The US-Iran ceasefire has collapsed, revealing a cycle of strikes and failed agreements that leaves Asian energy security vulnerable. Gulf s
Why Western Sanctions on Russia Keep Backfiring: A Misreading of Society
Western sanctions and isolation have failed to shift Russia's war stance because they misread the popular foundation of Putin's government.
Renewed US-Iran Hostilities Reverberate Across Asian Economies
The fragile US-Iran ceasefire has collapsed, reigniting conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. Asian economies, already strained by inflation and