Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Iran Accuses Trump Team of Sabotaging Near-Deal in Islamabad Talks
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that US negotiators sabotaged marathon talks in Islamabad with maximalist demands when a dea
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
Quantum Computing's Cryptographic Threat Accelerates, Prompting Regional Security Rethink
Recent algorithmic advances indicate the quantum computing resources needed to crack widely used encryption may be far lower than prior esti
Five Indo-Pacific Shifts from the Iran Conflict
The Iran conflict is not an Indo-Pacific war, but its effects are reshaping regional security. Five emerging themes include nuclear prolifer
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
US-Iran Conflict Shifts Regional Power Dynamics, Benefiting China and Russia
The recent US-Iran conflict has damaged Washington's standing in the Middle East, analysts argue. China and Russia have gained strategic adv
Suspected Chinese UUV in Lombok Strait Tests Indonesia's Maritime Sovereignty
A suspected Chinese unmanned underwater vehicle was found in Indonesia's strategic Lombok Strait, a critical maritime corridor. The incident
Multiple Actors and Grievances Undermine Fragile US-Iran Ceasefire
The US-Iran ceasefire, announced after a dramatic shift by President Trump, is already showing signs of strain. Competing interpretations an
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
North Korea Adopts Iran and Ukraine War Tactics for New Combat Playbook
North Korea is rapidly incorporating lessons from the Iran and Ukraine wars into its military playbook. Recent tests include cluster-munitio
Trump's 'Next Conquest' Rhetoric Stirs Global Tensions as Iran Conflict Stalls
President Donald Trump has declared the U.S. military is eyeing its 'next conquest,' even as a fragile ceasefire with Iran fails to reopen t
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