Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
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
US JASSM-ER Diversion to Iran Strains Pacific Deterrence Against China
The US has committed roughly two-thirds of its JASSM-ER cruise missile inventory to operations in Iran, leaving only about 425 missiles glob
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
US Ban on Chinese Surveillance Cameras Linked to Rise in Drone Incursions
The 2019 US ban on Hikvision and Dahua cameras at American bases correlates with a surge in drone incursions. China's surveillance ecosystem
China Uses Iran Conflict as AI Warfare Lab Against US
Chinese tech firms are marketing AI tools to track US military movements in the Middle East, supporting Iran's targeting. This creates a den
China Accelerates South China Sea Island-Building as US Focus Shifts to Iran
China has resumed land reclamation at Antelope Reef, potentially creating its largest outpost in the South China Sea. The move coincides wit
Japan's 12,000-Ton Aegis Ships: Strategic Deterrent or High-Value Targets?
Japan's two new 12,000-ton Aegis ships, with 128 vertical launch cells, aim to bolster ballistic missile defense. Critics warn they may beco
Trump Declares Iran War Nears End, Vows 'Extremely Hard' Final Phase
President Trump announced the US military campaign in Iran is concluding, but pledged 'extremely hard' strikes in the coming weeks. The conf
Report Alleges US Defense Secretary's Broker Sought Weapons Stock Investment Before Iran Conflict
A broker for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly sought a multimillion-dollar investment in a defense industry fund weeks before US
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Refineries Challenge US Energy Strategy and Global Markets
Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted major Russian oil refineries, including the Slavneft-YANOS facility in Yaroslavl. The attacks have rep
Disputed Missile Counts Fuel US-Iran Tensions, Echoing Historical Arms Deception
Public estimates of Iran's ballistic missile arsenal vary wildly, with US and Israeli assessments differing by thousands. The opacity surrou
US Permits Russian Oil Tanker to Cuba as Trump Dismisses Island's Future
President Donald Trump stated his administration would not stop a Russian-owned tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of oil from reaching Cuba. T