Security & Defense
The PLA, the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Quad, AUKUS and the emerging security architecture of the region.
Hormuz Standoff: Why Neither Side Can Win the Strait War
The Strait of Hormuz has become an active war front, with US strikes degrading Iranian defenses but failing to secure safe passage. Iran's a
Voice of America's Shift to Propaganda Hands Strategic Win to Iran, China, Russia
The Trump administration is turning Voice of America into a government mouthpiece, breaking its charter and undermining trust. This shift ha
Hormuz Blockade Threatens Global Food Security, Analysis Shows
A blockade at the Strait of Hormuz would overwhelm land-based alternatives, which can handle only 5% of a single container ship's cargo. Wit
China's Anti-Stealth Radar Network Faces Integration and Combat Reality Checks
China's layered anti-stealth radar network shows technical promise but faces critical gaps in integration, maintenance, and combat resilienc
Trump's Iran Standoff: No Good Escalation Options Left in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz has left Trump with no viable military escalation options. Despite heavy US bombardments, Iran's mi
EU Funds May Flow to Chinese Drone Parts for Ukraine, Report Says
The EU reportedly allowed Ukraine to use part of a €6 billion loan for Chinese drone parts. Kyiv aims to double annual drone production to 2
China's Desert Mock-Up of US Destroyer Signals Shift in Anti-Carrier Strategy
China has built a detailed 155-meter mock-up of a US Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the Taklamakan Desert. The facility, completed in six
Taliban's Pashtun Dominance Widens Ethnic Rifts Across Afghanistan
The Taliban's leadership is 90% Pashtun despite Pashtuns being roughly 40-45% of Afghanistan's population. Non-Pashtun commanders are being
Trump's Iran Strategy Hits Strategic Dead End in Strait of Hormuz
Trump has resumed airstrikes and a naval blockade against Iran after declaring the June ceasefire over. But military, diplomatic, and econom
Arctic-Asia Link: How Sino-Russian Cooperation Reshapes Indo-Pacific Deterrence
Russia's Arctic missile tests and hypersonic weapons degrade US early warning systems. Sino-Russian cooperation expands China's Arctic footp
Why Iran Finally Shut the Strait of Hormuz After Decades of Bluffing
Iran has struck tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and hit US bases across the Gulf, escalating a conflict with Washington. For decades, Tehran
US-China Lunar Competition Risks Becoming a Scramble for Moon Resources
The new moon race focuses on the south pole's water ice, a resource for life support and rocket fuel. With limited suitable sites, competiti