Chinese Bomber Flights Around Taiwan: For What Purpose?
Recent bomber flights near Taiwan represent the most concerted training regimen yet aimed at improving Chinese airpower. China seeks to enhance the PLA Air Force's capabilities and signal Beijing's will to defend its territorial claims against the U.S. and its regional allies and partners, especially Taiwan and Japan.
Sep 13, 2017 War on the Rocks
China Will Regret India's Entry Into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Russia first proposed India as a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization likely in part to complement bilateral economic and security engagement, but mainly to constrain China's growing influence in the organization.
Jul 24, 2017 The Diplomat
How China Could Truly Rein in North Korea
China has key pressure points at its disposal to help deter North Korea from nuclear activities. It could cut off oil supplies or limit other trade, or crack down on illicit finance networks as many of the banks laundering money for the regime are in China. It could also stop shielding Pyongyang at the UN.
Jun 20, 2017 The Cipher Brief
Taiwan's 2017 Quadrennial Defense Review in Context
Taiwan's 2017 Quadrennial Defense Review is consistent with past reviews on defense strategy, reform of the military service system, and defense budget constraints. It also emphasizes the importance to President Tsai of Taiwan's domestic defense industry and shows uncertainty about U.S. Asia policy.
Jun 14, 2017 Global Taiwan Brief
Correspondence: Stability or Volatility Across the Taiwan Strait?
Prolonged tensions — even possibly amounting to a cross-strait cold peace — are likely if China's President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen cannot reach basic agreement on Taiwan's sovereignty.
May 10, 2017 International Security
Despite Promising Signs, China's North Korea Policy Unchanged
Official statements and public discussions on China's willingness to punish or otherwise influence North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a direction favorable to U.S. interests have been optimistic lately. But China's continued support of the North should temper expectations.
Apr 24, 2017 The Cipher Brief
China Tolerating Vietnam's South China Sea Activities, for Now
China has probably tolerated Vietnam's South China Sea construction activities because it feels confident in its military position in the region. Chinese leaders might change their stance if they believe Vietnam is trying to enlist the support of the U.S. or other partners to settle bilateral disputes.
Mar 3, 2017 Jamestown Foundation's China Brief
Why China Should Feel Good About Taiwan
Chinese leaders should seek to engage in good-faith discussions with Taiwanese counterparts. Beijing should also recognize that Tsai's tentativeness about the new U.S. administration could change if cross-Strait military tensions escalate.
Feb 22, 2017 Global Taiwan Brief
Adapting the President's Daily Brief to Trump
President-elect Trump is receiving President Obama's version of the daily briefing; it has yet to be tailored to his preferences, to which every president is entitled. The intelligence community should seek to adapt the briefing to maximize its interest and relevance to the president-elect.
Jan 6, 2017 War on the Rocks
Walking Away from One-China Policy Imperils Taiwan
The U.S. One-China policy has helped keep the peace for decades. Abandoning it now could result in stiffer Chinese resolve. Such a strategy may even backfire by triggering an otherwise avoidable crisis.
Dec 22, 2016 The National Interest
China's Actions Are Causing U.S. 'Militarization' of the Pacific
Beijing's aggression in the Asia-Pacific is threatening key U.S. allies, causing America to respond. Any change in U.S. policy must be based on changes in Chinese behavior.
Nov 3, 2016 The National Interest
Giving Intelligence Analysts Their Voices Back: The Case for Analyst Perspectives
The intelligence community should give analysts a channel to convey their individual insights. This would give policymakers well-reasoned alternative views.
Oct 20, 2016 War on the Rocks
Taiwan Should Not Worry About the Vatican
Concerns are growing in Taipei over whether the Holy See intends to switch its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. Beijing could be entertaining Vatican requests not out of genuine interest in reestablishing relations, but to put Taiwan on edge.
Oct 5, 2016 PacNet, CSIS
A Bumpy Road Ahead for China-Taiwan Relations
Taiwanese President Tsai has issued numerous political overtures to Beijing, yet Chinese President Xi has demonstrated a clear reluctance to accept her as a credible partner. Instead, he has turned up the heat on Tsai in an attempt to undermine her administration.
Sep 22, 2016 Defense Dossier
Keeping Up with the Policymakers: The Unclassified Tearline
Unclassified tearlines could convey the bottom line and potential implications of a classified story in unclassified terms, while obscuring sensitive sources and methods. There are good reasons to build them into the business process and culture of intelligence agencies.
Jul 28, 2016 War on the Rocks
Xi's Purge of the Military Prepares the Chinese Army for Confrontation
Xi Jinping is relying on an unprecedented anti-corruption campaign, echoing Mao Zedong's dictum that “the party commands the gun,” and implementing a sweeping reorganization of the PLA to ensure his personal dominance over the military and to strengthen its ability to deter or win future wars.
Apr 21, 2016 Newsweek