Southeast Asia

Vietnam
commentary
What Does Vietnam Want from the United States in the South China Sea?
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jan 4, 2021
The Diplomat
Over the last few years, tensions between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea have remained high. While the Biden administration is likely to continue positive momentum in bilateral ties, it is less clear what specifically Hanoi seeks from Washington to help it effectively deter Beijing.
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Civic Education
blog
Civic Education, 'Vaccine Nationalism,' Polar Icebreakers: RAND Weekly Recap
Dec 11, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on how to revive civic education in America's public schools, the costs of "vaccine nationalism," why the United States needs more polar icebreaking ships, and more.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Persistent Security Concerns in an Election Year
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Dec 10, 2020
Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific
The security challenges facing the incoming Biden administration are likely to remain largely the same as those in 2020. The increasing geopolitical, military, and economic heft of the Indo-Pacific region means the United States will likely continue to prioritize this region in 2021.
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Philippines
commentary
The Philippines Is Sticking Right by America's Side
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Dec 2, 2020
The Diplomat
The election of Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 raised concerns around Washington that he would undermine and perhaps even undo the U.S.-Philippines alliance in favor of closer ties with China. More than four years on, however, Manila continues to prioritize Washington over Beijing.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Biden Administration Could Benefit from Keeping an Indo-Pacific Focus
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Nov 30, 2020
Nikkei Asia
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden may be poised to reverse many of President Donald Trump's policies, but one that is very likely to remain is the Indo-Pacific strategy. Any changes will probably be stylistic rather than substantive.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Vietnam Is Losing Its Best Friends to China
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Nov 2, 2020
The Diplomat
The wide range of Chinese activities with Cambodia and Laos must be jarring for Vietnamese leaders. China has eclipsed Vietnam in Indochina, and that means that Hanoi's angst will only continue to rise in its own backyard. Vietnam will likely have to find alternative means of engaging Cambodia and Laos to combat Chinese influence in this critical region in the years to come.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
America's Indo-Pacific Vision Is Becoming a Reality—Because of China
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Sep 14, 2020
Nikkei Asian Review
The Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy has received a significant boost in recent months toward achieving its goal of keeping the region “free and open” from Chinese coercion. Ironically, China itself has been doing the boosting.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
Are Counter Violent Extremism Interventions Effective?
Todd C. Helmus @Helmus, Elizabeth Bodine-Baron @bodinebaron
Sep 11, 2020
The RAND Blog
Government efforts to counter the propaganda and radicalization that lead to violent extremism are becoming more common around the world, but there's little research on whether such programs work. It is critical to conduct more research to tease out which programs are most effective.
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Vietnam
commentary
What Does Vietnam Think About America's Indo-Pacific Strategy?
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Aug 5, 2020
The Diplomat
The South China Sea is where the rubber meets the road for U.S.-Vietnam security ties, and in this regard, Hanoi has gone as far as it is comfortable. Washington should expect Vietnam to continue seeking balance between China, which has economic and military superiority over it, and the United States, which can help offset Chinese power.
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Philippines
commentary
China Refuses to Quit on the Philippines
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jul 22, 2020
The Diplomat
When the Filipino people elected Rodrigo Duterte to become their next president in May 2016, China saw a distinct opportunity to pull the longtime U.S. ally away from Washington and into Beijing's strategic orbit. But it remains to be seen how the long-term geopolitical competition between the United States and China over the Philippines will play out.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
The Indo-Pacific Contest: It Could be Time for Fresh Ideas on Allied Security Cooperation
John Blaxland, Jennifer D. P. Moroney @jdpmoroney
Jul 8, 2020
Pacific Forum
U.S. and Australian interests in the Pacific and Southeast Asia face unprecedented challenges from China, and Australia may not be able to handle them on its own. Momentum is growing for heightened cooperation between Australia and the United States.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
China Just Botched a Monumental Opportunity with the Philippines
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jun 18, 2020
The Diplomat
China hailed Philippines President Duterte's announcement in February of an end to the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in six months as evidence the United States was losing the great power competition with China in the Indo-Pacific. But on June 2, Duterte decided to postpone the VFA termination, breathing new life into the decades-long agreement.
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Military Acquisition and Procurement
commentary
Spending Smart or Spending Big: The Value of Systematic Assessments of Weapons Procurement
Peter A. Wilson, John V. Parachini
Jun 8, 2020
The RAND Blog
Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and inevitable economic difficulties, national governments should be encouraged to weigh their military requirements in a more cost-effective manner. Countries need to think strategically about the life cycle costs of equipment, not just the original purchase price.
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Philippines
commentary
Are Military Purchases in SE Asia for Political Balancing a Good Use of National Defense Resources?
Chandler Sachs, John V. Parachini
May 7, 2020
Asian Military Review
The Philippines has embarked upon a multi-phase, multi-year modernization of its armed forces, but some of the acquisition decisions appear to be driven by political symbolism rather than responsible military decisions. Using military procurement for political symbolism and paying a high price for it takes resources away from other pressing national security and domestic needs.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Reviewing Vietnam's 'Struggle' Options in the South China Sea
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
May 4, 2020
The Diplomat
Once again, Chinese assertiveness against Vietnam in the South China Sea is on the rise. Vietnam has publicly protested each Chinese move, but these statements have yet to alter Beijing's bad behavior. Among its many options, Hanoi could look to Washington for further assistance.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
There's Still Life in the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
May 4, 2020
Foreign Policy
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he would terminate the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Washington and Manila have until August 9 to save it or negotiate a new VFA to avert any further alliance crisis.
Read More »

Page 1 of 8

Quoted

Europeans already spend a lot on defense, but that spending is undercut by the redundancies and inefficiencies associated with so many countries building separate forces to serve separate political ends and nurture separate defense industries. The best remedy for that could be collectivization, or at the very least significantly greater coordination.

Michael Shurkin

Senior Political Scientist

Source: RealClearWorld

Insulated from the partisan passions that sunder our politics and our society, a January 6 Commission created by Congress or the Biden administration could analyze whether this was an isolated uprising or the harbinger of more to come. It could make recommendations to prevent such attacks in the future in Washington or at statehouses throughout the country.

Brian Michael Jenkins

Senior Adviser to the RAND President

Source: Los Angeles Times

What Role Will Telehealth Play After COVID-19?

Rethinking the U.S. Approach to the World

Keeping COVID-19 Vaccines Moving, the Capitol Attack, Media Literacy: RAND Weekly Recap

Welcoming a Stronger European Defense

Overcoming Hurdles to Herd Immunity

The Policy Currents Podcast

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Lightening Body Armor

Southeast Asia

What Does Vietnam Want from the United States in the South China Sea?

Civic Education, 'Vaccine Nationalism,' Polar Icebreakers: RAND Weekly Recap

Persistent Security Concerns in an Election Year

The Philippines Is Sticking Right by America's Side

Biden Administration Could Benefit from Keeping an Indo-Pacific Focus

Vietnam Is Losing Its Best Friends to China

America's Indo-Pacific Vision Is Becoming a Reality—Because of China

Are Counter Violent Extremism Interventions Effective?

What Does Vietnam Think About America's Indo-Pacific Strategy?

China Refuses to Quit on the Philippines

The Indo-Pacific Contest: It Could be Time for Fresh Ideas on Allied Security Cooperation

China Just Botched a Monumental Opportunity with the Philippines

Spending Smart or Spending Big: The Value of Systematic Assessments of Weapons Procurement

Are Military Purchases in SE Asia for Political Balancing a Good Use of National Defense Resources?

Reviewing Vietnam's 'Struggle' Options in the South China Sea

There's Still Life in the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement

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