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Southeast Asia

North Korea
commentary
Murder, Missiles, and Messages from North Korea
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Mar 24, 2017
RealClearWorld
Pyongyang launched a ballistic missile on February 12 — one day before Kim Jong Nam, half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was murdered in Malaysia — and four more on March 6. What would lead North Korea to carry out these provocations?
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International Diplomacy
commentary
What Are the Chances of the U.S. and China Going to War?
David C. Gompert
Mar 14, 2017
Newsweek
War between the United States and China seems far-fetched. But complacency would be a mistake. Washington and Beijing should keep a direct channel open between their defense ministers to defuse any potential crises or escalation.
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Law Of the Sea
commentary
The Era of Coast Guards in the Asia-Pacific Is Upon Us
Lyle J. Morris @LyleJMorris
Mar 8, 2017
Asia Maritme Transparency Initiative
Coast guards, not navies, are the new asset of choice in East and Southeast Asia to assert sovereignty over disputed waters. China has been expanding its coast guard fleet and many states, like Vietnam and the Philippines, lack the funds to match it.
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Chemical Terrorism
commentary
Death by Nerve Gas: Two Arrests, Many Questions in Attack in Malaysia
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Mar 7, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
Details about the murder of Kim Jong Un's half-brother are still being uncovered. If a firm connection to North Korea can be made, others in the region should react strongly. Otherwise, Kim may conclude that further provocations are worth it.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
China Tolerating Vietnam's South China Sea Activities, for Now
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Mar 3, 2017
Jamestown Foundation's China Brief
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.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
The Legacy Obama Leaves His Successor in Asia
Scott Warren Harold @ScottWHarold
Oct 26, 2016
The National Interest
The U.S. pivot to the Indo-Pacific has improved U.S. popularity and influence, and positioned it for gains in regional economic, diplomatic, and military cooperation. The incoming administration would be wise to embrace these gains and build on them to preserve and further develop U.S. interests and influence in the region.
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Military Ships and Naval Vessels
commentary
The Crucial South China Sea Ruling No One Is Talking About
Lyle J. Morris @LyleJMorris
Sep 16, 2016
The Diplomat
The PCA found in July that China's coast guard had breached several UNCLOS articles governing safety and navigation at sea. Hopefully, this will help build a legal case that abiding by basic maritime safety principles is in the interest of all countries, including China.
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Military Transformation
commentary
China's Military Reorganization Aims to Tighten Party Control and Strengthen the PLA's Warfighting Capabilities
Michael Chase, Jeffrey Engstrom
Sep 6, 2016
ChinaFile
Xi Jinping's reforms could result in a leaner, more combat-effective PLA that presents a more potent challenge to China's neighbors and to U.S. interests. But even successful reforms will not guarantee victory on the battlefield, and any hypothetical conflict involving the U.S. would carry tremendous risks.
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China
commentary
China Signals Resolve with Bomber Flights Over the South China Sea
Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, Cristina L. Garafola @CLGarafola, Astrid Stuth Cevallos, Arthur Chan
Aug 2, 2016
War on the Rocks
Since the PCA tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines' case on July 12, invalidating many of China's claims in the South China Sea, Beijing has sought to demonstrate its military strength in the region. The PLAAF's H-6K has played a key role.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Judgment on the South China Sea: What's Next?
Rafiq Dossani
Jul 22, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
On July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines' claims to maritime entitlements in the South China Sea. How China reacts could have far-reaching consequences for all nations that depend on a peaceful and integrated Southeast Asia.
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Military Ships and Naval Vessels
commentary
Indonesia-China Tensions in the Natuna Sea: Evidence of Naval Efficacy Over Coast Guards?
Lyle J. Morris @LyleJMorris
Jul 5, 2016
The Diplomat
The notion that Southeast Asian countries should employ coast guards instead of navies to enforce maritime laws had been gaining currency. But many of the coast guard fleets lack sufficient capacity to deal with the threats along their coast and in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
The Day After: The Fallout from the Philippines Arbitration Case Against China
Lyle J. Morris @LyleJMorris
Jun 30, 2016
The National Interest
What compels compliance with rulings based on international law? Whether or not China will pay a political price for ignoring a U.N. Law of the Sea Convention ruling will to a large degree be determined by how forceful other states respond in the aftermath of court action.
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China
commentary
South China Sea Spat a Symptom of U.S.-China Jockeying for Advantage
Timothy R. Heath
Jun 27, 2016
World Politics Review
A spate of high-profile diplomatic feuds and military actions related to the South China Sea has raised concern about the direction of U.S.-China relations. Neither country is well positioned politically or economically to engage in a long-term, antagonistic relationship, let alone a major conflict.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Why Has Obama Lifted the Arms Sales Ban on Vietnam?
Scott Warren Harold @ScottWHarold
May 25, 2016
Newsweek
The lifting of the arms embargo needs to be understood as part of the long process of normalizing relations with a former U.S. enemy and building toward a more cooperative, economically dynamic, and strategic future-oriented relationship.
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Migrants
commentary
Matching and Migration: Lessons from a Resettlement Programme in Indonesia
Alexander D. Rothenberg, Samuel Bazzi, Arya Gaduh, Maisy Wong
Apr 5, 2016
International Growth Centre Blog
With careful planning, resettlement remains a feasible and politically attractive option for coping with environmentally-induced migration in many settings. The lessons from Indonesia's Transmigration program can help inform ongoing resettlement planning.
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China
commentary
Beijing Ups the Ante in South China Sea Dispute with HQ-9 Deployment
Timothy R. Heath
Mar 29, 2016
Jamestown Foundation's China Brief
China's recent deployment of HQ-9 missiles to the Paracel Islands signals its determination to consolidate its gains in the South China Sea, regardless of criticism by the United States and its allies.
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Page 1 of 4

Southeast Asia

Murder, Missiles, and Messages from North Korea

What Are the Chances of the U.S. and China Going to War?

The Era of Coast Guards in the Asia-Pacific Is Upon Us

Death by Nerve Gas: Two Arrests, Many Questions in Attack in Malaysia

China Tolerating Vietnam's South China Sea Activities, for Now

The Legacy Obama Leaves His Successor in Asia

The Crucial South China Sea Ruling No One Is Talking About

China's Military Reorganization Aims to Tighten Party Control and Strengthen the PLA's Warfighting Capabilities

China Signals Resolve with Bomber Flights Over the South China Sea

Judgment on the South China Sea: What's Next?

Indonesia-China Tensions in the Natuna Sea: Evidence of Naval Efficacy Over Coast Guards?

The Day After: The Fallout from the Philippines Arbitration Case Against China

South China Sea Spat a Symptom of U.S.-China Jockeying for Advantage

Why Has Obama Lifted the Arms Sales Ban on Vietnam?

Matching and Migration: Lessons from a Resettlement Programme in Indonesia

Beijing Ups the Ante in South China Sea Dispute with HQ-9 Deployment

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