November 27, 2023
What exactly is Australia’s strategy of denial meant to do?
The 2023 defence strategic review has been broadly welcomed across the Australian strategic policy commentariat. The reasons for that, and the analysis of what it means, however, are oddly diverse. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in his opening statement frames it as ‘the…
November 15, 2023
Citizen Sailors: The Missing Link In Maritime Force Structure
he U.S. Navy confronts a generational challenge: The Chinese Navy now eclipses it in number of ships, with a shipbuilding capacity that outpaces it 200 to 1. While the U.S. Navy’s shifting battle fleet requirement gets the most press, the attendant manpower shortfall gets significantly less…
November 13, 2023
Beijing’s strong-arming of the Philippines plays right into Washington’s hands
On 22 October, two separate collisions took place near Second Thomas Shoal, an underwater feature that an international tribunal in 2016 ruled is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. A China Coast Guard ship rammed a much smaller civilian vessel contracted by the…
November 8, 2023
Safe shipping: a forgotten aspect of maritime security in the Pacific
Maritime security is a broad concept that spans several domains. Traditionally it has focused on defence, state-based military threats, and the protection of national interests and sovereignty at sea. Less attention has been paid to some of the wider aspects of maritime security that have less…
November 7, 2023
Scientific collaboration could ease tensions in the South China Sea
The South China Sea region has long been home to tensions driven by disputes over territory and control over resources. Local policymakers should respond by reinforcing bilateral relationships along the basis of scientific cooperation. A new survey suggests a path towards de-escalation built upon…
October 27, 2023
ASEX-01N strengthens the intra-ASEAN military landscape
In September 2023, Southeast Asia witnessed a series of high-intensity joint military training exercises concentrated around the South China Sea. This included the Indonesian and US-led Super Garuda Shield exercise and the Amphibious and Land Operation exercise held by the Philippines, Australia…
October 25, 2023
Commentary: South China Sea isn’t the place to play ‘game of chicken’
After Chinese and Philippine vessels collided off the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, one question arises: Is this the one that triggers a US-China clash? RSIS’ Collin Koh weighs in.
October 23, 2023
Japanese seafood ban signals China’s shady virtues
On 24 August 2023, immediately after Japanese authorities released treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, China suspended all seafood imports from Japan. While the public’s concerns over contamination might justify the decision, China’s track record of employing…
October 13, 2023
Trust building pivotal to US–Pacific Islands relations
The United States is increasingly concerned about the geopolitical complications posed by China’s expanding presence in the Pacific in the past decade. But Washington must prioritise gaining the trust of the Pacific Island countries to ensure meaningful commitment to the region — without Beijing’s…