January 23, 2023
Southeast Asia stands firm in the South China Sea
The situation in the South China Sea is far from stable. Chinese vessels engaged in dangerous and escalatory encounters with those of other states regularly throughout 2022. But for the first time in a decade, Beijing’s control over disputed waters did not appreciably advance.
January 16, 2023
How China’s maritime militia takes advantage of the grey zone
At the end of last year, Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies released the 2023 edition of its annual China security report, which focuses on China’s quest for control of the cognitive domain and grey-zone situations. I, as one of the report’s authors, analyse how China uses its maritime…
January 12, 2023
The Indian Coast Guard, the Quad, a free and open Indo-Pacific
Originally responsible primarily for maintaining good order and the safety of life at sea in domestic waters, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has expanded its commitment to international duties to cultivate external relationships and much-needed capacity building in neighboring states. While they began…
January 10, 2023
The Indian Coast Guard, the Quad, a free and open Indo-Pacific
While the four states of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (or “Quad”) maintain separate organizations responsible for military and non-military missions at sea, no two delineate those organizations’ responsibilities the same way. This fact notwithstanding, Quad countries stand to gain much by…
January 7, 2023
Climate change challenges Asia Pacific security
At first glance, regional security issues seem to be remote from the problems of climate change. They involve exercising diplomatic and military power, often in collaboration with other like-minded countries, to ensure that the balance of power in the region is not disturbed. Regional security in…
December 31, 2022
Will diplomacy bring restraint back to the South China Sea?
Attention shifted away from the South China Sea (SCS) in 2022 as the world confronted the Ukraine War and the Taiwan Strait crisis in February and August. Fears that a Ukraine-inspired conflict would erupt in the Taiwan Strait have not eventuated. Domestic economic and political concerns, such as…
December 14, 2022
Time for a ‘Radford–Collins’ agreement for the Quad?
After a false start 15 years ago, the annual Malabar naval exercise has become a key strategic development for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue partners, the United States, India, Japan and Australia.
December 12, 2022
The tough security outlook for the Indo-Pacific
Here’s the ‘darkening’ security outlook for the Indo-Pacific for 2023.
December 6, 2022
Finally at the table, not on the menu: Canada launches its Indo-Pacific strategy
On Nov. 27 Canada released a long-delayed Indo-Pacific Strategy. The strategy has five interconnected strategic objectives: Promote peace, resilience, and security Expand trade, investment, and supply chain resilience Invest in and connect people Build a sustainable and green future Canada as an…