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 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…
October 13, 2023
Can the Philippine Coast Guard Maintain Its Momentum?
The new PCG Commandant will be critical for sustaining reform and the Philippines’ maritime security approach.
October 9, 2023
China’s ‘blue dragon’ strategy in the Indo-Pacific
To compete strategically with the United States and undermine President Joe Biden’s Indo-Pacific policy, China has quietly been advancing its stealthy divide-and-conquer foreign policy agenda on four different but connected frontiers. The core of Beijing’s comprehensive plan can be described as a…
September 15, 2023
AUKUS brings more than nuclear submarines to Southeast Asia
The AUKUS agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia significantly shifts Australia’s defence strategy and future capabilities by providing the opportunity for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. But Australia will also receive advanced technologies under…
August 17, 2023
How ASEAN Can Win Its War Against Illegal and Unregulated Fishing
The Southeast Asian bloc has pledged to tackle the issue, but resources and coordination are lacking.