Asia Programme
Cutting-edge analysis and comment from the world's oldest defence and security think tank
The Phoenix and the Double-Headed Eagle Tango Again
This article assesses the current activities and the future prospects of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization.
An Eastern Thaw
A warm diplomatic wind blew through Tokyo when the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made a State visit to the Japanese capital in April this year.
Nepal's Transition to a Post-Insurgency Era
There are obstacles to peace in Nepal, and if the process is derailed the country may sink into greater depths of lawless chaos.
Moving Towards Engagement: George W. Bush's New Flexibility in Dealing with North Korea
Curbing North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons has long been one of the main challenges for US foreign policy. Recently, the US had changed tack in its approach.
Climate Change and Security in Southern Asia: Understanding the National Security Implications
Climate change in Southern Asia will have consequences for regional security.
The Maldives: Liberal Democracy or a Jihadist Entrepôt?
The Maldives approaches a critical juncture in its development. Will it become a stable liberal democracy, or a security risk?
Pressure Point Warfare: China Swings the Assassin's Mace
In the wake of China’s successful anti-satellite test in January 2007, observers are scrambling to interpret the signals. The unveiling of such weapons suggests a policy of ‘pressure-point warfare’.
Motives and Implications Behind China's ASAT Test
China’s ASAT test, coupled with the revelation last year that a US satellite was ‘painted’ by a Chinese ground-based laser presents unsettling questions about China’s commitment to arms control, the ramifications of its rise as a major power, its military posture and foreign policy toward the United States and civil-military relations in China.
The Dragon Flies and the Phoenix Dances: An East Asian Renaissance?
The World Bank has officially confirmed that an ‘East Asian renaissance’ is upon us. But we must be careful to treat this Asian boom as a purely economic phenomenon and to heed the core aspects of this economic renaissance.
North Korea: After the Bomb
With the United States confirming that Pyongyang had indeed, as it claimed, conducted an underground nuclear test on 9 October, this article analyzes the effects of the bomb on the country, region and international community.
Growing Instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan's Role
Criticism is mounting over Pakistan's role in the conflict in Afghanistan, and there is growing unease in the West over its role in the 'War on Terror'. With upcoming country elections, Musharraf has to make compromises to stay in power.
Revolution in Nepal: Can the Nepalese Army Prevent a Maoist Victory?
Involvement by the great powers will give heart to the beleaguered Nepalese army and to the probable silent majority who do not want a Maoist takeover.
Mumbai Attacks: Implications for Militancy in South Asia
Militancy could be set to take on a new style in India and Pakistan
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Articles
The Phoenix and the Double-Headed Eagle Tango AgainThis article assesses the current activities and the future prospects of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization.
Russia, China and the SCO: “Peace Mission 2007”
While the SCO languished in relative obscurity after its conception and the gaze of the world was diverted by the events of September 11 2001, more recently the SCO’s activities have prompted increased scrutiny by the US and its regional allies in East and Central Asia.
While the SCO languished in relative obscurity after its conception and the gaze of the world was diverted by the events of September 11 2001, more recently the SCO’s activities have prompted increased scrutiny by the US and its regional allies in East and Central Asia.
An Eastern ThawA warm diplomatic wind blew through Tokyo when the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made a State visit to the Japanese capital in April this year.
Estranged Democracies to Engaged Partners: US-India Strategic Relations in the 21st Century
The future of US-India relations can be characterised in terms of ‘engaged partners.’ While the estrangement thesis is certainly not dead, it no longer dominates the overarching strategic discourse between the two states.
The future of US-India relations can be characterised in terms of ‘engaged partners.’ While the estrangement thesis is certainly not dead, it no longer dominates the overarching strategic discourse between the two states.
The Emerging Balance of Power in the Asia-Pacific
Will the Asia-Pacific witness rising tensions between rising powers, or will globalization and multilateralism lead to stability?
Will the Asia-Pacific witness rising tensions between rising powers, or will globalization and multilateralism lead to stability?
Nepal's Transition to a Post-Insurgency EraThere are obstacles to peace in Nepal, and if the process is derailed the country may sink into greater depths of lawless chaos.
Moving Towards Engagement: George W. Bush's New Flexibility in Dealing with North KoreaCurbing North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons has long been one of the main challenges for US foreign policy. Recently, the US had changed tack in its approach.
Climate Change and Security in Southern Asia: Understanding the National Security ImplicationsClimate change in Southern Asia will have consequences for regional security.
The Maldives: Liberal Democracy or a Jihadist Entrepôt?The Maldives approaches a critical juncture in its development. Will it become a stable liberal democracy, or a security risk?
Pressure Point Warfare: China Swings the Assassin's MaceIn the wake of China’s successful anti-satellite test in January 2007, observers are scrambling to interpret the signals. The unveiling of such weapons suggests a policy of ‘pressure-point warfare’.
Asia’s Arms Industries
Dean Cheng is a senior analyst on military and security affairs at the CNA Corporation, a non-profit defence think-tank based in Virginia, USA. In this article he looks at the state of the defence industries in Japan, South Korea and China.
Dean Cheng is a senior analyst on military and security affairs at the CNA Corporation, a non-profit defence think-tank based in Virginia, USA. In this article he looks at the state of the defence industries in Japan, South Korea and China.
Motives and Implications Behind China's ASAT TestChina’s ASAT test, coupled with the revelation last year that a US satellite was ‘painted’ by a Chinese ground-based laser presents unsettling questions about China’s commitment to arms control, the ramifications of its rise as a major power, its military posture and foreign policy toward the United States and civil-military relations in China.
The Dragon Flies and the Phoenix Dances: An East Asian Renaissance?The World Bank has officially confirmed that an ‘East Asian renaissance’ is upon us. But we must be careful to treat this Asian boom as a purely economic phenomenon and to heed the core aspects of this economic renaissance.
North Korea: After the BombWith the United States confirming that Pyongyang had indeed, as it claimed, conducted an underground nuclear test on 9 October, this article analyzes the effects of the bomb on the country, region and international community.
Growing Instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan's RoleCriticism is mounting over Pakistan's role in the conflict in Afghanistan, and there is growing unease in the West over its role in the 'War on Terror'. With upcoming country elections, Musharraf has to make compromises to stay in power.
Revolution in Nepal: Can the Nepalese Army Prevent a Maoist Victory?Involvement by the great powers will give heart to the beleaguered Nepalese army and to the probable silent majority who do not want a Maoist takeover.
Mumbai Attacks: Implications for Militancy in South AsiaMilitancy could be set to take on a new style in India and Pakistan
Beijing Worries About Energy: China Moves to Secure Supplies
China’s remarkable economic growth during the past quarter-century has surpassed its ability to fuel its economy and has been forced for the past decade to import a steadily increasing percentage of its energy.
China’s remarkable economic growth during the past quarter-century has surpassed its ability to fuel its economy and has been forced for the past decade to import a steadily increasing percentage of its energy.
Japan's Self Defence Conundrum: National Defence Programme Guidelines
A growing movement proclaims Japan's security posture should now be 'normalized' to allow force deployment in a combat role. What are the future possibilities then for Japanese military activities beyond domestic territories?
A growing movement proclaims Japan's security posture should now be 'normalized' to allow force deployment in a combat role. What are the future possibilities then for Japanese military activities beyond domestic territories?
India's Quest for an Indigenous Aircraft Carrier
Arun Prakash is the Chief of the Indian Navy. Here he describes the history of India’s quest for an aircraft carrier force, the challenges that have been met over the last 60 years and the successful route to indigenous carrier construction.
Arun Prakash is the Chief of the Indian Navy. Here he describes the history of India’s quest for an aircraft carrier force, the challenges that have been met over the last 60 years and the successful route to indigenous carrier construction.
Managing a Rising Power: Strains in US China Policy
Chinese military spending and resource security must be included into the existing framework of bilateral relations between the US and China if serious conflict is to be avoided.
Chinese military spending and resource security must be included into the existing framework of bilateral relations between the US and China if serious conflict is to be avoided.
Scanning the horizon for threats to Singapore
Singapore is instigating risk assessment and horizon scanning strategies in order to forecast the next natural disaster or terrorist attack. Tom Quiggan examines the pitfalls of trying to predict the future and the limitations of strategic assessment.
Singapore is instigating risk assessment and horizon scanning strategies in order to forecast the next natural disaster or terrorist attack. Tom Quiggan examines the pitfalls of trying to predict the future and the limitations of strategic assessment.
A Return to Geopolitics? NATO in Asia
If NATO relations are pursued sloppily, what may result is not a better network for the Alliance to draw upon for risk-management operations, but a new superpower conflict between ideologically dissimilar factions.
If NATO relations are pursued sloppily, what may result is not a better network for the Alliance to draw upon for risk-management operations, but a new superpower conflict between ideologically dissimilar factions.
Pirates of the South Pacific
Piracy clearly remains a serious problem today despite the general impression that it faded away along with the age of sail.
Piracy clearly remains a serious problem today despite the general impression that it faded away along with the age of sail.
Commentary
What Japan is doing in the Indian Ocean
The domestic upheaval caused by Abe's dramatic loss of the Upper House 29 July is set to affect Japan's overseas missions.
The domestic upheaval caused by Abe's dramatic loss of the Upper House 29 July is set to affect Japan's overseas missions.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation military exercise 9-17 August
Between 9-17 August 2007, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan carried out a series of joint military exercises.
Between 9-17 August 2007, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan carried out a series of joint military exercises.
Japanese Upper House Elections: The End of Abe?
Effects on the Relationship with the US?
Effects on the Relationship with the US?
China poised to liberalise its defence industry
In a recent paper: 'Future Trends in Chinese Defence Spending', Jane's Defence Economics analyst Matt Smith outlines the growing space for private companies in the Chinese defence market in addition to the status of and prospects for the current EU arms embargo.
In a recent paper: 'Future Trends in Chinese Defence Spending', Jane's Defence Economics analyst Matt Smith outlines the growing space for private companies in the Chinese defence market in addition to the status of and prospects for the current EU arms embargo.
Shinzo Abe: Between Yasukuni and a Hard Place
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government is looking shaky, to say the least. Although initially riding strong on his policy of rapprochement with China last Fall, the Abe administration has been hit by a number of scandals since December. Abe’s popularity has plummeted to 28% (July ‘07) from a high of 60% (Sept ‘06).
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government is looking shaky, to say the least. Although initially riding strong on his policy of rapprochement with China last Fall, the Abe administration has been hit by a number of scandals since December. Abe’s popularity has plummeted to 28% (July ‘07) from a high of 60% (Sept ‘06).
China's ASAT test in strategic perspective
In a provocative new policy brief, Ashley Tellis challenges the conventional wisdom that China’s antisatellite test (ASAT) was a protest against U.S. space policy, arguing instead that it was part of a loftier strategy to combat U.S. military superiority and one that China will not trade away in any arms-control regime.
In a provocative new policy brief, Ashley Tellis challenges the conventional wisdom that China’s antisatellite test (ASAT) was a protest against U.S. space policy, arguing instead that it was part of a loftier strategy to combat U.S. military superiority and one that China will not trade away in any arms-control regime.
Implications of China's ASAT test
Six months on from China's controversial Anti-Satellite test, the United States National Defence University's Institute for National Strategic Studies has spelled out the threat posed by China's new capability.
Six months on from China's controversial Anti-Satellite test, the United States National Defence University's Institute for National Strategic Studies has spelled out the threat posed by China's new capability.
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