Asia and Pacific

Optimistically, there is a chance that 2018 will be studied in the future as a positive watershed in nuclear proliferation and diplomacy. However, there is an equal chance that 2018 will be hallmarked by errors and nuclear instability.

On 25th August 2017, in response to militant attacks against the government, the Myanmar military launched “clearance operations” against its Rohingya Muslim population. This involved the burning down of villages, the murder of civilians – including at least 730 children ...

Rather than simply being name changes, the appointments of Mike Pompeo, John Bolton and Gina Haspel may signal the beginnings of a shift in White House foreign policy stance.

Russia's expansive and modern range of missile defense and anti-satellite capabilities are not simply for defensive purposes. Instead, they are intended to enable offensive operations by hindering the ability of the US, as well as its allies and partners, to counter offensive operations.

Beijing’s pursuit of missile defense and anti-satellite systems call into question how justified its hostility to the defensive measures of its rivals are, while raising concerns over Chinese intentions.

A definitive judgment of the aftermath of Sri Lankan cannot yet be reached. At best, all that can be determined at present is that the post-civil war settlement in country has had mixed results, and has left it with an unclear future.

North Korea’s nuclear and missile weapons programs have drawn considerable attention, yet they mask critical military vulnerabilities. To meet the threat posed by North Korea, the US and its allies should expand and modernize their surveillance and precision strike systems.

The LDP will use Japan’s October parliamentary election result as a mandate for its policies, but the election may have been more about the failures of the opposition. Without a capable alternative, the LDP will continue to win elections – almost regardless of its own successes in office.

The Diplomat magazine has carried analysis by HSC senior fellow Rowan Allport on the possible role of the Australian military in a new Korean War

Washington and its partners must support Thailand and Myanmar in their economic and political development. If the US does not take a more positive and proactive stance, it risks ceding the opportunity to China.