Secretary Blinken delivered this speech Center for Strategic and International Studies’ ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2023, Washington, DC, Monday, 25 September 2023.
This article examines the growing influence operations conducted by the Chinese Communist Party–led government in Latin America, presenting strategic risks to US national security and global order. The author highlights the surprising breadth and scale of China’s influence, encompassing
In this speech, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti discusses the recent state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States and emphasizes the strong bond between the US and India. He highlights the high expectations that come with such visits and states that this visit yielded concrete
The establishment of the US Space Force (USSF) in 2019 marked a significant development in space capabilities for national security and beyond. Space systems have become increasingly essential for modern military operations, impacting weather monitoring, surveillance, intelligence, communications,
In its third year of existence, the US Space Force fielded combat-ready forces in the presentation of service components assigned to combatant commanders. On order of the Secretary of Defense, US Space Forces Indo-Pacific was the first of these component commands to activate and begin integrating
The following is a transcript of US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper’s 24 March 2023 address to the students and faculty of Vietnam’s Foreign Trade University. The ambassador talked about the growth of the US–Vietnam economic relationship and the opportunities to strengthen
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Since North Korea’s first nuclear test in 2006, its rapid expansion of nuclear weapons and missiles has raised doubts in South Korea about US extended deterrence commitments. In 2023, President Yoon Suk-yeol opened discussion of an independent South Korean nuclear arsenal. This article
As the United States seeks to reorient its foreign policy to effectively compete with China, it must gain a profound understanding of China’s ambitions. Uncovering the historical roots and driving forces behind Chinese actions is crucial for comprehending the underlying motivations fueling
The space race reflects terrestrial geopolitical anxieties, with the Indo-Pacific witnessing an extension of its rivalries into space. India and China, prominent players in this arena, showcase terrestrial conflicts influencing their space strategies. China, evident through projects like the Belt
China’s Digital Silk Road provides Beijing with a potent instrument to disrupt undersea cables and gain an advantage in the Indo-Pacific. Submarine fiber-optic cables are critical infrastructure yet vulnerable to sabotage. This paper examines how the planned Pakistan and East Africa Connecting
This work uses the comparative method, complemented by quantitative data, to examine engagement by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Latin America as a function of government type, across a range of activities, including trade, investment, infrastructure projects, security relations, and
In pursuit of its global ambitions, China has increasingly deepened relations particularly with countries in the Global South, leveraging political, economic, diplomatic, and military instruments of power. While these initiatives are well documented, the downstream domestic political effects of
The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) engagement in professional military education (PME) with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries has experienced significant growth in terms of participants, course offerings, and subject matter. This expansion can be attributed to China’s
In the pursuit of a free Indo-Pacific, collaborative efforts between the US and the Philippines are indispensable. Strengthening their enduring security pact holds paramount importance. This article delves into their innovative approach through nodal defense, enhancing strategic posture,
The development of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) has sparked a wide-ranging debate on their use and regulation. This article delves into the contrasting perspectives of optimism, pessimism, and realism surrounding LAWS. Optimists view LAWS as a revolution in military affairs, while
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Roughly one-quarter of the world’s people and Internet users live under governments that engage in heavy censorship. A large portion live behind “The Great Firewall” of China, which places strategic importance on Internet control. The Internet can serve counterhegemonic purposes,
This article explores the leaked security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands, which has significant implications for the geopolitical landscape of the South Pacific region. China’s first-known bilateral security arrangement in the area enables potential deployment of its forces
For nearly eight decades, nuclear weapons have played a vital role in achieving peace and security through deterrence policies. Simultaneously, they shielded aggressors from third-party intervention, contributing to conflict. This contradiction raises questions about nuclear weapons’ true
This article analyzes the healthcare diplomacy rivalry between the United States and China in Latin America. Since the 1980s, the US Southern Command has employed medical outreach programs to counter Soviet influence and improve regional stability. Initiatives like New Horizons/Beyond the Horizons
US security challenges have historically been framed in terms of North and South, but the focus shifted to East and West after World War II. The concept of “East” encompassed Eastern Europe or the Middle East, while today it includes challenges in the Far East under Indo-Pacific Command
China’s rapid digital expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), coupled with plans to extend its Digital Silk Road (DSR) globally, marks a pivotal moment. Brazil’s unexpected move to include Huawei, a Chinese telecom giant, in its upcoming 5G auction defies US expectations and
This article investigates Chile’s claim as the primary South American gateway to the Indo-Pacific and its stakeholder status in the Pacific Rim and Indo-Pacific construct. Despite Latin American efforts, no Indo-Pacific actor acknowledges the American countries as part of the region. The
Amid the intricate expanse of the South China Sea (SCS), enduring disputes intricately involve multiple nations. China deftly employs a strategic hybrid warfare approach, adroitly harnessing nonmilitary forces such as coast guards to execute coercive actions, thereby propelling its territorial and
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In the face of increasing People’s Republic of China (PRC) influence within the US Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR), the United States must adopt innovative approaches to maintain its strategic advantage and strengthen international partnerships. One potent tool
Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva’s 2023 re-election as Brazil’s President, despite a tumultuous journey from trade unionism to political leadership, underscores his enduring influence. This article explores Lula’s impact on Brazil’s political landscape, particularly
This article contends that the US Navy should increase investment in “soft” capabilities such as civil affairs and the Seabees to effectively deter China in the Pacific. It asserts that the expanding influence of China in the South Pacific poses a threat to US military logistics and
This article examines the evolving strategic significance of Sri Lanka in the context of the power rivalry between the United States, China, and India in the Indo-Pacific region. Sri Lanka’s location and its role as a potential hub in the Sea Lines of Communication have attracted the attention
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) framing of its purpose and the propaganda employed within China has stirred an ultranationalist—perhaps even jingoistic—public, who insist on nothing short of restoring China’s mythical “Middle Kingdom” status from the past. The
President Joe Biden’s upcoming two-day state-level visit to Vietnam on 10–11 September 2023, presents a pivotal moment in US–Vietnam relations. This visit, at the invitation of Communist Party Vietnam’s General-Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, underscores the commitment of both
This article examines the United Kingdom’s Indo-Pacific policy as outlined in the Integrated Review Refresh 2023: Responding to a More Contested and Volatile World (IR23). Released in March 2023, this foreign policy and national security paper builds upon the Global Britain in a
This article provides a concise analysis of historical perspectives and geopolitical theories, with a focus on Lord Hastings “Pug” Ismay’s tripartite strategy and its implications for contemporary security policies. By examining Ismay’s strategy and its context, the article
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This book review critically examines three recent speculative fiction novels that depict a hypothetical war between the United States and China: Ghost Fleet, 2034, and White Sun War. The author explores the role of these novels in stimulating strategic thinking and policy discussions
Book Review: Red Dragon Flanker: China’s Prolific ‘Flanker’ Family, by Andreas Rupprecht. Houston: Harpia Publishing, 2022. 253 pp.
Dual Book Review: Understanding the India-China Border: The Enduring Threat of War in High Himalaya, by Manoj Joshi. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022; and Armed Coexistence: The Dynamics of the Intractable Sino-Indian Border Dispute, by Stephen Westcott. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan,
Book Review: Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China, by Hal Brands and Michael Beckley. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2022.
Book Review: China’s Good War: How World War II Is Shaping a New Nationalism, by Rana Mitter. Harvard University Press, 2020 (ISBN 9780674984264)
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Traditionally, power is measured by states’ ability to coerce using hard power; however, the diffusion of power largely due to increased interdependence and advanced technology development has rendered these traditional sources of power less effective in achieving desired outcomes. Today, it
First, this article discusses openness and selective US interests in an openness strategy. Second, recognizing that power comes from many sources, this article discusses leveraging the diplomatic, information, economic, then military (DIME) instruments of power to address China’s rise and
A selective engagement strategy in East Asia requires diplomatic and economic cooperation and confrontation, as well as information and military competition. This article will provide a background on China’s growing influence in East Asia, outline a grand strategy of selective engagement, and
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This article examines, first, Military-Civil Fusion’s origins and organizational framework, along with its execution today under President Xi Jinping. The analysis documents key economic and political interactions among MCF’s various stakeholders. Additionally, the article uses as an
This article provides a recommended definition of lawfare, contrasts the United States’ and China’s use of lawfare in the South China Sea, and discusses potential options for the United States’ strategic legitimization and operationalization of lawfare.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the United States has arguably exercised the most powerful global military imbalance the world has ever seen. This domination; however, is perceived to be fading in the wake of a new possible contender. The tension and likelihood of conflict between the United
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The United States military has executed 33 stability operations as opposed to 16 combat operations since 1898. The stabilization activities were frequently ineffective and regularly left occupied countries in a worse condition after US forces left than prior to arrival. Several underlying problems
The 2020 Irregular Warfare Annex to the National Defense Strategy acknowledges that the US military historically repeats a “boom-and-bust” cycle in its institutional competency for irregular warfare. The annex charges special operations forces to avoid the mistakes of the past by
China has invested in several American industries since its entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001. Once an engine for American soft power, Hollywood has seen a dramatic increase in investment from China, with deals being valued at billions of dollars. The resulting financial influence has
This paper examines the prospect of Korean Unification and the possibility of a future unified Korean Armed Forces. I make arguments for the likelihood of unification and the possible means by which it might unfold, both from the perspective of regional players and that of the two Koreas. These two
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