By David Schaefer, an intern in the Lowy Institute's International Security Program.
- Last week, the biennial RIMPAC maritime exercise began with China officially attending for the first time. Two US scholars look at what this means for American power.
- While defence diplomacy takes centre stage, the Wall Street Journal has produced a comprehensive account of China's shadowy foreign intelligence apparatus.
- Rory Medcalf and May-Britt Stumbaum suggest the EU expand its contribution to regional information sharing, with the aim of clarifying maritime incidents and reducing uncertainty over disputes in the South China Sea.
- Shinzo Abe visited Canberra for talks on defence and trade this week, and the ANU has collected some of its expert opinion on the implications for Australian security.
- Prime Minister Abe has softened his approach to Pyongyang. He is not the only one: Robert Einhorn, a former Obama non-proliferation advisor, is making the case for the US to reach out to the hermit kingdom.
- North Korea recently conducted another provocative rocket test on the eve of Xi Jinping's visit to South Korea. In the event, warm words were exchanged between the South Korean and Chinese leaders, but Scott Snyder argues that Seoul remains well-served by the US alliance system.
- Huong Le Thu warns that trends in regional diplomacy could leave Vietnam relatively isolated in the future.
- Following a border incident involving Chinese troops in India's Ladakh region, New Delhi has announced plans to enrol its citizens living nearby in paramilitary training.
- With Narendra Modi planning to overhaul India's defence industry, there are some hurdles as well as opportunities for US-Indian defence collaboration.
The Lowy Institute International Security Program's work on Indo-Pacific security is supported by two grants from the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation.