The Indo-Pacific is a strategic system encompassing the Indian and Pacific oceans, reflecting the expanding interests and reach of China and India as well as the enduring role of the US. The Lowy Institute's International Security program presents a weekly selection of links illuminating the changing security picture in this increasingly connected super-region.
- Elbridge Colby from the Center for a New American Security argues that the shifting conventional military balance in Asia will have consequences for nuclear deterrence in the region.
- The US Navy has confirmed it will rotate four Littoral Combat Ships through Singapore by 2018, a significant element of the US military rebalance in South East Asia. Also, an assured sign of the US Army's commitment to the rebalance: a new boot designed for Pacific jungles is nearing the end of its testing.
- In what is shaping up to be a big year in Japanese politics, last week Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged the Diet to start passing the third arrow of 'Abenomics' — economic structural reforms. The Japanese Foreign Ministry has also released a '3-Pillar Foreign Policy' to combat terrorism.
- The Pentagon's decision to not send an aircraft carrier to China this year has stirred debate regarding US security policy towards China. To engage or isolate?
- After allegations that the French defence firm Dassault misled the Indian Government on the projected US$20 billion cost to acquire 126 Rafale fighter jets, Russia is putting pressure on India to reconsider its tender for the MiG-35.
- Are cheap oil prices hurting emerging economies in South East Asia?
- Corruption in the PLA seems to be centered within the political officer system, not with its operational commanders.
- Brookings has started a new blog called Order from Chaos, which is worth checking out.
- A new interactive from the Chinese search engine and internet company Baidu has for the first time tracked the world's largest migration during Chunyun. It also makes clear China's nine-dash line territorial claim in the South China Sea.