News

Dec. 21, 2021
“Smart Power” Is Hard Power: A Liberal Position on the US Approach to China

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 is not
Dec. 16, 2021
Admiral describes DOD's response to global threats, challenges

Navy Adm. Christopher Grady emphasized the challenges facing the United States and its allies in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee in consideration of his nomination to become vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Dec. 16, 2021
Confluence of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: How Japan’s Strengths Can Shore Up American Weakness in the Pacific

Although now a middle-power, Tokyo is no idle bystander but has championed a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) concept that seeks to promote the region's stability and prosperity through upholding a rules-based international order. Moreover, Japan's FOIP concept aligns well with US interests and
Dec. 16, 2021
Direct Military Conflict with China May Not Happen—and Why There Are Worse Outcomes

Between having too many enemies to fight and developing its military technology toward deterring enemies instead of engaging and destroying them, China is unlikely to engage in direct military action with the West. It is also unlikely the West would start a war with China unless it is forced into
Dec. 16, 2021
The Coming of Quad and the Balance of Power in the Indo-Pacific

The idea of the Indo-Pacific and the revival of the Quad is taken to be a balancing act to thwart the growing Chinese footprint in the region. Therefore, this article will first address the theoretical framework of balance of power, giving readers an overview about why nations balance. It will also
Dec. 15, 2021
China’s SJ-21 Framed as Demonstrating Growing On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM) Capabilities

China launched its most recent practice satellite ShiJian-21 (SJ-21) into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) on October 24, 2021, Beijing time and Chinese state media indicated the satellite would “test and verify debris mitigation technology.” SJ-21 has since entered geosynchronous Earth
Dec. 14, 2021
The US–Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership and the Key Role of Air Force Relations

The government, military, and air force of Vietnam share US concerns about China’s expansionism and intrusion in the South China Sea and want greater US assistance in building their defense capacity and developing their military capabilities. While the growing partnership with the United
Dec. 14, 2021
Building Resiliency: A New US Approach to East Asia

The concept of societal resilience must underpin US strategy toward East Asia, as strengthening allies' and partners' societies provides the best method for constraining China's aggressive activities. The current US focus on Chinese capabilities has resulted in a misguided approach to the region.
Dec. 14, 2021
Seize the Data Initiative

Creating scalable, integrated networks with adaptive, resilient, and collaborative properties is the key to covering the gaps and seams of our decision loops and to deterring conflict by convincing our adversaries that achieving their objectives by force is not possible. This is the change that will
Nov. 30, 2021
Biden Approves Global Posture Review Recommendations

President Joe Biden has accepted the recommendations formed by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the global posture review, which will inform the approach to the National Defense Strategy, a Defense Department official said.
Nov. 18, 2021
Comparing the Strategic Worldviews of the United States and China: Implications for Strategy and Engagement with Africa

Strategy is a master narrative, a story that we tell ourselves and others about how we see the world and our role in it; in other words, strategy communicates a particular worldview. Strategic worldviews exert a powerful influence on our priorities, policies, decisions, and activities and are best
Nov. 18, 2021
China’s Military and Economic Prowess in Djibouti: A Security Challenge for the Indo-Pacific

A fairly large portion of Djibouti’s debt is from bilateral economic and infrastructural agreements with China. This has placed the country in a quagmire, and some consider the debt unrealistic to defray without providing China concessions. The challenge the country must deal with is the fact
Nov. 18, 2021
Africa, America, and China: Estimation or Underestimation?

Unlike the United States, China is heavily invested in African infrastructure, telecommunications, and government-to-government ties. What accounts for this investment? And has the United States underestimated Africa? There are several possible answers to this first question. First,
Nov. 8, 2021
Space Domain Awareness as a Strategic Counterweight

This paper examines the role of space domain awareness (SDA) as a strategic counterweight to potential adversary and competitor actions in space. It argues that awareness of the space environment is fundamental to maintaining and protecting U.S. interests in outer space. The U.S., however, has been
Nov. 6, 2021
Between China or Climate: DOD Tackling Both

The Defense Department doesn't face a choice between focusing on state actors or significant transnational challenges such as climate change, Dr. Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of defense for policy said.
Nov. 6, 2021
Tech Advantage Critical to Prevail in Strategic Competition With China, DOD Official Says

Technological capability on an ongoing basis is critical to the United States maintaining its edge against nations such as China, the director of the Defense Innovation Unit said.
Nov. 6, 2021
Official Says DOD Is Focused on Threats From State Actors, Terrorists

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby held a briefing with journalists, covering a broad range of topics from China, Russia and Pakistan to COVID-19 vaccinations.
Nov. 5, 2021
Competition With China- PLA Overall Organization and Personnel

This is the second in CASI's "Competition With China" video series. This new video series helps Airmen better understand the strategic competition with China broadly, and takes a deep look at many of the military and security aspects of that competition. CASI uses source documents to research and
Nov. 1, 2021
In Their Own Words- Services and Arms Application in Joint Operations

Service and Arms Application in Joint Operations is one of the special series of reference texts written under the PLA Joint Operations Command Talent Cultivation Project of the former Shenyang Military Area Command. It discusses the roles and methods of all Services in integrated joint operations
Oct. 29, 2021
What Makes an Arctic Nation?: Looking Within at American Arctic Narrative

In the Arctic region since the end of the Cold War, if not before, there has been a mismatch between the national interest of the United States as expressed on paper versus the drive to act on feelings expressed by the American public. The era of great-power competition, played out against the

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