By Andrew Smith Development of Australia’s Defence White Paper 2015, formally announced in April, has been under way for over four months. It is worth taking stock of the process thus far. In announcing the White Paper, Prime Minister Tony…
By Nguyen Manh Hung China’s placement of an oil rig inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone in May 2014 was a wake up call for the Vietnamese leadership. It took place at a time when Hanoi was filled with speculation about…
By Duong Tran & Ngoc Phan In the most recent meeting of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), Laos agreed to consult with its neighbors on the controversial Don Sahong hydropower project, allowing it to undergo a six-month review process. While…
Who is he? Mr. Pham Quang Vinh is a veteran Vietnamese diplomat and currently deputy minister responsible for ASEAN in Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has led the Vietnamese delegation to ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meetings for the past seven…
By Thomas Jandl China’s peaceful rise is over. Beijing’s recent aggressive behavior in the oceans to its south and east give the lie to the previously cultivated narrative. China’s claims to vast stretches of open water are not grounded in…
By Haibin Niu & Nicole White President Xi Jinping’s recently concluded trip to Latin America signals a new wave of China’s multilateral diplomacy. Building on previous leaders’ regional initiatives such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Forum on…
By Rasika Gynedi India’s foreign policy priorities under the new Modi government with respect to the usual partners, neighbors, and competitors are still emerging. However, little attention has been paid to India’s relations with Iran. India faces continued challenges in…
Who is he? Jonathan Stivers is a senior adviser to U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a position he assumed in 2011. Stivers has long been considered a key staff member in Pelosi’s office and a champion…
Who is he? Mark William Lippert is currently the special assistant to the Secretary of Defense Charles Hagel. Immediately prior to his current position, Mr. Lippert served as the assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs (2012-2013).…
By Michael Montesano In Part I of this blog published on June 13, 2014, the author argued that it is not for the United States to intervene in Thai affairs to determine the future of Thailand. He writes that the…
