The Strategist
Relentless Export Machine: China Doubles its Trade Surplus
[By David Uren] China’s trade surplus hit an extraordinary $292 billion in the first five months of the year—more t...
China's Real Ambitions in the South Pacific
[By John Garrick and Yan C. Bennett] President Xi Jinping’s ‘China dream’ now extends across the Pacific...
Opinion: Patrol Plane Run-In Symbolizes China's "Security Assistance"
The May 26 incident where a Chinese fighter aircraft fired flares and chaff at an Australian maritime patrol aircraft in inte...
Is the U.S. Really Committed to an Indo-Pacific Trade Agreement?
[By David Uren] The Biden administration attracted a dozen nations to the launch of its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework&nb...
China's Security Deal with the Solomons Could Include "Dual-Use" Ports
[By Anastasia Kapetas] A reading of some of the headlines on China’s new security deal with Solomon Islands might give th...
Lessons From the War in Ukraine for Indo-Pacific Navies
[By Malcolm Davis] The war in Ukraine looks set to become protracted. Russia’s expected rapid victory has failed to mater...
Russia's Experience in Ukraine May Make China Rethink Plans for Taiwan
[By Robert Wihtol] When Russia attacked Ukraine in late February, many were afraid that a Chinese assault on Taiwan would be ne...
From "Friendship" to Bases: China's Growing Influence in the Pacific
[By Anne-Marie Brady] In the Xi Jinping era, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (comm...
Solomon Islands Breaks Neighbors' Trust With Chinese Security Deal
[By Richard Herr] In his statement to the Solomon Islands parliament on the draft security agreement between his coun...
Could China Establish a Naval Presence in the Solomon Islands?
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has a Chinese-government-proposed text for a security agreement between...