Ideas

It’s China, Stupid

More voters across the West are caring more about China. In the next round of elections, politicians should, too.

Ideas

AUKUS: Good Goals, Bad Implementation

Now begins the real work for the United States and its democratic allies: cooperating to strengthen their eroding deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.

Ideas

To Deter China, Relearn The Lost Art of Dissuasion

Threats of denial or punishment will not deter a peer adversary fighting at home.

Threats

Biden Counters China’s Allegations Of A New ‘Cold War’ In UN Speech

The president’s remarks on human rights, freedom of navigation, and authoritarianism were a thinly veiled message to Beijing.

Ideas

AFA Conference Wire: China Warnings and B-21 Numbers

News and notes from the 2021 Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber conference.

Threats

Air Force Secretary Warns of China’s Burgeoning Nuclear Arsenal, Reveals B-21 Detail

Frank Kendall also criticized Congress for not allowing the Air Force to retire old, unneeded warplanes and questioned the need for hypersonic weapons.

Science & Tech

US Air Force Developing Combat Tanker-Airlifter that Can Land on Water

In a conflict with China, aircraft will need flexibility in basing, and that means water takeoffs, landings.

Ideas

Trade Versus Subs: The Risky U.S. Tradeoff in the Asia-Pacific

Which will matter more, a dozen more nuclear subs on the U.S. side of the ledger or a trade pact that could draw many of the world's largest economies ever-closer toward China?

Ideas

How Chinese Strategists Think AI Will Power a Military Leap Ahead

The U.S. military should ready itself for a warfighting environment in which the PLA’s realizes its vision of "intelligenization."

Threats

Australia Will Get Nuclear-Powered Subs In New Partnership With US, UK

Dubbed AUKUS, the new security partnership will increase focus on the Indo-Pacific.

Threats

Milley’s China Calls During Trump Defeat Were ‘Lawful,’ Conveyed Reassurance, Pentagon Says

Some Republicans are seeking his ouster, but the Joint Chiefs chairman is the first to serve a guaranteed four years.

Ideas

The U.S. Should Get Serious About Submarine Cable Security

Three trends are accelerating risks to underwater cables’ security and resilience. 

Science & Tech

How Equipment Left In Afghanistan Will Expose US Secrets

Even rendered inoperable, equipment now in the hands of the Taliban will yield troves of information about how the U.S. builds weapons and uses them.

Ideas

Defense One Radio, Ep. 87: Climate change vs. everyone

In this episode, we review how our understanding of the threats posed by human-caused climate change is evolving, and we look at some ways the U.S. could more smartly compete with China.

Threats

US Marines Must Relearn to Protect Pacific Supply Lines, Commandant Says

As a backup, Berger says, troops must learn to “forage” for some supplies.

Policy

China Hawks Try for Beijing Olympics Boycotts on Defense Bill

Democrats rejected proposals that could affect military bases, but unlikely allies appear to be forming.

Threats

China’s Top Priority In Afghanistan Is Stability, Experts Say

Three miles away from the Kabul airport chaos, it’s business as usual at the Chinese embassy.

Ideas

Taiwan Wants Paladins. Congress Should Say No

Taipei’s only hope for an effective defense is not armor but asymmetry.