Strengthening Maritime Domain Awareness in the Indo-Pacific: Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain and Awareness
The Indo-Pacific's maritime security landscape is increasingly complex, and Captain James JB Park’s latest paper, "Maritime Security and Strategy of the Indo-Pacific: Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain and Awareness (IPMDA)," provides a timely, strategic analysis of these dynamics. As a 2024 James A. Kelly Korea Studies Fellow and contributor at the Indo-Pacific Studies Center, Captain Park explores key issues impacting maritime security.
From Mountain to Sea
In a deteriorating geopolitical climate marked by the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars and the looming threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific region faces significant challenges. Despite 20 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks, India and China remain deadlocked over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas, raising the risk of armed conflict. The 3,488-kilometer unfenced Sino-Indian border has become a major continental flashpoint. Meanwhile, the South China Sea (SCS) is a dangerous maritime hotspot, due to China's aggressive territorial claims and militarization. China's strategic playbook, seen in both the Himalayas and the SCS, involves land reclamation, militarization, gray-zone operations, and lawfare to legitimize its claims. India's commitment to the rules-based order in the SCS is crucial, given its significant trade routes and strategic interests. To counter Chinese belligerence, India must strengthen alliances and recalibrate its foreign policy.
“Chinese-style, Asian grace”: The 19th Hangzhou Asian Games and the Politics of Culture in Xi’s China
The 19th Hangzhou Asian Games, held in China’s Zhejiang province, were way more than a simple sports event. It was not just the biggest international sports event held in China since the end of its Zero COVID policy, but in the words of the official media, it was a glimpse of “the bright future of Chinese-style modernization," a “dialogue of diverse Asian civilisations”, an “essence of Chinese taste,” as well as the “continuity of cultural genes.”. Being the first and biggest international event to be held in China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), held in October 2022, the event stands as a microcosm of the political and ideological developments that have characterised China’s trajectory since the arrival of Xi Jinping.
Taiwan's New Leader Faces China: A Powder Keg in the Pacific?
Navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific requires a nuanced understanding of the fragmented governance within Taiwan, the cautious maneuvering by Beijing, and President-elect Lai Ching-te's resolve against a possible Chinese invasion. The fragmented political system in Taiwan following the 2024 election has significant implications for domestic governance as well as interactions with China and the international community. President-elect Lai Ching-te's ability to navigate this landscape is crucial to shaping Taiwan's response to external pressures and maintaining stability in the region. While fragmented governance may pose challenges such as coalition governance, policy deadlocks, and potential political instability, it also presents opportunities for compromise and moderation. This eclectic or synthetic approach allows for a comprehensive analysis of the motivations, actions, and interactions of the actors involved in cross-strait relations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the complex dynamics and diverse perspectives on the Taiwan issue.
Ancient Predictions, Modern Tensions: The Unnerving Relevance of the Peloponnesian War
Is Indo-Pacific Turning into Modern Peloponnese?
Taiwan's New Leader Faces China: A Powder Keg in the Pacific?
Policy Brief by Hugh S Tuckfield, PhD
Navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific requires a nuanced understanding of the fragmented governance within Taiwan, the cautious maneuvering by Beijing, and President-elect Lai Ching-te's resolve against a possible Chinese invasion. The fragmented political system in Taiwan following the 2024 election has significant implications for domestic governance as well as interactions with China and the international community. President-elect Lai Ching-te's ability to navigate this landscape is crucial to shaping Taiwan's response to external pressures and maintaining stability in the region. While fragmented governance may pose challenges such as coalition governance, policy deadlocks, and potential political instability, it also presents opportunities for compromise and moderation. This eclectic or synthetic approach allows for a comprehensive analysis of the motivations, actions, and interactions of the actors involved in cross-strait relations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the complex dynamics and diverse perspectives on the Taiwan issue.