Commentary

Musharraf photo smallMusharraf’s Dénouement Musharraf came across as a larger-than-life heroic figure in the war against evil for whom it was appropriate to make exceptions. Now outmanoeuvred by his own political miscalculations and with no allies to give him cover, the former general had no option but to leave.
19 Aug 2008
Pakistan flagMusharraf resignation: Nukes on the loose? Musharraf's exit raises the prospect of Pakistan's notoriously leaky nuclear establishment becoming an engine of proliferation
19 Aug 2008
Pakistan flagPakistan on a knife-edge: the demise of the Presidency and the US relationship Pervez Musharraf's resignation as Pakistani President could usher in the most turbulent period in Pakistan’s recent history. As Western governments look helplessly on, the need to initiate confidence-building measures between Pakistan and the West could not be more urgent.
8 Aug 2008
China flagBeijing Olympics – Terror in Xinjiang The killing of Chinese border police ahead of the Beijing Olympics by a group seeking to emulate the broader global trend of Islamic extremism, now presents an ill-defined yet pernicious threat throughout China.
5 Aug 2008
North KoreaNorth Korean Nuclear Decision A picture-perfect example of political manoeuvring, but key questions remain unanswered
28 Jun 2008
Afghanistan troops and peopleLooking for Long-Term Stabilisation in Afghanistan The United Kingdom announces an increase in troop numbers – the highest level so far – only days after Britain mourned its hundredth combat death in Afghanistan. But the sacrifice and the rise in troop levels should not distract us from the military successes in that country and the focus required by the international community to reap a positive legacy.
16 Jun 2008
China flagCommentary: General Xiong Guangkai's Address On May 9 2008, General (retired) Xiong Guangkai, Chairman of the China Institute for International and Strategic Studies (CIISS) gave a speech highlighting three major adjustments to China’s security policy.
11 Jun 2008
Tianshan Lions BrigadeXinjiang: the hidden dimension to China's separatist problem Although the world’s attention is focused on the unfolding events in Tibet, the greater threat to Beijing’s power is from neighbouring Xinjiang. The restive province, home of the Muslim Uighur, has been the scene of dissent and anti-Chinese protest for decades.
10 Apr 2008
Indonesia: A Long Road to Regional Power Status Observers of Indonesian politics may have imagined themselves in a time-warp during January 2008, when Suharto once again dominated news. But even after his death, his legacy pervades the Indonesian military.
14 Mar 2008
Anti-satellite missile launchPentagon China Report: Prelude to an Arms Race in Space? The Pentagon has reacted with predictable alarm to the latest Chinese defence budget increase. But there is a genuine risk of a space arms race creating an atmosphere of uncertainty in the West Pacific.
5 Mar 2008
Japanese FlagJapan and the Maritime Interdiction Operation: Back in Business On 11 January, Japan’s parliament enacted a law to resume refueling operations in support of foreign vessels participating in anti-terrorism operations near Afghanistan. To some, the decision represents a long-term shift away from Japan’s pacifist foreign policy.
25 Feb 2008
After Ashdown, where to for Afghanistan? Afghanistan’s refusal to accept Paddy Ashdown as United Nations ‘super envoy’ raises questions about the future of that mission, and more generally the difficulty of post-conflict peace-building missions.
8 Feb 2008
President MusharrafSeparating Fact from Fiction: Musharraf’s Message to the West President Musharraf's intrepid speech at RUSI highlighted his fraught relationship with the West. Whilst Pakistan should remain ever present on the global conscience, the nature of Western involvement in Pakistan's myriad domestic problems should be dictated by the country's sovereign interests.
26 Jan 2008
TaiwanTaiwanese Parliamentary Elections and Cross-strait Issues The recent election results in Taiwan neither demonstrate an appetite for rapprochement with China, nor denial that Taiwan is de facto independent from the People’s Republic.
15 Jan 2008
Benazir BhuttoA nation in shock – a watershed for Pakistan’s security 28 Dec 2007
Trouble brewing in the Malaysian 'melting pot' 25 November witnessed the largest rally by ethnic Indian Malaysians in at least a decade. Thousands took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
19 Dec 2007
Trusting Big Brother: The Korean Family Feud In the run up to the South Korean Presidential election, a number of significant events are taking place that will impact North-South relations.
18 Dec 2007
Defence under Australia's new government What are the implications of the recent electoral victory of Kevin Rudd's Labor party on Australia's defence policy
28 Nov 2007
General MusharrafMusharraf: The Net Closes Musharraf’s declaration of emergency rule weakens an already unstable political system which has deep implications for security within Pakistan and the wider region.
12 Nov 2007
Afghanistan1Deadly Attack in Northern Afghanistan - What’s the Government’s Phone Number? The Afghan government’s policy of cultivating the co-operation of northern warlords, backed by the international community, is now evidently headed for failure.
8 Nov 2007
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