The Indo-Pacific is a strategic system encompassing the Indian and Pacific oceans, reflecting the expanding interests and reach of China and India as well as the enduring role of the US. The Lowy Institute's International Security program presents a weekly selection of links illuminating the changing security picture in this increasingly connected super-region.
- This week in a speech in Canberra, Admiral Harry Harris, the future USPACOM commander, raised the alarm on China's continuing island building efforts in the South China Sea. He also said that the US Navy would be deploying its latest Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers to the Pacific.
- Natalie Nougayrède on understanding the mindset of Xi Jinping
- Japan will be one of the few US allies to not join the AIIB.
- What effect will the Iranian nuclear negotiations have on North Korea's program?
- Indonesia launched a significant military exercise on the island of Sulawesi this week, from where Islamic militants have operated in the past. The Philpipines also concluded a five-week long operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, an Islamic insurgency group.
- It seems two agents contracted by Pakistani intelligence have been caught trying to spy on India's new nuclear submarine base at Visakhapatnam.
- Finally, take a look at this moving photo essay on the first years of the Vietnam War by The Atlantic.