The End of American World Order. Insights from Amitav Acharya (The Diplomat)

http://thediplomat.com/2016/11/the-end-of-american-world-order/

China and the US Court Vietnam (Cal Wong, The Diplomat)

After Vietnam’s initial outrage at the Chinese deployment of the Haiyang Shiyou 981 (HYSY 981) oil rig near the Paracel Islands within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone in 2014, the country has largely taken a back seat in the various protests against China. In doing so, it now appears Vietnam stands to benefit from the competing interests of the superpowers vying for control of the South China Sea

http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/china-and-the-us-court-vietnam/

Who Will Be Iran’s Next Parliament Speaker? (Rohollah Faghihi, The Diplomat)

Iran’s most recent parliamentary election was held in February. The results staggered both conservatives and reformists. Despite mass disqualification of reformist candidates by the powerful Guardian Council, their coalition with moderates won 121 of 290 seats. On the other side, the conservatives faced a setback, gaining 83 seats, which is a big defeat in comparison to their showing the three previous elections

http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/who-will-be-irans-next-parliament-speaker/

Kazakhstan Cracks Down on Weekend Protests (Catherine Putz, The Diplomat)

On May 21, police in Kazakhstan kept people from protesting in several cities across the country. Security forces detained hundreds of people and more than dozen journalists–many were snatched from sidewalks near public squares, which were closed off by police cordons, chased down sidewalks, loaded onto buses, then released a few hours later

http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/kazakhstan-cracks-down-on-weekend-protests/

Taliban Head Mullah Mansour Likely Killed in US Drone Strike (Ankit Panda, The Diplomat)

Early on Saturday morning, the United States military carried out a drone strike that likely killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the leader of the Afghan Taliban

http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/taliban-head-mullah-mansour-likely-killed-in-us-drone-strike/

Lords of Navigation: Grotius, Freitas, and the South China Sea (Roncevert Ganan Almond, The Diplomat)

The ornate Tower of Belém, with its faded ivory parapets, still stands proudly above the Tagus River, a monument to a distant era. Built in 1502 to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s expedition to the East Indies, the fortress was the final gateway navigators would pass before entering the sea beyond. Further afield, along the shorelines of Africa and Asia, Portuguese explorers erected stone pillars, padrões, as reminders of home and markings for a new imperial domain. In the early 17th century, the parameters of the Estado da India became the subject of an intense international legal contest, the principles of which are still under dispute

http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/lords-of-navigation-grotius-freitas-and-the-south-china-sea/

Malaysia A ‘New Dictatorship’ Under Najib: Ex-Deputy Prime Minister (Prashanth Parameswaran, The Diplomat)

Muhyiddin Yassin warns of the rise of a new dictatorship and the collapse of democratic institutions in the country.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/malaysia-a-new-dictatorship-under-najib-ex-deputy-prime-minister/

India Hosts First Multilateral Military Exercise with Asian Nations (Prashanth Parameswaran, The Diplomat)

New Delhi will host Force 18 with fellow ADMM Plus countries.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/india-hosts-first-multinational-military-exercise-with-asian-nations/

Japan's Economic Prospects in 2016 (Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat)

After a recent move to negative interest rates by the Bank of Japan, and some disappointing data on the fourth quarter of 2016, what’s next for Japan’s economy? Tamim Bayoumi, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, sits down with The Diplomat to discuss Japan’s economic state and what’s next for Abenomics.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/japans-economic-prospects-in-2016/

Japan's Economic Prospects in 2016 (Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat)

After a recent move to negative interest rates by the Bank of Japan, and some disappointing data on the fourth quarter of 2016, what’s next for Japan’s economy? Tamim Bayoumi, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, sits down with The Diplomat to discuss Japan’s economic state and what’s next for Abenomics.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/japans-economic-prospects-in-2016/

Afghanistan: Lessons Learned for the 2016 Fighting Season (Shawn Snow, The Diplomat)

The situation is not all bad, but Afghan forces need to learn the lessons of 2015.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/afghanistan-lessons-learned-for-the-2016-fighting-season/

To Purge or Not to Purge: China’s Anti-Corruption Campaign (The Diplomat)

A new code marks a return to Maoist practices.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/to-purge-or-not-to-purge-chinas-anti-corruption-campaign/

US-ASEAN Summit: Preparing for a New Normal (Emirza Adi Syailendra, The Diplomat)

The element of signaling surrounding the first U.S.-ASEAN summit in Sunnylands, California was strong. The White House decision to host ASEAN leaders at the same venue where U.S. President Barack Obama previously received Chinese president Xi Jinping symbolized the increasingly pivotal role the U.S. was according ASEAN as an institution.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/us-asean-summit-preparing-for-a-new-normal/

Obama’s Sunnylands Summit: Does ASEAN Really Matter? (Robert Manning, The Diplomat)

OK, OK, I get the symbolism, but it is a measure of how devalued the language of diplomacy can be that US President Barack Obama would hold an unprecedented summit at Sunnylands in California with ten heads of state whose countries comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to talk of a “strategic partnership.”

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/obamas-sunnylands-summit-does-asean-really-matter/

How Do You Deal With North Korea? (Ankit Panda, The Diplomat)

The Diplomat‘s Ankit Panda, Shannon Tiezzi, and Prashanth Parameswaran discuss North Korea’s recent Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite launch and the ensuing diplomatic fallout across Northeast Asia.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/how-do-you-deal-with-north-korea/

Australia Due for a Cabinet Shake-up After Scandals, Resignations (Mina Pollmann, The Diplomat)

The face of Australia’s political leadership will look very different in the near future, as three of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s ministers have been caught up in scandals.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/australia-due-for-a-cabinet-shake-up-after-scandals-resignations/

Can China Really Save Central Asian Economies? (Casey Michel, The Diplomat)

Ever since the Eurasian recession began in earnest — or, predating that, when it was clear that Russia’s economic engine would stall under Vladimir Putin’s third term — there has nonetheless been a source of hope for Central Asia’s economies: China. On the backs of China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) platform, Beijing has stepped in to provide Central Asian economies with the necessary trade, transport, and internal investment to offset a reeling Russia and sinking hydrocarbon prices. For the past few years, China has stood as the region’s economic trump card — a rising Chinese tide would, as the regional governments assumed, raise their fortunes as well.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/can-china-really-save-central-asian-economies/

What a New Vietnam-Russia Deal Says About the Mekong’s Future (Luke Hunt, The Diplomat)

It is potentially an unusual business transaction. While the prospect of a Vietnamese company taking over a Russian group in of itself is unusual, the buyout of a strategic stake in a major fish distributor is also a reflection of changing attitudes to the management of the Mekong River.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/what-a-new-vietnam-russia-deal-says-about-the-mekongs-future/

Decision in Philippines v. China Expected in May 2016 (Ankit Panda, The Diplomat)

Plus, updates on U.S.-India patrols, Asian defense spending rises, and more. Weekend security links

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/decision-in-philippines-v-china-expected-in-may-2016/

UK Sees 'Grounds for Concern' About Hong Kong's Freedoms (Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat)

The United Kingdom has issued its latest biannual report on Hong Kong. While the report found that the “one country, two systems” arrangement “has, in very many areas, continued to function well,” it also noted “grounds for concern” when it comes to the protection of certain rights and freedoms in the Special Administrative Region.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/uk-sees-grounds-for-concern-about-hong-kongs-freedoms/