Christopher Whyte is a Scottish defense analyst based in Washington DC. He received his MA focusing on international and East Asian security from George Mason University. He is a program assistant at the Center for the National Interest, a WSD-Handa Fellow at Pacific Forum CSIS and a contributing analyst for the Wikistrat consultancy.
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Taiwan’s Defense Review Consciously Vague
It would be unwise for the island to communicate its military plans to China.
Earlier this month, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense released its second Quadrennial Defense Review. The document, in addition to discussing the state of defense policies in the present political environment, examines the challenges facing the island and reports on the…
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North Korea Cancels Peace Pacts, Threatens Nuclear Strike
How realistic is the communist regime’s threat of a nuclear attack on the United States?
Days of escalatory remarks and posturing on the Korean Peninsula culminated on Friday with the North announcing that all peace pacts with the South will be called off and threatening a nuclear strike against the United States. The move follows…
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Drawn Out Confirmation Could Inhibit Hagel’s Effectiveness
The former Republican senator will have many fences to mend when he is confirmed.
Top Republicans in the United States Senate urged President Barack Obama on Thursday to withdraw his nomination of former Republican senator Chuck Hagel for the position of secretary of defense. Tension between the parties has been…
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Chinese Military Might Look Inward With New Drone
Unmanned aerial vehicles could be used by China for internal surveillance.
Recently, at the ninth biennial China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, the China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) showed off a full scale version of its new unmanned aerial vehicle. The Yi Long, which AVIC officials labeled a proof of concept model…
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Iraqi-Russian Arms Deal Suggests Reduced US Role
The United States appear comfortable letting Russia expand its influence in the region.
Russian news agencies report that Moscow has signed arms trade agreements with Iraq worth more than $4.2 billion. The move returns Russia to the role of principal arms provider to…
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Chinese Military Progress Can Worsen Sea Disputes
Chinese military modernization could undermine maritime conflict resolution efforts.
This past week has seen developments for the military of the People's Republic of China that could eventually alter the balance of power between states that are engaged with it in disputes in the South and East China Seas. On Wednesday, new pictures were…