6 April 2014

Indo-Pacific security links: Obama's visit to Asia, Indonesia, MH370, the pivot and more

3 April 2014


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.
Barack Obama is visiting Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines this month. Things have already started well, with a successful trilateral meeting between President Obama, President Park and Prime Minister Abe last week on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague.

Rory Medcalf on Indonesia's role in defining the Indo-Pacific region.

As John Carlson noted on The Interpreter last week, Japan has agreed to transfer a large amount of weapons grade nuclear materials from its civil program to the US for recycling and disposal. But China wants more reassurance.

Grant Turnbull looks at the military and maritime surveillance technology being used in the Indian Ocean to search for missing flight MH370.

The debate on the US pivot to Asia continues. The Ukraine Crisis has cast doubt for some on the ability of the US to faithfully rebalance. But for others, the crisis merely proves that the policy is the appropriate strategic response.

Will international law help prevent a similar Ukraine-like crisis in Asia? Bonnie Glaser and Ely Ratner think so.

The Lowy Institute International Security Program's work on Indo-Pacific security is supported by two grants from the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation

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