Archive
Pieces
FACT CHECK: Two new Type 055 destroyers for the Chinese navy, a strategic reading
In early 2026, according to IDSA, the Chinese navy commissioned two new Type 055-class destroyers, the Dongguan and the Anqing.
PORTRAIT: Where things stand on Starved of Silicon
On June 22, 2026, China added ten American companies to its export control list, according to Modern Diplomacy of July 12, 2026.
COMMENTARY: The American MATCH Act targets China's chipmaking machines, a cold read a month later
On April 3, 2026, Reuters reported that the United States proposed the MATCH Act to restrict exports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China.
COLUMN: Why Balikatan 2026 matters more than it looks
Every year, the Balikatan military exercise brings together Philippine and American forces in a routine joint drill. In 2026, however, something changed in scale:…
EDITORIAL: Scarborough in five numbers
Some territorial disputes are told better through their numbers than through their speeches. Scarborough Shoal, disputed between China and the Philippines for more than…
INVESTIGATION: Field notes on a sanctioned Manila
On June 11, 2026, Al Jazeera reported a diplomatic move rarely seen between two states that still officially maintain normal bilateral relations: China barred…
REPORT: China's coast guard east of Taiwan, the questions few outlets are asking
On July 5, 2026, the New York Times reported a development that received far less attention than it should have: China announced coast guard…
DECODING: What the Taiwan Strait reveals about the balance of power underway
Through May 2026, an average of five Chinese warplanes a day crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to a count reported…
ANALYSIS: China's military budget slows down, one week later — the tally
On March 10, 2026, Beijing set its 2026 defense budget at 1.94 trillion yuan, roughly 282 billion dollars, according to figures reported by Reuters.