Indo-Pacific View

Indo-Pacific View

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Indo-Pacific Defense FORUM’s issue on
strategic shifts.

The United States and its Allies and Partners continuously adapt their combined and joint strategies, tactics and capabilities to face emerging security challenges. As threats rapidly become more complex, cooperative relationships among militaries and nations prove increasingly important for achieving a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

This edition of FORUM strives to illuminate some of the key problems related to shifts in the region, from demographic, economic and geopolitical changes to trends in technology and warfare, and the importance of like-minded nations staying ahead of adversaries by constantly improving defense capabilities — especially those critical
to collaboration.

In the opening feature, Dr. Alfred Oehlers, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, explains how and why the U.S. and its Allies and Partners must focus on achieving an integrated deterrence to uphold the international rules-based order and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. A FORUM staff article closely tied to this theme examines how the Australian Defence Force is adapting to the shifting strategic landscape by employing whole-of-government approaches that embrace all domains of defense — air, land, sea, cyber and space. In a piece based on his presentation at the 2023 Land Forces Pacific (LANPAC) Symposium & Exposition in Hawaii, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner shares his views on the importance of multilateral training for enhancing interoperability and strengthening bonds among partners to prepare for future engagements.

Also in this edition, Dr. Jinghao Zhou, an associate professor of Asian studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York, examines Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping’s emergent Global Security Initiative and why Allies and Partners must respond with a steady and clear security policy to counter CCP influence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Meanwhile, a FORUM staff article probes how another strategic competitor, Russia, undermines global laws and norms by stealthily employing a fleet of aging ships to deliver oil or transfer cargo at sea to avoid international sanctions, emulating methods used by Iran and Venezuela.

The edition offers an array of innovative solutions to many of these escalating challenges. A FORUM staff article, for example, details how cybersecurity partnerships are maturing in the Indo-Pacific. Allies and Partners are teaming up to detect cyberattacks, share information with governments and industry, and protect civilian infrastructure and defense networks. Cyber-focused military exercises are a crucial part of the security response to this threat. 

We hope these articles encourage regional conversations on the significance of strategic shifts for security. We welcome your comments. Please contact the FORUM staff at ipdf@ipdefenseforum.com to share your thoughts.

All the best,

FORUM Staff

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button