Free and Open Indo-Pacific / FOIP
-
Departments
Strategy of Denial
Dongkeun Lee/Republic of Korea Navy In the Indo-Pacific, navies play a major role in shaping a balance of power that generates deterrent effects. The roles and strategies of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) are crucial to this deterrence. When we think about power in international relations, it’s easy to imagine armies clashing on…
Read More -
Departments
Evolution in Training
FORUM Staff | Photos By AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE DEPARTMENT From artificial intelligence and virtual reality to multilateral all-domain drills, military training has evolved in recent years as technology and partnerships advance across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Australian Army Brig. Ben McLennan has witnessed the change firsthand. As commander of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Combat Training Centre (CTC) and one of…
Read More -
Features
Maritime Technology Competition
Strategic investments by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in naval technical expertise supported by military-civil fusion (MCF) programs and military public-private partnerships (PPP) are driving the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) advancements in maritime technology. Concerns are mounting among the United States and its Allies and Partners over the CCP’s rapid development of dual-use maritime technologies through MCF and PPPs. The…
Read More -
Features
Cultivating Success
SPENCER PETERSEN/U.S. DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Active wars and regional conflicts. Mounting tensions in the South China Sea. Reverberations from a pandemic. Competition between the world’s two largest economies. Record refugee and migrant flows. The complex and emerging security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific and the world require novel solutions, especially in an age of artificial intelligence (AI). Intelligence diplomacy may be…
Read More -
Features
Charting a Course
United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard has increased its international engagements throughout the Pacific in recent years. Through initiatives such as the Pacific Area Campaign Plan, the Coast Guard plays a pivotal role in advancing the White House’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and the National Maritime Domain Awareness Plan. Such efforts align with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue…
Read More -
Features
Sea Control
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Daniel R. Post and U.S. Army Capt. Noël Bartley Traditionally, the United States Army has focused on land-based operations, with its role in maritime contexts largely limited to support functions. This is, of course, what armies are designed to do. However, changing geopolitical dynamics and evolving threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, necessitate a broader operational scope and…
Read More -
Features
U.S. MINEX Operations
FORUM Staff During Valiant Shield in June 2024, the United States Pacific Fleet executed the first major joint mining exercise (MINEX) in 50 years. The MINEX showcased the U.S.’s advanced and diverse capabilities in cross-domain maritime mining, emphasizing quick deployment and multiplatform flexibility. The resurgence of mining operations within the U.S. military marks a strategic pivot to a naval warfare…
Read More -
Features
Exposing Coercion
FORUM Staff China has shown clear intent through its actions in the South China Sea: to control nearly 90% of the economically vital waters, including maritime territory in the Bruneian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Philippine and Vietnamese exclusive economic zones (EEZ). Over decades, however, China has sought to secure its illegitimate claims with lawfare activity conducted in relative obscurity. Examples include Beijing’s…
Read More -
Across The Region
Philippines, Vietnam boost military ties amid South China Sea tensions
The Philippines and Vietnam will advance defense and military relations and deepen collaboration on maritime security, a significant step by two countries concerned over Beijing’s assertive actions in the South China Sea. Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang held talks with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro during his August 2024 visit to Manila, where he also met with Philippine…
Read More -
Across The Region
Malaysia won’t halt South China Sea exploration despite CCP protests, leader says
Malaysia will not stop its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea despite Beijing’s unfounded claims that the Southeast Asian nation was infringing on its territory. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the explorations are within the nation’s territory and not intended to be provocative or hostile. “Of course, we will have to operate in our waters and…
Read More