The Western Pacific remains a highly active theater defined by sustained U.S.-led military exercises and escalating great power competition. Key evidence includes continuous joint operations, such as RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii and the deployment of CSGs into the South China Sea, juxtaposed with increased naval activity from both China (PLAN task groups) and Russia near Japan's critical straits. These movements underscore a strategic push by non-allied powers to assert presence and challenge regional norms. Policy implications dictate that allied nations must maintain robust multilateral cooperation and interoperability to safeguard freedom of navigation and manage escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Russia and Eurasia Programme
English Summary
Chatham House presents its Russia and Eurasia Programme as a policy-impact platform focused on delivering rigorous analysis of Russia, Ukraine, and other post-Soviet states whose trajectories have sharply diverged. The core argument is that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally reshaped regional security and politics, making sovereignty and independence the essential analytical starting point for all countries in scope. Its reasoning is grounded in sustained research output, expert convenings, media engagement, and partnerships with academic and policy institutions to test and disseminate findings on war dynamics, domestic political change, and regional geopolitics. For policymakers and strategists, the implication is a need for differentiated country-specific approaches, long-term support for Ukrainian resilience and reconstruction, and continuous reassessment of Russia’s internal and external trajectory in a volatile regional environment.
中文摘要
查塔姆研究所將其「俄羅斯與歐亞計畫」定位為一個以政策影響為導向的平台,旨在就俄羅斯、烏克蘭及其他後蘇聯國家提供嚴謹分析;這些國家的發展路徑已出現顯著分化。其核心論點指出,俄羅斯對烏克蘭的全面入侵已從根本上重塑區域安全與政治格局,因此,對於納入研究範圍的所有國家而言,主權與獨立應作為分析的首要起點。其論證基礎來自持續性的研究產出、專家會議、媒體互動,以及與學術和政策機構的合作,用以檢驗並傳播對戰爭動態、國內政治變遷與區域地緣政治的研究發現。對政策制定者與戰略規劃者而言,這意味著必須採取差異化且符合各國情境的政策路徑,長期支持烏克蘭的韌性與重建,並在高度波動的區域環境中持續重新評估俄羅斯的內外走向。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that the post-Cold War era of U.S. unipolarity, established by the perceived invincibility demonstrated during the Gulf War, has ended. This decline is driven by globalization and technological diffusion, which have democratized advanced military capabilities, allowing regional actors to challenge major powers. Consequently, policymakers must prepare for a more volatile international order marked by frequent crises, heightened costs for securing global trade chokepoints, and reduced predictability from American power. The new rules dictate that great powers can no longer effortlessly impose their will through force.
-
3.
Despite recent trade setbacks, the U.S. retains fundamental structural economic leverage over China, particularly in high-tech sectors and intermediate goods. While Beijing can temporarily weaponize specific resources like rare earths, these chokepoints are vulnerable to diversification efforts by the West. The article argues that the most effective strategy is not unilateral action but coordinated multilateral pressure from U.S. allies across Asia and Europe. Washington must therefore coordinate its economic statecraft with partners to maximize damage to China’s export-dependent model.
-
4.
The author argues that the new 'Section 301' tariffs, ostensibly targeting forced labor, are not a genuine human rights measure but rather an attempt to re-establish a broad, punitive tariff wall. Key evidence supporting this claim includes the rushed nature of the investigation (98 pages for 60 economies), the lack of specific economic harm analysis, and the imposition of disproportionately high tariffs that far exceed any proportional response. Strategically, the use of human rights language to generate revenue sets a dangerous precedent, potentially allowing future administrations to bypass legislative processes and misuse trade law. The article concludes by urging Congress to reform these laws before they cause further damage to international trade frameworks.
-
5.U.S. Navy Orders Low-cost Missiles to Expand Fleet, Allied Long-Range Maritime Strike Capabilities (USNI)
The U.S. Navy is prioritizing the procurement of low-cost, long-range cruise missiles through programs like CHAOS and CAMS to significantly expand strike capabilities for both its own fleet and allied partners. This strategic shift provides affordable precision munitions capable of striking targets up to 1,000 nautical miles, addressing critical stockpiles depleted by recent conflicts. By developing these systems, the U.S. aims to overcome procurement delays faced by allies (such as Japan and Taiwan) who rely on older missile designs. Ultimately, this initiative strengthens allied deterrence and bolsters long-range maritime strike capabilities necessary for potential conflict with China.