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.
How should Ukraine prepare for peace while fighting the war?
English Summary
The Chatham House analysis highlights that while Ukraine sustains its democratic institutions during wartime, significant challenges remain regarding institutional capacity and social cohesion. Key evidence points to martial law and widespread internal/external displacement jeopardizing electoral readiness and the preservation of pluralism. For policy, Kyiv must proactively develop mechanisms—such as ensuring voting access for displaced citizens and protecting checks and balances—to mitigate post-conflict instability and guard against potential Russian interference in the democratic transition.
中文摘要
查塔姆學會的分析指出，儘管烏克蘭在戰時維持了其民主制度，但在機構能力和社會凝聚力方面仍存在重大挑戰。關鍵證據顯示，戒嚴令以及大規模的內部/外部流離失所，正在危及選舉準備度與多元主義的維護。從政策層面來看，基輔必須主動發展機制——例如確保流離失所公民的投票權和保護制衡機制——以緩解戰後不穩定性，並防範潛在的俄羅斯干預民主轉型。
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