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.
The New Politics of Nationalism in Contemporary Europe
English Summary
The resurgence of nationalism is a major challenge in contemporary Europe, manifesting in diverse forms—from right-wing populism in Poland and France to regionalist movements in Catalonia and Scotland. This trend is undermining the continent's integration by directing anti-EU and anti-federalist discourse against established political norms. The resulting fragmentation, exemplified by various nationalisms competing for attention, threatens stable political coalitions and arrangements across the continent. Policymakers must address this deep-seated political tension to mitigate the risk of further instability and geopolitical conflict.
中文摘要
民族主義的復興是當代歐洲面臨的主要挑戰，其表現形式多樣——從波蘭和法國的右翼民粹主義，到加泰隆尼亞和蘇格蘭的區域主義運動。此一趨勢正透過針對既有政治規範的反歐盟和反聯邦主義論述，削弱大陸的整合進程。由此產生的碎片化，例如各種民族主義相互競爭關注，威脅著整個大陸穩定的政治聯盟和安排。政策制定者必須應對這種根深蒂固的政治緊張局勢，以減緩進一步不穩定和地緣政治衝突的風險。
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