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.
Ukraine’s War of Endurance
English Summary
The conflict in Ukraine has evolved into a protracted 'war of endurance,' significantly exceeding Russia's initial objectives of quick subjugation. The conflict is characterized as Europe's largest conventional war since World War II, marked by its longevity and immense human cost. This sustained nature suggests that the conflict is less about rapid military victory and more about attrition and geopolitical resilience. Policy implications necessitate a long-term strategic commitment from international partners, recognizing that the war's endurance requires sustained support across military, economic, and diplomatic fronts.
中文摘要
烏克蘭的衝突已演變為一場曠日持久的「持久戰」，其規模已遠超過俄羅斯最初追求的快速征服目標。這場衝突被視為自第二次世界大戰以來歐洲最大的常規戰爭，其特點在於其持久性與巨大的傷亡代價。這種持續的性質表明，衝突的重點已不再是快速的軍事勝利，而是消耗戰和地緣政治韌性。政策層面的啟示要求國際夥伴必須做出長期戰略承諾，認識到這場戰爭的持久性需要跨越軍事、經濟和外交等多個層面的持續支持。
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