Despite a Supposedly Defensive Policy, China’s Military Budget Rises Fast China’s sustained higher defense spending has altered the military balance in the region.

NBR advisor Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan @raji143.bsky.social writes in the Diplomat on how China’s sustained higher defense spending has altered the military balance in the region. thediplomat.com/2026/03/desp...

"India’s concerns will likely grow if China seeks nuclear parity with the U.S., which would result in a massive nuclear disparity between India and China." | @raji143.bsky.social in the NBR report "Meeting China's Nuclear and WMD Buildup" www.nbr.org/publication/...

Adapting to the Future Strategic Landscape Ankit talks with John Warden about how the United States should think about its nuclear strategy as we move into an environment in which the...

On the latest Thinking the Unthinkable at @warontherocks.bsky.social, I speak to John Warden about how the US should think about the prospect of Sino-Russian cooperation in thinking about its nuclear strategy, force design, and posture: warontherocks.com/episode/thin...

Women make up 22% of Tech workforce in 2026, across APAC.

(70% women in tech still feel they need to work harder to prove themselves because of their gender)

Macron's speech available in English now. The official translation is "forward deterrence." us.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/speech-pr...

Iran agreed secret shoulder-fired missile deal with Russia Leaks reveal €500mn contract for man-portable ‘Verba’ system to rebuild Tehran’s air defences

"Iran agreed a secret €500mn arms deal with Russia to acquire thousands of advanced shoulder-fired missiles in its most significant effort to rebuild air defences shattered during last year’s war with Israel." www.ft.com/content/d034...

Behind Trump’s truce with China Allies are trying to work out if the administration is pursuing a tactical détente related to rare earths or if it is placing less emphasis on security issues

Behind Trump’s truce with China www.ft.com/content/12a6...

Revelations of Chinese Nuclear Tests Mark Start of a New Era While China is expanding its nuclear arsenal at a dramatic pace, Russia and the U.S. are also testing new delivery platforms.

My essay in @ASPI_org #TheStrategist on the recent revelations of China's nuclear testing is now published in The Diplomat @Diplomat_APAC

China sends fourth ‘Shenlong’ reusable spacecraft mission into orbit Programme for ‘peaceful use of outer space’ launched in 2020 is seen as potential rival to US Space Force’s X-37B.

"State news agency Xinhua described the latest launch as another planned round of 'technology verification' for China’s reusable spacecraft programme" and that "The experiment will provide technical support for 'the peaceful use of outer space'"
www.scmp.com/news/china/s...

ICYMI

NBR advisor Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan @raji143.bsky.social in Real Clear Defense: Want an Explanation for China’s Nuclear Build-Up? It’s Not in the New White Paper www.realcleardefense.com/articles/202...

Rajeswari Rajagopalan: Lessons from the May India-Pakistan Crisis YouTube video by Strategic Learning

APLN member @raji143.bsky.social joins @stimsoncenter.bsky.social's @ethrelkeld.bsky.social to reflect on lessons from the 🇮🇳-🇵🇰 Crisis — covering strategic learning, limited conventional war under the nuclear shadow, information warfare & takeaways for future crises.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eokk...

Want an Explanation for China’s Nuclear Build-up? - mine and Rajesh’s essay in The Strategist is now in The Diplomat @RRajagopalanJNU @Diplomat_APAC @ASPI_org
thediplomat.com/2025/12/want...

“The exercises are a sign of the convergence of perceptions and views among the four countries of the rapidly changing strategic threats in the #IndoPacific...” | NBR advisor @raji143.bsky.social Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan

ipdefenseforum.com/2025/11/quad... #Malabar #Quad

Prime Minister Albanese’s meeting with President Trump: views from ASPI analysts | The Strategist Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on 20 October. This will be the first official meeting between the two leaders since Trump’s inauguration in January. ...

'US-China tensions are growing due to factors including tariff troubles and China’s curtailing of rare earth exports. This benefits Australia and the Quad as it reaffirms their importance to the US,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.

Space logistics: why rules matter for safety, security and sustainability - my @ASPI_org Special Report argues that without shared norms, dual-use nature of RPOs can undermine trust and stability in space. We need to develop norms, build trust and reduce miscalculation.

🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨

Space logistics — from satellite maintenance to debris removal — is critical to the sustainable use of space 🚀. But a new ASPI report from @raji143.bsky.social warns these technologies are evolving in a regulatory vacuum that could destabilise global security.

🔖 Read: bit.ly/3KidUxm

🚨 EVENT UPDATE 🚨

We're excited to announce our first speakers for the Sydney Dialogue on 4-5 December!

Hear from @tsahkna.bsky.social, Kateryna Chernohorenko, Wilson L. White, Michelle Simmons AO and Steve Bowsher.

👀 Stay tuned for more speaker updates this week.

Register now 👉 bit.ly/427eTqj

Albanese's China visit: views from ASPI analysts | The Strategist Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit China from 12 to 18 July, his office said yesterday. He’ll meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Here are ASPI analysts’ views on the visit, what A...

'A more stable relationship may bring a certain amount of predictability to our interactions with Beijing, as well as China’s regional behaviour. But we have been burnt on more than one occasion in the past few years, including by China’s economic and trade coercion,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.

India, the US and the Quad: managing tensions to meet the China challenge | The Strategist India’s continued purchase of weapons and energy from Russia is raising difficulties in its relationship with the United States that are extending across the Indo-Pacific. This is not just a bilateral...

'India’s continued purchase of weapons and energy from Russia is raising difficulties in its relationship with the United States that are extending across the Indo-Pacific,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.

ASPI's Cyber, Technology and Security team has published its latest Monthly Roundup newsletter!

In this edition, @raji143.bsky.social examines how China is weaponising cyber operations in orbit and provides her top picks from the Daily Cyber & Tech Digest this month.

🔖 Read: bit.ly/3Go9FP2

China building cyber weapons to hijack enemy satellites, says US leak Classified CIA document assesses Beijing’s ambitions to take control of communications critical to fighting wars

"China’s more ambitious cyber attacks aim to mimic the signals that enemy satellites receive from their operators, tricking them into either being taken over completely or malfunctioning during crucial moments in combat."

www.ft.com/content/881c...

NEW SPEAKER 🔊

We look forward to welcoming Dr Steven Kennedy, Secretary to the Australian Treasury, to the ASPI Defence Conference on 4 June to discuss the major challenges stemming from the 2024 National Defence Strategy.

📄 Interested in attending? Find out more: bit.ly/43phs6E

Golden Dome looks technically doable, but brings strategic complications | The Strategist The plan for a Golden Dome missile defence system in the United States looks technologically feasible but nonetheless raises doubts around factors such as its strategic benefits and affordability. The...

'The Golden Dome program will not only allow the US and the West to catch up; it may also generate some momentum for space governance talks as China and Russia grow increasingly threatened,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.

India and Pakistan must manage escalation after Pahalgam attack | The Strategist India has launched a retaliatory strike against the Pakistan-based groups responsible for a terrorist attack in Indian Kashmir two weeks ago. The Indian government released a press statement announcin...

'For a long time, India has struggled to develop an effective response to Pakistan’s use of cross-border terrorism as a state policy. Such attacks are clearly designed to keep India off-balance, but India’s response has also slowly become harsher,' writes @raji143.bsky.social.

NEW PODCAST 🎤

In the wake of India's retaliatory air strikes on Pakistan, ASPI's @raji143.bsky.social joins David Wroe on Stop the World for a special episode exploring whether 🇮🇳 and 🇵🇰 will avoid the ultimate nightmare—escalation that goes nuclear.

🎧 Listen now: bit.ly/3GFstsT

Flexibility and awareness will help India deal with Trump (again) | The Strategist India navigated relations with the United States quite skilfully during the first Trump administration, better than many other US allies did. Doing so a second time will be more difficult, but India’s...

As India's PM Modi and US VP Vance hold bilateral talks see a commentary for @aspi-org.bsky.social by NBR advisor @raji143.bsky.social, who writes that "India’s strategic awareness and manoeuvrability will help it work with Donald Trump’s America once again" www.aspistrategist.org.au/flexibility-...

InFocus With Ejaz Haider EP60: Nuclear Triangle, Sino-India and Pakistan YouTube video by CSSPR

Out Now on CSSPR : A conversation on China's nuclear modernization and the overall nuclear dynamic in South Asia, featuring Ejaz Haider, @mansoorahmed.bsky.social, and @raji143.bsky.social. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK5Q...

Coming soon on CSSPR. Ejaz Haider, @raji143.bsky.social and @mansoorahmed.bsky.social discuss the Sino-Indo-Pak nuclear dynamic(s).

📣 NEW PODCAST 📣

Stop the World is back from its summer hiatus!

In this episode, @raji143.bsky.social speaks to Euan Graham and Griffith University’s Ian Hall about the significance of the recent Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Quad's security role in the coming years.

🎧 ↪️ bit.ly/4gI1KZ4