Although Russia’s compliance with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty has been called into question, Robert Haddick posits that the continuation of the treaty hinges on the rise of China’s military capabilities and the budgetary constraints hampering the United States’ military strategy in the Asia-Pacific.

Analyzing the recent travels of Chinese President Xi Jingping, Chen Xiangyang examines the “new normal” of periphery diplomacy in China’s foreign policy and explains how it will continue to strengthen relations with regional nations.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has organized a number of “anti-terrorist exercises” that do have an anti-terrorism purpose and aim to fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism by strengthening the militaries’ ability to coordinate counter-terrorism operations. Nonetheless, in addition to their declared goal of fighting regional terrorism, these drills aim to support the SCO agenda of negating U.S. global primacy, countering U.S. missile defense programs, and weakening U.S. security alliances.

While many believe that the China-US relationship is passing through a rocky period and has dropped to a low point, Wu Jianmin suggests that the foundation of the relationship remains strong.

Responding to a recent opinion editorial in The Washington Post, Stephen Harner writes that now is the time for U.S. leaders to join with disruptors of history, like Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter, to proactively promote change in U.S.-China relations.

China is promoting economic transition and innovation to seize the new opportunities and it is willing to work with others in the region.

The SCO should focus its efforts on intra-cooperation in security, politics and the economy. By doing so, the regional organization will enhance its ability to cope with regional challenges, and win respect from the rest of the world.

Are electoral politics and the upcoming midterm elections distracting the Obama administration from its foreign policy priorities? Zhang Zhixin examines the political polarization impeding the U.S. Congress and questions the ability of the Obama administration to continue its rebalance to the Asia-Pacific in such a conflicted environment.

China’s rising power and capabilities make PRC actions in the South China Sea more consequential and unsettling than those of others, so they deserve particular attention but need to be evaluated in the broader context of the motives and actions of others as well.

While China’s entry into Latin America continues to gain international attention, a push by Japan to increase its influence in the region is receiving far less coverage. As Eric Farnsworth explains, Japan has maintained long-term interests in the region that it is only now seeking to strengthen.