US, Japan Sign Arms Trade Pact: Missile Defense Co-Production & More

US, Japan Sign Arms Trade Pact: Missile Defense Co-Production & More
US, Japan Sign Arms Trade Pact: Missile Defense Co-Production & More

Japan and the US just threw open the door to arms sales between the two longtime allies, something Japan had long resisted. The deal is the latest sign of how fear of a rising China is pushing Japan away from its post-World War II pacifism. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani quietly…

The P-8, Singapore & South China Sea Strategy

The P-8, Singapore & South China Sea Strategy
The P-8, Singapore & South China Sea Strategy

OVER THE MALACCA STRAIT: Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and his host, Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, made a stark and clear statement to China before the Shangri-La summit began, boarding America’s preeminent sub-hunting and surveillance plane, the P-8 Poseidon. “How do you like this aircraft?” asked Carter as they boarded the P-8. “I love this…

US On China: Cooperate Where We Can, Confront Where We Must

US On China: Cooperate Where We Can, Confront Where We Must
US On China: Cooperate Where We Can, Confront Where We Must

SINGAPORE: In his speech to the Shangri-La Dialogue here, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter laid out a cautious and carefully crafted vision for security in Asia. Carter called for an “inclusive (and) principled security network,” one that would try to include China and encourage it to abide by international law, rather than seeking to confront and…

US Must Do More In South China Sea, Urges Sen. McCain

US Must Do More In South China Sea, Urges Sen. McCain
US Must Do More In South China Sea, Urges Sen. McCain

SINGAPORE: In a clear message to the Obama Administration, our Pacific partners and to China, Sen. John McCain says the US military is not doing enough to challenge Chinese claims in the strategic South China Sea. Nor is the US doing enough to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact, a vital economic objective in the…

US Won’t Back Off On Korean Missile Defense, South China Sea: SecDef

US Won’t Back Off On Korean Missile Defense, South China Sea: SecDef
US Won’t Back Off On Korean Missile Defense, South China Sea: SecDef

ABOARD SECDEF1: The US will remain steadfast in the face of Chinese complaints as it builds its Pacific coalition, Defense Secretary Ash Carter made clear to reporters en route to the Shangri-la summit in Singapore. Carter and his staff already are looking past the secretary’s speech here on Saturday to two potential flashpoints this summer: First,…

Carter Visit Highlights Army’s Cybersecurity

Carter Visit Highlights Army’s Cybersecurity
Carter Visit Highlights Army’s Cybersecurity

FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZ.: On his way west for a major Pacific summit, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter made sure to stop here in the Arizona desert to visit a new cybersecurity center. The nascent “fusion center,” which reached Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in the last three months, will monitor Army networks in new ways. Carter changed…