Defense Technology Monitor No. 57
The future of batteries: 3D printing...;
...and nuclear-powered gemstones;
How AI is gaming wargames;
Israel's answer to incendiary balloons;
AI: The future of fighter jets?
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Publications
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2418
Kadyrov and the Navalny poisoning;
Suicide shines spotlight on press freedom in Russia;
A harder line in Berlin;
COVID-19 resurgence in Moscow;
New hypersonic weapon tested in Moscow
The UN’s Human Rights Council Grows More Odious
"Electing these dictatorships as UN judges on human rights," said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based watchdog group, "is like making a gang of arsonists into the fire brigade."
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2417
Navalny assets seized by authorities;
Navalny poisoned himself, Putin tells Macron;
Yalta mayor fires deputy over Belarus support;
Russia, China conspire at UN over Libya;
Russian hackers to be sentenced in U.S.
China Reform Monitor No. 1437
Gambling, cryptocurrency ship $145 billion out of China annually;
Quad tackles China's disinformation;
Pompeo urges Vatican to condemn China's human rights abuses;
G7 ministers press Beijing on debt relief for poor nations;
China holds simultaneous naval drills
Can America Stop a Wider War Between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
The resumption of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan threatens a broader regional conflict that threatens Western interests. While America has paid growing attention to Central Asia, it has forgotten to do the same in the South Caucasus, the Western gateway to Central Asia.
Why San Francisco State University Embraced a Failed Hijacker
This unorthodox university event reflects the moral confusion on issues of global concern that afflicts all-too-many institutions of higher learning these days. For while the university justified the event on free speech grounds, it applied the notion of free speech with striking selectivity.
China Reform Monitor No. 1436
Cheating, plagiarism to be punished under social credit system;
China's corn crisis continues;
China's fishing flotilla nears Peru's waters;
Kenya faces fiscal criss due to SGR loan;
Kenyan MPs urge China to renegotiate DEB
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2416
Pushing a vaccine in Egypt;
Eastern expansion falling flat;
Moscow's health diplomacy;
Sanctions threat makes Nord Stream 2 a risky proposition;
Russian diplomats accused of espionage in Bulgaria
Resource Security Watch No. 31
China's formidable fleet;
Climate and global labor;
North Korea's nuclear vulnerability...;
...and ours
Defense Technology Monitor No. 56
The future of body armor;
Russia seeks EMP weapons...;
...while DOD works on detection;
Inching toward electric fighters jets;
A national quantum internet takes its first steps
China Reform Monitor No. 1435
Growing calls in Washington to end "One China" policy;
Senate Democrats announce $350 billion to confront China;
U.S., H&M cut trade ties with China over forced labor in Xinjiang;
Outgoing U.S. ambassador to China blasts Beijing on Covid-19;
U.S., UK warns travelers of arbitrary arrest in China
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2415
Russia's space chief: Venus a "Russian planet";
Spy chief announces destruction of Novichok stockpiles;
Navalny team sheds light on Tomsk poisoning;
Facial recognition expanding on Moscow metro
Primary Jurisdiction of Humanitarian Concern: A New Tool to Blunt China’s Campaign in Xinjiang
Understanding the logic of China’s atrocities in Xinjiang is impossible apart from accounting for the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) needs Xinjiang to function as a critical OBOR hub, and is cracking down on Uyghurs and other minority groups to establish total control over the territory. U.S. policymakers should exploit this logic and consider sanctioning commerce passing through Xinjiang.
Beijing’s Terrifying Repression Campaigns
China is fast transforming into the global epicenter of totalitarian terror.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2414
Lukashenko secures Russian funding in Sochi;
No proof of russian bounties on U.S. troops;
Side effects of Sputnik V emerging in small testing pools;
Navalny plans to return to Russia;
U.S. lawmakers push for Trevor Reed's release
China Reform Monitor No. 1434
New CPC guidelines expand Party control over private firms;
"Dual circulation" policy to be enshrined in 14th five-year plan;
Global Times: PLA seeking "a political reason" to attack Taiwan;
China picks up asylum seekers fleeing Hong Kong for Taiwan
Disney's new "Mulan" faces boycott
Addressing New START’s key failure
Washington is facing a critical arms control dilemma, with the New START Treaty due to expire, Russia developing a range of strategic weapons outside the treaty, and China meanwhile significantly building up its nuclear forces.
The Waning Power Of The Palestinian Cause
[T]he Palestinian Authority needs to join the new political wave, or get left behind.
The Space Force’s relevance to the green agenda
[W]hile most don’t know it, the Space Force is positioned to be among the most powerful organizations enabling and advancing a global green agenda.
Africa Political Monitor No. 7
An Indo-Japanese hub in Djibouti
U.S. seeks to expand East Africa drone war
Uganda bolsters oil market share with trade deals;
Slow aid and continuous crisis threatens Sudan's transition;
Ethiopian migrants languish in Saudi prisons
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2413
Navalny turns a corner;
Cossacks police Pride parade in the Urals;
Biden team targeted by hackers;
Vaccine data already suspect;
A show of military unity with Belarus;
Safronov's day in court delayed
China Reform Monitor No. 1433
China's semiconductor trade booms...;
...as Beijing looks to dominate production;
Australian journalists flee China;
China's bullying "won't to be tolerated" – Canberra;
Disney's Mulan filmed in Xinjiang amid Uighur genocide
Nineteen Years On, We Face A Resilient Islamist Threat
Last week marked the 19th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon that ushered in what has come to be known as the "global war on terror." The occasion provides an opportune moment to take stock of the prevailing trends in America's longstanding struggle against Islamic extremism. Unfortunately, the news is anything but encouraging.
China Reform Monitor No. 1432
China ends Mongolian language education;
Signs suggest Xi plans to "reign for the ultra-long term";
$50 billion in cryptocurrency moves out of China in past year;
China, Switzerland explore renewal of "secret" extradition deal;
China launches new advanced warship for Pakistan Navy
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 211
Iran's censorship noose tightens;
Rights watchdog details depths of regime brutality;
Opposition calls for stepped up U.S. assistance
Indo-Pacific Monitor No. 11
The limits of the Saudi-Pakistani partnership;
Thai protests challenge the military-monarchy nexus;
Indian takes the high ground at Pangong Lake;
Huawei contract left PNG data center defenseless
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2412
In wake of Navalny poisoning, Germany rethinks Nord Stream;
American wings over Ukraine;
Russia's teachers wary of new vaccine;
Moscow vexed over Serbia-Kosovo deal;
Melting permafrost opens craters in Siberia
How to Resist Russia’s Crude Oil Crusade and Navigate Nord Stream 2 Nuances
Congress should adopt legislation applicable to U.S. firms similar to that it imposes on Europeans and impose retroactive financial sanctions on the companies which are bringing millions of tons of Russian crude oil to America.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2411
Putin claims U.S., Ukraine lured mercenaries to Belarus;
Another opposition blogger bloodied;
Sustaining Wagner in Libya;
Germany: Navalny poisoned by Novichok
Global Islamism Monitor No. 81
ISIS: Alive and kicking;
Jordan's Islamists increasingly on the outs;
Rising Islamist violence in Africa;
The Afghan "truce" takes hold
Resource Security Watch No. 30
Oil markets stabilize, slowly;
Amazon deforestation becomes a global trade issue;
Kids, a casualty of the pandemic;
FATF to focus on environmental crimes;
The mystery of the Chinese seeds
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2410
Navalny poisoning a Western provocation, claims Duma speaker;
What next after new START?;
The Baltics heat up;
U.S. troops injured in Syrian skirmish with Russian forces
The Trouble With the Open Technology Fund
[T]he current turmoil at USAGM is politically motivated. It isn't. It is, rather, a contest between the status quo and a new way of doing business that is less favorable to underwriting mere advocacy that contributes little to the actual fight for internet freedom, and is more focused on responsibly funding effective technology to counter censorship abroad.
China Reform Monitor No. 1431
China's hackers pillage Taiwan's semiconductor industry;
China's hackers steal data from ten Taiwanese agencies;
Taipei announces ban on China's streaming services;
Scores of Chinese fishing vessels near Galapagos Islands - Ecuador;
Saudi Aramco suspends $10 billion refinery joint venture with China
Lost In Space: Why America Needs a New Defense Strategy
It’s a fairly common occurrence for lower-level documents to be superseded by new policy decisions, requiring framing and language to be rewritten. But it doesn’t often happen to documents of such importance.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2409
Opposition leader Navalny in coma after alleged attack
Expanding strategic capabilities in the Arctic;
Russians quietly filling media ranks in Belarus;
New radar coming to Scandinavian frontier;
Russia expects to produce six million monthly vaccine doses
What War in Space Might Look Like Circa 2030-2040?
Defense Technology Monitor No. 55
SOCOM simplifying data digestion...;
...as the Air Force weaponizes cargo planes;
Another laser program to take flight;
A solution to "space junk"
The Case for Space Development
Any discussion of space development needs to begin with a basic question: is it worth it?
China Reform Monitor No. 1430
Top U.S. health official holds meeting with Taiwanese President;
New museum exhibit promotes "heroic" battle against COVID-19;
HK textbooks revised to "correct political misconceptions";
Seven countries suspend extradition treaties with Hong Kong:
After Cai Xia defection, Beijing launches campaign
Africa Political Monitor No. 6
After the wake of the UAE deal, closer Israeli ties with Sudan?;
Libyan rebels woo Rabat;
AFRICOM to be moved as part of US troop drawdown;
India's answer to the BRI involves Africa;
Russia expands continental military footprint
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2408
Plurality of Russian doctors distrust Covid-19 vaccine;
Russia promises military aid to a beleaguered Lukashenko;
Espionage accusations in Norway and the Netherlands;
Americans suspect interference in upcoming elections
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 210
Iranian COVID-19 data leaked;
Iran eyes America's elections...;
...and works against "maximum pressure";
More Iranian cyber-mischief;
Tehran targets American troops
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2407
U.S. releases advisory on new Russian malware;
Moscow offers to help U.S. with Covid-19 vaccine, Washington declines;
Russia, China work to ditch the dollar;
Russia reaches vaccine agreement with Saudi Arabia, UAE
China Reform Monitor No. 1429
Taiwan inks deal for 66F-16s;
New Taiwan passport designs up for public vote;
Google pulls 2,500 of China's disinformation YouTube channels;
Former Malaysian Minister arrested on China-linked graft ch;arges;
India raids Chinese shell companies for money laundering
Belarus Becomes A Bellwether
Suddenly, a revolution seems to be brewing in Belarus.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2406
New Donbass prisoner swap expected;
Congress takes aim at Nord Stream 2;
Medvedev reflects on Georgian war;
Russia eyes a turbulent Belarus
New Mideast Peace Deal Reflects a Broader U.S. Strategy
On August 13, President Donald Trump announced that he had succeeded in brokering a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
The Space Force plots a new course
America’s vision for space is evolving. Rapidly.