The INF Is On It’s Deathbed

Since Donald Trump took office nuclear hawks have been on a quest to redevelop America’s nuclear arsenal and dismantle non-proliferation efforts. Senators like Tom Cotton have called for scrapping roughly 30 years of nuclear treaties dating back to the Reagan administration in response the Russia’s violation, with possibly the most important treaty on the chopping block being the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

The South China Sea Ruling and America

An international tribunal declaring that China has no “historic rights” in the South China Sea. The ruling came from a case brought by the the Philippines, which started the proceedings following Chinese encroachment on the Spratly island chain just off the their main islands. The court also found China responsible for disrupting Philippine economic activity like oil exploration and fishing within their exclusive economic zone

How Big Does America’s Army Need To Be?

As the military budget shrinks and the need for modernization increases, the U.S Army has been caught in middle. A recent article pointed out two major problems facing the American Army; readiness and size. The article traces both problems back to sequestration efforts following the formal end of the occupation of Iraq. In terms of size; the U.S Army is expected to shrink to only 450,000 troops, about 30,000 troops smaller than it was before the 9/11 attacks. 

Obama lifts Arms Export Ban on Vietnam

President Obama has announced that he will lift the embargo on lethal weapons to Vietnam. When asked for the reason behind lifting

China Just Tested a Hypersonic Missile

Chinese media have announced the seventh successful test of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). The missile was fired from Wuhzai  in Shannxi province and landed in the west of the country. Referred to as the DF-ZF, the projectile is reportedly capable of reaching speeds of up to 12,000 kilometers an hour.

Why Japan Must Never Go Nuclear

Recently Donald Trump implied that he might be okay with South Korea and Japan acquiring nuclear weapons. Shortly after these comments were made, Japanese Prime Minister Shino Abe made a shocking claim of his own. Abe stated that the Pacifist constitution that Japan adopted after the Second World War does not prohibit it from processing nuclear arms. The subtext is clear; Japan can have a nuclear bomb if it wants to have one.