| This week, we are proud to share that APLN’s work was recognised by President Dr. José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste during his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue. We published a commentary by Roshan Kulatunga on Sri Lanka’s maritime security challenges. We hosted a roundtable discussion in Washington DC as part of our Asia Dialogue on China-US Relations. We are also pleased to welcome Alka Acharya, Salma Malik, and Pankaj Saran, as our newest network members.
As always, we highlight recent activities from our network, including analyses on the South Korean election results, the future of inter-Korean relations, escalation risks in South Asia, and US’ defence policy in Asia. |
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APLN’s Role Recognised at the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue
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We are honoured that APLN’s contributions to regional peace and security were acknowledged by President Dr. José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste in his remarks at the 22nd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on May 31, 2025. Speaking at the Third Plenary Session on Managing Proliferation Risks in the Asia-Pacific, the President cited APLN as a key initiative in the region, and called for greater support for networks that foster dialogue and cooperation on arms control and non-proliferation.
“Challenges in regional arms control: efforts to establish regional arms-control measures face obstacles due to geopolitical rivalries and a lack of consensus among key players. And what are the root causes of all of this? Geopolitical tensions; rivalries between major powers – US, China and others; security dilemmas; perceived threats from neighbours. When one neighbour advances in arms technology, it prompts others to acquire similar capabilities, of course, then leading to an arms race. Technological advances – rapid technological progress has made missile and nuclear technology more accessible, complicating non-proliferation efforts. There are very weak enforcement mechanisms and the absence of binding regional agreements. All this contributes to the erosion of arms control.
Potential solutions for consideration: we should look at strengthening the support for regional initiatives like the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN), which is a network of over 100 political, military, diplomatic, academic leaders from 18 countries across the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 2011, the organisation is dedicated to addressing security challenges in the region.”
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Sri Lanka Needs a ‘Comprehensive National
Maritime Security Strategy,’ Urgently
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Roshan Kulatunga argues that despite Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, it lacks a coherent maritime security strategy, leading to fragmented and inefficient responses to growing non-traditional threats. The current disconnect between strategic ambitions and limited capabilities, exacerbated by economic constraints, underscores the urgent need for a more comprehensive, integrated approach to maritime security, aligning with Sri Lanka’s broader security and economic objectives through enhanced institutional cooperation and regional collaboration.
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On June 3, APLN partnered with the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific Studies Initiative at American University (AIPSI) to host its inaugural annual Washington conference as part of its Track-II Asia Dialogue on China-US Relations. Participants encompassed a range of regional specialisations and senior government, policy, and academic backgrounds. The workshop engaged with themes from our recent Seoul plenary conference, explored potential and likely US roles in the Asia-Pacific, and discussed the status and possible trajectory of US relations with China and with states across all four subregions.
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APLN is delighted to welcome three new members to its network:
- Professor Alka Acharya (India), Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi (ICS).
- Dr. Salma Malik (Pakistan), Associate Professor at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
- Ambassador Pankaj Saran (India), Former Deputy National Security Adviser of India; former Ambassador of India to Russia, and former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.
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APLN has over 160 members from 22 countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Each week we feature their latest contributions
to global and regional security debates.
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| Chung-in Moon, APLN Vice Chair, was featured on the NK News podcast, where he discussed why he believes North Korea has officially abandoned unification in its current form, how inter-Korean engagement has become increasingly constrained by global geopolitics, and what a presidency under Lee Jae-myung might mean for the peninsula. |
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| Kim Won-soo, former Under Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations, wrote for The Korea Times and noted that South Korea’s presidential election is dominated by polarised domestic politics and negative campaigning, leaving little room for substantive discussion on economic or foreign policy issues. |
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| Jina Kim, Dean of the Language and Diplomacy Division, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, joined a panel discussion hosted by Asia Society, where she shared insights on the South Korean election results and their implications for the U.S.-ROK alliance and South Korea’s relations with its Northeast Asian neighbours. |
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| Hoang Thi Ha, Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, co-wrote a paper with William Choong on US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks at the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue, arguing that his “America First” framing largely overlooks ASEAN’s cooperative security norms and sidelines most Southeast Asian states in Washington’s regional agenda. |
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| Rakesh Sood, former Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Afghanistan and France, analysed India’s evolving response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, ranging from diplomatic protests to military retaliation. He examined the 2016 Uri, 2019 Balakot, and 2025 Pahalgam operations, exploring Modi’s “new normal” doctrine that treats terrorist attacks as acts of war, while assessing the effectiveness of deterrence and the escalation risks between nuclear neighbours. |
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