China and Hypersonics, APLN-KT Essay Contest, and More

27 Aug 2021 | APLN

27 August 2021

Dear Network Members and Colleagues,

This week’s newsletter features a commentary on China and hypersonic missiles by APLN Research Intern Chris Gowe, an announcement of the 2021 APLN-Korea Times Essay Contest, an interview with outgoing research Intern Lauren Kim, and recent member activities within our network.

Getting China on Board with Hypersonic Controls
On 23 August, Chris Gowe, APLN Research Intern, discusses the barriers to bringing China into multilateral arms control agreements and how these can be addressed. He suggests that to reduce risks in the short term, parties should first pursue an informal dialogue-based approach that facilitates mutual understanding of hypersonic capabilities and intentions. Read more

The APLN – Korea Times Essay Contest on
Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament in the Asia-Pacific

APLN and The Korea Times will be co-hosting a student essay contest for the second year. Supported by the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, APLN invites undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to share their perspectives on nuclear diplomacy and emerging nuclear trends. Submissions will be accepted until Thursday, 30 September. The winning essays will be published on the APLN website and the winners will receive a monetary prize and certificate. Read more

Reflections on Spring Internship at APLN

On 12 August, APLN held an internship completion event to commemorate the end of the Spring internship program. In a brief ceremony, APLN research intern Lauren Kim was presented with a certificate for the successful completion of her internship. She reflects on her experiences at the APLN in an essay. Read more

APLN Report Featured in India Today

On 17 August, India Today featured APLN Special Report on the “Status of Existing and Emerging Asia-Pacific Space Powers Capabilities” written by Dr. Namrata Goswami. The report assesses the prospects of the proliferation of space warfare capabilities, the institutional and legal regimes and constraints on space weaponization, worst-case militarization scenarios, and pathways for demilitarizing space. Read India Today‘s article here.

The ELN at 10: The Founders’ Story
The APLN congratulates our sister organisation the European Leadership Network (ELN) on its 10th anniversary. The founders, ELN Chair Lord Des Browne, APLN Executive Director and former Deputy Director of ELN Shata Shetty, and Dr. Ian Kearns, ELN Board Member and former Director, tell the story of how the ELN was founded with our shared goal of advancing nuclear disarmament and supporting non-proliferation. Read the story here Pivotal Player: Marty Natalegawa and U.S.-Indonesia Relations
On 24 August, APLN Member Marty Natalegawa appeared on the CSIS podcast The Asia Chess Board. He discussed his time as Foreign Minister of Indonesia, the bilateral relationship between the United States and Indonesia, and ASEAN’s role in the region. Listen to the full interview here U.S. Commitment to Taiwan Under Scrutiny after Afghanistan’s Fall
On 19 August, APLN Member Dr. Tong Zhao was guest host on POLITICO China Watcher, where he discussed the implications of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan on the US-China relationship, especially with regards to Taiwan. He argues that there won’t be any immediate consequences, but exposes potential weak points in the future US-Taiwan relationship. Read more

Afghanistan: Analysis and Expectation
On 19 August, APLN Senior Associate Fellow Van Jackson appeared on the Diplomat Risk Intelligence podcast Future Tense. He discussed how the unexpectedly rapid collapse of the Afghan army highlighted severe analytical failures within the US intelligence community. Listen here

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