Dispatch from Manila: On the frontlines of the ‘gray zone’ conflict with China

Dispatches Feb 2, 2026

What to know about the US-India trade deal

By Michael Kugelman, Mark Linscott

Our experts explain what the preliminary US-India trade deal announced on Monday means for the future of the two countries’ ties.
Economy & Business India
Dispatch from Manila: On the frontlines of the ‘gray zone’ conflict with China

Dispatches Jan 29, 2026

What the Indo-Pacific thinks of the new US National Defense Strategy

By Atlantic Council experts

Our Indo-Pacific experts share how US allies and partners in the region are reacting to the United States’ latest National Defense Strategy, which calls for them to take on a more active role in their own security.
Conflict Defense Policy
Dispatch from Manila: On the frontlines of the ‘gray zone’ conflict with China

Dispatches Jan 27, 2026

TikTok’s new ownership structure doesn’t solve security concerns for Americans

By Kenton Thibaut

The deal does little to address the systemic challenges of information manipulation, foreign influence, and data exploitation on the platform.
China Defense Technologies

Projects

Close up of tiger

The Tiger Project: War and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific

Explore the Atlantic Council’s work on current and enduring defense and deterrence issues in the Indo-Pacific, featuring expert commentary, multimedia content, and in-depth analysis.

Explore the programs

The Global China Hub tracks Beijing’s actions and their global impacts, assessing China’s rise from multiple angles and identifying emerging China policy challenges. The Hub leverages its network of China experts around the world to generate actionable recommendations for policymakers in Washington and beyond.

Learn more

The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) informs and shapes the strategies, plans, and policies of the United States and its allies and partners to address the most important rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s growing threat to the international order and North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear weapons advancements. IPSI produces innovative analysis, conducts tabletop exercises, hosts public and private convenings, and engages with US, allied, and partner governments, militaries, media, other key private and public-sector stakeholders, and publics.

Learn more

Events

Public Event Tue, February 3, 2026 • 12:30 pm ET

Tibetan democracy (in exile): religious freedom and political empowerment
Central Asia China Freedom and Prosperity Human Rights
Public Event Wed, January 28, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Taiwan’s critical role in global supply chains and the future of US-Taiwan ties
Economy & Business Energy & Environment Indo-Pacific Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Tue, January 27, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

Korea Zinc Chairman Yun B. Choi on allied partnership for minerals security
East Asia Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security
Public Event Wed, January 7, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

The future of humanitarian assistance
Africa Americas Freedom and Prosperity Middle East

Content

New Atlanticist

Sep 12, 2024

Dispatch from Manila: On the frontlines of the ‘gray zone’ conflict with China

By Markus Garlauskas

In the Philippines, China’s aggression is not in some shadowy, ill-defined “gray zone.” It’s a real and constant series of attacks on the country’s people and sovereignty.

China
Indo-Pacific

In the News

Sep 12, 2024

Bauerle Danzman quoted by the Japan Times on what the decision to block Nippon Steel’s acquisition of US steel signals to allies.

Read the full article here

Japan
United States and Canada

In the News

Sep 12, 2024

Nikoladze quoted and the Dollar Dominance Monitor cited by DW on the yuan’s use in Russia-China trade

Read the full article here

China
Digital Currencies

New Atlanticist

Sep 11, 2024

Why Zelenskyy should visit India (and what he should focus on once he is there)

By Srujan Palkar

A visit by the Ukrainian president would be sure to capture a lot of attention. But to make substantive progress in developing Ukraine-India relations, the agenda will need to zero in on three specific areas.

India
Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

Sep 11, 2024

A next-generation agenda: Bridging Indo-Pacific and European perspectives on security

By Lauren Gilbert, Malthe Munkøe, Hyunseung David Yu

This next generation agenda proposes policy recommendations designed to improve security cooperation among the United States, South Korea, and European NATO countries in the context of current global security threats, diverging national security perspectives, and imminent leadership changes.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

Insights & Impact

Sep 10, 2024

Palkar on the Constitution of India

By Srujan Palkar

Read the full article for the South Asian Herald

Elections
Freedom and Prosperity

MENASource

Sep 10, 2024

In the age of great power competition, the threat of another 9/11 still looms large

By Kristian Alexander

Unlike the early years of the Global War on Terror, threats today are more amorphous and more deeply embedded within local conflicts.

Afghanistan
Conflict

Issue Brief

Sep 10, 2024

Russian and Chinese strategic missile defense: Doctrine, capabilities, and development

By Jacob Mezey

In a follow up to Matthew R. Costlow and Robert M. Soofer's paper, US Homeland Missile Defense: Room for Expanded Roles, former Forward Defense Program Assistant, Jacob Mezey, seeks to inform debates about missile defense policy by placing arguments that US ballistic missile defenses are uniquely destabilizing in the context of efforts by Russia and China to deploy similar systems.

China
Defense Policy

In the News

Sep 10, 2024

Bauerle Danzman quoted by Nikkei Asia on the growing trend of state-level restrictions on Chinese investments in the US

Read the full article here

China
Economy & Business

In the News

Sep 9, 2024

Hinata-Yamaguchi quoted in Domino Theory on Japan-NATO relations

On September 6, IPSI nonresident senior fellow Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi was quoted in Domino Theory regarding the visit of the Italian Navy aircraft carrier Cavour and its escort ship Alpino to Japan. Hinata-Yamaguchi noted that Japan values its evolving relationship with NATO as a means of promoting cooperation on global security issues as well as on security technologies. 

Defense Policy
Defense Technologies
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Experts

Staff

Kate Springs

Program Assistant, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Human Rights International Norms

Fellow

Jake Sotiriadis

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia
Jonathan Green is a nonresident senior fellow at the GeoStrategy Initiative in the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Fellow

Jonathan Green

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Industry

Fellow

Nathan K. Finney

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Conflict Defense Policy
Josh Kirshner is a nonresident senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Fellow

Josh Kirshner

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Arms Control Defense Policy

Expert

Yi Zhou

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Democratic Transitions East Asia
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Events

Public Event Tue, February 10, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET

Global Foresight 2036: What will the next decade bring?
China Economy & Business Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
Public Event Thu, February 12, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

Congressman John Moolenaar on deterring aggression against Taiwan

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, discusses how the United States and Taiwan can strengthen deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.
China Defense Industry Defense Policy Indo-Pacific