Inside the Ring
Australia’s U.S. diplomat pushes back on criticism of his posture toward China
Kevin Rudd, the Australian ambassador to the United States, wants to know who is criticizing him over his views of China.
NSA document reveals Russians had microwave weapon suspected in attacks
Russia's government since the 1990s has had the type of microwave weapons that are suspected in the covert attacks on U.S. intelligence officials and diplomats that have caused what has come to be known as "Havana syndrome."
Obama suppressed Iran nuclear intel to get deal, U.S. counterspy says
The CIA suppressed secrets from inside Iran during the Obama administration showing efforts by Tehran to build a nuclear weapon were more advanced than suspected, according to a former National Security Agency counterintelligence official.
Chinese security services are blocking America’s diplomatic efforts
American diplomatic efforts to conduct people-to-people contacts and exchanges in China are being blocked by Chinese intelligence and security services.
Pentagon report weighs the climate change threat
Inside the Ring: Rising global temperatures pose pressing challenges for the Defense Department and a new climate planning cell is needed to better monitor climate threats, according to a major new study by the Pentagon's Defense Science Board.
U.S. rejects Chinese no-first-use nuke plan
Inside the Ring: A Chinese proposal submitted to the United Nations last month calling on all nations to adopt Beijing's questionable no-first-use nuclear weapons policy is a nonstarter for the United States. A State Department official told Inside the Ring that the no-first-use policy would be unacceptable, given Beijing's massive nuclear weapons buildup and its refusal to join U.S. arms talks.
Biden administration’s ‘dismal’ China policy faulted on Capitol Hill
The Biden administration has failed to win the strategic competition with China through ineffective policies toward Beijing, the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said this week.
Treasury targets China with sanctions over North Korea missile help
The Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed financial sanctions on Chinese companies and their executives for supplying missile- and space-related goods to North Korea.
China’s military forces are rapidly building up space warfare capabilities
China's military forces are rapidly building up space warfare capabilities for use in a future conflict, two top American generals said on Wednesday.
Lawmaker warns Pentagon about China’s maritime actions
Recent incidents of Chinese coast guard harassment toward the Philippines, Taiwan and other regional states require a stronger U.S. response, Rep. Michelle Steel said in a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Contain or confront: Former U.S. officials debate right approach to China
The Biden administration's strategy of seeking to manage geopolitical competition with China is not working and should be replaced with a policy of achieving victory, according to Matthew Pottinger, former White House deputy national security adviser.
China ramps up aggressive action against Philippine supply boats
China's coast guard this week took the most aggressive action to date against Philippine supply boats attempting to provide goods to a grounded navy vessel at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
China weighs use of nuclear weapons in space
Chinese military researchers are examining the use of nuclear blasts in space against large numbers of targets such as Starlink satellite swarms, according to a new report by an Air Force think tank.
Chinese military covertly woos Western pilots to train PLA flyers
U.S. and allied intelligence services warned current and former military personnel this week that China's military is covertly recruiting fighter pilots to train flyers for Beijing's aircraft carriers and air force.
U.S. Pacific commander says China’s military exercises are practice for future Taiwan invasion
The admiral in charge of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said China's recent military exercises encircling Taiwan appeared to be practice for a future invasion.
Former Secretary of State Pompeo calls on U.S. to recognize Taiwan independence
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday called on the U.S. and the international community to recognize Taiwan as an independent state.
Chinese spy defects, reveals Beijing’s secrets
A former spy who worked for China's secret political police has defected to Australia and recently went public with details about Beijing's intelligence operations.
House panel seeks release of COVID-19 origin secrets
Two classified State Department documents made public in part by a House subcommittee suggest that Chinese President Xi Jinping was involved in covering up the deadly COVID-19 outbreak.
China launches third aircraft carrier
China began sea trials for the third aircraft carrier for its People's Liberation Army on Wednesday, Chinese state media reported. The official Chinese military website announced the carrier sea trials in a three-paragraph dispatch from Shanghai.
PLA gets major information warfare upgrade
Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a major reorganization of the People's Liberation Army last week, setting up a new strategic service arm in charge of information warfare, according to the Beijing Defense Ministry and state media.
