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How China and Russia View the Iran War Differently — How China and Russia View the Iran War Differently

Jagannath Panda draws a comparison of the Chinese and Russian perspectives on the Iran war. he writes that in reacting to the current crisis, China speaks the language of restraint, mediation, and systemic stability. Russia invokes loyalty, strategic alignment, and geopolitical opportunity. These differences in messaging reflect two fundamentally distinct ways of navigating disorder, writes Panda in The National Interest. He further raises two questions: are China and Russia genuinely aligned in their approach to the Iran War, or are they merely converging tactically while diverging strategically? And what do their differences reveal about the evolving nature of great-power competition in a fragmented global order? Read this piece in The National Interest here.

China’s Gwadar Gamble: Reshaping Sea–Land Connectivity — China’s Gwadar Gamble: Reshaping Sea–Land Connectivity

China’s maritime resurgence, though relatively recent, reflects a decisive shift from continental preoccupations to expansive sea power ambitions. This issue brief by Mandip Singh examines the evolution of China’s maritime strategy through three interlinked frameworks: the transition from “offshore defense” to “far-seas defense,” the intellectual influence of Mahan and Mackinder, and the operationalization of the Two Oceans Strategy. Central to this transformation is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which integrates economic development with security imperatives. China is expanding naval capabilities, securing critical sea lanes, and developing strategic infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific. Gwadar Port, a flagship component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is analyzed as both an economic project and a potential strategic asset, despite its current operational and political challenges. This issue brief argues that China’s sea-land strategy reflects a long-term vision of geopolitical influence, combining maritime power projection with continental connectivity to secure its global interests. Read and download this issue brief here.

The Zhang Youxia Purge and Taiwan’s Security: Navigating Increased Unpredictability in the Taiwan Strait? — The Zhang Youxia Purge and Taiwan’s Security: Navigating Increased Unpredictability in the Taiwan Strait?

The January 2026 investigations of senior Central Military Commission figures, including Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, have left China’s top military leadership unusually centralized under Xi Jinping. This co-authored issue brief by Niklas Swanström, Yi-Chieh Chen, and Maud Descamps argues that while this disruption in the People’s Liberation Army might suggest reduced operational capacity, it paradoxically increases risks for Taiwan. Leadership purges erode institutional knowledge, fostering miscalculation and unpredictable decision-making,, argued Swanström, Chen, and Descamps. They further write that newly elevated officers may prioritize loyalty and assertiveness, encouraging risk-prone strategies. Read the full brief here.

Balancing Security and Innovation: A Policy Perspective — Balancing Security and Innovation: A Policy Perspective

This co-authored chapter by Niklas Swanström and Filip Borges Månsson explains how the academic world should balance between security and innovation. This chapter is a part of the Research and Education Security Report, co-authored by a group of mostly European scholars, aims at analyzing and illustrating challenges, but to a degree also opportunities, connected with academia, research conducted by universities and other institutions, exchange of students and scholars, as well as abuses made by nation states benefiting from features of the research and education community. See the chapter and report details here.

Revisiting the offense-defense balance: drone warfare and Taiwan’s asymmetrical defense strategy — Revisiting the offense-defense balance: drone warfare and Taiwan’s asymmetrical defense strategy

Mark Cogan and Hagannath Panda write for Asian Security that the Chinese activities in the Taiwan Strait have intensified pressure on Taiwan’s defense. Using offensive-defense balance (ODB) theory as an analytical framework, this article evaluates the role of drone warfare in Taiwan’s asymmetric strategy through four indicators derived from Glaser and Kaufmann: cost, territorial goals, optimality, and force employment. It further argues that UAVs can enhance Taiwan’s defensive position by increasing attrition, complicating logistics, and raising uncertainty before conflict. However, this defensive advantage is conditional and requires cost-effective procurement, production resilience, doctrinal adaptation, and the ability to counter PLA countermeasures. Read this article here.

Greenland: A New Frontier of Competition for the U.S., China and Russia? — Greenland: A New Frontier of Competition for the U.S., China and Russia?

Greenland has become increasingly strategic in the evolving geopolitics of the Arctic, reflecting its importance for regional security, emerging maritime routes, and access to critical resources. Recent U.S. discussions about acquiring the territory have brought Greenland to the forefront of transatlantic security debates, raising questions about alliance cohesion and sovereignty. This backgrounder provides an overview of Greenland’s growing role in U.S. strategic thinking, evaluates the extent of Chinese and Russian involvement, and analyzes the implications for Arctic security and the island’s future governance.

China’s Free Ride at Hormuz — China’s Free Ride at Hormuz

Jagannath Panda writes for The Diplomat that the Strait of Hormuz has once again emerged as a geopolitical fault line. As tensions deepen across the Iran–Israel–U.S. axis, the narrow maritime corridor, through which nearly a fifth of global oil flows, has become a site of selective disruption, coercive signaling, and strategic manoeuvring. Shipping slowdowns, rising insurance costs, and episodic targeting of vessels have injected uncertainty into global energy markets. Yet, amid this turbulence, Chinese-linked oil shipments, particularly from Iran, have continued to move with relative resilience. Why and how? Read this piece by Jagannath Panda here.

Events »

14 Apr

Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part VI: Research Security and Academic Engagement with China – Lessons from Europe
15 Apr

Taiwan-Nordic Forum 2026: Resilience as Defense
22 Apr

Silk Cage Series – Webinar IV: Corridors of Influence? The China–Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor and Beijing’s Expanding Power Architecture

Publications »

How China and Russia View the Iran War Differently

Jagannath Panda

China’s Gwadar Gamble: Reshaping Sea–Land Connectivity

The Zhang Youxia Purge and Taiwan’s Security: Navigating Increased Unpredictability in the Taiwan Strait?

Niklas Swanström, Yi-Chieh Chen and Maud Descamps

Balancing Security and Innovation: A Policy Perspective

Niklas Swanström and Filip Borges Månsson

Revisiting the offense-defense balance: drone warfare and Taiwan’s asymmetrical defense strategy

Mark S. Cogan and Jagannath Panda

China’s Free Ride at Hormuz

Jagannath Panda

ISDP Spotlight

The application period for ISDP’s fall 2026 internships is now open! — The application period for ISDP’s fall 2026 internships is now open!

Are you looking for work experience in the field of international security and development? Do you have a particular interest in Asia? Now is the time to apply for our fall 2026 internships: We are looking for interns for our Korea Center, Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs, Taiwan Center, and Center for Research and Innovation Security, as well as the Asia Program. We look forward to receiving your application no later than April 6, 2026.

ISDP Annual Report 2025 — ISDP Annual Report 2025

2025 has been a year defined by accelerating geopolitical competition, deteriorating security environments, and increasing uncertainty across multiple regions. Many of these developments have continued to shape ISDP’s work and remain central to our research and outreach. Read about our activities in the annual report for 2025. We are pleased to continue another year of meaningful engagement, high-quality research, and constructive discussions that advance understanding and support informed decision-making.

Recording available: Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part III: Are US Research Security Policies Working? — Recording available: Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part III: Are US Research Security Policies Working?

This webinar focused on the study “Are Research Security Policies in the US Working? A Case Study on Research Collaborations with PRC Defense Laboratories and US Federally Sponsored Research,” by Jeffrey Stoff, Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow at ISDP and founder and president of the Center for Research Security & Integrity, John Sava, Senior Investigator for the Congressional Select Committee on China and LJ Eads, Director of Research Intelligence at Parallax Advanced Research.

Workshop within the EuroHub4Sino project: EU-US-China Science and Technology Competition in the Age of Complexity — Workshop within the EuroHub4Sino project: EU-US-China Science and Technology Competition in the Age of Complexity

Niklas Swanström joined the CISAD Workshop: EU-US-China Science and Technology Competition in the Age of Complexity, which was organized within the EuroHub4Sino) project. The event explored how China’s technological strategies impact Europe and the EU’s position, including the shaping of digital space by Chinese firms and the paradoxes of restrictions amid technological progress.

The Nordic-Korea Next Generation Training Program 2025/2026 has reached its completion — The Nordic-Korea Next Generation Training Program 2025/2026 has reached its completion

The Nordic-Korea Next Generation Training Program 2025/2026 has reached its completion. On Thursday, February 12th, the culmination of this year’s program took place as the four outstanding participants presented their research findings. Sponsored by The Korea Foundation, the program aims to foster the next generation of policy experts and strengthen the ties between the Nordic region and the Korean Peninsula.