Our great and powerful editor has requested—nay, demanded!—a series of posts exploring how a U.S.-China war might unfold. That sounds like a request for prophecy. But making predictions is a dicey business, as the equally great and powerful sage Yogi Berra reportedly observed—especially when they’re about the future. The Naval Diplomat is no clairvoyant. Undeterred, we nonetheless commence a five-post cycle exploring some of the big ideas likely to shape each phase of a Far Eastern maelstrom. READ MORE

Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visits to the Central Asian states, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, demonstrates the country's willing to "cement" its relations with them, the U.S. expert on Central Asia Bruce Pannier believes. READ MORE

Withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and related with it regrouping of military forces of the USA made the initiative of promotion of plans on new interstate configurations within the area from Central to South Asia topical in Washington. Since the middle of 2011, when the terms of troop’s withdrawal from Afghanistan were finally confirmed, the Department of State has started objective lobbying of the project “New Silk Road”. The given project claims to be conceptual in the issue of the future of the region through the prism of strategic interests of the USA. READ MORE

How many escaped criminals, who are not subjected to extradition, from the former USSR states hide in London? Even if there is the slightest hint on that wanted criminals can follow noble objectives of democratic development, they are announced dissidents , and criminal cases become politically motivated pursuit. But not everyone can be protected by British democracy and gain precious indulgence. This way wasn’t lucky a famous journalist, the founder of Wikileaks Julian Assange. Chasing of this person has turned into farce, vulgar performance, where spectators are observed as naïve simpletons. READ MORE