New article on Non-State Actors and Irregular Warfare by Sam Mullins
In "The Role of Non-State Actors as Proxies in Irregular Warfare and Malign State Influence," Dr. Sam Mullins examines how states like China and Russia leverage non-state actors (NSAs) to conduct irregular warfare, employing tactics that blur the lines between peace and conflict. These NSAs engage in activities ranging from persistent low-level operations aimed at undermining adversaries' institutions to more aggressive actions that challenge the sovereignty of other nations.
Dialogues: Conversations Shaping Security Webinar Series
Don’t miss the upcoming Conversations Shaping Security dialogues, where thought leaders and experts tackle critical issues impacting the Indo-Pacific and global security landscape. This webinar series provides insights into the geopolitical, economic, and humanitarian challenges shaping our world, offering a chance to engage in timely discussions that matter. Dialogue #36: Korea’s Martial Law Fallout, Jan 13, 2025 03:00 PM in Hawaii Dialogue #35: Indo-Pacific Humanity and Geopolitics, Jan 27, 2025 03:00 PM in Hawaii
TSC bring senior leaders together to explore opportunities for cooperation
The Transnational Security Cooperation course is an in-depth executive education program designed to prepare senior security practitioners and military leaders to engage in cooperative security efforts that advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. Recently 38 senior leaders from 25 countries and three regional organizations participated in the TSC24-2 course hosted by the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies from December 8-13, 2024, in Honolulu. “Aided by a challenging curriculum, TSC 24-2 participants seized the opportunity to frankly discuss some of the most pressing strategic issues in the Indo-Pacific,” said course manager Dr. Al Oehlers. “Vitally, by exchanging invaluable insights and creatively crafting collaborative approaches to shared priorities, bonds of understanding and friendship were fostered that will last for years to come.”
Lauren Dickey and DKI APCSS’ Col. Matthew Kent Call for a Reassessment of U.S. Policy on Taiwan in War on the Rocks
“This is Not the Status Quo You’re Looking For” by Lauren Dickey and DKI APCSS’ Col. Matthew Kent was recently published by War on the Rocks. In the article, the authors argue that the United States’ longstanding policy of maintaining the “status quo” on Taiwan is increasingly misaligned with contemporary geostrategic realities. Rooted in Cold War-era agreements, the policy aims to deter hostilities by avoiding an official stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty. However, this approach has not accounted for China’s use of gray zone tactics—subtle, coercive measures that fall short of provoking military conflict but aim to achieve political objectives. According to the authors, the “status quo,” once effective in a very different geopolitical landscape, now risks enabling China’s aggressive posturing and undermining Taiwan’s security.
Coups and Civil-Military relations in South Korea
Dr. Lami Kim has a new article in Foreign Policy on the recent self-coup and martial law attempt by President Yoon in South Korea. The article, “Yoon’s Coup Attempt Shows Sad State of Civil-Military Relations,” provides an in-depth look the Republic of Korea’s history of past military dictatorship. According to Kim, “As South Koreans and supporters of democracy around the world anxiously watch how this situation unfolds, it is crucial to learn from what happened. This incident serves as a stark reminder that civil-military relations are never static and can regress without vigilant management. If there is a silver lining to this situation, it is that South Koreans now have an opportunity to confront the lingering legacies of military dictatorship and take definitive steps toward establishing healthy, sustainable civil-military relations.”
Fijian Charm and National Security Policy Under the Palms
SUVA, Fiji – Amid the occasional roar of heavy November rains and the frequent calls of local myna birds, 64 participants from 18 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) member countries gathered in Suva for a three-day workshop on national security policy development. Hosted by the PIF at its historic conference center in the hills overlooking the city and Walu Bay, the event was conducted in collaboration with the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. The workshop focused on how the Pacific’s security landscape has evolved, enabling participants to exchange perspectives on issues ranging from climate-induced migration to transnational crime. There was earnest and honest interaction from all corners of an audience that are usually quite reserved, professionally.
Dialogue #34 Sri Lanka’s Tide Turns
Sri Lanka’s November 14 election marks a historic turning point, with the potential to reshape its future and inspire regional renewal. This episode explores its challenges, opportunities, and regional implications.
Dialogue #33 | Sustainability and Responsibility in Space
The space race isn’t over; it has simply evolved into a new, more complex phase. While Cold War rivalries may have faded, a different kind of competition is now underway – a race to ensure the long-term sustainability of this critical domain. With the number of satellites and space actors growing exponentially, the need for responsible behavior and international cooperation has never been more pressing. This was the central theme of Dialogue 33, where experts Dr. Namrata Goswami and Sam Wilson joined DKI APCSS professors Dr. James Minnich and Dr. Al Oehlers to explore the critical challenges and opportunities in securing the future of space.
Dialogue #32 | Seoul Between Moscow and Pyongyang
What are Seoul’s strategic options in response to North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia amid the Ukraine conflict? Dr. Lami Kim explores the risks of technology transfers, phased response strategies, and the delicate balance between deterrence and escalation in this evolving security challenge.
Currents Magazine: Celebrating Partnerships and Resilience
The summer edition of Currents, themed “Building Partnerships for Resilience,” features candid photos of Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies participants on the cover, engaging in courses, workshops, and visits that capture the theme.This issue includes a farewell message from outgoing Director Peter A. Gumataotao, reflecting on the Center’s nearly 30 years of fostering security cooperation. During his tenure, DKI APCSS adapted to challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, launched the Security Nexus online journal, and strengthened ties among the region’s security professionals.
How Seoul Should Respond to North Korea’s Soldiers in Russia
A new OpEd by Dr. Lami Kim published by the United States Institute for Peace. As North Korean soldiers deploy to Russia, South Korea faces complex security challenges that could shift the regional military balance. North Korea's involvement in the Ukraine war marks the first large-scale combat engagement of its military since the Korean War, exposing its troops to modern warfare and potentially securing lucrative cash flows from Russia, despite sanctions. Additionally, the specter of Moscow supplying Pyongyang with advanced military technologies threatens to destabilize the Korean Peninsula.
IPOC 24-2, Part of the Ohana
U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Holly Beard, stationed at Fort Shafter, typically has a 10-minute commute to the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) campus in Waikiki. However, it took nearly a year for her to get in its doors to attend the highly sought-after Indo-Pacific Orientation Course (IPOC). “Not only did I hear there were more than 100 people on the waitlist for this course, I personally applied almost a year ago, and it’s taken me that long to get in,” said Beard, sitting in the shade of the 200-year-old monkeypod tree that anchors the gardens surrounding Maluhia Hall at DKI APCSS. A civil affairs officer, Beard found IPOC 24-2 a valuable learning experience. “It’s a very fast-paced, but also relevant, orientation to the Indo-Pacific theater—not only from a Department of Defense lens, but with a strong presence from the State Department and other allies and partners.” As a reservist, Beard said she rarely has the time to dive into such topics. “Something I really hope to take back to my team is a better understanding of the complexities associated with this theater,” she added. Held in October 2024, IPOC 24-2 was an executive education course designed for mid-career to senior-level security practitioners to enhance their ability to engage in cooperative security efforts that advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.
A Security Nexus Perspective on Water Quality and Regional Stability
“Water, Water, Everywhere: Advancing Water Security Through Improving Water Quality,” authored by DKI APCSS Professor Ethan Allen, explores the essential role of water quality technology in bolstering water security across the Indo-Pacific region. This piece highlights how advancements in decontamination technologies are vital to addressing water contamination, which is worsening due to climate change, population growth, and pollution. Professor Allen explains that many communities in the region rely on compromised water sources for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. The article reviews progress in filtration, heat, chemical treatments, and evaporation-re-condensation methods for removing various pollutants. Noteworthy innovations, such as atmospheric water generation and solar distillation, present adaptable and sustainable solutions to water scarcity.
New Director for Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies Named
HONOLULU –The Department of Defense has approved the selection of retired US Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne (Suzy) Puanani Vares-Lum as director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS), a Department of Defense organization dedicated to advancing security cooperation in the region. Vares-Lum was born and raised in Hawaiʻi and is an alumna of the Center’s Transnational Security Cooperation course (TSC16-2). She is the first native Hawaiian and the first alumni to serve as the Center’s director. She comes to the Center after serving as President of the East-West Center since 2022. As a retired major general with 34 years of service, Vares-Lum has held key roles addressing priority national security challenges in the region. She brings a wealth of executive leadership experience, including five years serving with and advising the senior officials at US Indo-Pacific Command, where she cultivated and supported key relationships with nations throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Dialogue | Episode 31: Indo-Pacific Underwater Competition
Dive deep into the future of underwater competition with leading experts from around the globe! This webinar unites five specialists from Korea, the United States, and India to explore the critical challenges and emerging technologies in underwater competition, maritime domain awareness, seabed warfare, and the protection of vital submarine cables.
Dialogue Episode 30 | Conflict’s End in Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine grinds on with no clear resolution in sight, the international community faces mounting pressure to explore pathways toward ending the conflict. Ukraine’s uncertain future was the focus of Episode 30 of Dialogue, “Conflict’s End in Ukraine,” where DKI APCSS professor Dr. James Minnich discussed these dynamics with Dr. Marzena Żakowska, an assistant professor and lecturer at the Faculty of National Security at War Studies University in Warsaw, Poland.
