[{"_1":2,"_301":-5,"_302":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_16":17,"_299":300},"root",{"_5":6,"_14":15},"fb",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":12,"_13":8},"apiKey","AIzaSyAdxqOaB63feHHqSm_nZCKsSHpSAcxkct8","authDomain","thediplomat.firebaseapp.com","projectId","firebase-thediplomat","appId","ga",true,"routes/$issue",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"slug","2017-02","path","/2017-02","issue",{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43},"eid","-Kb8qA3vzn4yItWpksgI","title","The Next Generation of China’s Navy: Transformation and Transition for the PLAN","description","Welcome to the February 2017 issue of The Diplomat. This month, we look at the past and future of China’s naval modernization program as a new admiral takes the reins. We also analyze the complex trends at play in the gubernatorial election in Jakarta, evaluate the Sirisena government in Sri Lanka two years on, and explore the hidden, often oppressive world of Kabul’s LGBT community. And, of course, we offer a range of reporting, analysis, and opinion from across the region.","masthead","

\n Publisher\n Trans-Asia Inc.
\n 701 Ebisu MF Bldg.
\n 4-6-1 Ebisu Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
\n 150-0013, Japan\n

\n Publisher\n James Pach\n

\n Editor\n Shannon Tiezzi\n

\n Senior Editor\n Ankit Panda\n

\n Technical & Design\n Stefan Yanku\n

\n Associate Editors\n Ankit Panda
\n Prashanth Parameswaran
\n Franz-Stefan Gady\n

\n Special Projects Editor\n Catherine Putz\n

\n Contributing Editors\n Jin Kai
\n Kerry Brown
\n Xie Tao
\n David Volodzko
\n Zheng Wang
\n Cal Wong
\n Carl Thayer
\n Harsh V. Pant
\n Rohan Joshi
\n Dingding Chen
\n Robert Farley
\n Greg Austin
\n Luke Hunt
\n Mong Palatino
\n John Power
\n Casey Michel
\n Akhilesh Pillalamarri
\n Taylor Dibbert
\n Anthony Fensom
\n Mercy A. Kuo
\n Yuki Tatsumi
\n Muhammad Akbar Notezai
\n Umair Jamal
\n Grant Wyeth
\n David Gitter
\n Helen Clark
\n Steven Stashwick
\n Jeff M. Smith
\n Paolo Sorbello
\n Bruce Harrison\n

","number",27,"date","February 2017","month",2,"year",2017,"status","rdy","toc",[44,60,71,87,96,121,146,171,196,221,244,261,282],{"_24":45,"_46":47,"_26":48,"_49":50},"LTR","priority",0,"Letter","pages",[51],{"_24":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":59},"-Kb8qHwfMOfww-4WJ7cx","lead","

\"We hope readers come away from this issue, and every reading of The Diplomat, with a deeper understanding of what makes Asia tick.\"

","model","story","preview",1,"Letter from the Editors",{"_24":61,"_46":58,"_26":62,"_49":63},"CVRS","Cover Story",[64,67],{"_24":65,"_53":66,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":27},"-Kb8qHwtpjJQ5-1syNjY","

As China’s navy undergoes a change in leadership, what lies ahead for the rapidly modernizing service?

",{"_24":68,"_55":69,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":70},"-KbII6dBJcoJNHqo1eis","ad","Monash University - Master of International Development Practice",{"_24":72,"_46":37,"_26":73,"_49":74},"LDS","Leads",[75,79,83],{"_24":76,"_53":77,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":78},"-Kb8qHxTA6RAvVhYMPW1","

A potent mix of Islamism, anti-communism, and racial prejudice threatens to boil over, impacting not only Jakarta’s election but the 2019 presidential race.

","Politics of Persecution: Jakarta’s Election Is Unraveling Indonesia",{"_24":80,"_53":81,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":82},"-Kb8qHxVd2RhPw-djehS","

Time may be running out for meaningful reforms, and transitional justice remains just out of reach.

","Sri Lanka’s Transition to Nowhere",{"_24":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":86},"-Kb8qHxXwmALIuz0m-Yr","

Kabul’s underground LGBT network faces daily discrimination, intimidation, and abuse, including from authorities.

","Defying Holy Orders: Afghanistan’s LGBT Community",{"_24":88,"_46":89,"_26":90,"_49":91},"INT",3,"Interview",[92],{"_24":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":95},"-Kb8qHxalAedj_3OT7Iu","

How the “Secret War” in Laos still reverberates today.

","Joshua Kurlantzick",{"_24":97,"_46":98,"_26":99,"_49":100},"CHN",4,"China",[101,105,109,113,117],{"_24":102,"_53":103,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":104},"-Kb8qHxbpcnBj9-3wlbv","

External and internal political factors combined make a long-awaited CoC more attractive to China than it has been at any point in recent memory.

","Is This the Year We Finally Get a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea?",{"_24":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":108},"-Kb8qHxdUR1DG1d52xUi","

Hong Kongers suspect a chief executive hopeful is trying to throw a bone to authorities in Beijing.

","The Shady Story Behind Hong Kong’s ‘Palace Museum’",{"_24":110,"_53":111,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":112},"-Kb8qHxfycwKZFRNGOcB","

“The United States should not underestimate China’s ability to achieve energy security within the next two decades.”

","Deconstructing China’s Energy Security Strategy",{"_24":114,"_53":115,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":89,"_40":41,"_26":116},"-Kb8qHxjK08QQ23cGjr2","

A new white paper on Asia-Pacific regional security from the Chinese foreign ministry merits a close read.

","The Future of the Asia-Pacific Security Architecture, as Seen by China",{"_24":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":98,"_40":41,"_26":120},"-Kb8qHxmZV8gOWB_EmjN","

Taiwan’s U.S. representative lays out a vision for the relationship under a new U.S. administration.

","Taiwan’s Message to Trump: We’re No ‘Bargaining Chip’",{"_24":122,"_46":123,"_26":124,"_49":125},"NEA",5,"Northeast Asia",[126,130,134,138,142],{"_24":127,"_53":128,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":129},"-Kb8qHxr7t3Lte7aij6O","

Japan’s prime minister will seek to solidify broader partnerships to face challenges close to home.

","Shinzo Abe’s Foreign Policy Agenda for 2017",{"_24":131,"_53":132,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":133},"-Kb8qHxtd_DEvglmPVgR","

When it comes to South Korean chaebols, charges of corruption war with pride and patriotism.

","South Korea’s Love Affair with Samsung",{"_24":135,"_53":136,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":137},"-Kb8qHxv1vpAaZ3m24uR","

Japan has overreacted to the latest “comfort women” memorial statue in South Korea.

","Japan’s Terrible Mistake on 'Comfort Women'",{"_24":139,"_53":140,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":89,"_40":41,"_26":141},"-Kb8qHxxWEyePdO0DJHx","

The public and political parties’ loud support appear to be the driving force behind a potential run for the Blue House.

","Ban Ki-moon: South Korea's 'White Knight'?",{"_24":143,"_53":144,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":98,"_40":41,"_26":145},"-Kb8qHxy68EZ7rHN7raB","

Kim Jong-un lays out an offer for Donald Trump in his new year’s address.

","2017: Year of the North Korean Intercontinental Ballistic Missile?",{"_24":147,"_46":148,"_26":149,"_49":150},"SOA",6,"South Asia",[151,155,159,163,167],{"_24":152,"_53":153,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":154},"-Kb8qHxzj0Kj9Sf1YuQD","

A series of important state elections in India this year will bear on the future of Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.

","A Year of Elections for the World’s Biggest Democracy",{"_24":156,"_53":157,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":158},"-Kb8qHy-CzgPwjyKKFc9","

Local militias may be allied with the state now, but historically they have posed dangers to the central government.

","Afghanistan's Militias: The Enemy Within?",{"_24":160,"_53":161,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":162},"-Kb8qHy1NDxNC4vM7Fiw","

Cross-border trade between India- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir goes on, despite frequent skirmishes.

","Kashmir’s Cross-Border Barter Trade",{"_24":164,"_53":165,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":89,"_40":41,"_26":166},"-Kb8qHy2qM2PXUmEEUOf","

India continues to reckon with what kind of power it wants to be, this time in acknowledgement of global shifts.

","Modi's Blueprint for Indian Foreign Policy in 'Unsettled Times'",{"_24":168,"_53":169,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":98,"_40":41,"_26":170},"-Kb8qHy3H6s3h4jiNb0_","

Pakistan reminds India of its pledge to use nuclear weapons in the case ‘Cold Start’ is activated in a crisis.

","Pakistan Pledges a Hot Finish for 'Cold Start'",{"_24":172,"_46":173,"_26":174,"_49":175},"SEA",7,"Southeast Asia",[176,180,184,188,192],{"_24":177,"_53":178,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":179},"-Kb8qHy4Eo-Mz31Uhzed","

As the two countries institutionalize an annual defense ministers’ meeting, it is worth noting the broader significance of their bilateral security relationship.

","Singapore-New Zealand Defense Relations in the Spotlight",{"_24":181,"_53":182,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":183},"-Kb8qHy5fGU64qtCXHZx","

Beyond conspiracy theories, a growing constituency wants to hold Duterte to account.

","The Plots to Oust Duterte",{"_24":185,"_53":186,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":187},"-Kb8qHy8MwM88R_ftW5v","

Decades of persecution have left the Rohingya on the brink of genocide.

","Is Myanmar on the Path to Genocide?",{"_24":189,"_53":190,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":89,"_40":41,"_26":191},"-Kb8qHy9lk0ktRP_rxfl","

Vietnam’s multidirectional foreign policy includes outreach to China, the United States, India, and Japan.

","Vietnam’s Foreign Policy Balancing Act",{"_24":193,"_53":194,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":98,"_40":41,"_26":195},"-Kb8qHyBwrS3e5Mwzral","

There have been some troubling regional developments on the issue of late.

","Defending Free Speech in ASEAN",{"_24":197,"_46":198,"_26":199,"_49":200},"CEA",8,"Central Asia",[201,205,209,213,217],{"_24":202,"_53":203,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":204},"-Kb8qHyEdbrU4q3kQlXH","

Turkey’s hollowed out press corps has done little but stir a bubbling pot of nasty rumors, many about Central Asians.

","Reina Rumors: Santa Claus, Mashrapov, and the Kyrgyz Friend",{"_24":206,"_53":207,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":208},"-Kb8qHyGqtimwVqNNLfF","

Moscow gets its backyard back.

","What Does a New Power in Washington Mean for Central Asia?",{"_24":210,"_53":211,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":212},"-Kb8qHyHLXRJ20ncWyDf","

Changes in the economy ministry and presidential administration forced by arrests at the top.

","A Corruption Earthquake Shakes Kazakhstan's Government",{"_24":214,"_53":215,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":89,"_40":41,"_26":216},"-Kb8qHyJCtC9nWWqMADr","

Turkmenistan has halted gas supplies to Iran (not that Iran really needs them).

","Gas Spats: Turkmenistan Tangles With Iran",{"_24":218,"_53":219,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":98,"_40":41,"_26":220},"-Kb8qHyKFJiT1pEpBAs7","

It seems that “everyone’s dissatisfied” with the EEU.

","2 Years On, Eurasian Economic Union Falls Flat",{"_24":222,"_46":223,"_26":224,"_49":225},"OCE",9,"Oceania",[226,230,234,238,242],{"_24":227,"_53":228,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":229},"-Kb8qHzMsSUEou_gA8-T","

“Don’t panic, don’t relax.\"

","Australia’s Security Establishment Contemplates Trump’s America",{"_24":231,"_53":232,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":233},"-Kb8qHzNT235o9ukVpMS","

It has been a particularly inept start to the year for the struggling prime minister.

","A New Year Brings New Turmoil for Australia’s Turnbull Government",{"_24":235,"_53":236,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":237},"-Kb8qHzOFkPpBvJT_5we","

Terminating the CMATS treaty is a first step, but negotiating a median line boundary will be more difficult.

","Timor-Leste Seeks a Better Maritime Border With Australia",{"_24":239,"_53":240,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":89,"_40":41,"_26":241},"-Kb8qHzOFkPpBvJT_5wf","

Opportunity in Australia is increasingly concentrated in two cities, leaving much of the country behind.

","Time for Australia to Embrace Urbanization",{"_24":243,"_55":69,"_57":47,"_46":98,"_40":41,"_26":70},"-KbIIIIMo-friPG8x5x3",{"_24":245,"_46":246,"_26":247,"_49":248},"USA",10,"US in Asia",[249,253,257],{"_24":250,"_53":251,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":252},"-Kb8qHzREF1RHcGX1twZ","

Donald Trump unveils a rhetorical slogan, but how far will it go in shaping U.S. engagement with the world?

","What to Expect From 'America First': A Guide",{"_24":254,"_53":255,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":256},"-Kb8qHzSG9YBa_-ZW9Wk","

An overview of the current state of the U.S.-China relationship, with recommendations for the new president.

","The Future of US-China Relations Under President Trump",{"_24":258,"_53":259,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":260},"-Kb8qHzUxgSFhox1YUZc","

Both Pakistan and the United States need to take steps to improve the bilateral relationship.

","Rethinking Strategic Abandonment: Does the US Need to Redefine Its Partnership With Pakistan?",{"_24":262,"_46":263,"_26":264,"_49":265},"SCR",11,"Security",[266,270,274,278],{"_24":267,"_53":268,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":269},"-Kb8qHzW9-6owVexcOoS","

The People’s Liberation Army could become more powerful than the U.S. military. But not for the reasons you might think.

","Is Relative Military Backwardness China’s Advantage?",{"_24":271,"_53":272,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":273},"-Kb8qHzXgaQ4foNvt_rn","

A deeper look at Dhaka’s role in an intensifying Great Game in the Indian Ocean.

","Why China’s Submarine Deal with Bangladesh Matters",{"_24":275,"_53":276,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":277},"-Kb8qHzYnPafjeZDBvyy","

Shooting down an ICBM is an incredibly difficult task. Are U.S. missile defenses up to the challenge?

","Can the US Defend Against a North Korean ICBM?",{"_24":279,"_53":280,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":89,"_40":41,"_26":281},"-Kb8qHzYnPafjeZDBvyz","

A closer look at the significance of the signing of a new defense pact.

","Why the New Japan-Australia Military Pact Matters",{"_24":283,"_46":284,"_26":285,"_49":286},"ASL",12,"Asia Life",[287,291,295],{"_24":288,"_53":289,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":290},"-Kb8qHz_IP-ebIP0HZwm","

New Zealand’s rodeos are under pressure from activists, sponsors, and government over abuses.

","Oh No, New Zealand's Rodeo Woes",{"_24":292,"_53":293,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":294},"-Kb8qHz_IP-ebIP0HZwn","

Kabul is a city of both hope and fear.

","Kabul: A City With 2 Faces",{"_24":296,"_53":297,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":298},"-Kb8qHzaojSdLlfIRr1-","

The TV show’s formula reinforces European stereotypes about Asia.

","‘Azja Express’: Asia’s Life Unexpressed","routes/$issue.cover",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"actionData","errors"]