Item category 1: Current Issues

There are many qualities that a Commanding Officer (CO) must possess in order for them to lead their unit well. In this essay, the author shares the seven key factors that he feels an aspiring CO needs to consider when drawing out their own action plan as they take on the role of a CO, in order...

Using Carl von Clausewitz’s “trinity” as a framework for analysis, this article compares the performances of Generals Arthur Percival and Douglas MacArthur as commanders during the Malayan and Philippine campaigns in World War II respectively. Both campaigns ultimately ended in defeat by the Japa...

In the mid-20th century, the governments of Malaya and South Vietnam initiated population-resettlement programmes as part of their overall efforts to fight the ongoing communist insurgencies in their countries. The British colonials housed hundreds of thousands of Chinese squatters in “New Villag...

In this essay, the author argues that the Centre of Gravity (COG) concept is not too abstract a concept to be of use to military planners. He begins by defining the physical and moral centres of gravity and then proceeds to examine possible confusions in defining and applying COG which may arise ...

In this essay, the author discusses the ideas of three military strategists in their analysis of Clausewitz’s Centre of Gravity (COG) concept—the Clausewitzian Traditionalists, the Rejectionists and the Accommodators. Specifically, the author examines the ideas of the Rejectionists as they reject...

This essay critically examines the multifaceted challenges confronting regional security and co‐operationwithin the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As the geopolitical landscape evolves, ASEAN faces amyriad of issues that impede the realisation of its vision for a stable and colla...

In this essay, the author examines the view that traditional Non-Offensive Defence (NOD) is not an effective military strategy in current times. He supports his arguments by analysing the origins of this military strategy and its fundamental principles. He then follows up with a discussion on the...

Despite its failure, the Gallipoli campaign offers an excellent case study in the application of maritime strategy. Was it a good strategy badly executed, or was it simply a bad maritime strategy? It was, as this essay will argue, a bad strategy which was poorly executed. Even if it had been exec...

Unlike traditional warfare, with its defined enemies and objectives, grey zone conflicts are characterised by uncertainty, blurred boundaries, and the absence of clear adversaries. Such ambiguity can result in feelings of vulnerability, distrust, and paranoia among servicemen as they struggle to ...

Grey zone conflicts target the human psychology – actors understand and capitalise on the psychological dynamics of ambiguity and manipulation to sow discord, erode trust, and exploit vulnerabilities to achieve a strategic advantage. Our service personnel are prime targets for such operations of ...