News + Media

	Analysis + Opinion June 11, 2019 Jaw–Jaw: A look at the PLA's history of planning for war with Taylor Fravel M Taylor Fravel and Brad CarsonWar on the Rocks How does China think about the nature of war? How has China’s conception of war changed over time? What are “military guidelines” in Chinese statecraft and what leads the Chinese leadership to develop new ones? These and other questions are discussed in the latest episode of Jaw-Jaw, where Professor Taylor Fravel discusses his recent book Active Defense: China’s Military Strategy Since 1949.
	In the News June 11, 2019 As North Korea doubles down on its nuclear weapons, Trump and the US are stuck with ‘strategic patience’ Rob YorkSouth China Morning Post Vipin Narang, a nuclear proliferation expert at MIT, said North Korea could be convinced to freeze fissile material production and that its Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre is reaching the end of its life, meaning it is possible to “slow the growth of [the] programme”. But the fate of the non-nuclear-armed Gaddafi and former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein has taught North Koreans “don’t give up your nuclear weapons because … the United States may one day decide to get rid of you”, Narang said.
	News@E40 June 10, 2019 Untangling the social dynamics of water Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems LabMIT News Andrea Beck, a PhD candidate in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning and a J-WAFS Fellow for Water Solutions, is studying the dynamics of water operator partnerships. Her work is supported in part by MISTI-Netherlands, MISTI-Africa, and through a Summer Study Grant at CIS. “They’ve been great resources,” she says.
	Analysis + Opinion June 7, 2019 Learning to embrace an unequal alliance Mina Pollmann Tokyo Review To keep the military alliance between the US and Japan sustainable and effective during the tumult of a global power transition, both sides need to update how they think about the “grand bargain” that underlies it.
	In the News June 1, 2019 Pompeo visits elite event as Trump policies raise questions Matthew Lee and Jamey Keaten \| APThe Washington Post “What we have is an administration that is behaving like a unilateralist wrecking ball,” said Ken Oye, an MIT political science professor on sabbatical in Switzerland, who came to protest. He predicted those are the meeting “are likely to be telling him ‘that you’re not serving American interests or international interests more broadly defined. You’re making a mistake, and here are the reasons why we believe so.’”
	In the News May 31, 2019 The BradCast Brad Friedman Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com, with special guest MIT nuclear proliferation expert Vipin Narang.
	In the News May 27, 2019 North Korea has been testing ballistic missiles. So why won’t Trump use the B word? Simon DenyerThe Washington Post Vipin Narang said the South Korean government may be playing “fast and loose” with semantics. “The trajectory of the KN-23 is low, so sometimes referred to as a quasi-ballistic missile, which may give them just enough semantic wiggle room to say, ‘It’s not an SRBM,’ ” he said, referring to a short-range ballistic missile. “But it is.”
	In the News May 25, 2019 Trump appears to contradict Bolton on North Korea, expresses ‘confidence’ in Kim Simon Denyer and Ashley ParkerThe Washington Post “There is a lot that is really disturbing here, but the most important bit is ‘Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me,’” Vipin Narang wrote. “Kim never promised to unilaterally disarm, and the problem is Trump continues to believe he did. THAT is why this is so dangerous.”
	In the News May 24, 2019 Modi’s definitive win may mean a more assertive India Seema ModyCNBC “Modi’s muscular national security approach just received overwhelming approval. We should expect to see more of it in the next five years,” said Vipin Narang. Narang noted that the Indian leader could use the present opportunity to “improve the defense forces and acquisition process” for his country — or he could aim to settle scores with Pakistan.
	Analysis + Opinion May 23, 2019 Even conservative Iranians want closer ties to the United States Fotini Christia, Elizabeth Dekeyser, Dean KnoxForeign Policy For most in the country, Washington isn’t the archenemy—at least for now.