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The return to PACOM is a recognition that clarity, not geographic sprawl or vague values-based alignments, will define how the US competes with China.
And it is the right move.
Ken Moriyasu
11.4K posts
Ken Moriyasu
@kenmoriyasu
Senior fellow for Greater Asia at Hudson Institute. Formerly Nikkei reporter in DC/Cairo/Beijing/Dalian/NY. 森安健[email protected]
- Abe on Fuji TV says it is time for the U.S. to ditch strategic ambiguity and make clear it will defend Taiwan.
- Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says on Fuji TV: “Considering the cold, harsh reality of international politics, it is crucial to keep India in the Quad,” regardless of New Delhi’s lukewarm response to the Russian invasion.
- Speaker Pelosi at a Tokyo press conference: “If we do not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out on human rights any place in the world”
- Perhaps unnoticed in the Trump storm, the U.S. Japan joint statement quietly introduced new language on the Taiwan Strait. For first time, Washington and Tokyo oppose "any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion." (1/2) asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Trum…
- Macron wears so much cologne that aides “scent” his presence before he enters the room, according to a new book on life at the Elysée Palace. In what is seen as a deliberate “attribute of power,” Macron sprays on “industrial amounts” of Dior Eau Savage. telegraph.co.uk/gift/c335faad9…
- Here is one way to measure the Trump administration's priorities. Rubio’s order of meetings/phone calls 1: India 2: Australia 3: Japan 4: Philippines 5: Israel 6: “Rightful President” of Venezuela 7: Canada 8: Indonesia 9: UAE 10: Saudi Arabia 11: South Korea 12: Turkiye 13:
- Kishida on free trade: Japan is different from the U.S., China or the EU, which all have large domestic markets. We are an island nation with few resources, so we can't survive unless principles like free trade, the rule of law and democracy are upheld. We must join hands with
- Every U.S. Navy surface ship has a copy of Bowditch’s “The American Practical Navigator,” which the quartermaster turns to if the GPS is down. But today I saw a heavily-used copy of “Janes Fighting Ships” (£1,797) on the USS Bainbridge — to identify enemy and allied ships alike.
- 1: Jan 3: Biden blocks Nippon Steel deal citing national security concerns 2: Jan 7: Japan lays groundwork for state visit by China's Xi Geopolitics works fast.
- From Abe’s memoir: Xi stopped reading from prepared remarks in 2018, a sign of his growing authority. Xi said he "would not join the American Communist Party if he were born in the U.S. Instead he would be part of the Democratic or Republican party”
- Taiwan is not an 'existential' interest to U.S.: Elbridge Colby tells Senate confirmation hearing -- Taiwan needs to spend 10% of GDP on defense -- Japan should spend 3% -- Conflict with China is not necessary
- Modi tells Nikkei in an interview: "The Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force are also exploring possible cooperation in the area of ship maintenance in India”
