"Elbridge Colby, a former senior Pentagon official, said greater clarity on Taiwan was very valuable because US 'credibility is already on the line'. "'It's better for us to be quietly but resolutely clear that we would effectively defend Taiwan, and for China to understand that as well,' said Mr. Colby..." Read the full article here: Full Article
"Although all Republicans are unified on the need to counter China’s power, Colby and Mitchell see the struggle less ideologically than many of their compatriots, and more in line with Trump’s personal view. The China challenge, Colby told me, has more to do with rising Chinese power than with the Chinese Communist Party. The risk to the American people is that China 'could dominate the world’s wealthiest region and shape the global economy and global order in ways that are detrimental [...]
"Daniel Russel, a former Asia adviser to Barack Obama, said the US-Japan relationship was on a sound footing regardless of who succeeded Mr. Abe. But he said there was a danger that his successor would be a placeholder who would be more focused on his 'own survival and fending off rivals' meaning there would be more preoccupation on domestic politics..." Read the full article here: Full Article
"Daniel Russel, a former assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific who’s now vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said that a continuation of the Trump White House 'means that Japan is going to be put through the wringer to extract as much money as possible' in exchange for continuing to host U.S. forces. “'That is a potentially damaging, if not brutal fight, that lies ahead,' he said. 'Trump has made clear again and again that [...]
"Daniel Russel, a former assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific who’s now vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the 'series of very aggressive, very confrontational actions and … hostile rhetoric' on China may be aimed at the November election, 'but it’s going to have an effect that lasts long beyond that...'" Read the full article here: Full Article
"'The problem is, where do they return to? Is there housing? Are there schools? Is there health care?' Ms. Ellehuus said at a webinar Tuesday organized by the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies. 'Particularly in a time of COVID, there could be real concerns...'" Read the full article here: Full Article
"'In the best case, it leads to paralysis and marginalization, and that’s already sidelining the most important institution at the most critical moment,' Michael Camilleri, an analyst at the Inter-American Dialogue policy center, said of Mr. Claver-Carone’s candidacy. 'In the worst case, the bank becomes a vehicle for a fairly radical right-wing agenda that further divides the hemisphere...'" Read the full article here: Full Article
"'The approach that Biden supported was more along the lines of a war of attrition with North Korea,' Russel said. 'If giving up its nuclear program is the last thing on earth that North Korea wants to do, we need to make it the last thing on earth that North Korea can do in order to survive...'" Read the full article here: Full Article
"'The $300m is a rounding error compared to what the previous programme was,' said Jay Shambaugh, an economics professor at George Washington University who has been tracking the numbers. 'It's just a massive hole...'" Read the full article here: Full Article
"'Biden’s top priority is going to be trying to resuscitate the U.S. economy, trying to restore as much American leadership, American primacy as he possibly can,' said Russel. 'Those are tall orders and to try to address the havoc wreaked by the uncontrolled outbreak of COVID-19, you’ve got a lot more to worry about than just China...'" Read the full article here: Full Article