"Asia expert Danny Russel joins to talk about White House plans to punish China over the coronavirus, how Beijing might respond, and what the hell we should make of Kim Jong Un’s reemergence after weeks of rumors about his health..." Listen to the full episode here: Full Episode

"In 2011 in Beijing, when the U.S. was still dealing with the aftermath of the financial crisis, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told Mr. Biden, 'I’m sorry your economy is in such terrible shape,' according to Danny Russel, then the top White House adviser on Asia, who witnessed the exchange. Mr. Wen questioned whether Beijing’s multibillion-dollar investment in U.S. Treasury bills was safe. "The vice president replied that if China wanted to sell, 'please go ahead,' Mr. Russel recalled. More than 90% [...]

​"'The combination of loose nukes and political conflict is a nightmare scenario for the world,' said Danny Russel, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, who dealt with North Korea as a National Security Council director at the White House and an assistant secretary of state for Asia. ​'Political turmoil could lead a faction or a commander to brandish or — God forbid — launch a nuclear-armed missile.' "Mr. Russel said that in the event of a leadership struggle, Washington’s [...]

"'[China sees] Trump's alienation of American allies, his kind of obsession with trade numbers, and ignorance of broader economic... and new technology issues, his vulnerability to flattery, and so on,' the former Obama administration official said. 'You know, they see that as creating an unparalleled opportunity, and admittedly that price they have paid is a lot of headaches—a lot of tariffs, a lot of economic pressure and so on.' "'If Trump goes ahead with retaliatory moves, 'Xi Jinping will be absolutely [...]

"The weeks of rumors showed how 'unprepared' the outside world remains 'for a potential political crisis caused by something like the sudden, unexpected death of the dictator in a country bristling with dozens of nuclear weapons,' said Danny Russel, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute. "'We got a glimpse of the danger of loose nukes and worse if the death of Kim Jong-un had unleashed a destabilizing power struggle' in the North, where Mr. Kim had no designated adult [...]

"The former top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, Daniel Russel, said the pieces of the puzzle of Kim’s disappearance would take time to assemble. "They rumours had, however, served to focus attention on North Korea’s succession plan, which 'in a monarchical and cult-like dictatorship is filled with risk, and the absence of a designated adult heir compounds that risk many times over,' he said..." Read the full article here: Full Article

"'There is really nobody who does not want to see China held to account for the political coverup attempt, which slowed down international awareness and allowed the virus to spread. There is a resentment around the world,' said Danny Russel, an Obama-era State Department official in charge Asia Pacific policy. 'But I think you would be hard pressed to find a political leader in Asia or Europe who does not believe this anti-China push by the Trump administration is an entirely [...]

"The fog of rumors about Kim Jong Un’s health will clear up soon. But as of now, despite persistent rumors that the North Korean leader is seriously ill or even dead, the only two things we know with certainty are that Kim uncharacteristically missed the Day of the Sun public anniversary celebrations commemorating his grandfather Kim Il Sung’s birthday, and that his private train has been observed at the station in Wonsan, a fact the South Korean government cites to bolster [...]

"The coronavirus will likewise severely damage the economy. Daniel Russel, a former US diplomat who served as the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs until 2017, told The Nation that while pandemics have a devastating initial effect on public health, a brutal second wave can come in the form of an economic downturn—particularly in developing countries like Iran. "'I ran the Asia Bureau in the State Department, and I was constantly reminding people that no matter how [...]

"As the coronavirus circles the globe, it’s proving a startling reminder of just how interconnected our world has become. The virus has moved along our global supply chains, and it can be stopped only with global cooperation. But the war of words between U.S. and Chinese officials last month shows how the pandemic can bring out the worst in the two countries. While the rhetoric has abated somewhat, there is now an opening for both nations to reverse course, and they [...]