By Kenji Watanabe
Covers the politics of the Indo-Pacific, from Washington DC back to Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei.
Trump's Leaky Hormuz Blockade Needs Malacca Control to Work
Two Iranian VLCCs carrying 3.8 million barrels of crude successfully navigated the US Navy's Hormuz blockade through Indonesia's Lombok Stra
Iran's Undersea Cable Threat: The Internet's Strait of Hormuz Problem
Iran-linked outlets published detailed maps of undersea cable routes in the Persian Gulf on April 22, 2026. Analysts warn this mirrors Houth
Trump Administration Denies Iranian Claims of Missile Strike on US Warship in Strait of Hormuz
Iranian state media claimed two missiles struck a US Navy frigate entering the Strait of Hormuz without permission. US Central Command denie
UAE-Israel Ties: Useful but No Middle East Reset
The UAE-Israel partnership has yielded economic and defense gains, but it remains a tactical alignment, not a strategic transformation. Emir
US and China Diverge on Military Vaccination: Two Armies, Two Theories of the Body
The US Defense Department has made flu shots voluntary for service members, breaking a 1945-era mandate. China's PLA continues routine mass
Iran War Reopens Old Gulf Rifts and Spurs New Rivalries Among Arab States
The UAE's decision to leave OPEC signals more than oil policy frustration. The Iran war has widened rifts between Gulf states, reviving terr
The Donroe Doctrine Is Becoming Everything China Feared
Washington's campaign to evict Chinese port operators from Panama and secure lithium access in Bolivia signals a new, aggressive maritime st
61% of Americans Now View Trump's Iran War as a Mistake, Poll Finds
A new poll reveals 61% of Americans view Trump's Iran war as a mistake, a level of disapproval that took years to reach for Iraq and Vietnam
Kremlin Faces Growing Calls to Intensify Ukraine Offensive as War Fatigue Mounts
Russian President Vladimir Putin faces mounting pressure from nationalist factions and military leaders to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.
Gulf States' Fragile Alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz Under War Stress
The Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut, with vessel traffic at a fraction of pre-war levels. Bypass pipelines provide 3.5-5.5 million bar
US Wars Since 1950 Killed 4.5 Million Civilians, Cost $5.7 Trillion
Major US wars since 1950 have directly killed nearly 4.5 million civilians and cost over $5.7 trillion. The Iran War alone has cost an estim
Taiwan's KMT Chairwoman Cheng Faces Skeptical US Audience After Beijing Talks
KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun plans a June US visit to explain her cross-Strait approach, but faces skepticism over her pro-Beijing views and