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Newsroom · Politics & Diplomacy

By Kenji Watanabe

Covers the politics of the Indo-Pacific, from Washington DC back to Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei.

278 published stories
Antiwar Coalition Urges Congress to Push Trump for China Peace
Politics

Antiwar Coalition Urges Congress to Push Trump for China Peace

A coalition of antiwar groups, including Just Foreign Policy and Win Without War, urges Congress to press President Trump for peaceful US-Ch

How a Multilateral Push Can Reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Security

How a Multilateral Push Can Reopen the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked amid US-Iran tensions, disrupting global energy supplies. A coalition of Asian and European nations cou

USS Doris Miller Delay Signals Deeper Strain in US Carrier Power Projection
Security

USS Doris Miller Delay Signals Deeper Strain in US Carrier Power Projection

The USS Doris Miller aircraft carrier faces a two-year delay, extending its build time to 15 years. This exposes US shipyard inefficiencies

Qatar's Strategic Ambiguity: A Feature, Not a Bug, of US Policy
Politics

Qatar's Strategic Ambiguity: A Feature, Not a Bug, of US Policy

The US debate over whether Qatar is friend or foe obscures a more useful question: what is the bargain, and is it worth the cost? Qatar host

Trump-Xi Summit: A Chance to Reshape Nuclear Stability in Beijing
Security

Trump-Xi Summit: A Chance to Reshape Nuclear Stability in Beijing

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in Beijing amid a crumbling global arms control system. A bilateral understa

Trump Fumes at Media Over Leaked Intel Showing Iran's Military Resilience
Security

Trump Fumes at Media Over Leaked Intel Showing Iran's Military Resilience

US intelligence reports show Iran has restored access to most missile sites and retains 70% of prewar missile stockpiles. President Trump la

Hormuz Blockade Shatters Asia's Growth Model, Exposing Energy Dependency
Security

Hormuz Blockade Shatters Asia's Growth Model, Exposing Energy Dependency

The Strait of Hormuz blockade has sent oil past $120/barrel and LNG prices up 140%, crippling Asian manufacturing. The crisis reveals Asia's

Trump Justice Department Subpoenas Journalists Over Iran War Coverage
Security

Trump Justice Department Subpoenas Journalists Over Iran War Coverage

The US Justice Department subpoenaed The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets for records of journalists covering the Iran war. Presid

Why Washington Must Prioritize Deterrence in the North Pacific
Security

Why Washington Must Prioritize Deterrence in the North Pacific

The North Pacific is a critical but neglected theater linking US homeland defense and Indo-Pacific deterrence. Russia and China are exploiti

Iran Calls Its Counteroffer 'Reasonable' After Trump Rejects Nuclear Deal Proposal
Security

Iran Calls Its Counteroffer 'Reasonable' After Trump Rejects Nuclear Deal Proposal

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei called Tehran's counteroffer 'reasonable and generous' after President Trump rejected it

Pakistan's Fatah-3 Missile Could Extend Chinese Reach to Gulf
Security

Pakistan's Fatah-3 Missile Could Extend Chinese Reach to Gulf

Pakistan unveiled the Fatah-3 supersonic cruise missile, its first operational system of this type, potentially narrowing India's BrahMos ad

Trump-Xi Summit Reflects US Strategic Drift, Not China's Ambition
Politics

Trump-Xi Summit Reflects US Strategic Drift, Not China's Ambition

The Trump-Xi summit in Beijing highlights US strategic drift in the Indo-Pacific, not China's rising ambition. Regional allies face transact