By Kenji Watanabe
Covers the politics of the Indo-Pacific, from Washington DC back to Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei.
Trump and Netanyahu at Odds Over Iran Deal as Lebanon Stalemate Deepens
A US-Iran memorandum due in Geneva on June 19 hangs in the balance as Israel continues its occupation of southern Lebanon. President Trump h
How Iran Turned the Tables on Trump and Israel in the 2026 War
Iran absorbed massive US-Israeli air and missile strikes but retained the ability to retaliate, closing the Strait of Hormuz and attacking G
Trump's Iran Deal: Realpolitik Wins as Coercive Diplomacy Pays Off
The US and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, brokered by Pakistan. The deal, a product of coercive
China's New Naval Gun Targets Taiwan's Defenses with Record Range
China's new 155mm naval gun, the largest caliber in active service, can strike targets up to 200 km away. It aims to provide cost-effective
Japan's Defense Overhaul Gains Urgency as LDP Proposes Major Military Expansion
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has endorsed a comprehensive defense review calling for expanded missile capabilities, nuclear-powered subm
Kissinger's Dark Joke Realized as US-Israel-Iran War Ends in Stalemate
After months of conflict, the US, Israel, and Iran agree to a ceasefire framework in Switzerland. All three sides have failed to achieve the
Counter-Drone Tech Surges as Ukraine, Iran, and Hezbollah Redefine Aerial Threats
Ukraine's Sting interceptor drone, costing $2,100, claims a 95% success rate against Russian Geran 2 drones. Iran has launched up to 1,500 d
Israel Strikes Beirut as US-Iran Deal Nears, Raising Sabotage Fears
Israel bombed Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday, killing at least three people, as US and Iranian officials voiced optimism about a pendin
India's Great Nicobar Base Challenges China's Malacca Strait Dependence
India is constructing a multi-billion-dollar air and sea base on Great Nicobar Island, just 175 kilometers from the Strait of Malacca. The p
Trump Suggests Ground Invasion to Seize Iran's Kharg Island Oil Hub
President Donald Trump has threatened to seize Iran's Kharg Island, handling 90% of its crude exports, to gain control of oil markets. Exper
China's New South China Sea Moves Strain Regional Ties
China placed large objects in Scarborough Shoal, escalating a long-standing dispute with the Philippines. Beijing also dispatched vessels ea
Trump's Cuba Policy: Economic Strangulation or Genocide?
The Trump administration has escalated the decades-old US embargo on Cuba, cutting off fuel, remittances, and tourism. Critics argue this am