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David Brunnstrom
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 11, 2022
Pacific may be most likely to see ‘strategic surprise,’ U.S. policymaker says
The comments by U.S. Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell were apparently in reference to possible Chinese ambitions to establish Pacific-island bases.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 13, 2021
The curious case of a map and a disappearing Taiwan minister at U.S. democracy summit
A video feed of Taiwanese Digital Minister Audrey Tang was cut during the summit after a map in her slide presentation showed Taiwan in a different color to China.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 3, 2021
U.S. and EU concerned by China’s ‘problematic and unilateral actions’ at sea
Both the U.S. and EU have ‘increasingly convergent’ views on China’s ‘concerning behavior’ in the South China Sea.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Oct 22, 2021
With Biden and Xi meeting, U.S. aims to show responsible handling of China ties
Departing from Trump’s go-it-alone approach to China policy, Biden has staked his strategy on mobilizing allies and partners in Europe and Asia.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Sep 19, 2021
French break-up a blow to Biden’s China-focused alliance rebuilding
Analysts say Washington’s deal with Britain to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines has the potential to do lasting damage to the U.S. alliance with France and Europe.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 27, 2021
U.S. and China positions ossify at entrenched Tianjin talks
With no indication of a U.S.-China leaders’ summit in the works, nor any outcomes announced from high-level diplomatic talks on Monday, relations between Beijing and Washington appear to be at a standstill as both sides insist the other must make concessions for ties to improve.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 2, 2021
U.S. calls buildup of China’s nuclear arsenal ‘concerning’
The buildup had become more difficult for China to hide and it appeared it was deviating from decades of nuclear strategy based around minimal deterrence, a U.S. spokesperson said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 13, 2020
White House moves forward on three arms sales to Taiwan
The move in the run-up to the Nov. 3 U.S. election is likely to anger China, which considers Taiwan a wayward province.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 30, 2019
With a piece of paper, Trump called on Kim to hand over all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons
On the day that their talks in Hanoi collapsed last month, U.S. President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 1, 2018
Trump to skip summits with Asian leaders in Singapore and Papua New Guinea; Pence to attend
U.S. President Donald Trump will skip summits with Asian leaders in Singapore and Papua New Guinea in November, sending Vice President Mike Pence in his place, the White House said on Friday, an announcement that will raise questions about his commitment to a regional strategy to counter China.
ASIA PACIFIC
May 15, 2018
Safety and verification questions hang over North Korea’s plan to close nuclear site
Shutting down North Korea’s nuclear test site is trickier than it might seem.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Sep 27, 2017
North Korea’s bark may be worse than bite in threat to shoot down U.S. bombers
North Korea has threatened to shoot down U.S. bombers flying near the Korean Peninsula, but it would have difficulty matching its words with action given aging air defense systems mostly dating to the Cold War, military experts said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Aug 25, 2017
U.S. possesses a powerful — but risky — tool to halt North Korea’s nuclear progress
The U.S. government is turning the screws on companies that do business with North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions but has stopped short of taking the more aggressive — and riskier — move of targeting Chinese banks that facilitate Pyongyang’s trade in arms and other banned goods.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 22, 2017
U.S. presses Myanmar to cease military ties with North Korea
Myanmar’s military has maintained ties with North Korea, even though the civilian-led government denies any cooperation, and the Trump administration is pressing for a complete break-off of remaining links, current and former U.S. officials said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 14, 2017
New U.S. sanctions eyed on Chinese firms with North Korea ties: officials
Frustrated that China has not done more to rein in North Korea, the Trump administration could impose new sanctions on small Chinese banks and other firms doing business with Pyongyang within weeks, two senior U.S. officials said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Apr 4, 2017
When Trump and Xi meet, will it mean conciliation or collision?
When U.S. President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, their summit will be marked not only by deep policy divisions but a clash of personalities between America’s brash “tweeter-in-chief” and Beijing’s cautious, calculating leader.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 21, 2017
Trump administration weighing broad sanctions on North Korea, top U.S. official says
The Trump administration is considering sweeping sanctions aimed at cutting North Korea off from the global financial system as part of a broad review of measures to counter Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile threat, a senior U.S. official said Monday.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 24, 2017
Trump White House warns Beijing over ‘takeover’ of South China Sea
The new U.S. administration of President Donald Trump vowed Monday that the United States would prevent China from taking over territory in international waters in the South China Sea, something Chinese state media has warned would require Washington to “wage war.”
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 14, 2017
Trump team sends out contradictory signals as it seeks to craft tougher China policy
The incoming U.S. administration’s tough talk against China has set the stage for showdowns on everything from security to trade and cyberspace, but contradictory signals are sowing uncertainty over how far President-elect Donald Trump is prepared to go in confronting Beijing.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 14, 2016
Top U.S. official says Taiwan needs to increase defense spending due to threat from China
Defense spending in Taiwan has not kept pace with the threat posed by China and should be increased, a senior U.S. defense official said on Tuesday, days after President-elect Donald Trump touched off a storm by questioning American policy over the island.

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