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Trans-Pacific View

With Ukraine, the US Is Repeating Mistakes Made in Afghanistan
By Mojib Atal
In ending the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. belittled and sidelined its partner in favor of engaging with the enemy. The result can hardly be called a success.

Indo-Pacific Allies May Rethink US Intelligence Sharing After Gabbard, Patel Appointments
By Hans Horan
Faced with mounting doubts over Washington’s reliability, U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific may start charting their own course.

Japan and South Korea in the Age of ‘America First’
By Tunchinmang Langel
Japan and South Korea are at their most fragile political states in decades – just as Trump’s return to the White House disrupts an already-changing global order.

Trump Can Reverse a Biden Foreign Policy Mistake
By Joel S. Wit
The Biden administration’s rejection of Nippon Steel’s takeover bid for U.S. Steel made little sense. Trump has a chance to reverse course.

What Elon Musk’s Deep Ties to China Mean for Trump’s Foreign Policy
By Linggong Kong
The big question going forward is how Musk’s financial stakes in, and stated admiration for, China will translate into attempts to influence the U.S. administration’s policy toward Beijing.

Can Young Americans and Chinese Build Bridges Over Troubled Waters?
By Brian Wong
While relations between the U.S. and Chinese governments are unlikely to improve, the relationship between the two peoples can still weather the storms ahead.

Trump and the Philippines: Will the Squad Top the Quad?
By Pooja Bhatt and Don McLain Gill
Trump’s regional policy is likely to focus on U.S. military engagement to counter China. The Philippines thus may become a linchpin in U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Thai PM Calls For Study Into Effects of Trump Trade Policy
By Sebastian Strangio
Among ASEAN nations, Thailand and Vietnam have the two largest trade deficits with the United States. Both are readying for possible retaliatory actions.

The Imperial Presidency and the China-US Trade War
By Jiachen Shi
Trump has expanded presidential power since the first trade war with China, wresting a significant portion of foreign economic policymaking authority from Congress.

Narrowing the Trade Deficit Will Top Modi-Trump Meeting Agenda
By Elizabeth Roche
India could agree to purchase high-end U.S. vehicles and military aircraft in addition to stepping up nuclear energy collaboration.

Could China Fill the US Aid Vacuum in Afghanistan?
By David O’Brien and Besmillah Taban
Even under the Taliban’s rule, U.S. aid has played a vital role in Afghanistan.

Quad and AUKUS Face an Uncertain Future Under Trump
By David M. Andrews
The challenge is to make a compelling case for Trump to support and endorse these partnerships.