Chinese rhetoric spiked over recent weeks. They made threats. Trump made threats. They made more threats. Trump and Xi are BFF, just like Xi and Putin, but Xi and Putin are BFF-er. Now, we move toward quiet action. If China stops exporting “rare earth metals” to the US, the US would simply get them from somewhere else. “Rare” means many countries can get them, but few actually do because China does it so much.
The US is selling several tanks and tank-buster rockets to Taiwan. Beijing isn’t happy—about the $2 Billion in weapons sales to Taiwan, but also because of the people who publicly express memory of what happened 30 years ago at Tienanmen Square.
Around the time Taiwan’s primaries finish, the US launches its first Ford-class carrier in October, larger than a Nimitz. It still has a year of training and won’t be commissioned until 2022.
South China Sea: World War 3 fears as India and Singapore Navy conduct naval drill | Express
Tiananmen Square: World marks 30 years since massacre as China censors all mention | CNN
Tiananmen: The image that China forgot | BBC News
Tiananmen 30th anniversary: Thousands hold huge vigil in Hong Kong | BBC News
China
Why China’s rare earths threat is no game changer in the trade war | CNBC
China to curb some technology exports to US: Global Times editor | CNA
China to set up system to safeguard technology security | Punch Newspapers
Chinese warships leave Sydney after intimidating visit | Taipei Times
Three Chinese warships arrive in Sydney Harbour for four-day stopover | Australia news | Guardian
Ford Is Fined in China as Trade Fight With U.S. Rages | NY Times
China is jamming Trump on trade | Yahoo
Trump threatens China with tariffs on another $300B of goods | Fox Business
Trump US-China trade war news: Beijing says it ‘WILL NEVER GIVE UP’ and rejects US numbers | Express
China’s Xi praises ‘best friend’ Putin during Russia visit | BBC News
Commentary: It’s the US that has miscalculated in this trade war | CNA
Trade tensions have had a ‘significant’ impact on China, IMF says | CNBC
China issues citizens US travel alert, warns of harassment | Fox News
Huawei, Et Cetera
Report: China Warns Foreign Tech Companies Not to Comply With Trump Trade Bans | Gizmodo
Report: Google argues the Huawei ban would hurt its Android monopoly | Ars Technica
Facebook suspension deepens Huawei’s app dilemma | Nikkei Asian Review
Facebook reportedly prohibits Huawei from pre-installing its apps | Engadget
Hong Kong
Hong Kong sees new umbrella protests over China extradition bill | Aljazeera
Hong Kongers protest extradition law | Taipei Times – AFP
Mass protest in Hong Kong over law critics fear could allow China to snatch anyone | CNN
Hong Kong students rally in Taipei | Taipei Times
Taiwan
US under Trump takes step towards recognizing Taiwan as a country | Taiwan News
U.S., Taiwan: American Military and FBI Delegation Begins 5-Day Visit | Stratfor
Delegation of US military and FBI officials arrives in Taiwan: Stratfor | Taiwan News
US looks to sell billions in weapons to Taiwan | SMH
Taiwan confirms request for US arms | news.com.au
Trump Administration Readies a $2 Billion Taiwan Arms Package | Bloomberg
China Invokes Abraham Lincoln in Justifying Push to Take Taiwan | Bloomberg
South China Sea news: Beijing condemned by Taiwan, Taipei for infiltrating island | Express
Academics part of Beijing program to be investigated | Taipei Times
Taiwanese meteorology experts blocked from Geneva summit at last minute | Taipei Times
Tracking Taiwan’s dwindling bear population | CNN
The Question: Why Didn’t Mao Invade Taiwan? | National Interest
North Korea
North Korea Would Get Wiped Out by the U.S. Air Force | National Interest
North Korea’s famed Mass Games put on pause | CNN
Kim Jong-un criticises ‘wrong spirit’ of mass games | BBC News
Kim Hyok Chol, North Korean diplomat, is alive, sources say | CNN
Japan
Here Come Japan’s Aircraft Carriers | The Diplomat
Remains Of Japanese F-35 Pilot Found As Search Is Called Off For Crashed Aircraft | The Drive
Military
F-15EX: The Strategic Blind Spot in the Air Force’s Fighter Debate | War on the Rocks
USS Gerald R. Ford Weapons Elevator Certifications Will Extend Past October | USNI
The Navy’s new supercarriers can’t carry its new stealth fighters | Business Insider
The F-35 Is One of the 5 Worst Fighter Jets Ever Made | National Interest
The F-22 Raptor Is So Dangerous It Has No Real Enemy To Fight | National Interest
Video: Close Air Support: A-10 Warthog vs. F-35 Lightning | Task & Purpose
No Stealth for You: India Says It Can ‘Track’ China’s New J-20 Fighter | National Interest
The Big F-35 Flaw That Won’t Be Easy to Fix | National Interest