Cadence of Conflict: Asia, June 3, 2019

The “Symphony Asian Mad Scientist Theorem” continues to play out. Trump engaged North Korea in talks that led to a calm without North Korea changing its DNA. Trump eventually reminded North Korea what everyone knew would be necessary to reach an agreement and North Korea stomped off.

Now, Trump comes off a marathon of wider-scope talks with China and continues to talk about talk, while the message is sent more clearly to China every day. China already knows what will be necessary to reach an agreement, its ambitions otherwise are classic Imperial-Confucian wishful thinking.

Over the weekend, the US and China exchanged insults at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore. America isn’t gonna’ tip-toe around China anymore! And, China will risk any and every cost and will defeat everyone who stands in the way! They sure told each other! We can’t say China didn’t warn us, just like China warned the world before the victorious Korean armistice and before China’s great and splendid invasion of Vietnam.

Don’t think for a second that Trump doesn’t care about Japan. If he really didn’t care about Japan—if he truly enjoyed the missiles recently launched by “Rocket Man”—he wouldn’t say so on camera. Remember, everything he says is being closely watched by a large and volatile North Korean neighbor which believes that everyone believes everything published in the press.

No matter how much anyone warns China of the dangerous pinball machine game it’s bouncing around inside of, they won’t change because China only ever and always remains true to its Imperial-Confucian values. Those values can and will never include “capitulating to outside demands”. China just won’t change, you see.

Trump in Japan: Pomp and tense circumstance | CTV News

Huawei’s alternative operating system to Android may be called Ark OS: Report | Technology News, Firstpost

Week-in-Review: Trump’s order takes a hatchet to Huawei’s heart | TechCrunch

China

‘Don’t say we didn’t warn you’: A phrase from China signals the trade war could get even worse | CNBC

Beijing steps up rare earths threat | Taipei Times

President Xi Jinping broke promise on South China Sea: US general | CNA

Xi Jinping broke South China Sea vow: US general | Taipei Times

China releases official document that blames America for the trade war | CNBC

China blames US for stalled trade talks but remains open for negotiations | SCMP

China makes veiled threat about withholding rare earth minerals | CNBC

China blames US for trade dispute, ‘unacceptable demands’ | Stuff.co.nz

China Says It Doesn’t Want U.S. Trade War But Won’t Shy Away From One | Bloomberg

China Targets FedEx in ‘Warning’ to U.S. | Bloomberg

Pentagon Report Slams China for Pursuing ‘Predatory Economics’ | Bloomberg

Pentagon chief Shanahan says US done ‘tiptoeing’ around China, but did it ever? | RT

Here’s why China’s trade war threat to restrict rare earth minerals is so serious | CNBC

China Pulls Punches With Trump to Defend a Path for Trade Talks | Bloomberg

China makes next move in trade war, reportedly halting US soy purchases | CNBC

China accuses US of ‘economic terrorism’ as trade war tensions escalate | CNN

Trump must call off escalating US-China trade war before it’s too late | Fox Business

Australian helicopters targeted by lasers in South China Sea, source says | CNN

China and U.S. clash again on trade and regional security | Yahoo – Reuters

China’s tech workers burn out in ‘996’ rat race | CNN

China rages against Bolton meeting as anti-invasion drills begin in Taiwan | CNN

China is digging in its heels on protecting a state-run economy | CNBC

China would benefit from positive response to trade asks – commentary | CNBC

China’s navy is being forced to rethink its spending plans as cost of trade war rises | SCMP

Taiwan

China vows military action if Taiwan, sea claims opposed | Inquirer News | Inquirer

China to ‘fight at all costs’ for ‘reunification’ with Taiwan: defence minister | The Hindu

Could Taiwan Halt an Invasion by China? | Yahoo – National Interest

Cory Gardner vows to push TAIPEI Act | Taipei Times

MAC says PRC’s threats ‘totally ‘unacceptable’ | Taipei Times

Pentagon commits to Taiwan security | Taipei Times

ROC flag shown at US Air Force event | Taipei Times

Taiwan’s military trains for a Chinese invasion on the beach | NY Times

Taiwan lands aircraft on highway as part of military drills | The Hindu

Taiwan Will Train 10,000 AI Workers Per Year For Google, Microsoft And More To Meet Rising Demand | Forbes

North Korea

US checking reports North Korea executed top official after Trump summit, Mike Pompeo says | CNN

North Korea executes 5 officials over failed Kim-Trump summit: South Korean media | Fox News

North Korea’s possible execution of 5 officials, explained | Vox

Trump finds himself increasingly alone on North Korea | POLITICO

Sanders: Trump and Kim Jong Un agree on assessment of Biden | NBC News

Military

The F-35 Is An Antique: Japan Is Going All In On a 6th Generation Fighter | National Interest

‘An F-35 Will Never be Alone’: Those Are Fighting Words from Russia | National Interest

Lockheed Martin Won’t Build the Next Navy Frigate, but It Will Profit From It Anyway | Yahoo – Lou Whiteman, Motley Fool

Why India Shouldn’t Underestimate the Pakistani Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder | Military Watch Magazine