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
Week-in-Review: Trump’s order takes a hatchet to Huawei’s heart | TechCrunch
China
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
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
Why India Shouldn’t Underestimate the Pakistani Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder | Military Watch Magazine