President Trump’s response to Kim Jong-Un’s recent missile party neither shows lack of a plan nor lack of respect for Japan; it show patience and insight. Gaining and maintaining trust and respect in difficult situations requires sureness in action and slowness in harsh words. Talk is cheap. These are politics, after all.
Trump has taken no action nor signed any orders giving Kim more permission. Many pundits and opinion commentators have speculated that Trump will have difficulty with Abe because of his patient words for Kim, but all of this speculation is speculation only. They are presenting a model to analyze Trump’s decisions, but that model is devoid of a grid of using “kind words” in the face of betrayal. Kim’s strategy has not deviated: provoke a US response. Trump’s words “defuse” that strategy, so to speak. Trump is no pretentious fool, more of a patient father.
The situation in China, however is heating up, obviously for the same reasons. Trump and Xi exchange similar words as Trump gives in response to Kim’s actions. They promise to prepare for talks while rallying their own citizens against each other. Rumors of peace are the surest sign that there is none just as provocation indicates a peace not easily broken.
Taiwan is gearing up for war, its war machine in full motion. Taiwan is beginning mass production of strategic strike responses. Taiwan is renaming one of its offices to include both “US” and “Taiwan” in the name, which is a first. These are not actions that have any intention of appeasing Beijing.
Then, there’s Hong Kong. Responses from the American government would view the SAR as no longer capable of diplomatic ties if the extradition law on the table is passed. This extradition law would likely isolate Hong Kong from North America and Europe. We know war is close, but “how close” will be known by whether Beijing allows “Asia’s World City” to internationally isolate itself.
Those promised and prepared talks between Beijing and Washington will only serve as size-ups, if they even happen.
Huawei
Google suspends Huawei from Android services | FT
Google may just have killed Huawei’s bid to become the world’s top smartphone brand | CNN
A rare look inside Huawei, China’s tech giant | CNN
Huawei Dispute Could Be Resolved in US-China Trade Deal, Trump Says | Technology News
China
China says trade talks can’t continue unless US addresses actions | CNBC
Trump predicts ‘fast’ trade deal with China but provides no evidence | CNBC
China Commits to Trade Talks Amid ‘Groundless’ Huawei Suspicions | Bloomberg
Trump’s ‘Easy’ Trade War Hits Snags as China Plays the Long Game | Bloomberg
Taiwan
Taiwan begins mass production of home-grown missile corvettes, minelayers | SCMP
Taiwan’s coordination body for the US renamed | Taipei Times
Majority sees Taiwan and China as separate: study | Taipei Times
Retain Taipei ties, Pacific nations urged | Taipei Times
Hong Kong
EU lodges formal diplomatic note against contentious Hong Kong extradition bill | Yahoo – Reuters
A student in Boston wrote ‘I am from Hong Kong.’ An onslaught of Chinese anger followed. | WA Post
US Lawmakers Show Support for Hong Kong’s Advocacy Against Proposed Extradition Bill | NTD
Hong Kong is Set for a U.S.-China Showdown | FP
The End of Hong Kong Is Almost Here | FP
China tightens the screws on Hong Kong | The Hill
North Korea
North Korea lashes out at Joe Biden | CNN Video
Trump plays down North Korea’s missile test putting him at odds with Shinzo Abe | CNN
Retired Lt. Gen criticizes Trump’s North Korea tweet | CNN Video
Trump says ‘I have confidence’ after past North Korea missile tests | The Hill
Donald Trump and Abe’s friendship day: golf, sumo and barbecue | CNN
Trump brushes off North Korea’s launch of ‘some small weapons’ | Guardian
Military
‘Skyborg’ could let F-35 and F-15 fighter jets control their own companion drones | The Verge
The F-21 Could Be One Tough Fighter (With F-35 DNA). Here’s the Problem. | National Interest
Watch 2 F-35s flex in ‘beast mode’ in support of US troops in Afghanistan | Task & Purpose