Commentary / World Jul 17, 2023

Xi Jinping has a Russian albatross around his neck

Given the growing political turmoil in the Kremlin, Xi Jinping's big bet on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, has become much riskier.

Commentary / World Mar 22, 2023

What do America’s spies really think about China?

While U.S. spy agencies focus on China’s military, economic and technological capabilities, they omit too much when it comes to the country’s domestic political challenges.

Commentary / World Feb 3, 2022

The South China Sea’s environmental crisis

China’s expansive assertion of offshore sovereignty is not only challenging others’ territorial rights, it is also threatening a central feature of the Southeast Asian ecosystem — fishing.

Commentary / World Nov 10, 2021

Unfortunately for North Korea, there is a new boss in the White House

Despite making economic development his domestic priority five years ago, Kim has failed to improve basic living conditions in the country.

Commentary / World Jun 29, 2020

Chairman Kim goes back on script

U.S. President Donald Trump's "bromance" with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has played out more or less as most experts expected.

Commentary / World May 30, 2019

Kim Jong Un's moneyball strategy

The North's leader is quietly building a united front with China and Russia, much to the detriment of U.S. interests in the region.

Commentary / World Jan 29, 2019

Trump's North Korean road to nowhere

Judging by the outcome of the first meeting between Trump and Kim, U.S. allies in the region have good reason to be deeply concerned.

Commentary / World Nov 28, 2018

How Kim has gotten the best of Trump

Since the historic June summit, the North Koreans have reaped significant benefits without having to make any real concessions.

Commentary / World Aug 26, 2018

The populist war against intelligence

Ominously for the health of the democracies of the West, other populists are following Donald Trump's example in attacking their own intelligence agencies.