Phelim Kine

Trump seeks peace ceremony spotlight at ASEAN summit Trump wants to preside over a Thailand-Cambodia peace deal ceremony — and Chinese officials aren’t welcome.

The White House is conditioning Trump’s attendance at the Oct. 26-28 ASEAN meeting on allowing Trump to preside over a ceremonial signing of a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand. And ensuring that Chinese officials don't crash that party. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Inside the Chinese AI threat to security

"What’s the exact nature of China's AI security threat? We asked four experts to break it down for us — and the answers run from the deeply wonky to the apocalyptic" www.politico.com/newsletters/...

‘Spiral into crisis’: The U.S.-China military hotline is dangerously broken The Pentagon just had its first virtual meeting with China's military. But former officials warn the communications gap could lead to war.

Kurt Campbell today: "Despite repeated attempts by U.S. officials to improve military-to-military comms, China has resisted establishing & codifying even basic rules of the road" bit.ly/47hPL1V www.politico.com/news/2021/09... That makes this 2021 @politico story evergreen 😬

Why the US may have to sue for economic peace with China Despite the bellicose rhetoric often emanating from the White House and Capitol Hill, don’t be surprised if the two sides reach a pragmatic deal.

"Washington can’t easily bully Beijing any more. China doesn’t just have the ability to soak up punishment from the US in the form of tariffs and sanctions — It also has the strength to strike back" www.semafor.com/article/10/0...

Quite an unusual public statement from the Dutch government last month that clarified ahead of Taiwan foreign minister Lin, that they would not meet him due to the One China Policy

(via @sehof)

www.government.nl/do...

In the Khabarovsk Krai region of Russia, citizens will now be limited to purchasing only 10 liters (2.64 US gallons) of gasoline every 3 days.

This may be bad, but just wait until next week.

Russian drones are crossing NATO borders. What happens if one kills someone?

Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...

Today, Oct.2nd, is the anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by Saudi agents.

an illustration of a woman holding a chimpanzee with the words " least i can do is speak out " ALT: an illustration of a woman holding a chimpanzee with the words " least i can do is speak out "

"The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves"

Rest easy Jane 🫶🏽

Potential opening on military comms with Beijing The U.S. has long struggled to foster reliable military-to-military communications with China.

Is Beijing finally willing to establish substantive and reliable U.S.-China military communications to prevent "unintended conflict" ? China's Def Min Dong Jun nodded in the affirmative to @rokhanna.bsky.social & @adamsmith.house.gov via @politico.com NatSec Daily www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Soybeans sacrificed in Trump’s China gamble China’s freeze on U.S. soybean purchases hits a key GOP constituency in the run-up to 2026 midterm elections

“China’s move to stop buying U.S. soybeans underscores how Trump’s ambitions to use aggressive tariffs as a lever for better trade deals with Beijing have repeatedly backfired” Grace Yarrow @arihawkins.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

POLITICO Pro: Soybeans sacrificed in Trump’s China gamble China’s freeze on U.S. soybean purchases hits a key GOP constituency in the run-up to 2026 midterm elections

"In the midst of Trump's tariff war on Beijing, U.S. soybean farmers are learning that China — long the predominant market for their product — doesn’t need them anymore "w/ Grace Yarrow @arihawkins.bsky.social @politico.com subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

My Dinner With Duterte

ICC charges ex-Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte with crimes against humanity www.bbc.com/news/article... hrw.org/news/2016/11... Digong - if you're reading this, remember: I warned you this would come, sooner or later.

ICC charges ex-Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte with crimes against humanity. He had help in that murderous so-called "drug war." Time to round up his accomplices www.bbc.com/news/article...

How ‘Safe China’ sells its security strategy to the world Global leaders — and not just autocrats — are lining up to learn about Beijing’s policing tactics and surveillance state

Global outreach by China’s internal security apparatus now matches or even exceeds diplomacy by the People’s Liberation Army. Huawei advertises that its surveillance platforms leave criminals — or dissidents — 'nowhere to hide.''" @sheenagreitens.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/5c42...

[News analysis] Korea digs in its heels as US pressures it for a blank check US demands for free rein over the US$350 billion in investments that Korea pledged have prompted some in the Korean government to deem it preferable to accept the 25% tariff rather than bow to unreaso...

South Korea digs in its heels as US pressures it for a blank check – Hankyoreh: ‘many in and adjacent to the South Korean administration are staking out a hard-line position that Korea would be better off accepting a 25% tariff on its exports to the US than bowing to unreasonable demands.’

TikTok deal? Hurry up and wait, folks. "TikTok matters much more to the U.S. than to the Chinese side, so this is a relatively low-cost way for China to bait the Trump administration into a summit. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Global survey: Eight in 10 top businesses plan to increase green investments Capgemini poll of executives at firms representing $10.7tr in annual revenues shows most top businesses plan to stick with net zero timelines

Second major survey this week shows that despite the talk of an 'ESG backlash' a large majority of the world's biggest businesses plan to continue to increase investment in decarbonisation and climate resilience. www.businessgreen.com/news/4519187...

As Trump nears TikTok pact, trade gains remain elusive Trump poised to claim victory with TikTok sale “framework” amidst wider U.S.-China trade impasse.

"Despite the administration’s rosy rhetoric, there’s scant evidence that efforts to arm-twist Beijing into a more favorable trade relationship are paying off" via @meganmesserly.bsky.social @ddesrochers.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

As Trump nears TikTok pact, trade gains remain elusive Trump poised to claim victory with TikTok sale “framework” amidst wider U.S.-China trade impasse.

"Think of it as the Walmart effect — China’s waiting for Walmart to run out of inventory stockpiled in anticipation of the expiration of the tariff ceasefire and the banks are all predicting gloom and doom when those inventories will have run out.” www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

‘We want our Americans back’ — US prisoners loom over Trump-Xi summit Supporters of two U.S. citizens jailed in China are pressing the White House to put their release on the agenda of the upcoming Trump-Xi summit.

SCOOP: A pressure campaign that seeks the release of two U.S. citizens from prison in China appears to be getting some traction with the Trump administration www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

HK leader’s upcoming Policy Address to push for AI-powered governance: reports HK Chief Executive John Lee will announce various measures to push for AI-powered governance when he delivers his annual Policy Address on Wednesday, according to multiple local media outlets.

HK Chief Executive John Lee will announce various measures to push for AI-powered governance when he delivers his annual Policy Address on Wednesday, according to multiple local media outlets. In full: buff.ly/IwCE7NZ

What's up with TikTok? I shared my views with @aljazeera.com on what the "deal" between the U.S. and China really means (or not...). mediaview.aljazeera.com/video/VAbaKI...

China's Commerce Ministry today on U.S. secondary sanctions threat: "The U.S. attempt to coerce relevant parties into imposing 'secondary tariffs' on China over its purchase of Russian oil is a typical act of unilateral bullying and economic coercion" www.mofcom.gov.cn/xwfb/xwfyrth...

Moolenaar: What Has LeBron James Learned About the Chinese Communist Party? Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar responded to LeBron James’ tour of China—his 15th visit with Nike to the CCP-controlled nation. In 2019, James criticized basketball executive Daryl M...

China committee chair @repmoolenaar.bsky.social asks all the right questions about Lebron James' romance with Beijing selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/media/press-...

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A new mural by elusive street artist Banksy showing a judge beating an unarmed protester with a gavel will be removed from a wall outside one of London’s most iconic courts /AP

Democrats blast Trump on the economy after weak jobs report The president has faced weakening jobs numbers — and Democrats are ready to use it to win over working-class voters who strayed away from them.

Democrats criticize Trump on the economy after a weak jobs report.

“Trump’s Economy is in the gutter,” read an email blast from the DNC.

The Case for U.S.-China Space Diplomacy Relations between Washington and Beijing are spiraling down in a number of areas. But there’s one region where the two might actually get along.

Amid the saber-rattling "Space Race 2.0" rhetoric there are really good reasons why the U.S. and China should cooperate on civilian space activities. My take guest- helming the @politico.com Pro Space newsletter today www.politico.com/newsletters/...

The pigeon heist: How racing birds became the target of organized crime Pigeon races in Chinese cities became opulent symbols of China’s economic boom, with purses over $100 million — exceeding most of the world’s major sports.

this story could not be more tailored to me. How Chinese pigeon passion has fueled a crime wave in the Flemish countryside…

www.washingtonpost.com/world/intera...