Phelim Kine

Imagine a world in which the State Department held a public press briefing so we can figure out what the heck is going on with our embassies and citizens overseas... but they don't do those anymore.

Opinion | Now is the time for China to show it’s serious about opening up The ‘two sessions’ is Beijing’s chance to demonstrate reliability as nations reassess their ties with China and the US in an increasingly fragmented global order.

The Groundhog Day narrative of Chinese engagement advocates. Beijing is always just around the corner from — it's soooo close, just be patient! — finally prying open its economy and markets to unimpeded foreign access. A ritualistic triumph of hope over experience. www.scmp.com/opinion/chin...

A controversial Karen warlord’s quiet stop in Taipei - Taipei Times Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

Taipei's strange diplomatic bedfellows 2026 edition: "The low-key visit of Myanmar faction leader Nerdah Bomya — accused of war crimes and proclaiming a breakaway “republic” — raises delicate questions for Taiwan’s diplomacy and regional ties" via David Frazier www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...

Taiwan opposition force open to passing special defense budget if U.S. OKs new arms package The chair of the Taiwan People’s Party has ruled out writing a “blank check” for the government by passing the $40 billion in funding without a commitment from Washington.

Taiwan opposition's latest defense budget obstruction move: We'll pass that long-stalled $40 billion defense budget...but only if the U.S. approves another big arms sale *before *the Trump-Xi summit www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03...

Kafka understood that an even greater indignity than being turned into a giant insect was still being required to go to work afterward.

"You may feel that it was cruel as there were women and children … But if we showed them mercy by killing the adults and leaving the children, when the children grow up, they would hate our country. Therefore, it had to be done.”

From Jonathan Karl: Pres Trump told me tonight the US had identified possible candidates to take over Iran, but they were killed in the initial attack. "The attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates," Trump told me. "It's not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead. Second or third place is dead."

😬

Taiwan in Time: Refugees shot on sight - Taipei Times Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

Han Cheung on the Leiyu Massacre of Vietnamese boat people in 1987
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
#Taiwan

This is the PRC that has a mock-up of Taiwan's presidential palace constructed to practice decapitation attacks.

Reza Pahlavi makes his pitch to lead Iran His pitch to the White House? MIGA: Make Iran Great Again. And there’s money to be made with Pahlavi as a partner.

Reza Pahlavi is arguing that he's best positioned to take over Iran in the aftermath of war.

His pitch to the White House? MIGA: Make Iran Great Again — and there’s money to be made with Pahlavi as a partner.

China 'strongly condemns’ killing of Khamenei It described the attack as "a grave violation."

www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

Lin Family killing archives declassified, but key evidence destroyed: Lai - Focus Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Saturday that all archives concerning the unresolved 1980 Lin family massacre have been declassified for public review, though evidence regarding the perpetrators rem...

1980 Lin Family killing 林宅血案 archives declassified but key evidence destroyed, President Lai says – Focus Taiwan

Taiwan and the Politics of ‘Murder of the Century’ A new film attempts to rewrite one of the most infamous murders of Taiwan’s martial era in a way that aligns with China’s interests.

Excellent piece
thediplomat.com/2026/02/taiw...

this is what they said it would be like under socialism

Statement on the comments from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Anthropic's response to the Secretary of War and advice for customers

Anthropic: "First, we do not believe that today’s frontier AI models are reliable enough to be used in fully autonomous weapons. Second, we believe that mass domestic surveillance of Americans constitutes a violation of fundamental rights." www.anthropic.com/news/stateme...

Netflix Backs Out of Bid for Warner Bros., Paving Way for an Ellison Takeover

The richest man owns X.

The second and third richest men control Google.

The fourth richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The fifth richest man owns The Washington Post.

And now the sixth richest could soon take over both Paramount and Warner Bros.

See the problem here?

guess who bought a leather trenchcoat just last month 😞

Insight: How China is masking drone flights in potential Taiwan rehearsal A large Chinese military drone has conducted regular flights over the South China Sea in recent months while transmitting false transponder signals that made it appear to be other aircraft, including ...

How PRC masks drone flights in rehearsal for attacking Taiwan.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...

Trump’s next tariff fight: Keeping the money After Trump’s Supreme Court tariff defeat, administration officials are devising legal strategies that would let the president keep some — or maybe even most — of the revenue, five people familiar wit...

"Early ideas include policies to discourage companies from claiming their refunds, prevent the government from paying the money back or otherwise preserve at least some of the tariff revenue" @politico.com @meganmesserly.bsky.social @ddesrochers.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

Got into discussion with tankies who denied this. US policy is here; Taiwan's status is unresolved. Taiwanese who naturalize get US passports with birthplace listed as Taiwan.

A diplomatic pickle for Beijing given that they placed Rubio on a sanctions list a few years ago that bars him from entry to China. "Rubio indicated he expected to travel with Trump, to whom he is also national security advisor. " www.firstpost.com/world/rubio-...

FOX NEWS: Are we going to war?

THUNE: I think the president is preparing us to defend America's vital national security interests. We cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran.

Rep. Al Green was holding a sign that reads "Black People Aren't Apes" at the State of the Union:

Rep. Al Green was holding a sign that reads "Black People Aren't Apes" at the #SOTU:

What Trump avoided in the State of the Union could haunt him in November The president’s state of the union was notable for something his second term has largely lacked: restraint.

"The historically long address was, in some ways, nearly indistinguishable from Trump’s daily patter in the Oval Office, on Air Force One or in the White House driveway" via @elistokols.bsky.social @politico.com www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

Recently on the Formosa Files Podcast: Austrian Traveler’s 1898 Journey Through Early Japanese Taiwan - Kaohsiung Times Three-part series presents the first known English translation of Adolf Fischer’s 1900 travelogue, offering rare outsider observations on colonial Taiwan from Dadaocheng to Takao.

Formosa Files: first English translation of 1898 Austrian traveler in Formosa
www.kaohsiungtimes.com/recently-on-...

POLITICO Pro: US-Taiwan trade deal teeters as island’s opposition revolts The Supreme Court’s rejection of the Trump administration’s “reciprocal” tariffs last week has hardened Taiwan’s political opposition to the deal announced earlier this month.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision on Trump tariffs “completely overturned” the agreement’s legal basis and requires President Lai to “report to the legislature immediately and consider reopening negotiations" via @politico.com @arihawkins.bsky.social subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026...

4 Minnesota guys

China and the US alter foreign aid strategies China's foreign aid strategy has shifted in the last few decades and now its model may be the one the US is adopting as China moves away from it.

“the U.S. is moving toward a more transactional model long associated with Beijing, and China is positioning itself to become a bigger presence in global health and development.” China and the US change approaches to foreign aid

www.npr.org/2026/02/24/n...

Campaigners for the release of imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai say they'll keep up the pressure on Olympic ski champion Eileen Gu to speak out on Lai's behalf. In today's @politico.com California Playbook bit.ly/4b8wkLK