Zachary Keck

China issues no-go zone in disputed waters claimed by US ally It remains unclear whether the Chinese "no-sail zone" in the Yellow Sea was established for military activities.

“China has installed three structures—including a steel rig—on the western side of the PMZ. Seoul is concerned that they may be part of China's efforts to expand its territorial presence.” www.newsweek.com/china-news-m...

You've been DOGE'd. Here's how to prosper. It’s tough looking for a job.

You've been DOGE'd, but you can pivot and prosper. Introducing Career Contrarian, insights from someone who has changed job sectors many times.

open.substack.com/pub/careerco...

Vietnam's new leader is raising expectations to a new level Whether To Lam succeeds or fails, one thing is clear: he is remaking the country

Interesting article. Always dangerous for political leaders to set ambitious targets. asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Viet...

The U.S. Economy Depends More Than Ever on Rich People The highest-earning 10% of Americans account for almost 50% of all consumer spending.

Top 10% of Americans (based on income) account for 50% of consumption. www.wsj.com/economy/cons...

Restoring Freedom Of Speech And Ending Federal Censorship – The White House By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and section 301 of title 3, United

New Trump orders directs Attorney General to investigate "activities of the Federal Government over the last 4 years that are inconsistent with the purposes and policies of this [freedom of speech] order." www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

China’s Local Governments Settle Overdue Bills With Apartments, Not Cash In recent years, Chinese property developers have used unsold apartments to settle debts to construction companies and furniture suppliers. Now, Chinese local governments are following suit.

China’s reliance on real estate doesnt seem to have changed. They are just transferring around the increasingly worthless property around. www.wsj.com/world/china/...

China’s ‘Monster’ Ship Back in Disputed Waters, Philippines Says

The US’s Worst Fears of Chinese Hacking Are on Display in Guam

‘Chinese submarine drone’ in Philippine sea raises security fears - The Times of London

Israel built an ‘AI factory’ for war. It unleashed it in Gaza. Years before the Gaza war, Israel transformed its intelligence unit into an AI testing ground. Critics charge that the overhaul has fueled the death count in Gaza.

Interesting that Unit 8200, Israel’s equivalent of the NSA, runs its AI powered targeting system www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

China is building new detention centers all over the country as Xi Jinping widens corruption purge | CNN More than 200 specialized detention facilities have been built or expanded across China, a CNN investigation finds, as the Chinese leader extends his crackdown beyond the ruling Communist Party to a v...

Great reporting www.cnn.com/2024/12/28/c...

"The PRC probably will use its new fast breeder reactors and reprocessing facilities to produce plutonium for its nuclear weapons program, despite publicly maintaining these technologies are intended for peaceful purposes." media.defense.gov/2024/Dec/18/...

"DoD estimates the PRC has surpassed 600 operational nuclear warheads... as of mid-2024 and will have over 1,000 operational ... warheads by 2030, [many] deployed at higher readiness levels. The PRC will continue growing its force through at least 2035" media.defense.gov/2024/Dec/18/...

The Pentagon's annual report on Chinese military power is out. It has a number of interesting things in it. media.defense.gov/2024/Dec/18/...

China is rapidly expanding nuclear forces, says Pentagon

It’s amazing the American public is freaking out over imaginary foreign drones but doesn’t seem to care the Chinese Communist Party can read all their texts and listen in on their phone calls.

US, Japan and Philippine forces jointly patrol in South China Sea after hostilities involving China The United States has deployed a reconnaissance aircraft while Japan and the Philippines sent navy ships in a joint patrol in the disputed South China Sea two days after the allied forces condemned ac...

apnews.com/article/sout...

Bad six months. I don’t feel for them at all.

Who has had a worse fall: Iran or the Democratic Party?

How Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, Is Avoiding Billions in Taxes The chief executive of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, has taken advantage of popular loopholes in the federal estate and gift taxes, which have quietly been eviscerated.

For all the supposed populism I’m surprised more politicians haven’t focused on estate taxes www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/b...

Elon Musk: the ‘wild card’ in Trump’s dealings with China

China Targets Senior Admiral in New Round of Defense Purges

True. That cannot be assumed.

Separately, one problem with this article is it makes it seem to PRC only began weaponizing supply chains in response to U.S. policies. Beijing did this long before U.S. did any economic coercion towards China.

China Has a New Playbook to Counter Trump: ‘Supply Chain Warfare’ A series of swipes at American companies show how China could take the initiative in a new trade war, using its economic dominance to exact pain.

There will definitely be growing pains but ultimately too much PRC retailation would force businesses and governmetns to move away from PRC dependency sooner. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/b...

I think you’re right Allies’ missile production makes it harder to reinstate INF treaty. But proliferation of INF missiles likely hurts PRC and Russia more unless they find Western Hemisphere basing.

Good piece, I would quibble with MAD being the most basic component of deterrence theory. The bigger point is I think Russia & PRC might rue INF missiles for same reason Soviets ultimately did.

Trump taps financier and donor Phelan to be Navy secretary
www.politico.com/news/2024/11...

China’s defence minister placed under investigation for corruption US officials say probe is part of a wider operation to uncover graft in the People’s Liberation Army

Another one bites the dust www.ft.com/content/6414...

Trump Considers Defense Financiers for a Top Spot at Pentagon - The Wall Street Journal

China is laying the legal groundwork to seize Taiwan A likely precursor to any use of force by Beijing will be a public assertion of sovereignty over Taiwan.

Good article about how the PLA’s military actions are being used to create legal justifications thehill.com/opinion/inte...