Trump administration

Colby Tweet Tantrum Shows Trump Administration’s Desire to Have Empire and Eat It, Too

Brian Hioe
A recent series of tweets by Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of War in the Trump administration, lashes out at the idea of “middle powers” supplanting US dominance. Colby claims that “We at [the Department of War] are not concerned that this is a serious possibility. Rather, we are more concerned that a few allies and partners will *think it is* and waste valuable time, money, and political capital on a distraction.”...
America and the Asia PacificEnglishFeaturedInternationalJuly 20264 min read

A Return to “One China” for Cheng Li-wun?

Brian Hioe
Recent comments in an online interview by KMT chair Cheng Li-wun, shortly after her travels to the US and China, prove bizarre. Specifically, Cheng doubled down on the view that Taiwan and China both belong to “One China.” Cheng claimed that this is the “status quo” and that the DPP is seeking to establish a “new ‘two-state’ theory,” while suggesting that there was no other alternative to her view. Otherwise, Cheng continued to double down on the 1992 Consensus as the bedrock for cross-strait relations...
Cross StraitEnglishInternationalJanuary 2026Politics4 min read

“How Taiwan Lost Trump” Proves a MAGA Fever Dream That Does Not Reflect The Realities of Trumpism

Brian Hioe
A recent Substack post by Christian Whiton, an advisor to the Bush and Trump administrations, proves an odd fever dream about Taiwan. Even if not framed in such terms, the gist of Whiton’s argument about Taiwan is, in effect, that the Trump administration’s recent actions directed toward Taiwan are driven by a lack of faith in Taiwan because of its embrace of the woke Left...
America and the Asia PacificAugust 2025EnglishInternationalPolitics7 min read

Pan-Blue Camp Embraces Claims That Trump Intends to Impose 32% Tariff on Taiwan

Brian Hioe
The pan-Blue camp has hit out at US-Taiwan ties, through claims that the US intends to impose a 32% tariff rate on Taiwan. This proves a charged issue ahead of the recall vote set to take place on Saturday, as pan-Blue figures have begun claiming that the eventual tariff rate imposed on Taiwan will be 32%...
America and the Asia PacificEnglishInternationalJuly 2025PoliticsSelf-DeterminationSocial MovementsYouth Movements6 min read