Hoo Chiew-Ping, PhD @HooCP

Official 🇮🇩 Navy statement on recent exercise with 🇨🇳 around east of Taiwan 👇🏻 * KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai was on its way back from Vladivostok conducted passing exercise with countries on its route * passing exercise is not war fighting in nature but as part of universal naval tradition * the exercise is a goodwill engagement as a form of naval brotherhood and diplomacy * free and active foreign policy gives beneficial cooperative opportunities with any country including passex My own take: • exercise partner was not mentioned or the location. The shockwaves we’ve seen (see ex: thejakartapost.com/world/2026/08/… are obv not due of form (passex) but where (location) and with whom (partner). Also not mentioned is Japan, where the ship spent time in between.  • There is no specific policy rupture, change or new direction from Jakarta. By which I mean, no, the TNI is *not* getting ready to join a future military operation or blockade of Taiwan in any shape or form.  • one form of military exercise maybe seen by one side as standard  practice and even bare minimum in operational complexity, but it could presented by the other side as something more strategic and will be perceived by others still as even threatening. Exercises cannot be seen in an operational or tactical vacuum. Strategic context will always cast a long shadow over any military behaviour. Wishing strategic context away never works.   • Major “asks” from regional and major powers to Indonesia have always and will continue to take place. The challenge is how Jakarta consider them and the extent to which the answer/response is measured and strategically and systematically worked out by the appropriate policy ecosystem.  • Regardless of thought and decision making process, any behaviour by Indonesia, esp in defence and diplomatic realm, will carry significant ripple effects and strategic consequences, for better or for worse.  • strategic policy making in times of competitive pressures is extremely difficult in the best times. One cannot please everyone nor can one afford to annoy everyone all at once over everything. Resources are finite, partners come and go, and single-vector threats are luxuries. Free and active policy needs to be systematic and purposeful, not free-wheeling

Why the West Keeps Losing Critical Mineral Assets to China Washington frequently responds to transactions already underway, while Beijing systematically identifies and pursues opportunities years in advance. csis.org/analysis/why-w…

South Korea and Japan are considering a military logistics support agreement. "Japan and Korea have shared interests and approaches to protecting their national interests and preserving strategic autonomy," @PMCroninHudson told @SCMPNews. "To ensure they retain a strong alliance with the US, each is assuming greater burdens and building up their own capabilities." scmp.com/news/china/mil…

News on Japan: Taiwan has asked that Japan and the Philippines respect ⁠its rights and territory when they hold talks on their maritime border, Taipei’s foreign ministry said Wednesday. Read More: japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/0…

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to address concerns about the Trump administration reducing support for Taiwan due to pressure from China on Tuesday, arguing that China's constant attempt to mention U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during the Trump-Xi summit isn't the reason why approval of the $14 billion arms package for Taipei was held up by the Trump administration. While the message is clear, as long as the administration continues to delay approval of the arms package, anxiety and skepticism about U.S. credibility will remain high in Taiwan at this point. mainichi.jp/english/articl…

Details of the bridge and combat information center (CIC) on board the Korean People's Navy's latest surface combatant Choe Hyun during Kim's visit yesterday. rodong.rep.kp/ko/index.php?M…

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Sanae Takaichi has won the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election and is set to become Japan's FIRST female PM. What does this mean for neighboring countries? @JoshuaMWilkes @imtienyikrislih dominotheory.com/loyal-friend-o…

In addition to the Hegseth-Dong call, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also had a call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a carefully choreographed day of U.S.-China high-level diplomacy.

Excited to share my latest article on a critical blind spot in Europe’s green transition: “China - Rare Earths: Europe, China, and the Risks of a One-Dimensional Decarbonization Agenda." @eu_eeas @EUdelChina @EU_Partnerships Thank you @chinaobservers chinaobservers.eu/rare-earths-eu… via @chinaobservers

“Why did these sanctions prove so much more effective than prior efforts? Partly because Beijing has been improving its toolkit, building a legal regime to cut strategic exports and improve knowledge of trade partners’ pain points.” ft.com/content/77eabb…

At a recent #GTI seminar, Zoë Weaver-Lee analyzed Taiwan's economic policies under Taiwan's president Lai-Ching-te. Taiwan can't afford to put all of its eggs in one basket through TSMC and its semiconductors. To learn more, watch the event here: ow.ly/BBJZ50W75Ak

TOMORROW! What does the future of air, space & nuclear security look like? Join leading experts as they unpack the UK’s Strategic Defence Review, exploring key topics like the ‘NATO First’ allegiance & warfighting readiness.🚀 🗓️13 June | 💻Online 🔗bit.ly/4e04mBH

Exclusive: Trump set to waive some legal requirements to boost critical minerals reuters.com/world/us/trump…

The semiconductor value chain is not collapsing, but it is being strategically reshaped, observes @LKYSch's Eduardo Araral. Governments should act accordingly. bit.ly/3HpI5RK

Report: Foxconn invests nearly NT$1.7 billion to secure usage rights for two Texas plants, boosting AI server production capacity. Hon Hai announced that its subsidiary, Foxconn Assembly LLC, has reached an agreement with TDC Innerbelt NW 34 Partners LLC to secure the leasehold rights to two factory buildings in Houston, Texas, totaling 601,600 square feet. The leases run for 122 months and 124 months, respectively. Hon Hai said the space is being taken to meet operational needs. In late November 2024, Hon Hai—also on behalf of Foxconn Assembly LLC—disclosed a US $33.033 million (about NT$10.7 billion) investment to acquire land and plant facilities in Harris County, Texas. According to the company’s annual report, Foxconn Assembly LLC is headquartered in Houston. At its mid‑May investor briefing, Hon Hai forecast that 2025 capital spending would rise by more than 20%, with 60–70% directed toward capacity expansion at sites in India, Vietnam, the United States, and Mexico. In mid‑April, AI‑chip giant NVIDIA said it is building a supercomputer plant in Texas and is collaborating with Hon Hai and Wistron to construct supercomputer factories in Houston and Dallas, aiming to begin mass production within 12–15 months.

Aides to ⁦@USDPColby⁩ fill key positions at the Pentagon. John Noh to be assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs, Alex Velez-Green to be deputy undersecretary for policy, Austin Dahmer picked for assistant secretary for strategy. asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Inter…

🇰🇷FLASH — LEE JAE MYUNG OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED AS SOUTH KOREA’S PRESIDENT, gavel from the head of the National Election Commission signals Lee’s 5-year term begins immediately.

Update: South Korea's presidential election records 79.4% turnout, the highest in 28 years.

Raphael Rashid @koryodynasty

a year ago

BREAKING: EXIT POLLS SUGGEST LEE JAE-MYUNG HAS WON SOUTH KOREA'S SNAP PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

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@supbrow @ASEANWonk @nktpnd @EvanLaksmana @IanJStorey @graham_euan @ChongJaIan @CollinSLKoh @TangAnZhu @BicTranVn @willschoong @BDHerzinger @MelGohCNA @hmarston4 😂

The PRC's Maritime Safety Administration has posted a navigation warning for live fire training north of the Taiwan Strait. Entry is prohibited from 0400 May 17th to 1000 May 19th.