South Korea’s Foreign Policy: Leaderless, but Not Rudderless
Within a week North Korea has gone beyond its New Year’s Day promise that it was close to testing an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile), claiming […] More
Asia
U.S. Intel Report: Putin Directed Campaign to Help Trump
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a cyber and influence campaign aimed at interfering in the United States election and boosting President-elect Donald Trump’s chances, according […] More
Sanctions Against Russia: Too Little, Too Late?
Whether President-elect Donald Trump will keep in place the Obama administration sanctions against Russia for its interference in the U.S. election remains to be seen. […] More
Presidents vs. The Kremlin
New presidents often think they can redefine relations with Russia. But will Washington ever get along with Moscow if the Kremlin does not share Western […] More
Eyes on the Kremlin: Russia and the World in 2016
Editor’s Note: Over the coming days, The Cipher Brief presents some of our most incisive coverage on key issues of 2016 and a look ahead […] More
The Party Endures: China and the World in 2016
Editor’s Note: Over the coming days, The Cipher Brief presents some of our most incisive coverage on key issues of 2016 and a look ahead […] More
China’s Supremo
Since coming to power in 2012, China’s Xi Jinping has reforged the Chinese Communist Party with his anti-corruption campaign and his accumulation of titles. In […] More
Cracks in the Chinese Powerhouse
For years, China’s GDP has soared under its hybrid model of a free-market and command economy. But as growth slows and debt levels rise, are […] More
Trading with Trump: The Future of TPP
During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly slammed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a “bad deal” that would harm U.S. workers and export jobs to […] More
Japan and the TPP: Opportunity Knocks
During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly slammed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a “bad deal” that would harm U.S. workers and export jobs to […] More
Whither Trump Trade in Asia
The election of Donald Trump and the demise of the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement has unleashed a flood of anxiety-ridden commentary […] More
Trump in East Asia: No Time for Spring Training
President-elect Donald Trump’s first meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to have gone smoothly, though it remains too soon to say what policies […] More
Security Risks amid South Korea’s Turmoil
Political turmoil in South Korea, following its president’s impeachment, could be exacerbated if North Korea tries to take advantage of a vacuum. That’s according to […] More
Playing the Taiwan Card
On November 25th, six Chinese aircraft—two nuclear-capable H-6K bombers, two Su-30 fighters, and two surveillance planes—participated in an exercise near Taiwan’s airspace. Four of the […] More
Catching China Off Guard
The December 2nd phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is the first such communication between a U.S. president or president-elect […] More
The U.S.-Japan Alliance: A Safe Harbor
On Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, alongside U.S. President Barack Obama, made a landmark visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His appearance marked the first […] More
Rebalancing the U.S.-Japan Relationship Under Trump
As President-elect prepares to take office, the new administration has an opportunity to adjust U.S. foreign policy direction with key allies. After a recent meeting […] More
Abe and Trump: Shared Interests, Uncertain Ground
The uncertainty surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s foreign policy platform caused a sense of unease in Japan over the future of cooperation with the U.S. on […] More