David Brunnstrom - The Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS

Jul 27, 2021

U.S. and China positions ossify at entrenched Tianjin talks

With no indication of a U.S.-China leaders' summit in the works, nor any outcomes announced from high-level diplomatic talks on Monday, relations between Beijing and Washington appear to be at a standstill as both sides insist the other must make concessions for ties to improve.

ASIA PACIFIC

Jul 2, 2021

U.S. calls buildup of China's nuclear arsenal 'concerning'

The buildup had become more difficult for China to hide and it appeared it was deviating from decades of nuclear strategy based around minimal deterrence, a U.S. spokesperson said.

ASIA PACIFIC

Oct 13, 2020

White House moves forward on three arms sales to Taiwan

The move in the run-up to the Nov. 3 U.S. election is likely to anger China, which considers Taiwan a wayward province.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 30, 2019

With a piece of paper, Trump called on Kim to hand over all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons

On the day that their talks in Hanoi collapsed last month, U.S. President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Sep 1, 2018

Trump to skip summits with Asian leaders in Singapore and Papua New Guinea; Pence to attend

U.S. President Donald Trump will skip summits with Asian leaders in Singapore and Papua New Guinea in November, sending Vice President Mike Pence in his place, the White House said on Friday, an announcement that will raise questions about his commitment to a regional strategy to counter China.

ASIA PACIFIC

May 15, 2018

Safety and verification questions hang over North Korea's plan to close nuclear site

Shutting down North Korea's nuclear test site is trickier than it might seem.

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Sep 27, 2017

North Korea's bark may be worse than bite in threat to shoot down U.S. bombers

North Korea has threatened to shoot down U.S. bombers flying near the Korean Peninsula, but it would have difficulty matching its words with action given aging air defense systems mostly dating to the Cold War, military experts said.

ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS

Aug 25, 2017

U.S. possesses a powerful — but risky — tool to halt North Korea's nuclear progress

The U.S. government is turning the screws on companies that do business with North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions but has stopped short of taking the more aggressive — and riskier — move of targeting Chinese banks that facilitate Pyongyang's trade in arms and other banned goods.

ASIA PACIFIC

Jul 22, 2017

U.S. presses Myanmar to cease military ties with North Korea

Myanmar's military has maintained ties with North Korea, even though the civilian-led government denies any cooperation, and the Trump administration is pressing for a complete break-off of remaining links, current and former U.S. officials said.

ASIA PACIFIC

Jul 14, 2017

New U.S. sanctions eyed on Chinese firms with North Korea ties: officials

Frustrated that China has not done more to rein in North Korea, the Trump administration could impose new sanctions on small Chinese banks and other firms doing business with Pyongyang within weeks, two senior U.S. officials said.

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Apr 4, 2017

When Trump and Xi meet, will it mean conciliation or collision?

When U.S. President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, their summit will be marked not only by deep policy divisions but a clash of personalities between America's brash "tweeter-in-chief" and Beijing's cautious, calculating leader.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 21, 2017

Trump administration weighing broad sanctions on North Korea, top U.S. official says

The Trump administration is considering sweeping sanctions aimed at cutting North Korea off from the global financial system as part of a broad review of measures to counter Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threat, a senior U.S. official said Monday.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Jan 24, 2017

Trump White House warns Beijing over 'takeover' of South China Sea

The new U.S. administration of President Donald Trump vowed Monday that the United States would prevent China from taking over territory in international waters in the South China Sea, something Chinese state media has warned would require Washington to "wage war."

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS

Jan 14, 2017

Trump team sends out contradictory signals as it seeks to craft tougher China policy

The incoming U.S. administration's tough talk against China has set the stage for showdowns on everything from security to trade and cyberspace, but contradictory signals are sowing uncertainty over how far President-elect Donald Trump is prepared to go in confronting Beijing.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Dec 14, 2016

Top U.S. official says Taiwan needs to increase defense spending due to threat from China

Defense spending in Taiwan has not kept pace with the threat posed by China and should be increased, a senior U.S. defense official said on Tuesday, days after President-elect Donald Trump touched off a storm by questioning American policy over the island.

ASIA PACIFIC

Nov 22, 2016

Seoul would have to take greater defense burden if Trump demands: top South Korean official

South Korea would have to embrace the idea of taking a greater share of defense costs "if there is a huge demand" for this from the future U.S. administration of Donald Trump, a South Korean minister said Monday.

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Jul 28, 2016

U.S. diplomatic strategy on South China Sea appears to founder

In the lead-up to an international court ruling on China's claims in the South China Sea this month, American officials talked about rallying a coalition to impose "terrible" costs to Beijing's reputation if it flouted the court's decision.

ASIA PACIFIC

Jun 21, 2016

U.S. Navy chief hopes carriers deter East Asia destabilization

The U.S. Navy chief said on Monday he hoped the deployment of two aircraft carriers on a training mission in East Asia would deter any attempts to destabilize the region, where military tensions have risen amid China's growing assertiveness.

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Apr 16, 2016

North Korea likelier to try another nuclear test following failed missile launch, experts say

The likelihood of North Korea conducting a fifth nuclear test, possibly within weeks, has increased because of its failed missile launch on Friday, which was an embarrassing setback for leader Kim Jong Un, South Korean officials and international experts said.

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Apr 13, 2016

North Korea lifts veil on arms program to impress enemies and its own people

Ahead of a rare congress of the ruling party next month, secretive North Korea is revealing details of its weapons development program for the first time, showcasing its push to develop long-range nuclear missiles despite international sanctions.

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