The Asia Chessboard

Ja Ian Chong, an Associate Professor of Political Science at the National University of Singapore and an expert on Indo-Pacific geopolitics, delves into critical issues facing the region. He draws compelling parallels between historical conflicts and today's tensions, emphasizing the urgency of conflict prevention. The conversation highlights Singapore's quest for strategic autonomy amidst rising ideological divides and the need to rethink ASEAN's role. Chong also discusses the impact of changing global dynamics on Singapore’s relationships with major powers like the US and China.

This week Mike speaks with Michael Schiffer, former Assistant Administrator of the USAID Bureau for Asia from 2022 to 2025. Prior to that he was Senior Advisor and Counselor to the U.S. Senate Committee of Foreign Relations. They discuss foreign aid and its role in supporting U.S. interests abroad.  

This week Mike speaks with Richard Rossow, an esteemed expert who has focused on U.S.-India Relations for over 25 years. He is currently Senior Adviser and Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. They discuss the activities of the Quad, U.S.-India relations, how India could grow its trade partnership with the United States, and more. 

This week Mike speaks with Ian Storey, Senior Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and Editor of the Contemporary Southeast Asia journal. His new book is Putin's Russia and Southeast Asia: The Kremlin's Pivot to Asia and the Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War and is the first single-authored book on Russia and Southeast Asia to be published since the end of the cold war. It can be found using this link.

This week Mike speaks to Congressman Ami Bera, who represents California’s Sixth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Representative Bera is a senior Democrat serving as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. They discuss the role of Congress in determining U.S. Indo Pacific Strategy.

This week Mike speaks to Ben Buchanan, Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and former Director for Technology and National Security on the National Security Council and White House Special Advisor on AI. He was also the former Director of the CyberAI Project at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University and has written several influential books. They discuss AI competition between the U.S. and China.

This week Mike joins Mira Rapp-Hooper, a political scientist and expert on the Indo-Pacific who formerly served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania at the National Security Council, White House. From 2021-2023 she served as Director for Indo-Pacific Strategy at the National Security Council, where she was responsible for the White House’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

This week Mike joins Victor Cha, President OF Geopolitics andForeign Policy Department and Korea Chair at CSIS. From 2021 to 2025, he was appointedby Joseph R. Biden administration to serve on the Defense Policy Board in anadvisory role to the secretary of defense. From 2004 to 2007, he served on theNational Security Council (NSC) and was responsible for Japan, Korea,Australia/New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations. They discuss South Korea'srecently failed coup in 2024, and the future of South Korean internationalrelations in the region. 

Nobukatsu Kanehara, a professor at Doshisha University and former aide to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, dives into Japan's evolving foreign policy and its implications for the region. He discusses the historical shifts driven by leaders like Abe and the U.S.-Japan alliance. Kanehara critiques unconventional foreign policy ideas, such as an 'Asian NATO,' while analyzing Japan's strategic role amid the Ukraine crisis and potential tensions with Taiwan. His insights highlight Japan's growing significance in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

Mike hosts Sue-Lin Wong, the Economist’s Southeast Asia correspondent. She was formerly a China correspondent for The Economist and host of The Prince, a multiple award-winning Economist podcast series about Xi Jinping. They discuss Southeast Asia and her new podcast Scam Inc.