The Asia Chessboard

Ahead of the 50th episode of the Asia Chessboard, we thought we would take a look back at some of our favorite conversations with key players from the past two and a half years. The first conversation is with Ambassador Richard Armitage, in which he and Mike grade the U.S., Japanese, and Chinese grand strategies in Asia. The second conversation features a discussion with Ambassador Kurt Tong on how the United States can rebuild its trade strategy in Asia. The last conversation is from our episode with Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed on the bipartisan nature of U.S. Asia strategy and the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. 

This week, Mike discusses the nuclear pieces on the Asia Chessboard with Caitlin Talmadge, professor at Georgetown University, as they explore the multipolar nuclear deterrence environment in the Indo-Pacific region. Mike and Caitlin analyze U.S. and Chinese nuclear capabilities, including China’s recent military build-up, the potential for nuclear arms races in the region, and the relationship between nuclear and conventional forces. They also touch on the debate surrounding a “no first use” nuclear policy and the upcoming U.S. nuclear posture review.

This week, Mike is celebrating 70 years of U.S.-Australia relations with Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. The two discuss the history and evolution of the ANZUS treaty and how alliance dynamics play out in both Washington and Canberra. They also contemplate the future of the alliance, including deepened U.S.-Australia security cooperation, the role of New Zealand in the alliance, Australian military capabilities, and trilateral cooperation with Japan.  

This week, Mike is back in the studio with Heino Klinck, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, to unpack the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and how it relates to U.S. allies and partners. Heino and Mike begin by exploring Chinese strategy towards the U.S. alliance network in Asia. They then discuss how U.S. allies and partners like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia should think about their roles, missions, and capabilities in response to Chinese aggressive behavior in the region.

This week, Mike sits down with Raden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa, former Foreign Minister of Indonesia, to explore current U.S.-Indonesia relations and U.S. foreign policy towards Southeast Asia. The two discuss Marty's time in government, and how the bilateral relationship should deal with issues like Myanmar, Covid-19, Chinese assertiveness, and climate change. Mike and Marty also talk about the importance of collaboration on democracy support in the region, and touch on the current situation in Afghanistan. 

This week, Mike is joined by Ambassador James Moriarty, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, to discuss his perspectives on political and security dynamics in the Taiwan Strait. Ambassador Moriarty considers how U.S. policy towards Taiwan has changed over his professional career, and examines Beijing’s intentions towards Taiwan. Finally, Mike and Ambassador Moriarty debate what Washington, Taipei, Tokyo and others need to do to maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing the need for increased deterrence and defense in depth. 

This week, Mike sits down with Bonny Lin, senior fellow for Asian security and the new director of the China Power Project at CSIS, to talk about one of the hottest topics on the Chessboard: the Taiwan Strait. Bonny and Mike assess if China and Taiwan are truly on the brink of war and dive into China's overall strategy towards Taiwan, including gray zone coercion and disinformation campaigns. They also discuss what U.S. commitment to Taiwan's security means for the region, and how U.S. allies in Asia and Europe fit into U.S. and Chinese strategic planning regarding the Taiwan Strait. 

This week, Mike sits down with Amitav Acharya, UNESCO Chair in Transnational Challenges and Governance and Distinguished Professor at American University, to unpack Amitav’s new book, ASEAN and Regional Order: Revisiting Security Community in Southeast Asia. Amitav and Mike assess the current state of ASEAN, its durability, and the meaning of ASEAN centrality. They also discuss the role of the QUAD, the impact of U.S.-China competition on Southeast Asia, and how the U.S. can improve its engagement with Southeast Asia.

This week, Mike is joined by Darshana Baruah, associate fellow with the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean to the United States and our allies and partners in the region. Darshana provides historical context for the new focus on the Indo-Pacific, and dives into the politics of the Indian Ocean region. Mike and Darshana also tackle the rise of Chinese influence and how the Indian Ocean fits in with U.S.-China strategic competition. Overall, the two agree that there needs to be more focus in the United States on building a presence in the Indian Ocean, and in dealing with the Indian Ocean as a whole, rather than dividing it into geographical silos. 

This week, Mike is joined by Mike O’Hanlon, senior fellow and director of research in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, to discuss his new book, “The Art of War in an Age of Peace,” and how his new vision for U.S. grand strategy relates to the Asia-Pacific. The two begin by defining what “resolute restraint” means for U.S. Asia policy, especially regarding the rise of China, as they explore issue areas like the South China Sea. O’Hanlon makes a distinction between restraint and retrenchment, and argues for prioritizing existing commitments in Asia to our treaty allies, rather than creating new security obligations.