This is so good. Xi, a northerner, is a different type of leader and his continental focus is clear in the numbers. @reidstan rferl.org/a/china-xi-jinping…

FT: China abruptly cancelled two important diplomatic meetings with the EU this month as tensions between the two trading superpowers build over soaring Chinese exports to the bloc. @leahyjoseph ft.com/content/5903318c-319b…

#TaiwanInterview Taiwan’s opposition leader tells US and China not to use her country as ‘pawn’ Check out my piece on KMT chair Cheng Li-wun, a 2028 potential presidential contender who recently met Xi Jinping. 🇹🇼 as.ft.com/r/dc6782ae-603e-4b…

The US is telling European allies to use their increase in defence spend to rip Huawei out of their networks and infrastructure straitstimes.com/world/unite…

A war over Taiwan would cause a near-14% hit to the German economy, Bloomberg finds. That's higher than the estimated cost to either the US and China, also even Japan.

The US and its “Five Eyes” intelligence partners issued what they said was an unprecedented joint notice warning about attempts by Chinese spies to use websites such as LinkedIn to recruit assets bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Yesterday’s answers can not solve today’s challenges in the Indo-Pacific. @LisaCurtisDC proposes a reimagined U.S. strategy in the region—one centered on a greater role for allies and partners.

How China is breaking apart a people and its culture in Xinjiang as.ft.com/r/e140ce58-2b34-4d…

EXCLUSIVE: Taiwan suspects Nvidia's AI chips were smuggled to China through Japan in the island's first public crackdown on the advanced tech bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

The status quo in the Taiwan Strait is looking precarious, with Beijing flexing its muscles, Taipei mired in political discord and Washington sending mixed signals about its policy. crisisgroup.org/cmt/asia-pac…

Xi railed against Japan’s ‘remilitarisation’ at Trump summit ft.trib.al/cIAcFLa

Reuters source: "These sales take years to process and are unrelated to Operation Epic Fury. The United States military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump's ​strategic goals and beyond." reuters.com/world/china/us-a…

SCOOP - Iran’s Revolutionary Guards used a UAE-based procurement network to buy advanced Chinese satellite equipment ft.com/content/371fee77-8637…

Reuters: The U.S. and Taiwan have not made concrete plans for talks between their presidents, four people familiar with the matter said, despite Donald Trump’s suggestion he might speak soon with Lai Ching-te about the island’s defenses. reuters.com/world/china/trum…

Trump’s suggestion that he’s using a stalled $14 billion arms sales package for Taiwan as a “negotiating chip” with China was met with disagreement on Capitol Hill. semafor.com/article/05/21/20…

Reuters: China has cut Japan off from several heavy rare earths and other materials for at least four months, coinciding with a dispute between the two countries, suggesting Beijing is using its control over critical minerals as diplomatic leverage. reuters.com/world/asia-pacif…

Today Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the U.S. is pausing arms sales to Taiwan because of the war with Iran. “Right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury,” Cao told Sen. Mitch McConnell. Sec. Hegseth has said "we have plenty" when asked about munitions concerns. Last week, President Trump said the $14 billion package of US arms to Taiwan that awaits his approval is a "very good negotiating chip" with China.

The European Union has shortlisted tungsten, rare earths and gallium for its first joint stockpile of critical minerals aimed at reducing its reliance on China, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. reuters.com/world/china/eu-s…