Report: China sees Pacific Islands as ‘power-projection superhighway’

Report: China sees Pacific Islands as ‘power-projection superhighway’

FPI / August 22, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com In becoming the first sitting U.S. Secretary of State to visit the Federated States of Micronesia earlier this month, Mike Pompeo hailed the island nations of the Pacific as “small islands” which “are big strongholds of freedom.” Washington has long held sway over the region, but analysts say China […]

Unreported: China’s exploitation of U.S.-Iran showdown in the Gulf

Unreported: China’s exploitation of U.S.-Iran showdown in the Gulf

FPI / August 18, 2019 Excerpted from Geostrategy-Direct.com By Yossef Bodansky, Senior Editor, GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs All attention is focused on the twists-and-turns of the very noisy U.S.-Iran dispute in the Persian Gulf, but all the while the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is rapidly and quietly consolidating a dominant presence in the area […]

Tokyo-Seoul fight closely tracked by China, Russia, North Korea

Tokyo-Seoul fight closely tracked by China, Russia, North Korea

FPI / August 15, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com As the trade-culture conflict between Seoul and Tokyo heats up, South Korea’s president has floated the controversial idea of a partnership with North Korea. The move by left-leaning President Moon Jae-In amid a sinking economy was cheered by the South’s official media but enraged the nation’s conservatives. The South […]

China reacts with fury at U.S. plans to deploy missiles in Asia

China reacts with fury at U.S. plans to deploy missiles in Asia

FPI / August 14, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com By Richard Fisher China spent the week following the Aug. 2 U.S. departure from the 1987 Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, criticizing Washington’s decision. A senior official pushed back against the Aug. 3 statement by U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper that the U.S. would like to begin deploying […]

In first defense white paper in years, China targets U.S. Pacific Command, Taiwan

In first defense white paper in years, China targets U.S. Pacific Command, Taiwan

FPI / August 2, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com In the first defense white paper it has released in several years, China identifies the United States as its main adversary, warns that it is set to use military force against Taiwan and says that developing space weapons is among its vital strategic interests. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) […]

‘Chilling’: Pacific Commander Davidson interprets China’s recent military actions

‘Chilling’: Pacific Commander Davidson interprets China’s recent military actions

FPI / July 25, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com China’s recent initial test of a new anti-ship ballistic missile sent a “chilling” message and spotlighted the “long-term strategic threat” posed by the communist nation, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said. Adm. Philip Davidson, speaking at a security conference in Aspen, Colorado on July 18, revealed that […]

U.S. sale of M1A2 Abrams heavy tanks seen helping Taiwan repel PLA invasion

U.S. sale of M1A2 Abrams heavy tanks seen helping Taiwan repel PLA invasion

FPI / July 12, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com By Richard Fisher As part of a $2 billion weapons sales package, the U.S. Congress has been notified about the sale to Taiwan of 108 General Dynamics M1A2 “Abrams” main battle tanks. In service with the U.S. Army since 1980, the M1A2 is the latest version, armed with a […]

China’s navy reacts to intense maritime activity by U.S., Japan, Canada

China’s navy reacts to intense maritime activity by U.S., Japan, Canada

FPI / July 4, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com By Richard Fisher The last two weeks of June were marked by intense activity undertaken by China and Western navies. During the week of June 17, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carrier battle group, led by the carrier Liaoning, had sailed near Guam and circumnavigated the Philippines […]

Trump sanctions forced Iran proxies to focus on fundraising

Trump sanctions forced Iran proxies to focus on fundraising

FPI / June 26, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com Less than two years after Forbes declared it the richest terror group in the world, Hizbullah is strapped for cash amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s sanctions which have crippled the economy of Iran, the organization’s main benefactor. The revenue stream from Iran has been cut so drastically, in fact, […]