In Europe, confusion reigns about the US: America’s pivot to Asia has stirred the most significant misunderstanding.
Walter Russell Mead
Today: Biden will participate virtually in the annual US-ASEAN Summit.
The new Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s disapproval climbed by eight points in just two weeks, now resting at 36 percent. Just 40 percent of Japanese adults approve of his job performance as the country’s general election approaches, per Morning Consult.
Nikkei: Taiwan foreign minister embarks on EU trip to bolster ties
+ Wu visits Slovakia and the Czech Republic as search for a closer relationship takes on political tones
Biden said the US would protect Taiwan. But it’s not that clear-cut: NYT reports after the president’s remarks at a CNN event, the White House quickly declared that the American policy of “strategic ambiguity” over the island’s defense had not changed.
Does Taiwan’s military stand a chance against China? Few think so. Poor preparation and low morale are pressing concerns for Taiwan’s armed forces. One conscript said his basic training mainly involved sweeping leaves, moving spare tires, and pulling weeds.
WSJ
SCMP: China’s 50 years at UN: Xi Jinping says international rules and order must not be dominated by one power
+ Chinese president takes a veiled swipe at US and calls for peaceful coexistence while marking 50th anniversary of Beijing assuming a seat at the UN
+ Xi’s emphasis on upholding world order may be a double-edged sword, raising expectations on China to solve the climate crisis and disputes, says analyst
Xi is revealing his own weakness by missing COP26: China is losing friends abroad and sacrificing progress at home because of the inflexibility that comes with one-man rule
William Hague
Bloomberg: China hints its crackdown on tech giants is coming to an end
+ More than half of proposed fintech fixes have been implemented
+ Remarks add to optimism that tech crackdown is near end
BBC: China postpones Beijing marathon due to COVID surge
Bloomberg: Chinese economy risks deeper slowdown than markets realize
+ Property downturn seen as biggest threat to GDP growth
+ Resolve to curb debt, reshape the Internet has surprised analysts
South Korea’s moment owes more to Samsung than Squid Game: The country isn’t trying to export its way of life as the US did in the 20th century. Selling cars and phones is enough.
Bloomberg
Reuters: South Korea plots course to scrapping COVID curbs by early 2022
WP: Singapore invokes ‘fake news’ law in push against anti-vaccine website
Axios: Unvaccinated athletes face 21-day quarantine at Beijing Winter Olympics
Reuters: Beijing Winter Games competitors to face daily COVID-19 tests, remain in closed loop
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