What the 2026 Intelligence Assessment Gets Right—and Wrong
The US intelligence assessment identifies key threats but understates cyber risks and China’s Taiwan strategy, leaving US policymakers ill-prepared for emerging conflicts.
Taiwan
FDD Analysis
In Major Reversal, Taiwan Seeks To Rewire Its Energy Strategy by Restarting its Nuclear Plants
The Taiwanese government is reversing course on permanently closing its nuclear reactors. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has presented a plan to restart two of the island’s shuttered nuclear reactors...
Policy Briefs
Japanese Prime Minister Looks To Balance Regional Issues With Iran War During Meeting With Trump
Tokyo is looking to support the United States during its ongoing war with Iran. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with President Donald Trump on March 19 to discuss the possibility of...
Policy Briefs
Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: March
Trend Overview Welcome back to the Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker. Once a month, we ask FDD’s experts and scholars to assess the administration’s foreign policy. They provide trendlines...
Policy Tracker
Japanese National Elections Show Clear Limits of Chinese Coercion Towards Tokyo
Despite the swirling snow, Japanese voters braved the cold to send a clear message to China. On February 8, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a landslide victory in Japan’s national legislative...
Policy Briefs
Taiwan Strengthens Energy Resilience With Planned Purchases of American LNG
In the run-up to Lunar New Year, Taiwan is looking to keep the lights burning brightly. The Taiwanese Ministry of Energy pledged on February 5 to increase its purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG)...
Policy Briefs
Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: February
Trend Overview ...
Policy Tracker
Why 2026 Could Prove as Important as 1989
The year the Berlin Wall came down marked the end of one epoch and the start of another. This year could do the same.
Op-eds
Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: January
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Policy Tracker
China Reportedly Blocks Rare Earth Exports to Japan, Targeting Defense Supply Chains
New Year, same bullying. On January 8, The Wall Street Journal reported that China halted the export of rare earths and rare earth magnets to some Japanese firms in direct retaliation for Tokyo’s possible...
Policy Briefs
China Wants To Switch Off Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure
Chinese cyberattacks against Taiwan’s critical infrastructure have risen over the past year, according to Taiwan’s National Security Bureau’s (NSB) annual assessment. In its efforts to undermine...
Policy Briefs
U.S. Sees Korea as Potential Key To Supporting Taiwan
It looks like the United States Forces Korea (USFK) are getting a new mission without being relieved of any of their old responsibilities. On January 4, Nikkei Asia reported comments by the USFK commander...
Policy Briefs
China Launches New Drills Around Taiwan, Regional Tensions Rise
China is targeting Taiwan with a short but intense series of military exercises around the island. On December 29, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched the two-day “Justice Mission 2025,”...
Policy Briefs
U.S.-Palau agreement shows new National Security Strategy in action
One of the new agreements with the United States is designed to help counter Chinese political warfare attacks on Palau. The initial cost to the United States is $2.2 million, exactly the sort of low-cost counter to China’s ability to disrupt and degrade the economy, politics and society of a key U.S. ally that is needed.
Op-eds
Trump Administration Approves Massive Arms Sale Package to Taiwan
Bolstering Defense Against China: The Trump administration approved the possible sale of more than $10 billion worth of arms to Taiwan to bolster the island’s defenses against...
Flash Briefs
Chinese Jets Target Japanese Fighters, Escalating Tensions Between Beijing and Tokyo
Chinese fighter pilots have upped the ante in the East China Sea. On December 6, The Wall Street Journal reported that two Chinese J-15 fighters from the aircraft carrier Liaoning twice trained their fire-control...
Policy Briefs
Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: December
Trend Overview Welcome back to the Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker. Once a month, we ask FDD’s experts and scholars to assess the administration’s foreign policy. They provide trendlines...
Policy Tracker
Taiwanese President Proposes New Investment in Island’s Defense Amidst Rising Regional Tensions
In response to Beijing’s belligerence, Taiwan is planning to invest in its own security. On November 26, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te announced a proposed special budget of $40 billion to strengthen...
Policy Briefs
Japan Has Changed How the World Must Think About Taiwan
A single word can crack the facade of a great power’s confidence. That’s what happened last month when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan told lawmakers in Tokyo that a...
Op-eds
Chinese Government Mouthpiece Calls for Nuclear Attack on Japan
Guancha, a Chinese state-run media outlet, openly called for nuclear strikes on Japan after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the Japanese legislature earlier this month that Tokyo might defend...