Matthew Pottinger

Axis of Aggressors

Distrust and verify  

The Beijing summit was pageantry; Xi’s ambitions are not

KMT Risks Missing the Lessons of the Wars in Ukraine and Iran

Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang is poised to pass a defense budget that falls short of the lessons wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have made unmistakably clear on drones, layered air defense, and offensive deterrence. With the 2026 and 2028 elections approaching, can it afford to keep signaling weakness on the issue that matters most?

From Tehran to Taipei: How the Iran War Reshapes China’s Taiwan Calculus

Transparency and Trust

Exposing Malign Foreign Influence in Higher Education

Trump Could End the War Tomorrow. I Don’t Think He Will.

Energy markets breathed a sigh of relief on Monday after President Donald Trump suggested he could declare victory over Iran at any time. “I think the war is very complete, pretty much,” he told...

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.

Two words for investors in the future TikTok: Buyer, beware

The U.S. law and Trump’s executive order leave significant potential for Chinese control.

U.S. Cuts Tariffs, Lowers Trade Tensions With China After Trump-Xi Meeting

Trump and Xi Meet: President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on October 30, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. When...

Is Trump Getting Played by Xi?

If so, America’s agrarian past may be its future.

Trump Just Handed China the Tools to Beat America in AI

Ending an export ban will help China catch up in the race for control of the global economy and military dominance in the 21st century.

On the Road Again – in Japan and Taiwan

Deterrence Amid Rising Tensions

Preventing CCP Aggression on Taiwan

Funding for R&D isn’t a gift to academia. It’s vital to U.S. security.

China’s strategy for tech dominance hinges on investment in R&D. Ours should, too.

Missed Milestones

Evaluating The Last Four Years in the EAP Region and Unseized Opportunities Under President Trump

Memo to Trump: Beware the ‘Reverse Teddy’

I was proud to serve the president in his first term. But Trump’s strength in the Western Hemisphere could portend weakness in Europe and Asia in his second, writes Matt Pottinger.

American Confidence in Elections

Prohibiting Foreign Interference

Beijing’s Axis of Chaos

Today, China is the driving force behind much of the chaos we see around the world — from supporting rogue regimes such as Russia, Iran, and North Korea, to meddling in the Middle East, and interfering in America’s upcoming presidential election. FDD's China Program hosts a panel discussion featuring Matt Pottinger, FDD China Program Chairman and former Deputy National Security Advisor to discuss what steps can the US and its allies take to counter this unprecedented challenge.

Readout of FDD Expert’s Trip to Taiwan

Cognitive Combat

China, Russia, and Iran’s Information War Against Americans