Thread by @NoonInKorea

There's another view of the Singapore summit and why concessions (stopping joint exercises, no timetable) were offered: It's part of a grand strategy to contain China which Trump telegraphed even before his term began. It was calculated, not improvised
asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Trump-…

We'll add to this thread to see how this holds up. Trump is focusing on the "long ball" game of geopolitics which is to stop the rise of a regional hegemon in Asia; NK is troublesome but a temporary distraction. Containing China's rise = vital US interest
theconversation.com/donald-trump-h…

This view meshes with the "slow envelopment" strategy which recognizes the special vulnerability of a regime like NK. Team Trump is fully aware of NK intentions and is in fact preempting its moves by stopping joint exercises: it's trying to make KJU drink from a poisoned chalice

This was telegraphed before Trump's term. The long ball has always been US vs. China, which is acting belligerent and obstructing international thoroughfare. Use the same long-ball strategy used to gang up on the old SU and induce China's disintegration
nationalinterest.org/feature/trumps…

To that end, be conciliatory toward Russia. "Seek a Cold Peace with Russia" to fulfill that higher aim. China is becoming a Great Power in both military and economic terms and must be contained. Despite occasional aggression, Russia isn't likely to impose hegemony in Europe.

Most aren't paying attention to Taiwan: a $256 million facility with 500 employees called the American Institute of Taiwan opened in Taipei. It's a de facto US embassy.

China: "We urge US to ... avoid damaging peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait"
straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia…

Go down the memory lane 18 mos to Dec 2016: Trump & Taiwan president ­­­Tsai Ing-wen talked. Most thought this was a rookie mistake that undercut US One China policy. But Trump may have had this vision of slowly enveloping China even before his term began
washingtonpost.com/world/national…

Could F-35 stealth fighter jets be sold to Taiwan? Could happen. Trump thought about it in 2017 and some Republican senators are for it now. Plus Bolton is a critic of US One China policy.
nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/…

Why did the Pacific Command (PaCom) change its name to Indo-PaCom? To counter Chinese economic and military pressure in the region. Mattis: "Every country, no matter its size [Taiwan?] is not bound by any nation’s predatory economics or threat of coercion” militarytimes.com/news/your-mili…

Soon to be US ambassador to SK sums it all up:

“Great power competition is back ... we are reaching an inflection point in history. A geopolitical competition between free and oppressive visions is taking place in the Indo-Pacific.” It's GPP, dummy
cnn.com/2018/05/30/pol…

Some are alarmed. But it's "slow envelopment" to frustrate China's east-south push and OBOR. The US has long been encircling China with military bases. Trump's initial overture to NK and concessions have to be seen from this big picture of containing China
thenation.com/article/united…

More people alarmed by growing US interactions with Taiwan. There was also the Taiwan Travel Act (HR 535) in March allowing US diplomats to visit Taiwan and vice versa. Seems only like microaggression but it's part of a larger US strategy to rattle China
the-american-interest.com/2018/06/28/the…