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Drew Thompson 唐安竹 Profile picture
Drew Thompson 唐安竹
@TangAnZhu
Former Department of Defense official responsible for China, Taiwan & Mongolia. Relapsed academic, based in Singapore @LKYSch. Threads: @Drew_Thompson_in_Asia
Jun 4, 2023 • 24 tweets • 4 min read
General Li is speaking at @IISS_org #SLD23 Image "Mutual respect should prevail over bullying and hegemony. Where there is bullying and hegemony, there is chaos and worse."
Jun 3, 2023 • 37 tweets • 7 min read
#SLD23 Image More and more, the countries of the Indo-Pacific have come together around a compelling vision of the future.

It’s a vision of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific within a world of rules and rights.
Sep 23, 2022 • 24 tweets • 6 min read
I wake up to DMs, and find a twitter feed full of unverified rumors about Xi Jinping under arrest in a palace coup.

It appears to be a complete falsehood at this point, but the spread of the rumor indicates belief in its plausibility. The claimed source of the information is an “investigative journalist” named Zhao Lanjian who tweeted that 60% of China’s flights have been cancelled, which is an indication of a coup.

@ELuttwak might agree that flight cancellations are not the opening phase of a coup.
Aug 21, 2022 • 17 tweets • 7 min read
@jamescrabtree I certainly have thoughts on this.

I've written about it as well:
inss.ndu.edu/Media/News/Art… @jamescrabtree A 2018 piece I wrote was probably the first to publicly analyze the "Overall Defense Concept", which was a new approach that prioritized asymmetric capabilities to defend Taiwan in the littoral and on the beaches, rather than a defense-in-depth strategy.
warontherocks.com/2018/10/hope-o…
Apr 10, 2022 • 43 tweets • 14 min read
This long YouTube video of the Shanghai lockdown is informative, wild, and fascinating.

Pro-tip: increase the playback speed to 1.5x

#LOCKDOWN #Shanghai 2022 Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang used to be Xi Jinping’s secretary.

I think I just watched the end of his career.

His loyalty and service to Xi may keep him out of jail. He’d be lucky with that outcome.
Oct 18, 2021 • 37 tweets • 9 min read
This Sunday morning tweet garnered some good discussion (and no trolls!), including several DM requests for more insights and explanation why I think strategic stability is slipping away.

Some additional thoughts in a thread - We can debate what stability means and whether the security dilemma enhances or undermines deterrence, but I’d rather not. That's too academic/theoretical for Twitter.

I'd rather look at what’s happening, and what isn't happening.
Feb 1, 2021 • 25 tweets • 7 min read
Hong Kong is facing a potential brain drain crisis.

Successful professionals among others are making their way to Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and elsewhere in response to the HKSAR’s mismanagement of crises and Beijing’s overreach.

A Hong Kong thread.

ft.com/content/76f88f… “Beijing’s sweeping national security law and subsequent crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong has spooked some employees of international law firms, asset managers and banks.”
Jan 10, 2021 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
I am very conflicted by this announcement. Taiwan is an important unofficial partner, a major economic and security partner, making robust engagement a vital US national interest. @usasiapacific and #AIT team has done incredible work strengthening US-Taiwan engagement over the last four years, and has much to show for its efforts.

They accomplished so much, despite the lack of diplomatic recognition and restrictions on engagement. BZ
Aug 16, 2020 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
Excellent piece by my friend @WonkVJ explaining why Biden is going to invariably disappoint us on China policy, bringing the US back to an era of “balancing cooperation with competition.”

Take that tack, and the US will end up without cooperation, even less competitive. The elusive search for liberal reformers to empower through engagement with their illiberal leaders.
Jun 26, 2020 • 23 tweets • 9 min read
Peking University's @SCS_PI observed two U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft, one P-3C and a U.S. Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft was operating to the South of Taiwan in the Bashi Channel.

One P-3C? Whose is it? It's probably Taiwan's.

A thread. /1 The tweet did not mention that they were accompanied by a @usairforce KC-135R refuelling aircraft, enabling the planes to stay on station longer than if they could only rely on their internal fuel tanks.

Yes, USAF can refuel a @usnavy P-8! Air-Sea Battle lives!
/2
Sep 14, 2019 • 16 tweets • 3 min read
H/T to @benjaminbland. London Stock Exchange’s response to HKEX is blunt, with a number of uncomfortable truths for HK. “We [London] were very surprised and disappointed that you [HK] decided to publish your unsolicited proposal within two days of our receiving it.”
Jun 5, 2019 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
Lots to unpack here. Looks like Taiwan is investing in not only replacing its amortized M-60 tanks, also buying large numbers of munitions, too. reuters.com/article/us-usa… TOWs, Javelins and Stingers (Man-portable?) compliment the new tanks, and are already in inventory. New missiles are a layered defense that will challenge any invading force, consistent with Taiwan’s asymmetric Overall Defense Concept. Good call @iingwen !