Hey, Scuttlebutt listeners. Welcome to 2026 and thank you for listening and your continued support. We hope you all had fun holidays and a safe New Year’s Eve celebration. This week, we kick off 2026 with another Strait Talk with Dr. Michael Hunzeker. Earlier this week, the US executed Operation Absolute Resolve, the military operation in Venezuela to capture President Nicolás Maduro. Mike is here to talk to us about the implications this operation has on cross-Strait relations. Being that China just finished its military demonstration/exercise in the Taiwan Strait, named Justice Mission 2025, at the end of last month, what does the unilateral US action in South America signal to our allies and adversaries? Mike also discusses his efforts in establishing the Taiwan Security Monitor, a student-driven initiative using a range of satellite imagery, mapping, and data visualization tools. He has also recently published the book, America’s Taiwan Dilemma: Allies’ Reactions and the Stakes for US Reputation, which offers a rigorous open-source analysis of how America’s key allies—Japan, South Korea, and Australia—would respond to US intervention or inaction in a Taiwan conflict. It goes without saying that he has been a busy guy so we’re really happy that he was able to make some time for us to talk about the ripple effects of recent events.  

Enjoy! 

tsm.schar.gmu.edu 

cambriapress.com/pub.cfm?bid=1182 

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