Bridging The Oceans

Reflections from Taipei offer a different perspective on recent cross-Strait tensions.

In this episode, Veerle speaks with activist Brian Hioe, a founder of the New Bloom Magazine – an online magazine covering activism and youth politics in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific – about the Taiwanese reaction to US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit and China's subsequent live-fire military drills. While the latter marked an escalation in tensions and tactics, Taiwanese officials and their public have declined to be alarmed. Meanwhile, Chinese economic sanctions have also not inflicted serious harm. Rather than intimidating Taipei, Beijing's behaviour may have inadvertent and self-defeating repercussions in upcoming Taiwanese local elections and the political scene. Tune in to find out what lies ahead in Taiwanese domestic politics, military reforms, and the island's foreign relationships.

As the war in Ukraine rages on, Japan debates its next security steps.

Veerle is joined by Tetsuo Kotani, Professor at Meikai University and Senior Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs. They explore the level of Japanese domestic support for sanctions policy on Russia, and the ongoing Sino-Russian military activities at sea around Japan and in Japan's airspace. They also ask whether the ongoing situation in Ukraine is impacting Japan's view of its national security and defence strategy, and what Japan's expected outcomes are from the NATO summit in Madrid.

A post-Duterte presidency offers opportunities for policy shifts. In this episode, Veerle is joined by Julio S Amador III, Founder and CEO of Amador Research Services. Together, they discuss the recent elections in the Philippines, which saw Marcos Jr elected as the new president of the country. Following President Duterte, whose relations with Beijing grew ever closer, what shape will Philippine foreign policy towards the US and China take? And what national defence and security policies are likely to emerge under a new Marcos administration? Finally, to what extent does the ongoing war in Ukraine impact Manila's foreign and domestic policies?

France remains fully committed to its new Indo-Pacific Strategy, but implementation will be crucial.

In this episode, Veerle is joined by Dr Antoine Bondaz, Director of the Korea and Taiwan Programmes at the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS). Together, they discuss domestic and foreign policy pressures on France's new strategy, and what Indo-Pacific-related achievements have emerged from its presidency of the EU Council. They explore how France's relationships in the Indo-Pacific are evolving – with China, Taiwan, India, Japan and Australia – and what Europe must do to make its engagement in the region a success, despite pressures closer to home.

While the war in Ukraine rages on, Taiwan is watching and learning.

In this episode, Veerle is joined by Dr Norah Huang, Director for International Relations at the Prospect Foundation in Taipei, to explore similarities between the current war in Ukraine and potential cross-Strait scenarios. They ask what lessons Beijing and Taipei might be learning from the war in Ukraine, and discuss what this means for Taiwan's future relations with the US and Europe.

India's non-aligned position is under increasing pressure.

Veerle is joined by Aaditya Dave, RUSI Research Analyst, to discuss India's reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the domestic discourse and policy debate in New Delhi, and the divergent course that India has taken from its Quad partners. They also discuss UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's current visit to New Delhi as part of the 'Indo-Pacific Tilt', and what opportunities lie ahead for European partners to deepen their bilateral relations with India.

In this episode, Veerle is joined by Alexander Neill, an analyst and consultant on Asia-Pacific geopolitical risk and security, foreign affairs and defence based in Singapore.

They discuss current RUSI research on state-led interference as a tool of geopolitical competition below the threshold of warfare, and how this is experienced in the Indo-Pacific. They examine how the debate around this topic is evolving here and in Southeast Asia; do we see the challenge of illegitimate sub-threshold competition and experience such activities in the same way? They highlight noteworthy instances that have brought the issue of interference and disinformation into the spotlight, explore what countermeasures have been put in place, and consider what the road ahead might look like.

Veerle is joined by Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Programme at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). The Biden administration's new strategy highlights the importance of prosperity. However, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework still lacks details, while the Ukraine conflict is testing allies and partners both in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Once again, the ties between the two regions are evident and place the US Indo-Pacific Strategy in a renewed context.

AUKUS helps build regional deterrence, yet more is needed beyond defence cooperation.

Veerle is joined by Dr Zack Cooper, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, who offers insights on how AUKUS fits into US strategic thinking on meeting the rising challenges in the Indo-Pacific for the US and its allies. Further cooperation beyond exclusive groupings focused on defence is needed, particularly in the areas of technology, trade and governance, and Zack explains how Europe and Indo-Pacific partners stand to play an important role. Tune in also for a discussion on what is meant by integrated deterrence.