The Missing Piece [International]

This year's visit of Iran’s Foreign Minister to China came at a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern and global politics. With tensions escalating in the region due to the Israel-US axis and growing instability, this high-profile diplomatic engagement underscores the strategic importance of Iran-China relations. These two ancient civilizations, bound by shared interests and common challenges, are forging a partnership that holds profound implications for regional stability and global politics. In this episode, we will dive into how we should expect the relationship between China and Iran, and what US should expect in 2026.

Guest: Dr. Jamsheed Choksy is a professor of Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington. Professor Jamsheed Choksy’s research broadly covers the development of societies, especially sectarian communities, in Central Asia, the Near East and South Asia studied through interdisciplinary approaches involving history, religious studies, international affairs, politics, anthropology, archaeology, language.

Dr. Michael Patrick, one renowned international journalist and a scholar on international relations, joins the latest show. In the conversation, Michael shares his perspectives on what happened this year between US and China, and how 2026 midterm election might make bigger impact beyond the US.

In an era of strategic competition and global uncertainty, the bedrock of America's alliances is being tested. From European capitals to the Indo-Pacific, partners are reassessing their roles. How should we understand this pivotal moment? Are current tensions a sign of weakening bonds, or a necessary evolution of shared burdens? While challenges over trade, defense spending, and priorities are real, the common foundation of security and democratic values remains. The future of these ties won't look like the past—it demands more adaptability and deeper cooperation to navigate a more complex world. In this brand-new episode, Professor Paul Poast joins the show to elaborate more in his recent article.

Professor Paul Poast is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and a Senior Nonresident Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Looking into 2026, everyone hopes that relationship between US and China will be much better, especially we are looking at the political and economic joint efforts. President Trump anticipates his state visit to China next year, while President Xi looks forward to better collaboration with more American business owners. In this conversation, Mr. Thomas Gehl, an experienced American businessman, international renowned consultant, joins the show to talk more.

While the world has grown richer, the gap between the rich and everyone else keeps widening. This is economic inequality—and it’s one of the most defining issues of our time.It shapes our health, our politics, and our opportunities. It fuels social unrest and undermines trust. From the cost of living crisis to debates over fair taxation, its effects are everywhere.

In this brand-new conversation, we’ll explore why this decades-old problem isn't just a statistic, but a powerful force that still dictates the lives of billions and determines the future of our global community.

Professor David Lay Williams is the professor of political science at DePaul University. He is the author of the new book called "The Greatest of All Plagues: How Economic Inequality Shaped Political Thought from Plato to Marx."

Artificial intelligence offers powerful advantages for national security, from intelligence analysis to cyber defense. However, its dual-use nature presents significant risks. AI systems can be exploited for sophisticated cyber-attacks, autonomous weapons, and pervasive disinformation campaigns, potentially destabilizing global security. Therefore, while harnessing its benefits, nations must establish robust international guardrails and ethical frameworks. Caution is essential to prevent AI from becoming a source of catastrophic conflict rather than a tool for enhanced safety. In this episode, Sergiy Korsunsky, the former ambassador of Ukraine to Japan joins the show to talk more.

Mr. Sergiy Korsunsky is the former ambassador of Ukraine to Japan. He is now a senior adviser at Nihon Cyber Defence and distinguished global scholar at Temple University, Japan Campus.

In this episode, Will invites one of the honorable and distinguished American friends to join show, regarding his journey from America to China. During the conversation, Terry shares his views on modern day global politics, international relations, and how we should understand the current polarization in America today. Most importantly, we will listen to his own personal stories which impact his life and the lives around him.

A superpower rethinks its strategy. Regional powers seize the moment. From the negotiated tables in Vienna to the front lines of an endless-seeming conflict, the entire political map of the Middle East is being redrawn. The American era, as we knew it, is evolving, leaving a question mark over the region's future. Is this a moment for de-escalation, or a prelude to a new kind of cold war? On Today's The Missing Piece, we connect the dots between Washington's decisions and the social and political tremors being felt from Tehran to Tel Aviv, and from Riyadh to Gaza."

Ms. Elizabeth Dent is the Nathan and Esther K. Wagner Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where she focuses on U.S. foreign and defense policy toward the Gulf states, Iraq, and Syria. She was previously the director for the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, managing the day-to-day U.S. defense relationship with the nations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and many more. Prior to that, she served as the special assistant to the special presidential envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, supporting diplomatic engagements with coalition countries and working with local partners on the ground in Iraq and Syria to accelerate the campaign against ISIS.

Vietnam has officially became the most popular nations for international travelers today, especially among the Chinese nationals. Despite the political differences between the two nations, Chinese flood to Vietnam during the major holidays. Will this trend help with boosting the Vietnam's domestic economic growth? Is Vietnam ready for more Chinese investments? Meanwhile, rumor has it that North Korea is slowly approaching Vietnam to avoid UN sanctions. How should North Korea understand the political engagement with Vietnam today?

Dr. Hai Hong Nguyen, is the Assistant Professor of Politics and International Relations at College of Arts and Sciences of VinUniversity in Hanoi, Vietnam.

He is also the Vietnamese Fulbright Visiting Scholar in Residence at the School of International Service at American University (10/2024-7/2025).

Around the world today, economic growth is one of the most important and essential aspects, especially when we are facing additional political interruptions. In the nation of Argentina, the nation is undergoing tremendous political and economic reform. There is no denying that Javier Milei, one of the most well-known politicians, is betting on the assumption that his economic agenda will continue to bring charms and amusements to the people in Argentina. In this episode, Dr. Maria Victoria Murillo will join the show to elaborate on what is happening to Milei and his economic ambitions.

Dr. Maria Victoria Murillo is the author of Labor Unions, Partisan Coalitions, and Market Reforms in Latin America (Cambridge University Press 2001) (translated as Sindicatos, Coaliciones Partidarias y Reformas de Mercado en América Latina by Siglo XXI Editores), Political Competition, Partisanship, and Policymaking in the Reform of Latin American Public Utilities (Cambridge University Press 2009), and the co-author of Non-Policy Politics: Richer Voters, Poorer Voters, and the Diversification of Electoral Strategies with Ernesto Calvo (Cambridge University Press 2019) and Understanding Institutional Weakness: Power and Design in Latin American Institutions (Cambridge University Press, Element in Latin American Politics and Society Series, 2019) with Daniel Brinks and Steven Levitsky.