The Tea Leaves Podcast

Ambassador Nina Hachigian is Deputy Mayor for International Affairs for the City of Los Angeles and previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 2014 to 2017. On this episode, Rexon and Shery spoke with Nina about how cities shape international relations, urban policy and the fight against climate change, and the challenges facing ASEAN amid the Myanmar coup. They also discussed LA’s preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics and working with Mayor Eric Garcetti on the city’s response to COVID-19.

Admiral Harry Harris served as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea from 2018 to 2021, before which he was a four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy, commanding the U.S. Pacific Fleet and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). Admiral Harris was also the first American of Japanese descent to lead USINDOPACOM. Ahead of South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s visit to the White House on May 21, Rexon and Shery spoke with Admiral Harris about his expectations for the Moon-Biden summit, U.S. military capabilities and strategic competition with China, and his views on the Quad and other U.S. partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.

Tea Leaves welcomes our listeners back with two new co-hosts: Rexon Ryu, Managing Partner at The Asia Group, and Shery Ahn, an anchor at Bloomberg Television’s “Daybreak Asia” and “Daybreak Australia.” In this latest iteration of the Tea Leaves Podcast, Rexon and Shery share their personal stories and discuss how their Asian heritage influenced their perspectives and chosen careers in government, journalism, and the private sector. The two also dive into the emerging influence of China throughout the pandemic and how recent events, such as the global semiconductor shortage and China’s post-pandemic economic recovery, are shining the spotlight on key markets and sectors across the Indo-Pacific.

What does U.S. President Joe Biden’s pick for CIA Director think about the rise of China? Later this week, the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee will review President Biden’s choice for CIA Director Bill Burns. In these two archived Tea Leaves episodes from March 2019, listen firsthand from Ambassador Burns about his views about the state of U.S. diplomacy, the U.S.-China relationship, the Iran nuclear deal, and more.

What does U.S. President Joe Biden’s pick for CIA Director think about the rise of China? Later this week, the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee will review President Biden’s choice for CIA Director Bill Burns. In these two archived Tea Leaves episodes from March 2019, listen firsthand from Ambassador Burns about his views about the state of U.S. diplomacy, the U.S.-China relationship, the Iran nuclear deal, and more.

For all the promise and potential that Asia has to offer for the world, what challenges does the region face? In this latest Tea Leaves discussion, Kurt and Rich sit down with Vasuki Shastry to take a more counterintuitive approach to Asia’s future and examine the region through a more critical lens, touching on social fault lines and wealth disparities that exist in the region today. Using Shastry’s new book – “Has Asia Lost It?” – as a starting point, the three discuss how both developed and developing Asia will be positioned following the coronavirus pandemic. To view the full video of this conversation, please visit https://theasiagroup.com/in-the-news/.

In this Tea Leaves episode, Kurt is joined by TAG Partner Rexon Ryu to welcome on General Dave Goldfein, recently-retired Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. General Goldfein shares his experiences guiding the 650,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian personnel that make up the U.S. Air Force through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The three also discuss the future of the Air Force in Asia, how the Air Force approaches technological innovation, the importance of nuclear deterrence, and concepts of teamwork and leadership in the military. To watch the video of this conversation, please visit: https://theasiagroup.com/in-the-news/

In this Tea Leaves conversation, Kurt and Rich talk with Peter Martin, defense policy and intelligence reporter at Bloomberg LP and the author of “China’s Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy.” Peter gives an overview of China’s diplomatic corps and expanding global diplomatic footprint, discusses the roots of “Wolf Warrior Diplomacy,” and describes also the dynamics, strategies, and traditions in Chinese diplomatic history.

What’s next for the United States when it comes to trade? Is it ready, from a domestic politics perspective, to engage more deeply with its Asian partners? Kurt Campbell is joined by TAG Partner Kurt Tong for a conversation on all things trade with Wendy Cutler, Vice President and Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Washington, DC office. Wendy also discusses digital trade and data flows as an increasingly important component of overall trade, as well as the role of multilateral trade organizations in today’s global economy. The three also chat about core trade issues that linger between the United States and China and how they might be addressed in the future. To view the full video of the conversation, please visit: https://theasiagroup.com/in-the-news/

In this Tea Leaves episode, Kurt talks with Robert Zoellick, former president of the World Bank and a distinguished diplomat, about diplomatic history as a tool to educate future policymakers in government. Using Bob’s newly published book: “America in the World: A History of U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Policy,” the two dive into specific events in U.S. history – including events before the outbreak of World War II – that can be applied to contemporary issues pertaining to trade, security, and the role domestic politics plays in shaping foreign policy. To view the full video of the conversation, please visit: https://theasiagroup.com/in-the-news/