Ray and Jim are joined by retired Lieutenant General Lori Reynolds, former U.S. Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Information, who provides insights into China's recently uncovered "Volt Typhoon" cyber operation and its implications for national security, both within the U.S. and across the free world. They discuss Beijing's shift from simple snatch-and-grab intellectual property theft to now conducting high-level cyber espionage and embedding its operatives within a nation's critical infrastructure. They also talk about the data security and cognitive threats posed by TikTok and the need for free countries to become more resilient, and to leverage their own asymmetric advantages by exposing the Chinese Communist Party's cyber aggressions.

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:12 China's Shifting Cyber Strategy: From Intellectual Property Theft to Critical Infrastructure Embedding

11:58 The Threat of TikTok: Data Access and Manipulation

22:23 The Threat of TikTok and the Need for Divestment

28:04 Leveraging Asymmetric Advantage: The Power of Truth and Strategic Narratives

32:44 Contesting Chinese Influence: Exposing and Countering Manipulation in Various Industries

Ray and Jim are joined by Brent Sadler, author of "U.S. Naval Power in the 21st Century", to talk about China's rapidly growing naval power, including its ability to exercise power globally, coerce other countries and undermine Western influence. They discuss whether China's numerical superiority equates to superior capability and the growing vulnerability of surface vessels. They examine the situation in the South China Sea and examine how counterinsurgency tactics may be necessary to deal with China's paramilitary coast guard and maritime militia. The conversation then moves on to the US presence in the region and the need to develop maritime statecraft. They discuss the severe challenges facing US shipbuilding, including the lack of public shipyards and the shortage of shipyard workers and naval architects. The conversation concludes with the potential of the AUKUS alliance and the importance of Australia's investment in naval shipbuilding.

At the end, Ray and Jim introduce their new "There I was..." segment, in which they trade stories from their military and foreign service careers. Ray goes first by sharing his first crisis after arriving in Australia, when he realized he had no idea how to get the Secretary of Defense on the phone.

Ray and Jim discuss the upcoming 11 April 2024 Trilateral Leaders' Summit between the Philippines, Japan and the United States with their guests Chris Johnstone, Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC, and Victor "Dindo" Manhit, Founder and Managing Director of the Stratbase Group in Manila. They highlight the importance of this meeting in demonstrating a united front against China's assertiveness in the region. They also discuss the potential for increased military cooperation between the Philippines and Japan and the need for economic incentives to strengthen the relationship. The conversation ends by taking on the question of whether these efforts are sufficient to deter China's aggression. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of collective action and cooperation in addressing regional security challenges.

The pilot episode of 'Why Should We Care About the Indo-Pacific?' explores why people should pay attention to current developments in this vast, dynamic and increasingly turbulent region. Hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso draw from their decades of military and diplomatic experience in Asia and the Pacific as they discuss the region's geographic scope, expanding population and economic dynamism. They also delve into the growing military concerns, particularly the U.S. competition with China and the potential for armed conflict. The conversation delves into the importance of alliances and partnerships, the role of ASEAN and other new groupings like AUKUS and the Quad, and the need for ensuring free and open commerce.