Central Asia & Caucasus Data

TOKYO — Project Vault represents a structural shift in how the United States will compete for “manufacturing-ready” critical minerals. Japan’s current Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry–Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security’s case-by-case approach risks becoming too slow and too small compared with America’s new multi-billion-dollar vehicle. The Trump administration’s Project Vault creates a The post How Japan should respond to Trump’s Project Vault appeared first on Asia Times.

As the US spreads a dense web of MQ-9 Reapers across the Indo-Pacific to monitor China, it is making a high-stakes bet: that persistent drone surveillance will deter Chinese aggression—but these assets also risk exposing a critical vulnerability in America’s defense strategy if confronted by sophisticated adversaries. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) The post MQ-9 drones sharpen US eye on China’s Pacific moves appeared first on Asia Times.

The world today is witnessing an unsettling sense of economic deja vu. Beneath the gleaming skyline of Shanghai and the global dominance of China’s electric vehicle industry, the Chinese economy is on a precipice, similar to the one that dashed Japan’s economic miracle three decades ago. The parallels are increasingly striking. If Japan’s story was The post The rising risk of China turning Japanese appeared first on Asia Times.

The resounding electoral victory of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the snap election on February 8 confirms that China’s attempt to punish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has backfired. Beijing was angry about Takaichi’s Taiwan-related remarks in November. Beijing presumably hoped that, as many observers predicted, Takaichi’s tenure as prime minister would be short, perhaps making way for The post China is stuck with zombie sanctions against Takaichi government appeared first on Asia Times.