Never seen a US senator treated like this. Wow. Yes, he interrupted Noem’s presser but that’s a US senator

“[Colby]’s very savvy about policy but he also understands DC broadly & this admin & the people in the Trump orbit in particular,” says Jacob Stokes... “The challenge now is: can he actually put his own personal views in place in an admin where the grand strategy is contested?”

Trump is his admin's chief proponent of engagement with China.

Japan PM Ishiba weighs skipping NATO summit: gov't source Iran strikes creating friction with U.S. allies in Asia. mainichi.jp/english/articl…

China hosts Iran, Russia defence ministers against backdrop of 'turmoil' france24.com/en/live-news/2…

"Xi’s counsel to the party apparatus, the Chinese advisers say, is one of patience, convinced that the global balance of power will inevitably tilt in China’s favor." Another insightful piece from Lingling Wei 魏玲灵. wsj.com/world/china/ch…

If this Rubio-Wang meeting happens, it would be a good indicator that a Trump trip to China in the fall is possible. scmp.com/news/china/dip…

Chaser: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

A bit unexpected: "Secretary Rubio emphasized the importance of keeping channels of communication open." state.gov/releases/2025/…

"This was the first time that two Chinese carriers had ventured together past the 'first island chain.'" nytimes.com/2025/07/17/wor…

Dennis is right that it doesn't fit the US model. It does fit China's intel-gathering model, though. PRC behavior is often projection.

Important piece by Jacob Stokes that underscores the vital role of DoD’s China Military Power Report in supporting public discussions about Beijing’s strategic outlook and military capabilities.

China’s nuclear expansion is already feeding an arms race—a contest that is accelerating partly because the finish line remains unknown. Jacob Stokes in Defense One: cnas.org/publications/c…

Xi tells Putin China welcomes fresh US-Russia contacts as Trump seeks end to Ukraine war reuters.com/world/china/xi…