Asia News

The Daily Signal delivers Asia-Pacific news with reporting and conservative commentary on regional security challenges, U.S. military alliances, China containment strategy, Taiwan defense, North Korea threats, economic competition, and America’s vital interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
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    • News

    EXCLUSIVE: State Department Targets ‘Scam Centers’ in Asia

    FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The State Department says it is cracking down on foreign fraud networks that exploit American citizens, The Daily Signal can first report. President Donald Trump has mobilized the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the State Department to dismantle Asia-based criminal networks that defraud and financially exploit American families, seniors, and…
    Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
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    • Opinion

    Here’s Why a Strong Japan Is Key to Peace in East Asia

    At the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, all eyes were on the global powers. One of the headlines from the conference was a comment made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Answering a question at the Munich Security Conference, the Chinese foreign minister warned Japan against what he called the ghosts of militarism. As…
    Matt Cookson
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    • Opinion

    A Japanese Lesson for Troubled Britain

    The contrast between America’s great island allies on opposite ends of the world couldn’t be more drastic. Japan has just given its commonsense conservative prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, a two-thirds supermajority in the national legislature’s Lower House; her Liberal Democratic Party took the highest proportion of seats of any party since World War II. It’s…
    Daniel McCarthy
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    • Opinion

    Japan’s Crash Is Our Canary in the Coal Mine

    On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stock index crashed 870 points, the biggest drop since October. The mainstream media predictably blamed President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs over Greenland, but they were wrong. Thanks to Bitcoin—which trades 24/7—we can actually go to the tape. It turns out Greenland barely made a dent. What caused…
    Peter St. Onge
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    • Opinion

    Culture of Death Advances With Euthanasia Legalization in Illinois and New York

    Within a single week, the governors of Illinois and New York both announced their support for physician-assisted suicide legislation. In Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, signed a bill legalizing the practice Dec. 12. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, announced Dec. 17 that she has reached an agreement with the state legislature…
    David Closson
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    • Opinion

    Beijing’s Aggressive Campaign Against Japan’s Iron Lady Backfires

    Communist China and Japan have been engaging in a serious diplomatic dispute over Taiwan for almost a month. While Japan strives to de-escalate tensions, China’s aggressive stance—particularly toward newly-elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi—only heightens concerns.  Takaichi made history as Japan’s first female prime minister in late October, drawing parallels to Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister. Both women emerged from working-class backgrounds to reach the zenith of political power. They are…
    Helen Raleigh
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    • Opinion

    Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ Policy Extended to Central Asia

    On Nov. 6, 2025, a key moment in U.S.-Central Asia relations took place in Washington, where leaders from all five republics—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan—gathered for talks with President Donald Trump. The C5+1 format, established in 2015, had never been implemented with such vigor until now. With this initiative, the United States once again…
    Giorgi Labadze
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    • News

    The New Japanese PM Gives US a Chance to Strengthen the Anti-China Alliance

    Last week, President Donald Trump concluded a trip to East Asia, meeting with several allies, including new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The Trump administration may have found a critical ally in the region. Policymakers in Washington, D.C., should welcome the ascension of Japan’s “Iron Lady” and assist her efforts to strengthen her country’s security….
    Matt Cookson
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    • News

    Trump’s Trip to Asia Signals Second Term China Policy

    President Donald Trump recently wrapped up a crucial weeklong trip to Asia, including a significant summit with Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. This trip highlighted Trump’s emerging strategy toward China for his second term: cooperate in some areas when must, while maintaining pressure on Xi’s government. In the lead-up to…
    Helen Raleigh
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    • News

    ‘Go Out and Buy Toyota’: Trump Announces Japan’s Major Investment in US Industry

    President Donald Trump announced that Toyota will invest billions to open auto plants across the country. “I was just told by the [Japanese] prime minister that Toyota is going to be putting auto plants all over the United States to the tune of $10 billion,” Trump said. “Go out and buy a Toyota.” Trump spoke…
    Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
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    • News

    Trump in Asia: Making Deals, Trading Dance Moves

    President Donald Trump is only one day into his week-long Asia tour, and he’s already overseen Cambodia and Thailand sign a peace deal and secured several trade agreements. He’s even thrown in some fancy dance moves. The White House posted on X Sunday morning that “The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords have been SIGNED, marking a…
    Olivia Pero
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    • News

    Collaborating on Shipbuilding Central to Trump’s Meeting With South Korean President

    President Donald Trump met with South Korea’s new president Monday and discussed collaborating on military and commercial shipbuilding in light of Communist China’s dominance in the industry. The White House summit was President Lee Jae Myung’s first meeting with Trump since he was elected president in June.     “I believe that there is a renaissance…
    Virginia Allen
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    • Opinion

    The US-Japan Trade Deal Provides Both Certainty and Clarification

    President Donald Trump announced last week that the U.S. has successfully negotiated a new trade deal with Japan, one of our greatest trading partners and allies.   This U.S.-Japan trade agreement promises to reshape the two countries’ economic relationship. It set the U.S. tariff on most Japanese imports at 15%, lower than the 25% that Trump…
    Helen Raleigh
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    • News

    North Korea Rejects Talks With South Korea’s New Liberal President

    The sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has rejected diplomatic talks with South Korea’s new liberal leader.   “We clarify once again the official stand that no matter what policy is adopted and whatever proposal is made in Seoul, we have no interest in it and there is neither the reason to meet…
    Virginia Allen
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    • Opinion

    Racism Rebranded: The Hidden Bias of ‘Anti-Racism’ Against Asian Americans

    Racism is despicable and must be fought. Not a controversial statement, right? But what if racism rebranded itself as … “anti-racism”? The consequences of such “anti-racism” are what the Asian American community is currently facing, and no place has been more of a flashpoint for that than Northern Virginia’s Thomas Jefferson High School for Science…
    Joe Thomas
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    • Opinion

    Poland’s Purchases From South Korea Set Example

    Among U.S. allies in Europe, Poland has been the strongest advocate for expanding European defense forces since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Continuing to take this mission seriously, Poland has turned to South Korea as a defense partner, particularly in the acquisition of K2 tanks.  Such collaboration serves as an example for other U.S….
    Cameryn Jones
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    • Opinion

    Why South Korea Is Key to US Shipbuilding Strategy

    The U.S. Navy desperately needs help. Today, it maintains fewer than 300 ships—a staggering fall from the 1,200 it boasted at the end of World War II. The shipbuilding industry is in similar lackluster condition, having been in decline for decades. Currently, the Navy operates only four shipyards, with all others having closed. Those that…
    Naomi Park
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    • Opinion

    Japan Wisely Builds Up Military to Counter China, but It May Not Be Enough

    Japan is engaged in a significant military buildup by boosting domestic defense spending, refining its national security strategy, and strengthening multilateral security partnerships with its allies, chiefly the United States. The military buildup is designed to deter China’s increased aggression toward the Japanese mainland and islands. Japan is paying special attention to the defense of…
    Josef Milstein
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    • Opinion

    How the Philippines Can Deter China and Take a Leading Role in Southeast Asia

    Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s visit to the Philippines in November underscored the importance of the archipelago nation assisting the United States in the broader effort to deter the belligerence of the People’s Republic of China in the Indo-Pacific. As our treaty ally, the Philippines is showing initiative in the face of Chinese aggression through…
    Josef Milstein
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    • News

    South Korean Leader’s Brief, but Ill-Advised Flirtation With Martial Law

    South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law on Tuesday, blaming “anti-state forces” planning to overthrow the government. Yoon had previously complained of media and opposition groups pushing false information to subvert society, but gave no indication he would take such drastic measures. Yoon’s action reversed decades of South Korean democratization from its…
    Bruce Klingner
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