Demetri

Japanese snow monkeys at Hell Valley hot spring in Nagano. 地獄谷野猿公苑. For more images from Japan, follow Instagram.com/asialens.demet… or click demetrisevastopulo.com/Japan

Iran allows handful of favoured ships through Strait of Hormuz ft.com/content/d2198c…

Too much focus on this and not enough on their meeting’s substance

Really? Name one start-up think tank that analyzes the latest twist and turns in China's fx policy with any depth. I would humbly submit that this blog is at the analytical frontier, ahead of what most of the big banks are producing cfr.org/articles/the-p…

PM had no comeback as the Fox reporter suggests or she simply decided to not respond? Two very different things. I suspect the latter. One goal of her visit was to make sure relations with Trump stay on track.

DOJ issued a truly stunning indictment today, unveiling a massive AI chip smuggling operation to China--led by Wally Liaw, the Co-Founder, Board Member, and Senior Vice President of Supermicro, a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest U.S. AI server manufacturers. The operation smuggled over $2.5 billion worth of chips to China, including Hopper and Blackwell chips. It is unsurprising that China would seek to illegally obtain U.S. chips, given how much better they are than Chinese chips. But it is appalling that leadership figures in major U.S. semiconductor companies would actively enable Chinese efforts to obtain banned AI chips. Many U.S. companies have long denied that chip smuggling to China is happening. And now we know that it is not just happening, but it is pervasive--and individuals high up in some of the most important companies in the AI supply chain were actively supporting those smuggling operations. Policy changes are urgently needed to close loopholes in AI chip export controls and stop Chinese smuggling. First, we need to know where these chips are going: all AI chip exports to Southeast Asia (the nexus of Chinese smuggling operations, including this operation), and potentially globally, must require a U.S. export license. Second, Chinese companies inside the United States should not be allowed to purchase AI chips. It is absurd that the only country in which Chinese companies can buy AI chips is the United States itself, a loophole that DOJ has highlighted in past indictments that Chinese smugglers routinely exploit. And third, much tighter compliance measures are needed by U.S. companies. U.S. companies have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted to self-police. Companies must have stricter end-use reporting requirements, and/or face stricter liability. Export control enforcement must become more like financial sanctions enforcement if it is to be effective. justice.gov/opa/pr/three-c…

Locking in U.S.-Japan Action Plan on Critical Minerals 🔒 Ambassador Greer announced the enactment of the U.S.-Japan Action Plan on Critical Minerals to expand production and strengthen our supply chain resilience. Learn more: ustr.gov/about/policy-o…

Denmark was ready to blow up Greenland runways if US invaded ft.com/content/e07833…

I highly doubt that it will impact the alliance. Japanese officials are very pragmatic and will quickly move on.

There’s no question Trump has main character energy on the global stage. I am hearing the opposite of the conclusion of this piece, though. Beijing views Trump’s postponement as a sign that he has lost control of the plot on Iran, rather than dictating events there and globally.

China has arrested seven people and subjected 12 more ‌to "criminal compulsory measures" in a campaign targeting traffickers in fentanyl precursor chemicals. These are welcome steps, but such actions need to be taken at scale and sustained. reuters.com/world/asia-pac…

Delighted to have a new paper out today for @DefenceUwa with @DrTLeeBrown and @salisbot. We examine the strategic logic of Submarine Rotational Force - West, and discuss the value from Australian, British, and American perspectives. Read it here: defenceuwa.com.au/wp-content/upl…

NEW: French sailor reveals position of aircraft carrier with his fitness app. Run tracking app @Strava shows Charles de Gaulle as it steams across the Med. #stravaleaks strike..again! Story by @lemonde. 1/

Want a break from politics? Then 📷👇

President Trump welcomes the Prime Minister of Japan to the White House 🇺🇸🇯🇵

EXCLUSIVE -- SEC urged to restrict Chinese companies’ access to US capital markets ft.com/content/c162e7… via @ft

A Wagyu steak rice bowl restaurant in Osaka, serving A5-grade Tataki-style Wagyu grilled over charcoal Located near Dotonbori—queue tickets often run out within 20 minutes before opening.

The SAVE America Act is policy so simple even a baby would support it!! 🤣🤣🤣

The arrival of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at her meeting with US President Donald Trump, in a beautiful anime-style 🇺🇸🇯🇵

I still think you’re auditioning to be Statler or Waldorf in the Muppet show. But you have real competition from @pstAsiatech even though you are on opposite ends of the spectrum on US-China policy 😉😎

Trump praises Japan’s ‘tremendous support’ over Iran war in Oval Office meeting with PM Takaichi just days after urging Japan to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz ft.com/content/89ae8e…