Recorded on August 15, 2025 at 11am Taiwan Standard Time
Did China’s reckless actions this week near the Scarborough Shoal nearly activate the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and United States? On Monday, a Chinese Navy destroyer accidentally rammed a Chinese Coast Guard Ship, possibly killing some of their own men. If not for the deft seamanship of the Philippine Coast Guard, however, it appears likely those casualties would have been Filipino. Less than three days later, a Chinese fighter jet flew within 60m of a Philippine plane, while the Chinese Navy shadowed two U.S. ships on a freedom-of-navigation mission near the Shoal. Is it just a matter of time until Beijing stumbles into an armed conflict with Washington? In this episode, we are joined by a new special guest — the former U.S. ambassador to Myanmar — who shares his insights on the latest events in the South China Sea as well as the rising China-U.S. competition for rare earth metals in Myanmar.
Host: Yin Khvat
Our guests:
Alexander Huang
- Council on Strategic and Wargaming Studies Chair
Derek Mitchell
- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Asia
Program Non-Resident Senior Advisor
- Former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar
- Former U.S. Department of Defense Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs
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