On Jan. 23, China repeated its familiar pattern of sending warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone—in this case, 39 advanced air assets including fighter jets, nuclear-capable bombers and surveillance and transport aircraft. Although highly provocative, it was in many respects just another day in January. For the whole month, Beijing only refrained from threatening… Continue reading Why China Is Intensifying Its Military Flights Against Taiwan
Tag: Intel
The False Choice Between China and Russia
As the drums of war beat louder in Ukraine, an unlikely voice has emerged calling for restraint—China hawks. Members of Congress have expressed an openness to making concessions to Russia, with some arguing that any U.S. response to Russia would detract from our ability to deter China. Similarly, prominent China defense analysts warned not to… Continue reading The False Choice Between China and Russia
A Test of How Effective Sanctions Are
U.S. President Joe Biden’s threatened sanctions far exceed previous measures to curb Russian President Vladimir Putin, but they have not stopped Putin from ordering Russian forces into rebel-held territory in Eastern Ukraine. This begs the question whether the severe measures the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have threatened to take are… Continue reading A Test of How Effective Sanctions Are
A Timely Opportunity for the U.S. Coast Guard to Teach a Man to Protect His Fish
In the past two years, the U.S. Coast Guard has made strong statements suggesting it would be increasing its effort to deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity. As it does so, the Coast Guard might also consider enhancing its role as a trainer of other nations. IUU fishing occurs outside of careful resource… Continue reading A Timely Opportunity for the U.S. Coast Guard to Teach a Man to Protect His Fish
The Lives of Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
Jocelyn joined the U.S. Army with dreams of putting herself through college and becoming a lawyer. It’s been a long and bitter journey from there to the streets of Los Angeles, where she scratches out a living selling handicrafts on the Venice Beach boardwalk. The closest thing she has to a bed at night is… Continue reading The Lives of Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
Responding to Russia, Sex Trafficking, Anti-Bias Education: RAND Weekly Recap
This week, we discuss why the decision to either respond to Russia or deter China is a false choice; the effectiveness of sanctions as a tool for statecraft; why it may be time for a new approach to helping unemployed Americans; how substance use disorder complicates sex trafficking cases; teachers’ views on anti-bias education; the… Continue reading Responding to Russia, Sex Trafficking, Anti-Bias Education: RAND Weekly Recap
Continuity of Government in Ukraine
On February 23 Russia launched a war on Ukraine. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and its parliament (Rada) might accelerate steps to ensure the continuity of government, a need made more urgent because of the risk that Kyiv could soon fall. Zelensky may still underestimate dangers. Despite reports that government relocation plans have been discussed with… Continue reading Continuity of Government in Ukraine
The Digital Skills Gap: What Workers Need for the Jobs of the Future
The COVID-19 pandemic quickened the pace of digital development around the world, as everything from meetings to movie premiers went online. That may sound like a silver lining. For tens of millions of workers, it’s not. They don’t have the skills to compete. They’re the bookkeepers, the data-entry clerks, the executive secretaries, looking for work… Continue reading The Digital Skills Gap: What Workers Need for the Jobs of the Future
State of the Union 2022: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Domestic Policy
Last night, President Joe Biden delivered his first official State of the Union address, rebuking a revanchist Russia days after its invasion of Ukraine, aiming to turn a page on the COVID-19 pandemic, and covering a wide range of important domestic issues facing the United States. To develop effective, evidence-based solutions to these problems, policymakers… Continue reading State of the Union 2022: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Domestic Policy
Ensuring Russia’s War with Ukraine Doesn’t Morph into Direct Conflict with NATO
Russia has launched an unprecedented act of aggression against Ukraine. The United States and its allies must respond forcefully. But as they do, they should take into account the possibility of triggering a spiral of escalation that could lead to the only outcome worse than the invasion of Ukraine itself: a hot war between Russia… Continue reading Ensuring Russia’s War with Ukraine Doesn’t Morph into Direct Conflict with NATO