Warning on Taiwan

President Biden on Monday signaled a more confrontational approach to China on multiple fronts, issuing a sharp warning against any potential attack on Taiwan, as the Washington Post reports.

New Asia-Pacific Economic Bloc

President Biden has enlisted a dozen Asia-Pacific nations to join a new loosely defined economic bloc meant to counter China’s dominance and reassert American influence in the region five years after his predecessor withdrew the United States from a sweeping trade accord, as the NYT reports.

Zelensky Calls for Global Plan to Rebuild Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the international community to help fund Ukraine’s reconstruction after the war and use frozen Russian assets to compensate victims, as the FT reports.

Executive Education

Taiwan in the Balance is an opportunity to gain a comprehensive framework for understanding the dynamics at play in one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints. With this one-day course, go beyond the headlines to explore the latest trends and developments impacting cross-Strait relations and heightened tensions in the region.

Video Shorts

Check out CSIS's YouTube Channel for the latest releases in our “Crisis Crossroads: Ukraine” video series.

In That Number

12

Twelve countries—India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia—have joined negotiations on President Biden's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

Source: Politico

Critical Quote

“That’s the commitment we made.”

— President Joe Biden on the U.S. commitment to defending Taiwan

iDeas Lab

Romina Bandura, senior fellow with the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 12, 2022. Her testimony was entitled "Forest Conservation in the Fight Against Climate Change."

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

(Photo credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.) Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin of the Russian army appears at a sentencing hearing on May 23, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. He pleaded guilty last week to killing a civilian, Oleksandr Shelipov, in a village in the Sumy region on Feb. 28, days after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This Town Tomorrow

At 8:30 a.m., join the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program for a conversation on U.S. and German cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Then, at 9:00 a.m., join the CSIS Humanitarian Agenda for a discussion on the implications of evolving political and conflict dynamics on Yemen's humanitarian crisis.

Also at 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Economics Program and CSIS Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics host the launch of their new report, Red Ink: Estimating Chinese Industrial Policy Spending in Comparative Perspective.

Video

The CSIS Missile Defense Project today hosted Vice Admiral Jon Hill, director of the Missile Defense Agency, to speak on the Agency's FY 2023 programs, priorities, and budgets. Watch the event here.

Podcasts

Today on The Asia Chessboard, Mike sits down with Major General Arnold L. Punaro (USMC ret.) to discuss the history of U.S. defense spending and why the number of warfighters is declining despite budget increases. The two also touch on the war in Ukraine and constraints on U.S. capacity to operate on multiple fronts.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Howard Stern routinely has some of the best musicians in the world performing live in his studio. Recently, he hosted a magnificent performance by members of Jane’s Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins for a joint performance of the Jane’s hit “Jane Says.”

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz

The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed with the External Relations team: Kendal Gee and Paige Montfort.