👀 The Indo-Pacific Powder Keg:

- Chinese ship cuts off a Philippines patrol boat, nearly causing a collision
- US HIMARS Rockets, Patriot Missiles, & SINKEX in the Philippines
- Chinese aircraft carrier back in South China Sea
- US nuclear subs to South Korea
- Enter: Singapore

*Reposting the map with updates and corrections*

🧨 Militaries from the US, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, France, China, Russia, & North Korea are operating & exercising in the same region.

Full thread with more info and sources:

Big thanks to @IndoPac_Info for help and brilliant insight on the maps.

🇺🇸🇰🇷 US & South Korea Unveil Joint Declaration Outlining Steps to Bolster Deterrence:

“The US will also enhance the visibility of its strategic assets in the region under the joint declaration, to include an upcoming visit of a nuclear-armed ballistic submarine to South Korea.”

I don't use "Indo-Pacific Powder Keg" lightly.

It's meant to communicate the uncertainty and slim margin for error, not the likelihood or nature of a "spark."

The spark is easy to identify in hindsight but hard to predict before. I won't try to—but there is A LOT going on:

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