In Ep. 87, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso speak with Ambassador Pou Sothirak, a former Cambodian diplomat and current distinguished advisor to the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies, to unpack the complex issues facing Cambodia today. The discussion centers on the renewed border conflict with Thailand, the controversy surrounding the Ream Naval Base, and Cambodia's strategic navigation of its relationships with the United States and China. Ambassador Sothirak provides historical context for...
Jul 11, 2025•55 min•Ep. 87
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Ian Urbina returns to “Why Should We Care About the Indo-Pacific” to preview Season 2 of his acclaimed Outlaw Ocean podcast , exposing the hidden world of human rights and environmental abuses on the high seas—from brutal labor conditions on distant-water fishing vessels to coercive processing centers in China, India, and beyond. Urbina, founder and director of the Outlaw Ocean Project , dives into the maritime underworld and examines what’s change...
Jul 04, 2025•47 min•Ep. 86
In this episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso interview Professor Gordon Flake , CEO of the Perth USAsia Centre , about South Korea's political transformation following six months of unprecedented turmoil. The discussion centers on South Korea's remarkable democratic resilience after former President Yoon Suk-yeol's shocking martial law declaration in December 2024, which triggered his impeachment and removal from office, and Lee Jae-myeong's subsequent election victory. Flake emphasizes tha...
Jun 27, 2025•54 min•Ep. 85
In this episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso explore the critical concept of techno-nationalism with expert Alex Capri , author of "Techno-Nationalism: How It's Reshaping Trade, Geopolitics and Society." Techno-nationalism represents the intersection of technology, national security, and economic power in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Capri explains how nation-states are leveraging 12 key power-multiplier technologies--including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum science, ...
Jun 20, 2025•47 min•Ep. 84
Hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso interview Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE), a retired Air Force Brigadier General with 29 years of military service. Rep. Bacon serves on the House Armed Services Committee and brings unique insights from both military leadership and congressional oversight. Congressman Bacon is concerned that America is spending just 2.9% of GDP on defense—the lowest level since 1940, before Pearl Harbor. He argues for increasing defense spending to 4% of GDP, approximately $150 bil...
Jun 13, 2025•48 min•Ep. 83
In this compelling episode, Dr. Ely Ratner , former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, sits down with Ray and Jim to discuss his provocative Foreign Affairs essay " The Case for a Pacific Defense Pact ." Dr. Ratner argues that China's rapid military modernization and regional ambitions necessitate a fundamental shift from America's traditional "hub-and-spoke" bilateral alliance system to an integrated multilateral defense pact. His proposal centers on creating...
Jun 06, 2025•55 min•Ep. 82
In this illuminating bonus crossover episode , co-hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso joined the "At the Boundary" podcast from the Global and National Security Institute to discuss the critical importance of the Indo-Pacific region for global security and implications for the second term of the Trump administration. Explore key issues, including China's territorial ambitions, the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, and how these dynamics influence U.S. foreign policy and global stability - b...
Jun 03, 2025•37 min
In this episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso welcome National Review senior political correspondent & Washington Post columnist Jim Geraghty for a wide-ranging discussion that moves from how intelligence agencies are increasingly convinced that Beijing covered up COVID-19's laboratory origins to China's heavy influence on U.S. and international institutions to America's shifting global media strategy under Donald Trump. Geraghty, who began investigating COVID's origins in March 2020, di...
May 30, 2025•58 min•Ep. 81
In this episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso sit down with Cleo Paskal , a leading Indo-Pacific analyst and non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, to unpack the growing threat of China’s gray zone influence in the Pacific Islands and why it matters for the United States and its allies. Paskal explains the strategic significance of the Pacific Islands, which include U.S. territories and the three Compact of Free Association states—Palau, the Marshall Isl...
May 23, 2025•55 min•Ep. 80
Recorded live at the 40th Space Symposium event in Colorado Springs, CO, this week's bonus crossover episode features a powerful conversation from HawkEye 360’s Salon Breakfast Panel, Illuminating Chinese Military Activity in the Indo-Pacific Region. Moderated by Kari Bingen, the panel brings together expert perspectives from co-host Ray Powell, Kimberly Lehn, Corey Johnston, and Mike Studeman to explore the shifting dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, including maritime domain awareness, grey zone op...
May 20, 2025•52 min
In this compelling episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso interview Luke de Pulford , founder and executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), who provides an in-depth look at this growing international coalition’s mission of transcending borders and party politics to reform policy on China. IPAC is a cross-party alliance of lawmakers from democratic countries focused on reforming policy approaches toward China. Founded on June 4, 2020 (the anniversary of the Tianan...
May 16, 2025•51 min•Ep. 79
Retired General Mike Minihan , former commander of Air Mobility Command and deputy commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, joins Jim and Ray to talk about how America’s alarming shortfall in military airlift could affect deterrence and readiness in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. General Minihan describes logistics as "the offensive line of a [American] football team"--rarely getting the glory but essential to success. He emphasizes that mobility is "the most relied upon force in the history of warfa...
May 13, 2025•49 min•Ep. 78
This episode features Nitin A. Gokhale , one of South Asia’s leading strategic affairs analysts, who joins co-hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso to break down the ongoing conflict along the India-Pakistan border, offering expert insight into its origins, recent triggers and global stakes. The conflict’s roots trace back to the 1947 partition of India and the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which has sparked four wars between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Tensions reignited recently aft...
May 08, 2025•50 min•Ep. 77
How will Australia's dramatic election results impact its domestic, regional and global political and economic affairs? In this special episode–originally aired live–hosts Jim Carouso and Ray Powell are joined by special guests Mick McNeill and Michael Rowland for an in-depth discussion on Australia's changing political landscape and the election’s far-reaching implications, including: A comprehensive breakdown of the Australian Labor Party’s decisive win, and what’s next for a reeling Liberal-N...
May 05, 2025•57 min•Ep. 76
Paul Everingham joins Ray and Jim to explain that liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand in Asia is expected to nearly double by 2050. The initial growth will be driven by North Asia (especially China), with South Asia and Southeast Asia becoming the main growth centers after 2035. This surge is tied to Asia’s rapid economic development, growing energy needs, and the region’s transition from coal. Asia is projected to account for 50% of global economic growth and a growing share of global emissions....
May 02, 2025•47 min•Ep. 75
In an episode originally released by The German Marshall Fund's China Global Podcast with Bonnie Glaser , managing director of GMF’s Indo-Pacific program, co-host Ray Powell was interviewed about recent developments in the Yellow Sea and China’s broader gray zone tactics in the maritime realm. --- This episode of the China Global podcast discusses evolving disputes between China and South Korea, specifically regarding their unresolved maritime boundary in the Yellow Sea. There is a long history ...
Apr 30, 2025•23 min
In this compelling episode of "Why Should We Care about the Indo-Pacific," hosts Ray Powell and James Carouso welcome Joe Hockey, former Australian Treasurer and Ambassador to the United States. Hockey, who now heads Bondi Partners, offers unique insights into U.S.-Australia relations during both Trump administrations. Episode Highlights: Hockey shares his firsthand experience of "Trumpageddon" during the transition from Obama to Trump's first administration, describing it as a "political tsunam...
Apr 25, 2025•51 min•Ep. 74
Mark Lambert, the recently retired head of the State Department’s China House, joins Jim and Ray to share his insights into the impacts of America’s radical new tariff policy from his extensive diplomatic career in Asia, including postings in China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan. Lambert, having just returned from a trip to Beijing, provides a unique perspective on how Chinese officials and experts are reacting to the escalating trade tensions between the two countries. His insights include: - Pr...
Apr 23, 2025•49 min•Ep. 73
Corrected release (original contained the wrong audio file). In an episode originally released by the China Global South Podcast titled, "South China Sea Update: Will the U.S. Really Defend the Philippines Against China?", co-host Ray Powell was interviewed about his work illuminating China's maritime gray-zone activities with SeaLight , and about the South China Sea security situation more broadly. ---------- Donald Trump strongly feels that U.S. security alliances in Europe no longer serve Was...
Apr 20, 2025•46 min
Founder and CEO of APAC Advisors Steve Okun joins Jim and Ray to talk about the suddenly raging trade war between the U.S. and China and what kind of impact it may have on the global trading system. Steve observes that international investment is largely frozen due to the uncertainty about what the U.S. goals are, which tariffs are temporary versus permanent, and whether the U.S. and China can come to a negotiated settlement. Steve also explains that while China has certainly exploited its advan...
Apr 18, 2025•50 min•Ep. 72
Author and Chatham House Associate Fellow Bill Hayton joins the podcast to explain how Vietnam has embarked on its own campaign to build artificial islands in the South China Sea, a decade after China pursued its own campaign. While Vietnam’s new artificial island bases will alter the South China Sea balance of power, China’s response has been muted, especially compared to its aggressive opposition to nearly every minor move the Philippines makes. Bill also discusses Vietnam’s concerns over the ...
Apr 14, 2025•54 min•Ep. 71
In our second post-“Liberation Day” episode we are joined by John Goyer , Executive Director for Southeast Asia for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the impact of America’s now-suspended tariff increases on Southeast Asian countries and on the U.S. John observes that American consumers are likely to experience significant price increases if these tariffs go into effect, since the reason U.S. businesses import from Southeast Asia is because it can get goods less expensively than if they a...
Apr 11, 2025•51 min•Ep. 70
Jim and Ray welcome Chris Johnstone , a Japan expert and former CIA, National Security Council, and Pentagon official, to discuss the implications of the recently announced U.S. tariffs on Japan’s economy, politics, trade policies, and alliance with America. Chris explains Japan's crucial role as a node in America’s Indo-Pacific alliance structure, but also, since the 2017 U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Japan has been assuming a greater leadership role in the region. U.S. ta...
Apr 08, 2025•50 min•Ep. 69
Two of India’s most respected foreign policy, national security and international relations experts, former Ambassador Alok Prasad and Mr. Vaman Desai , join Jim and Ray to explore the evolving bilateral relationship between the U.S. and India, which is increasingly seen as one of the globe’s defining partnership for the 21st century. They reflect on the recent visit to Washington by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our guests reflected that even with India bracing for the prospect of Donald Trump’...
Apr 04, 2025•51 min•Ep. 68
Former Singaporean diplomat Bilihari Kausikan joins Jim and Ray to discuss the implications of Donald Trump’s second term and his “America First” policies for Asia. Bilihari emphasizes that a focus on domestic policy is not unusual for U.S. presidents, and that Asian countries have learned to adapt practically to American policy changes. In fact, he believes that the current administration’s policies are closer to America’s historical norm than many realize. Ultimately, he believes that American...
Mar 28, 2025•44 min•Ep. 67
Why Should We (and especially Taiwan) Care About China’s New “Invasion Barges”? Defense expert Tom Shugart joins Ray and Jim to explain China’s so-called “ invasion barges ”, which have recently gained wide attention exercising along China’s coast. Tom explains how these barges are a significant leap forward for China’s ability to carry out a Taiwan invasion. Tom explains how these barges would be used in an amphibious landing along Taiwan’s famously inaccessible coastline, and how their design ...
Mar 25, 2025•53 min•Ep. 66
Ray and Jim welcome Dr. Sal Mercogliano, maritime historian and host of the popular YouTube channel What’s Going on with Shipping? , to talk about how “dark fleets”--or what he calls "parallel fleets"--challenge maritime law and Indo-Pacific security by evading international shipping regulations and sanctions against malign actors. Sal talks about how Russia is the country most associated with dark fleets, because sanctions have prompted the country to create a parallel fleet using third-country...
Mar 21, 2025•52 min•Ep. 65
Jim and Ray welcome broadcast journalist and news anchor Regina Lay to discuss the dramatic feud between the Marcos and Duterte political dynasties in the Philippines. Just three years ago these families were united behind a “Uniteam” ticket which secured an overwhelming electoral victory, but today Vice President Sara Duterte stands impeached and former President Rodrigo Duterte has been handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution for crimes against humanity. Reggie he...
Mar 19, 2025•53 min•Ep. 64
Jim and Ray welcome BowerGroupAsia CEO Ernie Bower to discuss how U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs will affect regional trade dynamics. Ernie explains Trump often uses tariffs and tariff threats to achieve both trade and non-economic objectives, this also creates significant uncertainty for American companies which must quickly adjust their strategies. He explains how investment in the U.S. had already been increasing due to incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, but that countries ar...
Mar 14, 2025•47 min•Ep. 63
Jim and Ray welcome Taiwan Member of Parliament Wang Ting-Yu to discuss the “gray zone” warfare being prosecuted daily by China against his country, highlighted by the recent spate of subsea power and communications cables that link Taiwan’s main island to its outer islands and the world. Mr. Wang emphasizes that Taiwan’s government remains under constant threat of subversion, coercion, espionage and war from Beijing, and that its intimidation campaign affects Taiwan’s security as well as the da...
Mar 07, 2025•51 min•Ep. 62
