In a groundbreaking episode, Ray and Jim welcome their first-ever head of state as a guest—President Surangel Whipps Jr., the 10th President of the Republic of Palau. This historic interview marks a milestone for the podcast, which has previously featured cabinet ministers, four-star officers, ambassadors, and parliamentarians across 90+ episodes.

President Whipps delivered a powerful message about Palau's steadfast diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, declaring the relationship as lasting "until death do us part". Despite China's economic inducements and tourism boycotts, this Pacific island nation of just 20,000 people remains one of only 12 countries worldwide that continue to recognize Taiwan diplomatically.

The president explained that Palau values partnerships with countries sharing the same principles: rule of law and aninternational rules-based order. Since becoming diplomatic allies with Taiwan in 1999, Palau has weathered significant economic pressure, including China's tourism boycott that reduced visitors from 100,000 Chinese tourists (then representing 70% of its total tourism) to zero after 2016.

President Whipps shared compelling examples of China's economic warfare tactics, including offers to build casinos to solve Palau's pension crisis and promises of "a million tourists" with unlimited hotel development. However, the president emphasized that mass Chinese tourism brought environmental challenges, including illegal harvesting of protected species like the bumphead parrotfish and Napoleon wrasse.

Under the Compact of Free Association (COFA), recently renewed, Palau maintains a perpetual defense relationship with the United States. The compact grants the US security and denial rights to Palau while providing economic stability and protection. President Whipps highlighted the construction of an over-the-horizon radar site, emphasizing that Palau has "always had a target on our back because of our location".

Managing an exclusive economic zone the size of Texas with only two patrol boats presents enormous challenges. Whipps described ongoing issues with illegal fishing, unauthorized Chinese research vessels, and the discovery of 100 fish aggregating devices in Palau's waters. Chinese research vessels have been operating year-round in Palau's extended continental shelf, even naming underwater ridges with Chinese names.

The president delivered sobering testimony about climate change impacts, describing it as "like a slow death" compared to the bombings of World War II. Palau faces disappearing stingless jellyfish (their top tourist attraction), rising sea levels, and the potential loss of entire low-lying islands with their unique cultures and languages.

President Whipps emphasized the importance of multilateral partnerships, referencing Palau's traditional symbol of the surgeonfish: "when danger comes, you come together”. Through the Pacific Island Forum and other alliances, small island nations amplify their voices on critical issues like maritime security and climate change.

This unprecedented interview offers unique insights from a Pacific island leader navigating great power competition while protecting sovereignty, culture, and environment.

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In this episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso are joined by Kharis Templeman, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, to analyze the fallout from Taiwan's recent failed recall election attempt and what it means for the island's future.

The discussion centers on the July 26 recall votes, where an attempt to remove 24 opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers from office was rejected by voters. This outcome solidifies a challenging period of divided government for President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which controls the presidency but not the legislature. Templeman explains that the recalls, initiated by grassroots activists concerned about the KMT's legislative agenda, represented a high-stakes effort to shift the balance of power. Their failure means President Lai must continue to navigate an opposition that has resisted efforts to bolster Taiwan's defenses against pressure from the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The podcast provides essential context on Taiwan's key political players:

• The KMT, or "Blue" camp, is Taiwan's oldest political party. Once staunchly anti-communist, it now advocates for engagement and dialogue with Beijing and is seen as the party the PRC prefers. The KMT positions itself as better able to manage cross-strait relations peacefully.

• The DPP, or "Green" camp, is more skeptical of China. The Lai administration has focused on strengthening Taiwan's military and civil resilience, a stance the KMT-led opposition claims is provocative.

Templeman unpacks the broader geopolitical implications, touching on how Beijing frames the recall failure as a rejection of "Taiwan independence". The conversation also covers the recent US decision to deny President Lai a stop in New York City during a planned transit visit, a move viewed by many as a concession to Beijing amid ongoing US-China negotiations. This highlights the complex and often transactional nature of the US-Taiwan relationship.

Looking ahead, with the recall option almost exhausted, Taiwan's political factions face a stalemate. Templeman suggests this could lead to either more intense partisan conflict or a period of moderation and compromise as both parties eye the 2026 local elections. This episode offers a crucial analysis of the domestic power struggles and international pressures shaping Taiwan's path forward.

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In this episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso welcome back Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and professor at Princeton University, to examine how recent U.S. military strikes in Iran impact deterrence dynamics across the Indo-Pacific region.

Iran Strikes and China Deterrence

Cooper argues that U.S. strikes against Iran may actually strengthen deterrence against China by demonstrating American unpredictability. Chinese officials had reportedly viewed Trump as a "paper tiger" following trade negotiations, but the Iran strikes have forced Beijing to recalculate its assumptions about U.S. willingness to use force in a Taiwan crisis.

Alliance Management Under Pressure

The conversation explores growing tensions in U.S. Indo-Pacific alliances as the Trump administration links trade negotiations to security commitments. Cooper expresses concern that threatened tariffs and demands for increased defense spending could undermine alliance relationships, particularly with South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

Nuclear Proliferation Concerns

The panel discusses alarming implications for nuclear proliferation in the Indo-Pacific, with Cooper warning that recent events may accelerate desires for independent nuclear capabilities among regional allies. The setback to Iran's nuclear program paradoxically demonstrates both the risks and benefits of pursuing nuclear weapons.

Regional Defense Architecture

Cooper critically examines Eli Ratner's proposal for an Indo-Pacific defense pact (the "Squad" - U.S., Japan, Australia, Philippines), arguing that formal defense agreements may be premature given current political realities in allied capitals. He suggests focusing on operational cooperation and interoperability instead.

India-Pakistan Lessons

The recent India-Pakistan border conflict provides valuable insights for Indo-Pacific military planning, with Cooper noting that Indian air operations were largely successful despite Pakistani use of Chinese-supplied air defense systems.

Information Warfare Challenges

As chairman of the Open Technology Fund, Cooper discusses ongoing efforts to maintain internet freedom tools like Signal and VPN access in authoritarian countries, despite Trump administration attempts to shut down U.S. Agency for Global Media operations.

Strategic Implications

Cooper emphasizes that while Middle East conflicts may seem distant from Indo-Pacific concerns, they fundamentally shape how regional powers assess American resolve and commitment. The unpredictability doctrine may serve deterrence purposes, but creates significant challenges for alliance management and strategic planning.

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