Recent developments have blown a distinctly chill wind onto once-warming US-Cambodia relations. First came the US’ sanctioning of the Union Development Group under the Global Magnitsky Act last month, followed by the release of new satellite imagery illustrating the destruction of an American-funded building—which had served as Cambodia’s Tactical Headquarters of the National Committee for Maritime Security at Ream—re-igniting the debate over a potential Chinese naval base.

Many Mongolians fear China will eventually take over their country. They are correct to worry.

An earlier version of this article was published in New Mandala.

The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to more than public health; global trade, particularly the global value chain (GVC) system, has also suffered. The global economy has experienced significant shock, given the closing of international borders, travel restrictions, and nationwide lockdowns. The rate of spread of the contagion has become proportional to the impact on the globalized economy, resulting from the disruption of the global demand-supply chain.

In this time of political uncertainty in both nations, we must remember that US-Japan defense cooperation is not all about stuff and money; it is about the strategic nature of the partnership—a pair of like-minded nations pooling resources to secure mutual national interests.

AN “ALLIANCE OF DEMOCRACIES”: IS THERE ANY THERE THERE?

Almost seven years have passed since the Government of Japan established its first National Security Strategy in December 2013. It defines Japan’s national security interests and security objectives, as well as how to achieve those objectives through a whole-of-government approach. The National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG), another basic document of Japan’s national security policy, were established along with the strategy. It defines the roles and missions of Japan’s defense forces and establishes the goal of defense force build-up as the guideline for medium-term and annual defense programs.

While many nations’ Covid-19 responses have received mixed praise or criticism from the international community, Mongolia has quietly demonstrated competence and selflessness in the face of adversity. The nation responded quickly and effectively, preventing domestic transmission of the disease and establishing a public health stance that has kept deaths attributed to Covid-19 at zero, all while aiding other countries including China, Russia, and the United States.

Abe Shinzo, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, has left the scene. Not many Korea analysts were Abe fans for any number of reasons (his nationalist tendencies, the militarization effort he led, typified by his push to revise the “peace constitution,” and his hardline approach to South Korea, particularly in 2019). I’ve met with numerous Japanese visitors over time, including a vice foreign minister and Diet delegations visiting New York City to provide a read on North Korea and to encourage a positive line with South Korea.

An earlier version of this article was published at the Institute for Security & Development Policy.