Blake Herzinger
@bdherzinger.bsky.social
I like big navies and I cannot lie. Navy Reservist | CIMSEC | Asian Security | ex-AEI, USSC, Twitter, Pacific Forum, US Pacific Fleet | Proud Idahoan | Opinions mine, but you're welcome to adopt them
Merry Christmas, shitter was full!
I don't know what to say, but it's Christmas and we're all in misery
December 21, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Merry Christmas, shitter was full!
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
New post out:
@ldfreedman.bsky.social talks to @kschake.bsky.social - who's worked at senior levels in the US defense and state departments - on how the military should deal with Trump, Hegseth and illegal orders.
(Free to read)
samf.substack.com/p/the-state-...
@ldfreedman.bsky.social talks to @kschake.bsky.social - who's worked at senior levels in the US defense and state departments - on how the military should deal with Trump, Hegseth and illegal orders.
(Free to read)
samf.substack.com/p/the-state-...
The State and the Soldier
How should the US military react to a "unprincipled principal"?
samf.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:11 AM
New post out:
@ldfreedman.bsky.social talks to @kschake.bsky.social - who's worked at senior levels in the US defense and state departments - on how the military should deal with Trump, Hegseth and illegal orders.
(Free to read)
samf.substack.com/p/the-state-...
@ldfreedman.bsky.social talks to @kschake.bsky.social - who's worked at senior levels in the US defense and state departments - on how the military should deal with Trump, Hegseth and illegal orders.
(Free to read)
samf.substack.com/p/the-state-...
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
Information Office of the PRC State Council furiously scribbling down notes on how you roll out the public announcement of a blockade
It is international law 101 that a military blockade is not just a violation of the UN Charter, but a crime of aggression.
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
December 17, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Information Office of the PRC State Council furiously scribbling down notes on how you roll out the public announcement of a blockade
...Happy Hanukkah?
Trump: "The only time anybody could see those planes was when those bomb chutes open up, because it becomes totally un-stealth. You're going in, you go like this. As soon as it goes like this, for some reason the plane is totally visible. Not good. I watched it happening. I watched it go bing bing"
December 17, 2025 at 2:37 AM
...Happy Hanukkah?
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
wrote this week about a topic there's surprisingly little coverage of in the United States even in think tanks focused on the Chinese military: the everyday lives of Chinese soldiers.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/16/c...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/16/c...
What’s It Like to Be a Chinese Soldier?
Behind the parades, recruits face long deployments, strict rules, and limited opportunities.
foreignpolicy.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:52 AM
wrote this week about a topic there's surprisingly little coverage of in the United States even in think tanks focused on the Chinese military: the everyday lives of Chinese soldiers.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/16/c...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/16/c...
*looking for the land Venezuela stole from the United States*
a man wearing a yellow shirt with the letter a on the front
ALT: a man wearing a yellow shirt with the letter a on the front
media.tenor.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:41 AM
*looking for the land Venezuela stole from the United States*
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
“The white paper outlined this plan without deference to or even acknowledgement of U.S. sensitivities, likely putting China on a collision course with the United States in the region in the months and years ahead.”
thediplomat.com/2025/12/chin...
thediplomat.com/2025/12/chin...
China’s 2025 White Paper on Latin America Sets the Stage for Renewed Competition With the US
The new document declared China’s intention to expand its influence on all fronts, even as the U.S. is turning its focus to the Western Hemisphere.
thediplomat.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:33 AM
“The white paper outlined this plan without deference to or even acknowledgement of U.S. sensitivities, likely putting China on a collision course with the United States in the region in the months and years ahead.”
thediplomat.com/2025/12/chin...
thediplomat.com/2025/12/chin...
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
#OTD 1907: The Great White Fleet departs Hampton Roads, Va. to circumnavigate the world in 14 months, a journey of 43,000 miles that included 20 port calls across six continents.
December 17, 2025 at 1:00 AM
#OTD 1907: The Great White Fleet departs Hampton Roads, Va. to circumnavigate the world in 14 months, a journey of 43,000 miles that included 20 port calls across six continents.
At least there's a solid rebuttal to that gawdawful Harrison Kass piece about getting rid of the Marine Corps thehill.com/opinion/nati...
thehill.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
At least there's a solid rebuttal to that gawdawful Harrison Kass piece about getting rid of the Marine Corps thehill.com/opinion/nati...
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
China to fall out of Germany’s top five export destinations for first time since 2010 – Reuters: ‘dropping to seventh place as shipments decline 10% to 81 billion euros ($95.04 billion) this year’
‘as imports from [China] rise more than 7% to around 168 billion euros, accounting for 12% of all’
‘as imports from [China] rise more than 7% to around 168 billion euros, accounting for 12% of all’
China to fall out of Germany's top five export destinations for first time since 2010
China will fall out of Germany's top five export destinations for the first time since 2010, dropping to seventh place as shipments decline 10% to 81 billion euros ($95.04 billion) this year, a govern...
www.reuters.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:49 AM
China to fall out of Germany’s top five export destinations for first time since 2010 – Reuters: ‘dropping to seventh place as shipments decline 10% to 81 billion euros ($95.04 billion) this year’
‘as imports from [China] rise more than 7% to around 168 billion euros, accounting for 12% of all’
‘as imports from [China] rise more than 7% to around 168 billion euros, accounting for 12% of all’
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
Great piece by Chris Miller: “The Trump administration’s offer of economic inducements misses the point. Russia doesn’t want a business deal, it wants Ukraine: a building block of Mr. Putin’s new sphere of control and a victory that could humiliate the West and demonstrate his great-power status."
Opinion | Putin Isn’t in It for the Money
That’s why he hasn’t accepted the Trump peace plan. He’s a czar, not a businessman, and he wants to swallow Ukraine.
www.wsj.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Great piece by Chris Miller: “The Trump administration’s offer of economic inducements misses the point. Russia doesn’t want a business deal, it wants Ukraine: a building block of Mr. Putin’s new sphere of control and a victory that could humiliate the West and demonstrate his great-power status."
The man suspended enforcement of the foreign corrupt practices act for gods sake. What possible reason could you have for doing that if not “doing corruption”?
Saying Trump is “transactional” is just a gentle way of saying he’s corrupt. Every power he has been trusted with, he treats as a way to extract favors and benefits from anyone he sees as situationally vulnerable.
December 9, 2025 at 2:48 AM
The man suspended enforcement of the foreign corrupt practices act for gods sake. What possible reason could you have for doing that if not “doing corruption”?
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
My assessment of the Trump national security strategy: "it sees the United States’ adversaries as partners in that war, but it does not see how much U.S. power relies on the voluntary assistance of other countries."
The Only War the White House Is Ready for Is Culture War
The new U.S. National Security Strategy is a moral and strategic disaster.
foreignpolicy.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:50 PM
My assessment of the Trump national security strategy: "it sees the United States’ adversaries as partners in that war, but it does not see how much U.S. power relies on the voluntary assistance of other countries."
Those that can erect protectionist barriers will do so. Those that cannot will be hollowed out by Beijing.
.. a “remarkable figure, never before seen in recorded economic history ..”
@wsj.com 🇨🇳
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
@wsj.com 🇨🇳
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
December 9, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Those that can erect protectionist barriers will do so. Those that cannot will be hollowed out by Beijing.
Seeing a leader of the United States adopt this line is revolting. While the US remains imperfect, it is also the global leader in FDI as well as the world’s leading destination for inbound investment. China would love to have an economy like America’s.
December 9, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Seeing a leader of the United States adopt this line is revolting. While the US remains imperfect, it is also the global leader in FDI as well as the world’s leading destination for inbound investment. China would love to have an economy like America’s.
The thing about this is that it makes a real nice place to live.
November 6, 2025 at 3:58 AM
The thing about this is that it makes a real nice place to live.
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
Dude, you're the incumbents, the only message that works for you is prices actually going down
EXCLUSIVE: After Dems’ 2025 election sweep, Trump plans to refocus his messaging on the cost of living, says his 2024 campaign political director, James Blair.
Sneak peek of Blair’s interview with our @DashaBurns on #theconversation: politi.co/4oMzVmI
Sneak peek of Blair’s interview with our @DashaBurns on #theconversation: politi.co/4oMzVmI
November 6, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Dude, you're the incumbents, the only message that works for you is prices actually going down
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
Government of posters facing a crisis: what if the solution was more posting
Dude, you're the incumbents, the only message that works for you is prices actually going down
EXCLUSIVE: After Dems’ 2025 election sweep, Trump plans to refocus his messaging on the cost of living, says his 2024 campaign political director, James Blair.
Sneak peek of Blair’s interview with our @DashaBurns on #theconversation: politi.co/4oMzVmI
Sneak peek of Blair’s interview with our @DashaBurns on #theconversation: politi.co/4oMzVmI
November 6, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Government of posters facing a crisis: what if the solution was more posting
Everyone I know that makes something in a critical industry. Also most people I know that work on economic security issues. Argue against the implementation, the power grab by the executive, the active and apparently intentional harm to alliances, sure.
kind of curious as to which angle? tackling re-industrialism or current account deficits?
Weirdly I hear it in personal conversations with lots of people but few people are saying out loud that they think Trump’s trade policy is directionally correct, if poorly and boorishly executed.
November 6, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Everyone I know that makes something in a critical industry. Also most people I know that work on economic security issues. Argue against the implementation, the power grab by the executive, the active and apparently intentional harm to alliances, sure.
We’re talking a lot about Korean and Japanese shipbuilding, which are excellent but I am still not clear how much capacity they have. Why isn’t shipbuilding coming up more in the public discourse around the India trade talks?
November 6, 2025 at 1:20 AM
We’re talking a lot about Korean and Japanese shipbuilding, which are excellent but I am still not clear how much capacity they have. Why isn’t shipbuilding coming up more in the public discourse around the India trade talks?
Weirdly I hear it in personal conversations with lots of people but few people are saying out loud that they think Trump’s trade policy is directionally correct, if poorly and boorishly executed.
November 6, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Weirdly I hear it in personal conversations with lots of people but few people are saying out loud that they think Trump’s trade policy is directionally correct, if poorly and boorishly executed.
You could call it a violation of humanitarian law or any one of several other things. But this is not an armed conflict, unless internal legal justification is using that as an excuse (we don’t know, which is also wrong.). War crimes have a definition and words mean things.
Is this post arguing that the killers and victims were not of different nations?
Or that the US military are actually just civilians?
Or that the mission of the US military is to randomly murder the unarmed civilians of other countries in international waters?
Would this be a peace crime?
Or that the US military are actually just civilians?
Or that the mission of the US military is to randomly murder the unarmed civilians of other countries in international waters?
Would this be a peace crime?
November 6, 2025 at 1:17 AM
You could call it a violation of humanitarian law or any one of several other things. But this is not an armed conflict, unless internal legal justification is using that as an excuse (we don’t know, which is also wrong.). War crimes have a definition and words mean things.
Well, this sucks.
NEW >>
Laura Loomer, the far-right activist has been credentialed to cover the Pentagon after signing its new press policy. She has repeatedly criticized defense officials while boasting of her close ties to Trump.
with @drewharwell.com for @washingtonpost.com
Laura Loomer, the far-right activist has been credentialed to cover the Pentagon after signing its new press policy. She has repeatedly criticized defense officials while boasting of her close ties to Trump.
with @drewharwell.com for @washingtonpost.com
Laura Loomer is now credentialed to cover the Pentagon
The far-right activist has repeatedly criticized defense officials on her website and social media accounts while boasting of her close ties to President Donald Trump.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Well, this sucks.
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
After 14 years, I think the time has come to acknowledge that the "Rebalance to Asia" has failed.
I've spent the last decade writing and thinking about how to make the rebalance successful, so this is a painful realization.
A thread on my new piece for RSIS...
I've spent the last decade writing and thinking about how to make the rebalance successful, so this is a painful realization.
A thread on my new piece for RSIS...
September 11, 2025 at 10:54 AM
After 14 years, I think the time has come to acknowledge that the "Rebalance to Asia" has failed.
I've spent the last decade writing and thinking about how to make the rebalance successful, so this is a painful realization.
A thread on my new piece for RSIS...
I've spent the last decade writing and thinking about how to make the rebalance successful, so this is a painful realization.
A thread on my new piece for RSIS...
Reposted by Blake Herzinger
Spencer Cox: "I want you look at how Utahns reacted the last two nights. There was no rioting. There was no looting. There were no cars set on fire. There was no violence. There were vigils and prayers and people coming together to share their humanity. And that I believe is the answer to this."
September 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Spencer Cox: "I want you look at how Utahns reacted the last two nights. There was no rioting. There was no looting. There were no cars set on fire. There was no violence. There were vigils and prayers and people coming together to share their humanity. And that I believe is the answer to this."