Dan Sneider
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dcsneider.bsky.social
Dan Sneider
@dcsneider.bsky.social
2.7K followers 240 following 680 posts
Lecturer, East Asian Studies and International Policy, Stanford University
Former foreign correspondent, The Christian Science Monitor
Former editor and syndicated columnist, The San Jose Mercury News
Posts Replies Media Videos
dcsneider.bsky.social
The Takaichi magic -- how far does it go? The Economist ponders that question.
www.economist.com/asia/2026/01...
Takaichi Sanae relies on her keenest fans in Japan
The prime minister’s hopes for her snap election depend on their ardour
www.economist.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:27 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
Hearing the message loud and clear from Colby et al, the Koreans are now aiming for "defense autonomy." Are nuclear weapons far off?
english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
[Editorial] New US defense strategy highlights South Korea’s need to achieve defense autonomy
Seoul must use the opportunity afforded by the shifting US defense priorities to accelerate the recovery of OPCON
english.hani.co.kr
January 29, 2026 at 1:25 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
keia.org/the-peninsul...
What May Be Driving Trump's Latest Tariff Threat Against South Korea - Korea Economic Institute of America
Investment commitments and tariff deals with the U.S. may now have to be completed with the caveat in mind that anything can change at a moment’s notice.
keia.org
January 28, 2026 at 9:43 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
More drama from Trump re Korea and trade/investment -- timed to Colby's visit? Maybe not but no doubt not helping.
en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2026...
(News Focus) Trump's tariff hike announcement seemingly aimed at expediting S. Korea's investment in U.S.: experts | Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement to rai...
en.yna.co.kr
January 27, 2026 at 5:48 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
In English, my article for Toyo Keizai Online, on trump and the Japanese election.
toyokeizai.net/articles/-/9...
Why Donald Trump Wants Takaichi to Win | World | The ORIENTAL ECONOMIST
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae wants the coming election to be a referendum on her personal leadership. In that contest, she has already won one vote – from U.S. President Donald Trump.Is a clear vic…
toyokeizai.net
January 26, 2026 at 12:53 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
My article in Japanese (English version to follow) in Toyo Keizai Online, on why Trump wants Takaichi to win the coming Japanese election.
toyokeizai.net/articles/-/9...
トランプが認めた｢高市早苗｣という選択——アメリカ知日派が絶賛する"勝負師"の素顔と､小泉純一郎に重なるリーダーシップ
高市早苗首相は、今度の選挙を自らのリーダーシップを問う国民投票にしたいと考えています。その戦いにおいて、彼女はすでに1票を手にしています。アメリカのドナルド・トランプ大統領からの票です。高市氏の圧勝…
toyokeizai.net
January 26, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Reposted by Dan Sneider
fsi.stanford.edu
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has exceeded expectations thus far by stabilizing foreign relations and securing pragmatic gains with the United States, China and Japan, but he's not out of the woods, writes @dcsneider.bsky.social in @eastasiaforum.bsky.social. ow.ly/TQbA50Y0jbS
Lee Jae-myung’s foreign policy successes in the shadow of political polarisation
Lee Jae-myung enters 2026 after a strong year, but on increasingly fractured ground
ow.ly
January 23, 2026 at 4:59 PM
dcsneider.bsky.social
The message from Canadian PM Carney -- and Japan and South Korea need to hear it: Our view is, the middle powers must act together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.
Asahi editorial board heard it.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
EDITORIAL: After year of Trump, Japan should side with peaceful nations | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
The world faces a major challenge as the United States, once the protector of the post-Cold War order, is now trampling upon international law, state sovereignty and long-held alliances with friendly ...
www.asahi.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:52 PM
dcsneider.bsky.social
On another topic, this is a great explainer of the reality of Trump's phony Peace board from the Guardian.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump’s board of peace is an imperial court completely unlike what was proposed
The US president’s global club was endorsed by the security council on a false prospectus and seems aimed at displacing the United Nations
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:12 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
My latest, a look at Korea and the year ahead, for East Asia Forum of ANU.
eastasiaforum.org/2026/01/18/l...
Lee Jae-myung’s foreign policy successes in the shadow of political polarisation
Lee Jae-myung enters 2026 after a strong year, but on increasingly fractured ground
eastasiaforum.org
January 18, 2026 at 11:35 PM
dcsneider.bsky.social
The Yomiuri, Japan's mainstream conservative daily, says this: The administration’s anachronistic ambitions to seize territory by force, ignoring international norms, is nothing short of appalling.
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yo...
Greenland: U.S. Territorial Ambitions Are Anachronistic
<p>The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark in the Arctic.</p> <p>The administration’s anachronistic ambitions ...
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp
January 18, 2026 at 11:18 PM
dcsneider.bsky.social
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
Official says Lower House snap election set for Feb. 8 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
A snap election will be held on Feb. 8 after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the Lower House later this month, a senior government official said Jan. 14.
www.asahi.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:17 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
and for the record, report by Joongang Ilbo
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-01...
Lee calls for deeper regional cooperation at summit with Takaichi in ancient Japanese capital of Nara
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Tuesday that he had urged closer trilateral cooperation among Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing during a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the a...
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:39 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
and now a report from Korean media on outcomes, in the same tone.
www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffai...
Seoul, Tokyo stress S. Korea-US-Japan cooperation on NK denuclearization - The Korea Times
NARA, Japan — President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday emphasized the importance of South Korea-Japan cooperat...
www.koreatimes.co.kr
January 14, 2026 at 12:37 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
Initial reports are that the Lee-Takaichi meeting went well - lots of good vibes (literally), with small gestures on the past and careful avoidance of the China confrontation. Here is pre meeting report from Hankyoreh with useful comments by Lee.
english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
Not South Korea’s place to get involved in China-Japan conflict, says Lee
The South Korean president expressed hope that the two sides would find an “amicable resolution through dialogue”
english.hani.co.kr
January 14, 2026 at 12:34 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
My analysis of the Korean relations with China and Japan, republished in AsiaTimes.
asiatimes.com/2026/01/sout...
South Korea walks a narrow bridge between China and Japan - Asia Times
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is spending the first weeks of the new year attempting a feat of diplomatic engineering that would challenge the most
asiatimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:23 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
China warning about Japanese militarism and nuclear ambitions is quite rich given their own buildup and nuclear arsenal. But it is classic Chinese propaganda.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01...
China widens attack on Japan nuclear ‘threats’ as ties sour
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said her government abides by the principles, but hasn’t been clear on whether that commitment will remain unchanged.
www.japantimes.co.jp
January 11, 2026 at 1:07 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
Asahi Shimbun also opines to condemn US actions in Venezuela.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
EDITORIAL: Outrageous act by U.S. against Venezuela must be condemned | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Troops were sent into the capital of another nation to detain its president and bring him back to face a trial. And the invading nation intends to “run the country.”
www.asahi.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:38 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
My latest for KEI Peninsula blog
keia.org/the-peninsul...
South Korea Walks a Narrow Bridge between China and Japan - Korea Economic Institute of America
Seoul's careful management of the complex triangular relations in the region takes place against a backdrop of growing global uncertainty.
keia.org
January 9, 2026 at 10:15 PM
dcsneider.bsky.social
Even the conservative Yomiuri daily is opposed to Trump's Venezuela aggression.
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yo...
Attack on Venezuela: Use of Military Force by U.S. Raises Deep Concern
Editorial [posttime] JST, [postdate] The U.S. military launched an attack on Venezuela, overthrowing the anti-U.S. administration. This aggressive approach, which does not rule out the use of force ag...
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp
January 9, 2026 at 6:23 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
Japanese business leader says what the Japanese government can't or won't say about Trump.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
Business leader calls ‘dictator’ Trump’s policies ‘sheer madness’ | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
FUKUOKA—The chairman of the Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry tore into U.S. President Donald Trump, characterizing him as “far more ferocious than a bear” and describing his policies as irrati...
www.asahi.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:20 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
Excellent dissection of the 'foreigner problem' discussion in Japan today -- rhetoric versus reality - in the latest Economist.
www.economist.com/leaders/2026...
Does Japan have a “foreigner problem”?
Yes—but it is not what populist politicians say it is
www.economist.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:08 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
The Economist on the strange succession process in North Korea.
www.economist.com/asia/2026/01...
The teenage girl who may rule North Korea
Even her name is a matter of debate
www.economist.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:07 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
The view from Korean progressives of the Venezuela attack.
english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
english.hani.co.kr
January 6, 2026 at 1:29 AM
dcsneider.bsky.social
Takaichi dodges comment on the Trump's imperial attack on Venezuela but the rest of the Japanese political spectrum does not hesitate to call it an illegal act.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
Takaichi walks a fine line over U.S. attack on Venezuela | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi avoided commenting on the Trump administration’s arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but some within her government harshly criticized the U.S. military action...
www.asahi.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:21 AM