State of the Day

Hello, readers.

Welcome to State of the Day. Here, we cut through the euphemisms and misdirection of current news to deliver it straight. No ice or mixer.

I just got back from a long weekend in the South with family, enjoying some cold beers.

Upon returning online, I stumbled upon the phrase “Straits of Malacca.”

Donald Trump’s Predicament

There’s this notion in digital media—”three is a pattern.” It’s an unprecedented metaphor. For instance, should three transgender shooters really spark trending articles? Or, how about three streakers winning big on sports betting? It seems like everything is trending in threes lately, including major layoffs in three liberal media companies.

The oddity here is that this idea is entirely arbitrary and lacks scientific backing. In such a vast world, three occurrences don’t necessarily reflect a trend. They might just be three random events; the idea of “3 is trending” feels, well, quite misleading.

Anyway, I feel a bit better after getting that off my chest. The Strait of Malacca is now recognized as the third significant shipping chokepoint under U.S. influence.

For those of you who may not catch the drift, a former Trump advisor from the National Security Council, who dealt with cyber issues and supply chains, elaborated on this.

It started with the U.S. regaining control of the Panama Canal. Then there were maneuvers in Venezuela. Fast forward, and now we’re focusing on military operations that cover choke points right in China’s backyard—essentially adding American surveillance to its front door.

On Monday, the U.S. announced it was enhancing its defense cooperation with Indonesia, marking it as a “major defense cooperation partnership.” This involves maritime awareness, training exercises, and increased military presence around Indonesian waters.

It’s important to note that Indonesia shares oversight of navigation through the Strait of Malacca with Singapore and Malaysia. This strait is crucial as it facilitates 80% of China’s crude oil exports.

I’m generally a bit skeptical about plans in international relations. So many factors lead to doubt and criticism. Still, it seems rather clear that these actions do reflect a coherent strategy.

Amid several delays, President Trump is set to meet President Xi in mid-May.

So, I guess the real question is: Who holds the stronger position in this scenario?

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