Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode of the China Desk Podcast, host Steve Yates speaks with Indo-Pacific expert Cleo Paskal about China’s growing influence across the Pacific Islands and why the region is central to U.S. national security. The conversation explores geopolitical competition in Oceania, corruption and political warfare, Taiwan diplomacy, Guam’s strategic role, and how Chinese economic projects intersect with military strategy. Paskal breaks down the “3.5-tier” framework for understanding Pacific Island priorities and explains why Americans should pay closer attention to the region’s strategic importance.
🎧 Listen to the Podcast:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2pOWxsTq9u3pbXVL1hms5r
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-desk/id1673496111
#ChinaDeskPodcast #IndoPacific #ChinaStrategy #PacificIslands #Geopolitics #NationalSecurity #USChina #Taiwan #Guam #Oceania #ForeignPolicy #ChinaInfluence #DefensePolicy #FederalNewswire #SteveYates #CleoPaskal
In this episode of the China Desk Podcast, host Steve Yates speaks with Indo-Pacific expert Cleo Paskal about China’s growing influence across the Pacific Islands and why the region is central to U.S. national security. The conversation explores geopolitical competition in Oceania, corruption and political warfare, Taiwan diplomacy, Guam’s strategic role, and how Chinese economic projects intersect with military strategy. Paskal breaks down the “3.5-tier” framework for understanding Pacific Island priorities and explains why Americans should pay closer attention to the region’s strategic importance.
🎧 Listen to the Podcast:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2pOWxsTq9u3pbXVL1hms5r
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-desk/id1673496111
#ChinaDeskPodcast #IndoPacific #ChinaStrategy #PacificIslands #Geopolitics #NationalSecurity #USChina #Taiwan #Guam #Oceania #ForeignPolicy #ChinaInfluence #DefensePolicy #FederalNewswire #SteveYates #CleoPaskal
