Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Pacific Forum

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, commented on France24 on Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Washington. Professor Larus indicated that, despite solid defensive agreements with Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, Japan questions US political commitment to maintaining maritime security in the Asia Pacific. She also indicated that Japan can see that the US is short on ships, ship builders, and people to put on ships.  In response, Japan is increasing its miliary budgets and expanding its military power. Read more.

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Pacific Forum

Taiwan

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Pacific Forum, offered commentary to international media on Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential and Legislative elections:

• Pre-election commentary, WION News India, January 12, 2024. View the segment.
• Election commentary, BBC Chinese, January 13, 2024. Learn more.
• Election commentary, France24, January 13, 2024. View the segment.
• Post-election commentary, WION January 14, 2024. View the segment.
• Post-election “Experts React” commentary, New Atlanticist, Atlantic Council, January 13, 2024. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react/experts-react-taiwan-just-elected-lai-ching-te-as-president-despite-chinas-opposition-whats-next/

U.S.

Larus also commented recently on Vietnam News on Super Tuesday. Larus said there would be little change in voters’ support for Biden and Trump between Super Tuesday and Election Day because voters are already well aware of the candidates’ weaknesses. The only place where the campaigns have left to influence voters are in the swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, and maybe Nevada, Arizona and Georgia. Trump needs to pull out all the stops in Michigan where Biden is vulnerable to the Arab American vote. Larus also indicated that Trump has picked up support from Black and Hispanic voters since 2016 and 2020. In recent polls in 6 swing states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin), 22% of Black people would vote for Trump, up from 8% in 2016, and 42% of Hispanics said they would vote for Trump, up from 29% in 2016. View the segment.

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Pacific Forum

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Pacific Forum, commented to Voice of American Chinese that Congress’ failure to renew funding of the Compacts of Free Association (COFAs) with the Pacific Islands of Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau jeopardizes US influence and sea control in the Pacific. China is enticing Palau, whose economy heavily depends on tourism, to switch diplomatic relations from Taiwan by promising to fill every hotel room in Palau. Larus indicated that, located between Hawaii and Guam, COFA members states are the U.S.’s first line of control in the Central Pacific. China is using economic leverage to persuade the COFA states to realign with China and to abstain in a potential U.S. conflict with China over Taiwan. 

https://www.voachinese.com/a/how-can-cofa-help-us-deter-ccp-in-a-indopacific-conflict/7496027.html

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum joined The John Batchelor Show for a segment titled “#PRC: Who was Li Keqiang of the CCP? Elizabeth Larus, Pacific Forum.” She commented on the passing of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Listen to the segment.

Last year the US government imposed semiconductor export controls on China amid concerns that the country was using civilian technology for military purposes. Elizabeth Larus writes that these and other measures such as the denial of license applications by the US Commerce Department and nuclear nonproliferation controls have put US trade, investment, and defense industry lobbyists at odds with national security hawks in Washington. Read more.

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum, offered the (virtual) guest lecture “Is the US Abandoning the One China Policy?” to Young Leaders Fellows of the Pacific Forum on September 26. Professor Larus explained that the US ‘one China’ policy confuses Beijing, which follows a ‘one China’ principle, resulting in misunderstandings and tensions in US-China relations. She also explained that despite Beijing’s misgivings, US support for Taiwan, including arms sales, does not violate the US ‘one China’ policy. Misstatements by US presidents concerning US military support for Taiwan further confuses Beijing.

Larus in other news: