Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and President of E Larus Consulting LLC, commented on WION news on Mark Zuckerberg’s August 26 letter to the House Judiciary Committee that the Biden Administration pressured Meta to take down information on Covid and Hunter Biden’s laptop that did not fit the administration’s narrative. Larus commented on the timing of the letter, years after hearings on such government pressure on social media, indicating that Zuckerberg no longer needed to accommodate Biden, who dropped his reelection bid, and that Zuckerberg appears to sincerely regret his accommodation of the White House. Read more.

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 Non-resident Fellow at the Atlantic Council Global China Hub and Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, offered the bilingual lecture “The Taiwan 2024 Presidential and Legislative Elections” 【2024年台灣選舉】to students and teachers at the Middlebury College Summer Chinese Language School, where she is a Pew Davis Fellow for Peace.

Larus also spoke recently to Radio Free Asia for a segment titled “What is the difference between China’s South China Sea policy of falling out with the Philippines and getting close to Vietnam? Larus told the RFA reporter that the conflict between China and the Philippines at Xianbin Reef highlighted that the aforementioned “temporary arrangement” only coordinated the friction between the two countries around the Second Thomas Shoal, but did not fundamentally resolve the dispute over control in the South China Sea. Listen to the segment.

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Freund Larus indicated that the debate was “revealing.” Watch the interview.

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs 

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs, commented in The Cipher Brief with war correspondent Holly McKay on recent attacks by China’s Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Larus indicated that Article IV of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty compels the U.S. to respond to an “armed attack” against the Philippines or its ships. Recent use of water cannon against Philippines vessels, injuring crew members, raises the question of defining the term “armed attack.” Larus cautioned the U.S. against drawing red lines, which Beijing will certainly cross to test U.S. resolve. Read more.

Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Nonresident Fellow at the Atlantic Council penned a blog for the LSE U.S. Centre that assesses the apparent strengths and weaknesses of both contenders – who are now neck and neck in national polls – and outlines why Joe Biden might have an advantage in the Electoral College. Read more.

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