Flash Points: Meet Taiwan’s dragon warrior

Plus, other FP Interviews with global heavyweights, from Jens Stoltenberg to Karen Pierce. AUGUST 4, 2024  |  [VIEW IN BROWSER](  |  [SUBSCRIBE](     Oriana Fenwick illustration for Foreign Policy In early July, FP’s Rishi Iyengar visited Twin Oaks, an 18-acre estate in Washington, D.C., owned by the government of Taiwan. He was there to meet Alexander Tah-ray Yui, who recently became Taiwan’s representative to the United States. “Toward the end of a wide-ranging conversation that covered both U.S. presidential candidates, semiconductors, military aid, and China,” Iyengar writes, “I asked Yui about animals.” Yui’s predecessor once said she was a “cat warrior” who could combat Beijing’s notorious “wolf warrior” diplomacy. But Yui told Iyengar that he might be a “dragon warrior.” “We are suit-wearing warriors,” he added jokingly, “but the battle is very brutal.” From a de facto embassy in Washington to an airport lounge in Romania, our reporters have traveled the world to get to know global power brokers. The following FP Interviews seek to provide an insider’s portrait of the people behind some of the most important global policymaking of our time, including some you may not have heard of.—Chloe Hadavas   [1]( [The Dragon Warrior]( Alexander Tah-ray Yui takes on the stewardship of the Taiwan-U.S. relationship at a crucial time. By Rishi Iyengar   [2]( [The Oceanographer]( As the global scramble for deep-sea minerals heats up, Leticia Carvalho wants to take charge. By Christina Lu   [3]( [The Steady Hand]( Jens Stoltenberg has led NATO through a decade of war, chaos, and Trump. What comes next? By Robbie Gramer   [4]( [The Bridge Builder]( After more than a decade at Apple, Doug Beck is in charge of making sure the Pentagon doesn’t lose a tech race with China. By Rishi Iyengar   [5]( [The Optimist]( Karen Pierce was the first woman to take up the U.K.’s seat at the U.N. Security Council and likely the first person to do so in a feather boa. By Amy Mackinnon Sponsored [Advancing a Global Affairs Career]( The intersection of large-scale challenges and technological advancements is demanding a broader range of knowledge and skills from international relations professionals. Learn about the impact this is having on employment trends and how graduate schools are preparing students for success in this evolving and competitive field. Indicate your areas of interest [here]( to access the FP Graduate School Guide.   [Decoding Trump's Foreign-Policy Plans]( Donald Trump becomes the next U.S. president, how will he design his foreign policy? Which advisors will he lean on most? Elbridge Colby, a Pentagon official under former President Trump, joined FP Live this week to discuss. [WATCH ON-DEMAND](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( You’re receiving this email at {EMAIL} because you signed up for FP's Flash Points newsletter. [MANAGE YOUR EMAIL PREFERENCES]( | [VIEW OUR PRIVACY POLICY]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Interested in partnering with FP on events, podcasts, or research? [Explore FP Solutions](. [Foreign Policy]( is a division of Graham Holdings Company. All contents © 2024 Graham Digital Holding Company LLC. All rights reserved. Foreign Policy, 655 15th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20005.