ITK Daily | November 28

Happy Monday.

Here’s today’s ITK Daily.

To be ITK, know this:

Trudeau government unveils long-awaited plan to confront an 'increasingly disruptive' China: Strategy promises a bigger Canadian military footprint in the region. CBC

+ Canada's long-awaited Indo-Pacific Strategy describes China as "an increasingly disruptive global power" on the world stage — a social and economic force that's too big to ignore but is also increasingly focused on bending international rules to suit its own interests.

+ "China is making large-scale investments to establish its economic influence, diplomatic impact, offensive military capabilities, and advanced technologies. China is looking to shape the international order into a more permissive environment for interests and values that increasingly depart from ours."

+ “The future of the Indo-Pacific is our future; we have a role to play in shaping it. To do so, we need to be a true, reliable partner. Today, we are putting forward a truly Canadian strategy—one that involves every facet of our society. It sends a clear message to the region that Canada is here, and they can trust we are here to stay.” -- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Canada to boost defense, cyber security in Indo-Pacific policy, focus on 'disruptive' China: Reuters reports The plan detailed in a 26-page document said Canada will tighten foreign investment rules to protect intellectual property and prevent Chinese state-owned enterprises from snapping up critical mineral supplies.

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy PDF

+ The Indo-Pacific is the world’s fastest-growing economic region and accounts for 65% of the global population. By 2030, it will be home to two-thirds of the global middle class.

+ Nearly 1 out of 5 Canadians has family ties to the Indo-Pacific. It is also home to 60% of Canada’s international students.

+ Canada’s largest diasporas are of Indo-Pacific origin.

The fighter jet that could create a new alliance between the UK and Japan: A partnership set to be agreed this year marks a shift in the Asian country’s role in the global defense industry after years in the shadows. FT

+ The jet would be at the center of the first ever three-way defense collaboration between the UK, Japan and Italy, built on a design that would put it among the most sophisticated aircraft ever made.

Kishida cabinet's approval sinks to new low of 37% in Nikkei poll: Nikkei reports the Japanese public is frustrated with Unification Church response and ministers' resignations.

Chinese takeovers become a geopolitical frontline: Semiconductors blur the line between national security and the national interest. FT - Editorial

Rare protests against China’s ‘zero COVID’ policy erupt across country: WP reports demonstrations were sparked by accusations that pandemic restrictions had hampered rescuers trying to reach a deadly fire in Xinjiang.

Protests erupt in major Chinese cities in backlash at Xi Jinping’s zero-COVID policy: The Times reports it is a rare show of public defiance and the biggest since Tiananmen Square.

China rocked by protests as zero-COVID anger spreads: FT reports tensions run into the second day after vigil ends with clashes with police in Shanghai.

Shanghai protests: ‘We want everyone to hear our voice’: Spontaneous demonstration underscores growing discontent against China’s strict ‘zero-COVID’ policies. FT

Why “COVID zero” is now the biggest China threat: China is stuck in the lockdown mentality because it initially worked. It’s now strangling the economy and beginning to trigger serious unrest. Richard McGregor

Xi Jinping’s dilemma: Placate or crack down on China’s COVID protests: Beijing’s unsustainable pandemic strategy is finally reaching a tipping point as extraordinary demonstrations erupt around the country. Matthew Brooker

+ @ianbremmer: millions of people were protesting in every major chinese city for a solid two months in 1989 - what we’re seeing this weekend is a big deal for xi jinping but a far cry from tiananmen

Protests in China are frequent.

Most protests deal with housing, benefits, and pay. Without elections, protests are the only means to convey displeasure over leadership.

What's curious about current protests is the amount of video seeping out of China and Western media coverage.

WP: Would you buy a made-in-China electric car? They’re coming.

Nice headline from the Washington Post.

Pro-tip: If Japan scared you in the '80s, China will freak you out in the '20s.

Despite handshakes, the rivalry between China and the West continues: Pictures from the recent bilateral meeting between the Chinese and American presidents in Indonesia are misleading: The conciliation is merely temporary. Le Monde

US effort to arm Taiwan slowed by war in Ukraine: WSJ reports the flow of weapons to Kyiv is running up against the longer-term demands of a US strategy to arm Taiwan to help defend against a possible invasion by China.

AP: Hardship and hope: Winter, missile storms show Kyiv’s mettle

US and NATO scramble to arm Ukraine and refill their own arsenals: The West thought an artillery and tank war in Europe would never happen again and shrank weapons stockpiles. It was wrong. NYT

Pressure builds to step up weapons tracking in Ukraine: Legislation would require greater scrutiny of the $20 billion in military aid President Biden has sent Ukraine, and it has bipartisan support. WP

WP: Jon Batiste to headline Biden’s first state dinner, serenade Macron

Biden eases Venezuela sanctions as opposition talks resume: AP reports the U.S. Department of the Treasury is allowing 雪佛龙 to resume “limited” energy production in Venezuela after years of sanctions that have dramatically curtailed oil and gas profits that have flowed to Maduro’s government.

Africa's population boom may boost economy, global relevance: As the population of the world's rich countries shrinks and ages, African nations are experiencing rapid growth. This could benefit African economies and turn the continent into a burgeoning market. DW

How the CIA forgot the art of spying: With the war on terror came a new, more militarized way of gathering intelligence. But now, America needs the kind of spooks who can work the cocktail party circuit—more James Bond, less Jason Bourne. Politico

How Independents dampened the red wave: American politics would improve if both parties courted swing voters more directly. William A. Galston

+ "Midterm elections do little to predict the outcome of the presidential elections that follow them. Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all suffered significant midterm losses but went on to win re-election—by 18 points in Reagan’s case."

+ " The 2022 midterms strongly suggest that for the foreseeable future, Democrats will have to build Electoral College majorities without Florida, Ohio or Texas."

+ "Our politics would improve if both parties made their appeals to a wider range of voters."

Gretchen Whitmer carries Democrats’ hopes of beating Ron DeSantis: After winning Michigan, a swing state, she is being hailed as the woman to beat the Republicans’ new hero. The Times

Bloomberg: Populist House Republicans picking a fight With US business over ‘woke capitalism’

+ McCarthy has refused to meet with the US Chamber of Commerce

+ Companies could have ‘hell of a time’ winning back GOP support

Can Ron DeSantis ride the culture war to the White House? Doyle McManus

Republicans shrug off Trump '24 bid: 'The excitement’s just not there': The former president is not bending the GOP to his will like he used to. Politico

As Gen X and Boomers age, they confront living alone: More older Americans are living by themselves than ever before. That shift presents issues on housing, health care, and personal finance. NYT

+ In 1960, just 13 percent of American households had a single occupant. But that figure has risen steadily, and today it is approaching 30 percent.

+ For households headed by someone 50 or older, that figure is 36 percent.

+ Nearly 26 million Americans 50 or older now live alone, up from 15 million in 2000.

Communications tip: For me, musicians are the ones to watch and learn from - their ability to market themselves, communicate with a community, and build a tribe is unprecedented and done with limited budgets.

Teens, social media, and technology 2022: TikTok has established itself as one of the top online platforms for US teens, while the share of teens who use Facebook has fallen sharply. Pew

+ YouTube tops the 2022 teen online landscape among the platforms covered in the Center’s new survey, as it is used by 95% of teens.

苹果 is becoming an ad company despite privacy claims Richie Koch

+ Apple currently brings in roughly $4 billion from advertising and is forecasted to bring in as much as $30 billion by 2026.

What’s the future of voice in an economic downturn? Stacey Higginbotham

Dread Broadcasting Corporation: The pirate that changed British radio: In 1981, Rita Marley’s brother Leroy Anderson aka Lepke launched the Dread Broadcasting Corporation (DBC), Europe’s first dedicated black music station. BBC

Eurovision voting goes global, giving US fans a say on European musical contest: WSJ reports Americans will soon get a chance to vote in the Eurovision Song Contest, the musical competition that celebrates kitschy pop and helped launch the careers of ABBA and Celine Dion.

The most beautiful libraries in the world: Bookish buildings around the world where the design has as much clout as the literary content – at the most beautiful libraries in the world. Condé Nast Traveller

The Times: Lionel Messi set to agree deal to join Inter Miami CF next season

+ The Miami franchise, which is co-owned by David Beckham, expects Messi to move from Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the European season in a deal that will make the 35-year-old the highest-paid player in the history of MLS.

Bloomberg: Manchester United ’s price tag may set ‘landmark’ for football

+ The Glazer family is considering a sale after 17 years

+ Travails on the pitch mask what’s still a coveted asset

US Soccer alters Iran flag to support women’s rights movement, then backtracks amid backlash Yahoo Sports

+ Iran’s government reacted by accusing America of removing the name of God from their national flag.

Just win, baby. USMNT knows exactly what it needs to do to advance at World Cup Nancy Armour

Giants-Cowboys sets NFL regular-season record for viewers: AP reports the Cowboys 28-20 victory on Fox averaged 42 million viewers, according to 尼尔森 , surpassing the 41.55 million average for the Dec. 3, 1990, Monday night game between the Giants and San Francisco 49ers on ABC. Average viewer record numbers date to 1988.

+ Luke Fickell told Cincinnati he is leaving to take the Wisconsin head coaching job, per multiple reports.

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc

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