Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Attack on Iran Natanz uranium enrichment plant threatens diplomacy
The Biden administration on Monday distanced itself from what Iranian officials claim was an Israeli sabotage operation that cut electricity to Iran's top nuclear facility over the weekend -- moving quickly to try to keep the incident from blowing up the White House's push for direct nuclear diplomacy with Tehran. Published April 12, 2021
Iran vows ‘revenge’ against Israel for Natanz attack
Iran vowed Monday to "take revenge" against Israel for what Tehran claims was an Israeli operation that briefly cut electricity to the Islamic republic's preeminent uranium enrichment facility over the weekend. Published April 12, 2021
Lloyd Austin, Pentagon chief, to visit Israel amid spike in Iran ‘shadow war’ attacks
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will make the Biden administration's first high-level visit to Israel over the coming days to meet with Israeli leaders at a delicate moment in the White House's push to revive American diplomacy with Israel's archenemy Iran. Published April 9, 2021
Biden admin bristles as China accuses U.S. of ‘intimidation’ tactics, claims ownership of Taiwan
Tensions between the U.S. and China are escalating over the pro-democracy island of Taiwan, with Beijing accusing Washington of engaging in "intimidation and coercion" by sailing American military ships through the Taiwan Strait. Published April 8, 2021
U.S. backtracks as China expresses fury over possible Beijing Winter Olympics boycott
The Biden administration sought Wednesday to tamp down speculation it is considering a boycott of next year's Winter Olympics in China, amid growing pressure from human rights groups and the threat of a "forceful" response from Beijing if Washington tries to rally countries to pull out of the Games. Published April 7, 2021
Vladimir Putin, Russia test Biden with ‘hybrid warfare’ operations in Ukraine, Arctic
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been ramping up "hybrid warfare" operations in Ukraine and the Arctic in recent weeks in an early test of President Biden's resolve, a build-up that many see as a way for the Russian leader to score points abroad while shoring up sagging polls at home. Published April 6, 2021
Antony Blinken offers mixed message on Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration is committed to imposing sanctions to block Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Western Europe. Published March 28, 2021
U.S.-China sanctions battle escalating under Biden with focus on Xinjiang abuses
A tit-for-tat sanctions battle between the Biden administration and China has reached new heights in recent days, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken accusing Beijing of attempting to "intimidate and silence" U.S. officials who speak out for human rights around the world. Published March 28, 2021
China flouts Iran sanctions on oil as Trump-era pressure campaign crumbles
The Biden administration claims to be upholding the Trump-era pressure campaign on Iran, but there are clear signs sanctions are crumbling as China dramatically increases its purchases of embargoed Iranian crude oil. Published March 25, 2021
North Korea launches two more missiles in latest provocation aimed at Biden administration
North Korea on Wednesday escalated its provocations toward the Biden administration and U.S. allies in Northeast Asia by launching two ballistic missiles into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Published March 24, 2021
France summons Chinese ambassador over ‘mad hyena’ insult
A spat between China and France has burst into the open this week with Paris sharply reprimanding China's ambassador over undiplomatic insults and threats the Chinese Embassy has been hurling at French lawmakers and a key French strategy scholar. Published March 24, 2021
Biden decision on U.S. troops in Afghanistan may be imminent
President Biden is facing growing pressure to lay his cards on the table in Afghanistan, as disagreements mount with the U.S.-backed government in Kabul and uncertainty swirls around whether or not the White House will proceed with a May 1 deadline set by the Trump administration for a full U.S. troop pullout. Published March 23, 2021
Iran presidential election complicates Biden bid to rejoin nuclear deal
Anti-American hard-liners are poised to dominate Iran's upcoming presidential election, presenting a major new headache for the Biden administration as it tries to contain Tehran's nuclear weapons ambitions and promote stability in the Middle East. Published March 22, 2021
U.S., EU ramp up sanctions amid junta’s crackdown on democracy in Myanmar
The U.S. on Monday escalated its sanctions targeting officials in Myanmar in response to the increasingly violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators unfolding in the Southeast Asian nation since the military coup that took place there last month. Published March 22, 2021
Two Taiwanese fighter jets crash amid heightened tensions with China
Two Taiwanese fighter jets crashed into the sea off the island's southeastern coast on Monday after apparently colliding in mid-air during a training mission, according to initial reports. Published March 22, 2021
U.S.-North Korea fight bursts into the open in Malaysia
Behind-the-scenes tension between the U.S. and North Korea burst into the open in Malaysia over the weekend, with Pyongyang accusing the southeast Asian nation of being "subservient" to Washington. Published March 22, 2021
William Burns confirmed by Senate as CIA director
The Senate unanimously confirmed veteran diplomat William Burns as the new director of the CIA on Thursday, setting the stage for him to take over following the retirement of Gina Haspel, who was director since 2018 and was the first woman to head the spy agency. Published March 18, 2021
Joe Biden to host first Quad meeting between U.S., India, Australia and Japan
President Biden on Friday will host a first-ever meeting of the leaders of the so-called "Quad" countries -- the U.S., India, Australia and Japan -- as his administration seeks to build on momentum to combine Asia's most powerful democracies into a more formal grouping to confront and contain China. Published March 11, 2021
U.S. to consult allies on North Korean problem
The Biden administration's still-evolving policy for dealing with the North Korean nuclear threat will loom large and may get some clarity as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin make a first visit to Japan and South Korea next week. Published March 10, 2021
Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin to take joint trip to Japan and South Korea to rally allies
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel together to Japan and South Korea next week to rally democratic allies in the Indo-Pacific in an effort to more effectively confront and compete with China's rising influence there, the Biden administration announced Wednesday. Published March 10, 2021