Where Biden's Confirmations Stand, Taiwan's Security, and More

Why the U.S. needs a reset with Pakistan, a storm on the horizon for Taiwan, and the state of Biden's appointments.

View in browser January 3, 2022 Steadying Taiwan for a storm on the horizon   Though China faces headwinds, Beijing is likely to increase pressure on Taiwan in the coming years, and this unrelenting pressure will test the mettle of Taiwan's leaders. Ryan Hass explains China's calculus, especially as Taiwanese elections approach in 2024.   Read more The state of Biden's appointments   The Senate pushed out a remarkable 87 confirmations in its final week last year—making it the most productive period for the body since President Biden took office. Anne Joseph O'Connell looks at the state of confirmations and provides some recommendations on how to improve the process.    Read more The US needs a reset with Pakistan   "Pakistan is simultaneously important and complicated. There is no magic bullet when it comes to reimagining a new policy, but the United States now has an opportunity to steer the relationship in a potentially more productive direction. Washington should give it a shot," argues Madiha Afzal in her recent op-ed.    Read in The New York Times Help support Brookings with a donation   Brookings is committed to making its high-quality, independent policy research free to the public. Please consider making a contribution today to our Annual Fund to support our experts' work. The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars. The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Unsubscribe Manage your newsletter preferences | Receive the Brookings Brief less often