ASW Ex

U.S., Japan, New Zealand begin joint anti-submarine drills

An obvious finger wag at China, since their sub fleet is by far their most credible naval threat. The ChiCom leadership continue dragging their feet over North Korea, preferring to posture and equivocate rather than commit to any direct action. Clearly Trump and Abe intend to continue tightening the screws until they cry uncle. China needs to do something about the insane fat kid before he tries to nuke someone, because that's how world wars start. We're just making it clear than any such resultant war would mean a quick defeat for China's navy. Their expansionist trade empire dies with their navy -- a fact of which they are quite well aware, however distasteful they find it to admit.

Trump excels at effective international saber rattling, which can probably be attributed to Mattis, one of the smartest men ever to sit in the SecDef chair. Mattis has a comprehensive understanding of international realpolitik, the likes of which hasn't been seen in Washington for many years.