The President's Daily Brief February 13th, 2026: Japan and the Philippines Named as China's Next Targets & Trump Ends Minnesota Operation
15 snips
Feb 13, 2026 A briefing on whether China's ambitions extend beyond Taiwan to neighboring countries. Coverage of the U.S. ending a major immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota. Discussion of reports that North Korea may be grooming a teenage successor. A tech-security story about alleged use of classified information to bet on military strikes.
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Taiwan Could Be The Opening Move
- Taiwan's president warns that annexing Taiwan could trigger broader Chinese expansion toward Japan and the Philippines.
- That framing strengthens the case for sustained Western military support to raise invasion costs.
Balance Arms Support With Escalation Management
- Washington faces a tradeoff between continuing arms sales to maintain Taiwan's deterrence and avoiding escalation with Beijing.
- Do sustain deterrence investments that clearly raise invasion costs while calibrating diplomatic messaging to manage escalation risks.
The 'Six Wars' Roadmap Mirrors Current Moves
- A 2021 Chinese op-ed described a possible 'six wars' pathway with Taiwan first, then the South China Sea, Tibet, the Senkakus, Mongolia, and Russia's Far East.
- While not official policy, current Chinese actions mirror parts of that sequence, making the scenario credible.