Phillip Orchard

Phillip Orchard is an analyst at Geopolitical Futures. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Orchard spent nearly six years at Stratfor, working as an editor and writing about East Asian geopolitics. He’s spent more than six years abroad, primarily in Southeast Asia and Latin America, where he’s had formative, immersive experiences with the problems arising from mass political upheaval, civil conflict and human migration. Mr. Orchard holds a master’s degree in Security, Law and Diplomacy from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, where he focused on energy and national security, Chinese foreign policy, intelligence analysis, and institutional pathologies. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas. He speaks Spanish and some Thai and Lao.

Latest From Author

Taiwan: More Than a US Friend of Convenience

U.S. assurances to Taiwan are intentionally vague. U.S. interests in Taiwan are crystal clear.

Will the US Coast Guard Enter the South China Sea ‘Grey Zone?’

An incursion into the area by the U.S. Coast Guard could cause an escalation the U.S. would rather avoid.

In China, Yet Another Course Correction

Beijing is taking another stab at regulating the financial sector.

How the Trade War Won’t End

Washington wants to cut a deal now, but Beijing is playing the long game.

When and Why the Suppliers of Oil Matter

More often than not, it doesn’t matter where oil comes from. But the exceptions to this rule can be critical.

Why India and Pakistan Avoided Nuclear War

The logic that has governed nuclear brinksmanship since the advent of nuclear weapons is still in place today.

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