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A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.***As America’s allies in Europe rush to adjust to the Trump administration’s foreign policy shifts, allies in Asia are also watching and considering how President Donald Trump will approach China and other security concerns in the Pacific. We asked four experts to explain how Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines are adjusting their strategies and defense spending in response to new leadership in Washington.Read more below.Lauren Dickey Non-resident senior associate for the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Previously served as senior advisor and acting director for Taiwan in the Office of the Secretary of DefenseTaiwan continues to intensify efforts to enhance its self-defense — and, importantly, Taipei is increasingly vocal publicly about its actions. This includes a commitment by President Lai Ching-te to raise defense spending above 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and, reportedly, efforts to negotiate an arms sales package valued at $7–10 billion for more coastal defense cruise missiles and HIMARS rockets. Taipei has received the message that the Trump administration expects more investments in Taiwan’s self-defense — and by extension, in the U.S. defense industry. However, increases around 5 or 10 percent of GDP may prove politically difficult for Taiwan’s current parliament to pass. Ultimately, whatever Taiwan’s next defense spending target may be, Taipei can’t just go on a shopping spree. It should also make investments and reforms to train, operate, integrate, and maintain its capabilities. Without changes to Taiwan’s military culture, practices, and operations, new investments will have a limited impact.Benjamin Charlton Senior Manager and Head of Scenarios, Oxford AnalyticaTrump’s return to the White