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Andrew Salmon

Seoul, South Korea-based Andrew Salmon, Asia Editor at The Washington Times. brings two decades of journalistic experience to the position. Before joining The Washington Times, he was Northeast Asia Editor of Hong Kong-based Asia Times. Andrew’s reporting previously appeared in The Daily Telegraph, Forbes, The International Herald Tribune, The South China Morning Post, The Times and The Washington Times. He has made television appearances on Arirang TV, CNN and France24. He can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Andrew Salmon

America’s leading Asian allies pummel freedom of religion

Japan and South Korea are both prosperous, successful democracies and core American allies -- but both Asian powerhouses have, in recent months, cracked down on religious freedom.

July 10, 2026

Germany beats out ambitious South Korean bid for Canada’s biggest arms buy

A spirited South Korean bid to supply 12 Arctic-capable diesel-electric submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy lost out to a German pitch Monday, as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney prioritizes links with NATO over ties to Indo-Pacific partners.

July 7, 2026

President vs. vice president showdown kicks off in Manila

In a political-legal battle that is consuming the Philippines -- and likely being closely watched by the U.S. State Department -- the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte got underway in Manila on Monday.

July 6, 2026

Indonesian troops recover body of U.S. pilot slain by rebels in West Papua

Indonesian security forces recovered the body of an American pilot killed by rebels last week in the restive province of West Papua, according to footage posted online by Jakarta.

July 5, 2026

Tibetan commits suicide by setting himself on fire after China enacts ethnic unity law

A Tibetan died late Thursday after setting himself on fire outside the U.N. Headquarters in New York in a dramatic act of protest against a new Chinese law stressing ethnic unity.

July 3, 2026

China’s ‘ethnic unity law’ raises new global concerns over forced assimilation, repression

Overseas opposition to China's new "Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law" took off Thursday after Beijing made the act official a day earlier.

July 2, 2026

Cash-strapped British military embarks on radical new course

Political and defense circles in Britain are in an uproar after the belated publication of a long-awaited Defense Investment Plan, with the prime minister and the opposition leader sparring Wednesday in fiery exchanges in Parliament.

July 1, 2026

South Korean military makes massive pivot to drones

South Korea's Defense Ministry announced Friday that it would train 500,000 "drone warriors" in a major shift into the asset class that is dominating warfare in Ukraine.

June 26, 2026

China patrols seen as rehearsals for Taiwan blockade

Taipei welcomed Western statements of support Thursday after Beijing reiterated its intent "to exercise China's jurisdiction" in waters east of the democratic island in what alarmed overseas capitals called "novel" offshore actions.

June 25, 2026

China rallies allies to slam Japan’s rearmament, while Tokyo tightens defense links

As China rallies friendly nations against Japan, Tokyo is fortifying relationships across the democratic world in defiance of Beijing.

June 24, 2026

Korea unwilling, Europe unable to help in a Taiwan crisis, war game finds

The U.S. may have to count out South Korea and Europe as effective allies or responders in the event of a Taiwan crisis, based on the results of a recent war game.

June 19, 2026

Japanese, Korean markets surge on end-of-Iran-war news

Markets in Seoul and Tokyo surged Monday on news that the U.S. and Iran agreed to end hostilities in the Middle East.

June 15, 2026

Stocks soar from ‘Korea discount’ to ‘Korea premium’ under leftist president

His opponents brand him a populist, a hardcore leftist and even a North Korean sympathizer, but South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, a liberal, has launched his country's stock market into the stratosphere.

June 12, 2026

British defense minister resigns after losing battle for increased military spending

British Defense Secretary John Healey unexpectedly stepped down Thursday in a dispute over military spending in the latest blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

June 11, 2026

During Xi visit, North Korea’s Kim voices support for China’s claim to Taiwan

Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his two-day visit to neighboring North Korea Tuesday, after impressive ceremonial pomp but only vague official commentary on upgrades to bilateral ties.

June 9, 2026

Korea’s out-of-power conservatives rage, rally over ballot shortage fiasco

The yelling conservatives wanted to get the attention of liberal President Lee Jae-myung -- and maybe they did.

June 8, 2026

China’s Xi making first visit to North Korea in years

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang this week, both countries announced Friday.

June 5, 2026

Kim visit to new nuclear fuel facility highlights failures of U.S. denuclearization efforts

Kim Jong-un toured a new nuclear fuel facility, state media reported Thursday, the latest symbolic and highly public evidence of North Korea's decades-long defiance of international denuclearization pressures led by the U.S.

June 4, 2026

Ballot shortage casts cloud over South Korean local elections once seen as a Lee victory lap

Local elections across South Korea Wednesday were expected to be a plebiscite on liberal President Lee Jae-myung, who has been in power exactly one year.

June 3, 2026

Australia’s shaky nuclear sub deal with Trump has Pacific allies looking elsewhere for partnerships

A high-profile arms deal under which the U.S. and Britain were to supply Australia with nuclear subs looks increasingly sickly at a time when Indo-Pacific democracies -- worried about Chinese aggression and unsure of American resolve -- are building cutting-edge weapons that are in demand around the world.