Leland Lazarus

Commentaries by Leland Lazarus

Leland Lazarus

Associate Director of National Security, Jack D. Gordon Institute of Public Policy of Florida International University

Leland Lazarus is Associate Director of National Security at the Jack D. Gordon Institute of Public Policy, Florida International University. He is also a technical expert on China-Latin America relations, as well as broader U.S. national security issues.

A China-Funded Port in South America Could Threaten U.S. National Security
Jul 17, 2024
The construction of the Chancay port in Peru, heavily funded by China, highlights the growing economic influence of Chinese investments in Latin America and its potential threats to U.S. economic and national security. The U.S. is responding with alternative infrastructure investments and cybersecurity initiatives, but further measures are needed to regulate foreign investments and bolster port security in the region.
Beyond the U.S.-China Paradigm: How Local Politics Will Define Taiwan's Elections
Jan 12, 2024
The upcoming presidential election in Taiwan is shaped by both domestic concerns and the U.S.-China struggle over the self-governing island. Key local issues like the economy, energy independence, healthcare, and corruption are dominating the electoral discourse, and whoever wins will play a key role in shaping cross-strait relations—and U.S.-China relations—in 2024 and the years to come.
Taiwan Elections Taiwan One-China Principle