Just wait until you see the twelve-dash line!
In the meantime, think you'll find that China's Russian dependency will provide all the necessary hydrocarbons.
Printable View
US issues specific Scarborough Shoal (Red line) warning to China...
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-southchinasea-stilwell/u-s-says-room-for-sanctions-in-response-to-china-in-south-china-sea-idUSKCN24F1TB
A restatement of US policies for specific shoals based on UNCLOS ruling, and a specific warning on Chinese-govt mandated use of Maritime Militias against eg Philippine interests
https://asiatimes.com/2020/07/us-pic...uth-china-sea/
The global apparel sector is in the gun over this... may impact some ANZ retailers.
https://apnews.com/be1bb61ae7876bf3801489917b20584c
An easily accessible summary of the updated geostrategic situation with the South China Sea.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/front-pag...f_N09BVZyD3pUk
UNCLOS claims and (international) rule of law. Here's a bad actor;
https://www.smh.com.au/national/aust...15-p55c6a.html
Meanwhile, Australia persists in it's illegal EEZ claims based on Australian Antarctica Territory.
Australia is going downhill in more ways than one it seems :(
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-...n-man/12472478
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-...istan/12452964
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-...ilian/12277976
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-.../12028522?nw=0
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-...n-sas/12028512
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-...s/8466642?nw=0
Recent issues at the Three Gorges will have highlighted to small neighbouring countries that you don't have to be a member of the nuclear club to have the ability to respond to a belligerent China. That dam is a massive Sword of Damocles hanging over Eastern China.
This is how China behaves on the international stage. It breaches its 50 year obligations on Hong Kong's autonomy, then when Britain responds mildly, and supports Hong Kong citizens, it issues THREATS against free nations.
It actually thinks its THREATS can control free nations, who are free to express opinions and take actions independently of failed Totalitarian states like the CCP-dictated Communist China regime. https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...on-china-warns
Similarly in the South China Sea, it has built artificial islands and OUTRIGHT LIED to President Obama claiming they would not be militarised and then DID THE OPPOSITE!
China AS A FULL SIGNATORY to UNCLOS, then ignored the 2016 Arbitral ruling at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague calling it "WASTE PAPER", further demonstrating its total ARROGANCE and DISREGARD for International Law. https://amti.csis.org/failing-or-inc...ea-arbitration
I personally hope the citizens of Hong Kong can rise up and throw off the authoritarian shackles of their CCP oppressors and that Taiwan as a SOVEREIGN NATION STATE can rejoin the World Health Organisation and defend its National Independence against the Chinese Thuggish regime.
ASEAN and the Free World is now FULLY AWAKE to the Chinese Threat to Peace in the World, of Internationally Law Abiding Nations...
And finally, and most despicably, we have echos of 1930's Germany reprised in the year 2020 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/new...ectid=12349835
The West is weak. China knows this. That's why they're doing it the way they are.
How quickly we forget the invasion of Iraq, despite the very visible ongoing consequences. And Im not sure peace based on Mutually Assured Destruction makes people sleep better than than a show of bravado in the Pacific.
Of course they lied. Its what they do. Its what all dictators do to keep power. Very effective tool too. For all politicians politicians for that matter, Trump has surpassed 20,000 and Boris is giving it his best shot.
Yes China is a growing danger to peace and, moreso, the environment but letting big business dictate govt policy like in the US has hardly resulted in a wonderful world. They dont have a load of warships (mobile militarised Islands) in the Middle East because they care about Kurds being called names.
Great irony of recent times is that evil Germany has emerged as the only major power to have any deep leadership credibility. If the atomic button was under Mutti's thumb instead of that illiterate idiot's in disUSA I suspect a lot of people would feel happier.
Google CLOs, bigger threat of them bringing down the global banking system courtesy of USA than China's human rights abuses.
By - Dr Dennis Etler, Professor of Anthropology, UC Berkeley.CA. 8•7•2020
‘As I See It:
When the US invades and occupies other nations, killing and wounding millions it's always done in pursuit of its "national security." It seems the US can do so with impunity.
But when China invokes national security to quell foreign supported insurrection in its own territory it is censured and sanctions are imposed.
When the US bans Chinese apps and social media it is done in the name of national security. When China bans US social media to protect its national security it's an infringement of freedom and free market access.
When the US jails dissidents like Chelsea Manning it's done in the name of national security. When China detains a dissident it's a violation of human rights.
When the US oppresses its minorities it's excused as a flaw that needs to be addressed after centuries of neglect. Any resistance by the oppressed is seen as a threat to national security. When China seeks to alleviate the poverty of its minorities it is called genocide.
When the US spends hundreds of billions of dollars on its war budget it's done in the name of national security. When China builds up its defense forces it's called aggression.
It seems that the US can do as it pleases in the name of it's own national security but China has no right to do the same.’
- Dr Dennis Etler,
Professor of Anthropology, UC Berkeley 8•7•2020
The Geo Political Risks are real people, you better start factoring them in whether you like it or not.
US & UK Discuss Plans for Coalition to Resist China
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...o-resist-china
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/22/p...hnk/index.html
Yes! :t_up: GO Trumpet. :eek2: What an opportunity. :t_up:
Hopefully China will retaliate by ordering ALL American facilities in Hong Kong close in 72 hours.
Will get rid of thousands of American spies and military people, and they will have a very, very difficult
job smashing up all the equipment before time runs out.
https://www.scmp.com/business/articl...-mansions-even
Why is Xi Jinping pitting China against the world?
An attempt to understand the dynamics of the last 2 months activities:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ings-iron-grip
China's attempt to re-establish good relations with the Phillipines, after US statement of China's South China Sea claims being illegal...
China bids to win back the Philippines
https://asiatimes.com/2020/07/china-...e-philippines/
Vietnam in a quandary over its future energy needs, and Chinese pressure to shut down exploration
Oil and gas fueling South China Sea tensions
https://asiatimes.com/2020/07/oil-an...-sea-tensions/
Worth a listen.
Gives some idea of how the US seems intent on backing itself into a corner.
https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/maki...policy-update/
Thanks for pointing this site out GTM
Found this also about our Five-Eyes status and high-wire balancing act by Anne-Marie Brady
https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/new-...t-china-shift/
Australia has made its situation clear, what will NZ decide to say & do ? Both its frigates are in Canada undergoing refit...
South China Sea: Australian warships join US, Japanese in Chinese confrontation
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/new...ectid=12350977