Thursday, August 31, 2023

China claims Russian territory, Ben Wallace resigns

China claims Russian territory, Moscow blinks. It's telling that Putin appears willing to excuse China's assertion that it owns territory which belongs to Russia.

Why the U.K. defense secretary's departure is a loss for the special relationship. Ben Wallace was an important leader within the Western security alliance.



Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Ukraine drone raids, London ULEZ

Why Russia is so alarmed by Ukraine's big drone raid. The raid shows that Russian air defenses are failing and thus make Putin appear weak.

Want to drive in London? Pay $16 for the privilege. The British capital is now subject to a ultra-low emissions zone restriction. It means financial hardship for many residents.



Tuesday, August 29, 2023

China map, China coal

Beijing scores a diplomatic own goal with imperialist new map. The map claims ownership over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and areas of India and Russia. Why did China publish it now?

China's continuing coal splurge underlines its disingenuous environmental rhetoric. Beijing claims to care about climate change. Its actions suggest a different reality.



Monday, August 28, 2023

China-US trade, Zelensky corruption law, Denmark free speech

China needs trade improvements far more than the U.S. does. Beijing is pretending that Gina Raimondo's visit reflects Washington's economic desperation. In fact, Beijing is the one that is desperate.

Zelensky's welcome move to equate corruption with treason. Ukraine needs to take greater action to address this concern.

Denmark sacrifices free speech at the mob altar. Copenhagen's decision to ban the public desecration of religious texts is patently at odds with basic free speech principles.



Friday, August 25, 2023

Ramaswamy-Ukraine

Why Vivek Ramaswamy can't use Ukraine to separate Russia from China. The nature of Putin's relationship with Xi, and of Putin's perspective towards the U.S., greatly obstruct Ramaswamy's ambitions.



Thursday, August 24, 2023

China-Fukushima, GOP debate, jet ski refugee, Prigozhin

China's stunning hypocrisy over Fukushima water plan. Beijing has no credibility to make complaints of others when it comes to environmental issues.

From Wednesday...

Republican debate shows foreign policy discussions are needed more often. The quality of the candidate's discourse was generally poor.

U.S. should offer asylum to China's jet ski refugee. Beijing's treatment of Kwon Pyong and the courage it takes to travel across the Yellow Ski on a jet ski is worthy of special treatment.

UFOs rightly make the debate stage. The subject warrants discussion by candidates.

It seems Vladimir Putin just eliminated Yegveny Prigozhin. The Russian leader had looked weak by allowing Prigozhin to survive as long as he had.



Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Ukraine aid/Heritage, ICs Special Relationship, Iran tanker

Aid debates are necessary, but the Heritage Foundation shouldn't pretend Ukraine is a peaceful oasis. The conservative think tank was disingenuous with its Kyiv photo post.

The Real Special Relationship: reviewing Michael Smith's book on U.S.-U.K. intelligence cooperation.

From last week...

The Biden Administration appeases Iran over seized oil tanker. Failing to seize and sell sanctioned Iranian oil, the White House is only encouraging Iran's escalation trajectory.




Monday, August 14, 2023

Ramaswamy foreign policy

Vivek Ramaswamy's foreign policy instincts are okay, his initiatives need a rethink. The presidential candidate's assessments of Russia-China cooperation and Taiwan need work.



Thursday, August 10, 2023

Ecuador assassination

Fernando Villavicencio assassination facilitated by security failures. The Ecuadorian presidential candidate's protective detail let him down.



Wednesday, August 9, 2023

HSBC-Hong Kong

Congress should call HSBC executives to testify over their bank's support for China's repression. HSBC has frozen numerous bank accounts belonging to human rights activists that Beijing has unjustly accused of criminality.



Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Putin-Zelensky assassinations, PSNI data breach

Why Russia would be foolish to assassinate Zelensky, and Ukraine foolish to assassinate Putin. The consequences of either action would unlikely be favorable to the nation responsible.

Northern Ireland's police data breach is a dream for terrorists. Somehow the PSNI uploaded all of its most sensitive personnel data to the internet. The New IRA and others will be looking to benefit from it.



Monday, August 7, 2023

Second Thomas Shoal, Navalny vs. Prigozhin treatment, HSBC fake apology, Calder Walton's Spies, Taiwan candidate's visit

Why China's Second Thomas Shoal escalation matters. The Philippines is a U.S. treaty ally and China's Coast Guard is getting close to attacking Filipino forces.

Putin gives Navalny the gulag and Prigozhin a five-star pass. The Russian leader is showing his vulnerability with the absurd discrepancy of his treatment of his two challengers.

Don't buy into HSBC executive's fake apology over China propaganda boosting. Sherard Cowper-Coles is in his job to praise China and earn the Communist Party's favor for himself and for HSBC.

Calder Walton's Spies takes us inside the long East-West intelligence war. The book offers a wealth of history and analysis on Cold War espionage.

China warns U.S. over Taiwanese presidential candidate's visit. Beijing is increasingly agitated over U.S. policy on Taiwan. This threatens the two nations much-overdone detente.



Friday, August 4, 2023

China's spies in Navy, Marines Hormuz

Three takeaways on China's spies in the Navy. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but the arrests do offer insight into how China is spying and how the U.S. is - and is not - responding.

Three reasons the U.S. shouldn't use Marines to guard commercial vessels from Iran. The Marine Corps is not designed or supposed to be the world's maritime police force and there is a better alternative



Thursday, August 3, 2023

Xi/PLA command

Xi reminds the People's Liberation Army that his is the absolute authority. The Chinese leader is emphasizing the centrality of Party authority, I.E. himself, to the PLA's command ethos.



Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Wang Yi visit? NATO Poland/Romania

China hints Wang Yi may not visit US in protest over Taiwan aid. The Chinese do not view diplomacy in the same way that the U.S. does.

Why NATO is strengthening its forces along the Polish and Romanian borders. The alliance fears that Russia is increasingly tempted to test its resolve for deniable escalation.



Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Tammy Baldwin, Ukraine aid, China vs. von der Leyen

China should thank Tammy Baldwin for her Navy shipbuilding amendment. The Senate has passed an amendment that will further complicate already problematic ship construction rates.

Why does Ukraine keep being rude on foreign aid concerns? Zelensky's government should show more gratitude for what other nations are providing it.

Why China just lashed out at the EU president over her Philippines trip. Beijing fears increasing cooperation between the U.S. and the EU in the Pacific.



Drone policy, Sweden Koran burnings

From Monday...

How Biden's new drone policy will weaken U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. The president has increased the lethargy of getting approval for strikes and has increased the risk to U.S. personnel.

Sweden's Koran burnings underline the importance of the First Amendment. Speech relation to religion deserves the highest protection.