As Covid continues to dominate everything when it should occupy a few column inches in the middle of the paper, are we inching towards a major war in the South Pacific?
www.express.co.uk/news/world/1391034/sou...war-3-latest-ont/amp

Players currently include China (which means Russia), Australia, Phillipines, UK (we are of course getting involved sending a warship that way in May...), US, Taiwan.

Let's get our heads out of our Covid arses.

Sabre rattling has been a feature of the South China Sea for over 60 years, without any serious confrontations. Dozens of disputes - regarding reefs, islands, straits etc. - exist between numerous countries.

Including Brunei, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, Taiwan and China. And it's noteworthy that the Biden Pentagon has said little - because nothing's really changed.

Natural resources and ocean navigation rights are key. Over 11 billion barrels of untapped oil are under the sea - and $4 trillion in goods pass over it. About 50% of the world's natural gas passes through the area.

The colonisation of the Spratly Islands though could be critical - as China gradually and methodically takes over thousands of acres. And could well lead to face-to-face engagements; there are more satellites watching these locations, than any others.

I hope you are right this is more of the same emile, but the situation with Taiwan in particular at the moment seems troubling. China seems very aggressively expansionist currently; and if reports are believed is committing atrociyies apptoaching genocide as well. It seems well on the way to being a vortex for war. But hopefully sense will prevail.

The China/Taiwan conflict doesn't involve atrocities (approaching genocide) or aggressive expansionism - and is more posturing, with the Biden administration following Trump's strong and innovative anti-China stance.

Biden says the US is 'rock solid' behind Taiwan and was the first President to invite Taiwan's Washington representative to an inauguration. The US also provides Taiwan with 'defensive' equipment and other military supplies.

Both economies are closely linked, with around a million Taiwanese working in China - and many hope that US support for Taipei will stave off real conflict. Although the region remains volatile - with other interested and powerful players in the background.

I didn't say China was committing genocide in Taiwan...I was obviously referring to the abuses against the Uigher people in the NW of China.

But yes let's hope that economic self interest trumps the nationalist drums. Posturing is a dangerous game though, particularly as we don't know yet what economic effects the world lockdowns will lead to around the world.

Wyot wrote:
I didn't say China was committing genocide in Taiwan...I was obviously referring to the abuses against the Uigher people in the NW of China.

But yes let's hope that economic self interest trumps the nationalist drums. Posturing is a dangerous game though, particularly as we don't know yet what economic effects the world lockdowns will lead to around the world.

Ignore Barney, he never could read and still lives in a bedsit or his mum’s basement.