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Obstacles to Chinese invasion remain enormous: Gideon Luckman

(Financial Times, January 16, 2024)

Did they confirm their similarities? (China-Russia top leaders meeting in Moscow, March 21, 2023, Photo: Reuters/Afro)

Chinese President Xi Jinping believes that history is moving in his direction. During his visit to Moscow last March, he told Russian President Vladimir Putin:

“Right now, we are witnessing changes not seen in 100 years, and we are leading this change together.”

This exchange was spread all over the world.

Xi’s words were taken as a clear endorsement of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and as a sign that China will soon play a role in “leading this change.”

The implications were frightening for Taiwan, given China’s longstanding threats to invade the island.

After last weekend’s presidential election in Taiwan, these threats of invasion inevitably returned to the global agenda.

Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, the Chinese Communist Party warned Taiwanese voters to make the “right choice” between peace and war.

But in Beijing’s view, Taiwan made the “wrong” choice in choosing Lai Ching-de, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who China considers a dangerous separatist, to be its next president.

Similarities between present-day Taiwan and Ukraine 22 years ago

There are some clear parallels between Taiwan’s precarious position and that of Ukraine before 2022.

The first is that Putin and Xi respectively view Ukraine and Taiwan as territories that originally belong to their countries.

Putin’s words recognizing an independent Ukraine were disingenuous. Furthermore, the effort to “reunify” Taiwan with the mainland is a longstanding Chinese policy.

The second connection is that both Putin and Xi argue that Ukraine and Taiwan lack true autonomy and are being used as tools of a hegemonic and aggressive US.

Therefore, regaining Ukraine and Taiwan for the motherland serves two purposes.

First, it will fulfill the historical destiny of Russia and China.

And if the invasion is successful, it could deal a severe blow to American global hegemony in two major arenas: Europe and Asia.

Therefore, changes that have not been seen in 100 years will occur.

#Taiwan #avoid #Ukraines #fate #obstacles #Chinese #invasion #remain #enormous #Gideon #Lachman #JBpress
2024-01-17 21:00:00

While being transported to a major hospital in Busan…Is being transported by helicopter to Seoul a privilege given to big politicians?

2024.1.5 (Friday) Lee Jeong-seon Follow Following On January 2nd, Lee Jae-myung, a representative of the Democratic Party of Japan, collapses after being attacked with a knife (Photo: AP/Afro)

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On January 2nd, a shocking incident occurred in which Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, the largest party in the South Korean National Assembly, was attacked with a knife.

At around 10:27 a.m., a suspicious person posing as a supporter approached Lee Jae-myung, who was visiting Busan to deliver New Year’s greetings, and was inspecting the grounds of Gadeokdo New Airport, and pointed a knife at Lee’s neck. After that, Lee fell backwards and was caught on camera in real time.

The culprit was arrested at the scene, and Lee was given first aid at Busan National University Hospital, then transferred by helicopter to Seoul National University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. The Busan Police Agency immediately set up a 69-person special investigation headquarters and promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

What is the cause of murderous intent?

According to information released by South Korean police, the 17cm knife used as the murder weapon was a mountaineering knife purchased online and modified to facilitate the crime.

The culprit was a man named Kim, who was born in 1957 and worked as a civil servant before retiring about 10 years ago. He is currently working as a real estate agent in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. As for his current situation, there are reports that he has fallen behind on seven months’ worth of office rent due to hardship.

The suspect reportedly confessed to police that he was trying to kill her, but police have not released the reason.

Newspapers reporting on the attack on Lee Jae-myung and Democratic Party representatives (Photo: AP/Afro)

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#Lee #Jaemyung #stabbed #knife #heavily #criticized #rushed #Seoul #National #University #Hospital #selfish #transferred #major #hospital #Busan…Is #transferred #Seoul #helicopter #privilege #bigname #politicians #JBpress
2024-01-04 21:00:00