China issued strong private warnings to the US government about a planned trip to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which included a possible military response, the Financial Times reported. China’s foreign ministry earlier this week officially vowed to take a “resolute and strong” response to any Taiwan visit by Pelosi, which was reported to… Read more.
Asia
The Assassination of Shinzo Abe
Truth be told, the first thought that came to mind when I read the news about the assassination of Shinzo Abe was that it must be fake; or that it must have happened somewhere here in America. Because gun violence in Japan is so rare, it never even crossed my mind that this could have… Read more.
China Huffing and Puffing About Blowing Taiwan Away
The way China is huffing and puffing these days about blowing Taiwan away is raising alarms. Here is how The New York Times reported on Monday on its latest outburst: __________ China will not flinch from war if Taiwan takes a decisive step toward independence, and it does not trust the United States’ assertions that… Read more.
Crises in Ukraine and Sri Lanka Are Opportunities for China…
Albert Einstein is noted for saying that, in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity. And so, in the midst of the genocidal war Russia is waging in Ukraine and the food and energy shortages that have Sri Lanka reeling, lies great opportunity for China. Specifically, these crises present opportunities for China to finally… Read more.
Putin, Xi, the Patriarch and Gay Hoops Star re Ukraine
Podcast Episode 70: Xi and Patriarch’s Relationship with Putin Is Diabolical. But Hoops Star Is Innocent… Related commentaries: Russia invasion of Ukraine… Ukraine and Tigray… Zelensky criticizes Israel… Read more.
Xi Insists He Does Not Want War in Ukraine. Oh, Ok Then…
During his high-stakes phone call with Joe Biden yesterday, Xi Jinping insisted that he does not want this war in Ukraine. Therefore, one must infer that he regards Vladimir Putin as an unruly child he must love and support no matter how damaging the mischief he causes. Which of course means that Xi might be… Read more.
Deaths on Mount Everest: Social Media Clicks Explain Why
Delays caused by overcrowding contributed to several of the 11 deaths on the mountain this year — roughly double last year’s figure — as oxygen tanks, and strength, ran out among people waiting to stand atop the summit or get back down from it. The loss of life, and the chaos evident in the photos,… Read more.
Masako Owada, Japan’s Princess Di, a Royal Disappointment
Royalty Royalty is an absurd anachronism. It’s an ostentatious affront to the universal declaration that all people are created equal. Yet millions of people remain loyal to this imperial vestige of national governance. Mind you, many royals seem incapable of conforming their behavior to the standards of common decency, to say nothing of royal etiquette. But their behavior… Read more.