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China and the U.S. Are Careening Toward a South China Sea Crisis A failure of deterrence risks pushing the region into deeper conflict. By Craig Singleton , a senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Philippine Coast Guard members pass a China Coast Guard vessel during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on March 5. Philippine Coast Guard members pass a China Coast Guard vessel during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on March 5. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images My FP: Follow topics and authors to get straight to what you like. Exclusively for FP subscribers. Subscribe Now | Log In July 23, 2024, 12:46 PM View Comments ( 1 ) Last November’s summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Woodside, California, was hailed as a harbinger of progress in stabilizing a superpower relationship that was spiraling toward conf...

Beijing Agreement Complicates “Day After” Planning in Gaza War Situation Reports - July 29, 2024 By Rajdeep Sarkar On 23 July, 14 Palestinian parties reached an agreement for a united front government after the end of the war. The Beijing agreement ostensibly provides a solution to the question of post-war government in Gaza. Hamas, taking a battering over the past several months, had earlier declared it could no longer run the government on its own. The US proposal for Fatah to take over seemed improbable too, because Fatah cannot afford to walk into the vacuum without incurring the charge of following the footsteps of the America-Israel alliance. In stepped China, as an alternative great power enjoying better credibility than the Americans among Palestinians and brokering a national unity deal. The Beijing plan that brings together Fatah and Hamas is now a direct competitor against the Emirati plan to place a temporary inter...

Eastern Europe Has a Role to Play in US-China Economic Competition Situation Reports - August 1, 2024 By Nicola Stoev As the 2024 US presidential election kicks into high gear, Democrats and Republicans are trying to make the case that their respective candidates represent different economic and geopolitical development models for the country. But this is not the case; there is no zero-sum contrast, nor is there an ideological one, and the candidates share a lot in common. One stark commonality is protectionism, and a shared unwillingness to open the domestic market to new partners amid a wave of ‘friend-shoring.’ Trump wants protectionism by custom tariffs, i.e., by isolationism. The Democrats have lurched toward trade negotiations with potential IPEF partners, a process that has ground to a halt precisely because US market access remains off the negotiating table . The United States has the smallest volume of FDI in the dynamic region of ASEA...

Today's World Geopolitical News Middle East Tensions The Middle East remains a hotspot of geopolitical activity. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has launched a drone attack against northern Israel, injuring two Israeli soldiers. This incident follows the recent killing of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, which has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. Russia has condemned these killings, urging all parties to avoid actions that could escalate tensions further. Diplomatic efforts are underway, with Italy and Iraq calling for de-escalation and dialogue to prevent a wider war in the region ( WORLD ) ( The Times of Israel ) . U.S. and Economic Concerns In the United States, there is significant economic anxiety following a major sell-off in global stock markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped over 1,000 points, with Asian markets experiencing even sharper declines. This market turmoil is attributed to disappointing jobs reports and concerns over the Federal ...

1. Global Power Shifts and Secret Alliances Recent geopolitical movements suggest a possible secret alliance between Russia and China, aiming to undermine Western hegemony. Conspiracy theorists believe that these nations are covertly supporting various anti-Western factions and governments, facilitating a global power shift. The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) coalition is often cited as a facade for deeper, more clandestine operations that could reshape global power structures. 2. COVID-19 Pandemic as a Tool for Control The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been a fertile ground for conspiracy theories. Some claim that the virus was engineered as a bioweapon by either China or Western intelligence agencies to disrupt global economies and enforce a new world order. Others argue that the pandemic is being used to implement widespread surveillance measures, with vaccine passports and digital IDs serving as precursors to a more invasive, global control system. 3. Econ...

Expanding on the conspiracy view regarding the Ukraine conflict, here are several facets that conspiracy theorists often highlight: Hidden Agendas and Profiteering Military-Industrial Complex : One prevalent theory posits that the prolonged conflict in Ukraine serves the interests of the military-industrial complex. According to this view, major defense contractors and arms manufacturers in the U.S. and Russia benefit financially from continuous warfare. These corporations allegedly exert influence over their respective governments to ensure that the conflict persists, thereby securing ongoing contracts for weapons and military technology ( Geopolitical Monitor ) ( EY US ) . Geopolitical Manipulation : Some theorists suggest that the Ukraine war is a deliberate effort by global elites to destabilize Europe. By creating a persistent state of conflict, these elites purportedly aim to weaken the European Union's political cohesion and economic stability, making it easier to co...

Viewing today's geopolitical landscape through a conspiratorial lens reveals a range of theories and speculations about hidden motives and secretive maneuvers by global powers. Here are some key developments with a conspiratorial twist: U.S.-China Power Play : Some conspiracy theorists believe that the U.S.-China tensions are part of a grander scheme for global domination, where both nations are purportedly colluding behind the scenes while feigning rivalry to control global trade and technology. This theory posits that events like China's military exercises near Taiwan and the U.S. bolstering Indo-Pacific alliances are staged to distract from a secret bilateral agenda ( POLITICO ) ( Geopolitical Monitor ) . Ukraine Conflict : There are theories suggesting that the prolonged conflict in Ukraine is being perpetuated by global elites to destabilize Europe and ensure continued Western military-industrial complex profits. These theories often claim that the U.S. and Russia ...

Here's a detailed overview of the current geopolitical landscape as of August 1, 2024, focusing on seven key points: Russia-Ukraine Conflict : The conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists with significant humanitarian and geopolitical implications. NATO's continued support for Ukraine through financial and military aid exacerbates tensions with Russia. The prolonged conflict disrupts global trade and energy markets, with no imminent resolution in sight ( Financial Times ) ( Geopolitical Monitor ) . US-China Relations : The strategic rivalry between the United States and China is escalating. Key issues include military activities in the South China Sea, technological advancements, and ongoing trade disputes. Despite efforts to manage the risks, the relationship remains strained, impacting global supply chains and economic stability ( S&P Global ) ( Geopolitical Monitor ) . Cybersecurity Threats : Cyberattacks have become a critical geopolitical risk, with ...