Tag Archives: China
China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Globalization as Imperialism
The Belt and Road Initiative is the vanguard for Beijing’s reach for global power. It may not work, given all the imponderables of a project on this scale, not to mention conflicting interests with nations along its route. But at … Continue reading
Evaluating Trump’s First Trade Deal with China
There is nothing special in the “100-day Action Plan.” On balance, the consensus favors the opening of China to American business. It will, of course, depend on careful monitoring to insure that the door is swinging the right way. China … Continue reading
All the Bad Options with North Korea
We should further step up our propaganda war via radio and social media against North Korea and its Chinese master. We should assist with an underground railroad to free North Korean slaves everywhere. Embolden the non-violent freedom fighter. And we … Continue reading
President Trump Assumes Leadership of the True Climate Consensus
The New York Times worried that President Trump would formally pull the U.S. out of the Paris accords. But he doesn’t have to do that since the terms do not actually compel any country to do anything against its interests. … Continue reading
Eurocrats: Transparency vs. the Monet Method
Isn’t this obvious to everyone, including the Poles? One is afraid, however, that the refusal to recognize the reality of the European Union meted out to Poland its stinging slap on the face. Donald Tusk has been elected because his … Continue reading
Turkey, EU Partner or Temporary Collaborator?
All things considered, Turkey may never become an EU member. At the same time, however, the partnership between the two is no less important. That Turkey should be incompatible with the requirements of the Union does not mean the two … Continue reading
The Return of Mahan, Mackinder, and Spykman
Russia and Germany are signed on to Beijing’s project. They are both cooperating as well as investing in the “One Belt, One Road” project (OBOR) announced in 2013. Does this portend the awakening of Mackinder’s powerful Heartland thesis? The possible … Continue reading
“Peace Through Strength” – the Realist and Reaganesque Essence of Trump’s Grand Strategy
Unlike his predecessor, and like President Reagan, President Trump undoubtedly believes in American exceptionalism and in standing behind our allies. Nevertheless, there is no question that he will pursue American national interests at the expense of universal or globalist visions … Continue reading
Clinton Still Using Free Trade Rhetoric
Beijing kicked its trade offensive into high gear while Bill Clinton was in the White House, but looking the other way. And, while Hillary Clinton has been pushed into spinning some of her views during the current campaign, it does not seem that she has truly broken with the past to devise new policies to deal with the economic rivalries that have done so much damage to the U.S. economy and now jeopardizes national security as well. Continue reading
Trump Versus a Bi-Partisan Liberal Establishment: The Trade-Immigration Connection
The Boston Globe adheres to the liberal ideology, even as it is critical of Big Business in other regards. It rejects Trump as a xenophobe because he wants to “make America great again” by protecting the economic interests of its citizens first. The left-wing newspaper thus promotes House Speaker Paul Ryan as its favorite for the Republican nomination, as he is known to favor both free trade and mass immigration in the classical liberal fashion. Thus is formed a bi-partisan Establishment without any ideological “borders” between them – but also without any political support beyond corporate boardrooms, faculty lounges and a few surreal publications. Continue reading
Where is China in the Presidential Campaign?
The public needs to understand the larger strategic context of the 2016 presidential campaign, but is not getting enough information on the stump about the most important duty of the next president; keeping the United States the preeminent power in the world system as China (and Russia) mount new challenges. Continue reading
Cyber Statecraft: Developing a Strategy for Cybersecurity
Instead of waiting for the state to act, a bottom-up army of cyber warriors should be created. They should stand side-by-side with the marching National Guard and paramilitary organizations. If the government can’t protect us from cyber aggression by China, Russia, and others, including non-state agents – as evidenced most recently by the theft of over 20 million classified files by Beijing’s hackers – a U.S. cyber militia and a cyber tea party should rally to the rescue. Continue reading
2015: A Much Darker Crystal Ball
The Middle East will remain a boiling cauldron as both al-Qaeda and ISIS continue their wars for territory and subjugation in Syria and Iraq, while targeting Saudi Arabia. Both groups are casting their eyes on other parts of the Middle East with Jordan and, ultimately, Saudi Arabia coming in their cross-hairs.
Conservatives Must Reverse National Decay – and Save the GOP from Self-Destruction
With national elections looming, all the structural factors favor a Republican wave that will shift control of the Senate and give the GOP majorities in both houses of Congress. Yet, the actual Senate contests in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and North Carolina are considered too close to call. This implies that despite President Obama’s fall in public confidence as his economic and foreign policies have faltered; the Republicans have not presented voters with a strong case for putting them into power.
Islam, Investing, and Indonesia: Why the World Is Watching July 9 Presidential Election
As the third-largest democracy in the world and home to the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia presents a fascinating and very significant political scenario. The Financial Times recently noted, “Indonesia is often singled out by Western leaders such as President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron as an example that Islam, democracy, and economic development can flourish together.”
Congressman Grayson: TPP creates parallel legal system, threatens U.S. sovereignty
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) “creates a parallel court system that has never existed before and will usurp U.S. sovereignty” warned Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) in an exclusive interview with SFPPR News and Analysis.
Reagan Democrats, Texas and Globalization
Since Barack Obama won a second term, much has been said about how the GOP needs to reach out to a broader group and be more tolerant in order to win another national election. In Texas, all eyes are on Democrat Senator Wendy Davis to see whether she will formally throw her hat in the ring to run for Texas Governor later this month. She’s energized her party over her high-profile filibuster of a bill to restrict abortion that won her national attention and made her an instant household name in the Lone Star State. Politicos have been pondering whether Texas will turn blue ever since.
NAFTA superhighway underway in South Texas
While there’s been much political angling and wrangling over whether or not the famed legacy project of Texas Governor Rick Perry, the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC), is dead or alive, the evidence points to it being alive and well and back underway throughout Texas. The Trans-Texas Corridor is the Texas portion of the NAFTA Superhighway Trade Corridor and Toll Road System.
TransCanada’s Keystone XL Pipeline: Under Cover of Darkness
We still don’t know the answer to that question, but a critical segment of the Keystone XL Pipeline is mighty close to conclusion. The map segment referred to as the “Gulf Coast Project” is nearly complete, as a finite pipeline capable of carrying Canadian oil sands from Hardisty, Alberta to Nederland, Texas.
John Kerry’s first foreign trip: Much ado about nothing
On March 6, Barack Obama’s new Secretary of State, John Kerry—who succeeded Hillary Clinton as a result of the fallout following the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi last September 11 — has returned home after an eleven-day nine-nation grand tour. During his first trip abroad as head of the Department of State, he visited the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
The Moving Wall of China’s Red Dragon Empire
Beijing views India, Japan, and Russia as strategic rivals, where India must be checked by the geopolitical alignment of China with Pakistan and trade routes must be secured by the so-called “String of Pearls” for the acquisition of vital resources, … Continue reading
Keystone XL Pipeline: Oil for Export or American Prosperity?
TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline is back in the news with a vengeance and arrived NEAR the end game.
