Something is missing in a headline like this: “Taiwan accuses China, Russia of heightening regional tensions” (ANI News).
True? Very true. Taiwan made this accusation.
Also, the accusation itself is true, as the story makes clear. And as previous stories make clear. Enough previous stories to justify referring to how China, Russia are now “continuing to heighten regional tensions.” In addition to the global tensions that they keep heightening.
December 1, 2024, ANI News:
The council’s statement on Friday highlighted Chinese military activity in the Taiwan Strait and joint military operations between China and Russia, which breached South Korea’s air defence identification zone (KADIZ) earlier this week, Taipei Times reported.
These actions have raised concerns about increasing instability in the region.
On Thursday and Friday, Chinese warplanes made a significant incursion, crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering Taiwan’s northern and south-western airspace. A total of 30 Chinese aircraft, accompanied by 15 naval vessels and three high-altitude balloons, were involved in the operation….
The Chinese military also carried out a “joint combat readiness patrol” targeting Taiwan, further heightening tensions in an already volatile region….
The Taiwanese government expressed its unwavering stance on defending regional security, denouncing these provocative actions by both countries.
November 1, 2024, The Globe and Mail:
The United States is watching growing co-operation between Russia and China in the Arctic closely and some of their recent military collaboration in the region sends “concerning signals,” the U.S. Arctic ambassador said.
Russia and China have stepped up military co-operation in the Arctic while deepening overall ties in recent years that include China supplying Moscow with dual-use goods despite Western sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine….
Sfraga cited a joint run by Russian and Chinese bomber planes off the coast of Alaska in July, and Chinese and Russian coast guard ships sailing together through the Bering Strait in October.
He said these activities had been conducted in international waters, in line with international law, but the fact that the bombers flew off the coast of Alaska had raised concerns for U.S. security.
September 10, 2024, VOA News:
Russia says it launched massive naval and air drills Tuesday that span a huge swath of oceans and involve more than 400 naval vessels, at least 120 military aircraft and upwards of 90,000 troops.
The large-scale military exercise, dubbed “Ocean-2024,” includes forces from China and will run until September 16 with at least 15 countries invited to observe the maneuvers, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia pays “special attention” to strengthening military cooperation with “friendly states” and warned the United States not to try and outgun Moscow in Asia….
In addition to the joint exercise near Japan, the Chinese defense ministry said Chinese and Russian naval fleets will conduct their fifth joint patrol in the Pacific Ocean as part of the “Ocean-2024” strategic exercise.
August 29, 2022, Associated Press:
Russia said Monday it will launch sweeping military drills in the country’s east that will involve forces from China—a show of increasingly close defense ties between Moscow and Beijing amid tensions with the West over the Kremlin’s action in Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the Vostok 2022 (East 2022) exercise will be held Sept. 1-7 in various locations in Russia’s Far East and the Sea of Japan and involve more than 50,000 troops, over 5,000 weapons units, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships.
The ministry released a video of Chinese troops arriving in Russa in preparation for the exercise.
If I were in any of these regions, I’d feel more tense. Luckily, though, I don’t live in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, or Alaska.
