by Linee strategiche (a narrative of global complexity)
Perhaps, as the expression goes, hypocrisy rules the world; but certainly hypocrisy rules politics, at least the political aspect of U.S.-China relations relating to the establishment of rules intended to bring order to potential dangerous situations. Each country purports to want rules, but only in areas where it suits them, and then follows them when convenient. China is pushing for rules related to the weaponization of space, which the United States has summarily rejected, repeatedly. The United States wants an agreement on air-to-air encounters; the Chinese are stalling. Whether the rationale behind the desire for rules, order and predictability in potentially unstable and dangerous situations will prevail over other perceived interests remains to be seen. (Joan Johnson-Freese, The Diplomat, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/u-s-china-relations-the-hypocrisy-of-rules-joan-johnson-freese-the-diplomat-/)
USA. It is critical that the 114th Congress carefully consider economic policy with Asia. Economic ties to Asia are large enough to influence American prosperity. For example, three of the top seven U.S. trade partners are in Asia—China, Japan, and Korea—with a combined volume of over $1 trillion in goods and services trade in 2013. For the 114th Congress, the major U.S.-Asia economic issues include trade promotion authority (TPA), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), U.S.-India bilateral relations, and U.S.-China bilateral relations. (Derek M. Scissors, American Enterprise Institute, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/how-the-114th-congress-can-advance-trade-across-the-pacific-derek-m-scissors-american-enterprise-institute-/)
Last week’s Minsk agreement, by which France and Germany in effect codified the cession to Russia of Kiev’s sovereignty over southeastern Ukraine, has temporarily taken the issue of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine off the table and thus off the conscience of the West. But the question whether the United States and its allies should arm Ukraine (and later Georgia? Moldova? Estonia? Latvia?) is going to arise again and again in the months and years ahead. (Leon Aron, American Enterprise Institute, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/spain-1936-1939-ukraine-2014-leon-aron-american-enterprise-institute-/)
The crisis in Ukraine has greatly exacerbated the Russia-West relations making pale other threats they face together, the Islamic State (IS) in particular. With all the well-known divisions taking place, there is no alternative to joining efforts against the common enemy. The prospect of Pan-Caliphate exporting the terrorist war onto other countries’ territorie is really frithtening. (Andrei Akulov, Strategic Culture Foundation, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/deeply-divided-on-ukraine-russia-and-us-seek-ways-to-fight-common-threats-adrei-akulov-strategic-culture-foundation-/)
Many are wondering what it will take to convince Turkey that the threat posed by ISIL is real and that action by Ankara is required as Syria enters its fourth year of civil war. (Luke Coffey, Al Jazeera, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/the-story-of-turkey-syria-and-a-700-year-old-tomb-luke-coffey-al-jazeera-/)
