Globalization: Are You In or Are You Out?

China has been slowly building its network of information and trade and expanding its influence in world circumventing the United States’ influence. China has created extensive networks, developed the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and established centers to trade the RMB.

Under Xi Jinping, the principal aim of China’s overseas push almost seems to be drawing a world where America is circumvented, marginalized, and dreamed away…The door to liberty has been found – through, as one African diplomat at a 2014 conference I attended in Beijing put it, subtly, carefully, and very deliberately staking out areas where China knows the United States can complain, but not intervene or shout too much.

However, North Korea’s provocative actions have drawn the United States’ attention back to the Asia-Pacific Region, when there has been a waning interest in foreign relations from the new administration.

Officials might be taking more serious actions and clamping down on North Korea because “North Korea has taken aim at China’s Achilles’ heel – its desperate search for strategic space where the United States will leave it alone.”

Venezuela is in the midst of political and economic turmoil which in turn has led to a dire humanitarian situation, including severe food and medicine shortages. Venezuela relies heavily on oil revenue, but the drop in oil prices and strict price controls have led to inflation and shortages of basic necessities. Thousands have fled the country in seek of refuge from increasing poverty and violence.

Actions by the increasingly autocratic government, including blocking humanitarian assistance and detaining opposition, have sparked massive protests in the country as well as international condemnation. The Organization of the American States (OAS) has threatened to expel Venezuela and Mercosur, South America’s trade bloc, suspended Venezuela in 2016.

During a recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called for an end to the conflict between Sunni Arabs and Houthis in Yemen. He suggested that the war could not be solved through military means, but rather through negotiations brokered by the United Nations. Backed by the Saudis, Sunni Arab countries are seeking intelligence and military assistance from the United States in their war against the Houthis. Mattis’s visit was meant to foster relations with Saudi Arabia in anticipation of President Trump’s foreseeable trip to the nation.

Humanitarian agencies have urged against Saudi-led airstrikes in the Houthi-controlled port city of Al Hudaydah, arguing that it will only exacerbate severe food shortages. Seven million people are at risk of famine in Yemen and the sustained bombing of Al Hudaydah could severely damage infrastructure and diminish the country’s food supply.

The Trump administration is debating whether to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement today. Regardless of whether the U.S. stays in the pact or not, the administration’s current policies of rolling back the EPA, fuel emission standards, and the Clean Energy Power Plant legislation will inevitably make the U.S. miss its reduction targets under Paris. It’s clear the U.S. has given up its leadership role in the climate change, but by staying in the agreement, is signaling it is not quite ready to disregard it diplomatic ties to the 194 signatories of the agreement.

Some argue it would be better for the environment if the U.S. pulled out of the agreement. That way other countries can put a carbon tax on our products and place economic sanctions on us that would encourage the U.S. to reduce emissions for economic reasons.

 

North Korea celebrated their founder’s birthday over the weekend and showed off their new missiles in a parade. The regime launched a missile test that failed.

What is playing out, said Robert Litwak of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, who tracks this potentially deadly interplay, is “the Cuban missile crisis in slow motion.” But the slow-motion part appears to be speeding up, as President Trump and his aides have made it clear that the United States will no longer tolerate the incremental advances that have moved Mr. Kim so close to his goals.

The new administration has taken a harder stance with North Korea. As Trump learned from China’s President Xi, Chinese and North Korean relations are “complicated” and China does not have absolute influence over North Korea. However, China is threatening to cutoff financial and energy supplied to North Korea, according to the White House.

It seems that North Korea is trying to give off the sense that trade is too late as a bargaining chip. North Koreans point to the example of Libya’s el-Qaddifi giving up his nuclear program only to ousted by the United States and its allies and consider him a “sap.” This shows that North Korea has no plans in giving up its nuclear program.

Dong Energy, who I’ve posted about in the past, is a Danish wind energy company with work in Northern Europe that is quickly expanding. It is one of many energy companies that are bidding down the costs of wind farms. In Germany, there was a first no-subsidy bid awarded to the company EnBW. Critics of wind energy are skeptical if renewables can exist without government subsidies. Hopefully Dong Energy and other traditional energy companies like Royal Dutch Shell who have wind deals can prove that wind is a viable, long term energy source.

The costs of wind and other renewables are being driven down by technology from multinational companies like GE and Siemens, and installed by global companies like Dong Energy. The transition to renewables is a global affair with the cooperation of technology, innovation, and policy from companies and governments.

The National Security Adviser and Secretary-General Wang agreed various measures to strengthen UK-China security co-operation.

Five major international aviation organizations signed a new cybersecurity agreement to coordinate their actions: the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Airports Council International (ACI), the Civil Air Navigation Services organization (CANSO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industry Associates (ICCAIA). The agreement synchronizes their actions and responses in a common front against all types of cyber attacks, from information theft and general disruption to potential loss of life issues. The signatories will be more proactive in sharing critical information like threat identification, risk assessments, and cybersecurity best practices. The agreement also encourages more substantial coordination at the state level between government and industry stakeholders on all cybersecurity strategies, policies, and plans. “As technologies rapidly evolve and become more readily accessible to all, cyber threats cannot be ignored,” Raymond Benjamin, ICAO Secretary General said in a statement. “This is an important new area of aviation security concern and our global community will ensure that it is met with a strong level of commitment and response.”

Source :http://www.accessintel.com/

A panel of UN experts advised the UN Human Rights Council on serious human rights violations against gay men occurring in Chechnya, a republic which is part of the Russian Federation. In the last few weeks, reports have surfaced of local authorities torturing and killing men perceived to be homosexual. The UN strongly condemned the actions of the Chechen security forces and statements made by officials, urging that Chechens are “living in a climate of fear fueled by homophobic speeches by local authorities.”

The Russian Federation has a history of violating the rights of gay and transgender people and it is likely that the UN’s warnings will be disregarded. The international community must continue to bring attention to the human rights situation in Chechnya and demand Chechen authorities to end the persecution of gay men.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/germany-donald-trump-border-tax-lawsuit-angela-merkel-wto-economy-minister-brigitte-zypries-world-a7634681.html

What’s so fascinating to me about international relations is that one country can actually sue another country. Germany’s economy minister said they may file a lawsuit against the US if Trump implements a proposed border tax. In the past Trump has advocated a 35% tax on cars that BMW plans to build in Mexico and export to the US. He’s likely bluffing, in my opinion.