An even more turbulent world
It almost seems like I keep saying this, but it seems that the world has become more turbulent recently in the Middle East, even amid the ongoing fighting and atrocities committed in Gaza. for a brief moment, some people really did think that World War III wasn’t that far off. I am of course referring to the strikes on Israel by Iran in response to the former destroying an Iranian consulate in Syria, and the retaliation by Israel this past week. For now, the strikes have not escalated but who knows what the two countries will take next. The war in Ukraine is still going on, and things are going badly for the Ukrainians as Russia seems to keep advancing. Even though the US House just passed a bill mandating funding for Ukraine, it might be too late at this point.
In East Asia, Taiwan still remains a flashpoint though there have also been some face-offs and heightened tensions in the South China Sea involving China and the Philippines. With Taiwan’s next president set to be inaugurated next month, being from the same party as the current president who has overseen bad relations with China, there’s a strong chance that cross-strait ties will get even rockier. While I don’t think war will break out right away here, I’m not very optimistic of tensions reducing. One of Taiwan’s former presidents, from the current opposition party, just visited China and met with China’s president at the start of April. However, this was widely criticized by ruling party officials and supporters, who seem to be doing their best to discredit this meeting.
Not that I’m trying to be dramatic, but I think we are living through very ominous times now and the worst may not have occurred yet.