While the U.S. continues on its path of internal destruction by means of extreme political polarization, external threats are mounting involving two powerhouse nations: Russia and China.
First off, tensions are escalating between Russia and Ukraine, with increased Russian militarization along Ukraine’s eastern border. The number of troops at the border is now greater than it has been since 2014, when war first broke out and Russia seized Crimea.
“The United States is increasingly concerned by recent escalating Russian aggressions in eastern Ukraine, including Russian troop movements on Ukraine’s border,” Psaki said on Thursday. “These are all deeply concerning signs.”
Recent images show Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zalenskiy visiting the eastern frontline, where fighting has intensified in recent weeks, and handing out awards.
German chancellor Angela Merkel urged Russia to ease up its troops.
In a phone call with Vladimir Putin, Merkel asked him to scale down “troop reinforcements” to “de-escalate tensions,” her office said.
During his visit, Zelenskiy thanked the soldiers “for protecting our land” and said “there is indeed an escalation.”
“All commanders understand that snipers are targeting our guys,” Zelenskiy said, adding that 26 Ukrainian troops had been killed since the start of the year.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s point person on Ukrainian relations, Dmitry Kozak, unleashed a new warning, saying Russia might “have” to step in to defend Russian speakers in the east.
He added that an escalation would be “the beginning of the end of Ukraine,” and “not a shot in the leg, but in the face.”
Not too far away, China and Taiwan are in a similar situation. China is stepping up military pressure on Taiwan, sending military aircraft into Taiwanese territory on an almost daily basis in efforts to stake its claim over the self-governing island.
Taiwan’s foreign minister, Joseph Wu, has warned that Chinese drones may be shot down and that, if attacked, Taiwan will defend itself to “the very last day.”
Chinese president Xi Jinping has warned that he will use all necessary means to ensure Taiwan is returned to the mainland.
At a briefing on Wednesday, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price reiterated that “our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid.”
“We think and we know that it contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region as well,” he said. “The United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force or any other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan.”
