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Following are some of the issues China and others are likely to be taking into account as it considers prospects for peace in Ukraine. Attempting to broker peace is a low-cost venture that can yield high returns for China, even if a quick breakthrough is highly unlikely, analysts say. The plan got lukewarm welcomes in both Russia and Ukraine while the United States and NATO were sceptical. China expanded trade with Ukraine after Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 and did not recognise the annexed territory as Russian, he said. Days before Russia invaded Ukraine, China and Russia announced a "no-limits" partnership.

Scholz set off on the one-day trip, which unusually will not include a press delegation, late on Thursday. His visit comes days after Biden's security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that Biden only sent Abrams tanks to Ukraine because Scholz made it a pre-condition for sending German Leopards. Berlin has insisted that Biden came to see it was necessary and so the decision was consensual. "The Biden administration will use the Scholz visit to try to shift Germany’s balance in the direction of stronger pushback." Scholz and Biden would discuss ongoing support for Ukraine, the upcoming NATO summit, and cooperation on the challenges posed by China and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, U.S. officials said.

China's launch of a spy balloon on a high-altitude journey over the United States was unacceptable and irresponsible, he said, but he was postponing - not canceling - his visit. Biden has said the balloon needed to be shot down, but has played down both the security threat and the impact on U.S.-China relations. GIVE TALKS A CHANCEShort of a high-level visit, there are opportunities for diplomacy. "The Chinese don't want to look weak and they probably don't want to admit that they lied (about the balloon). President Biden is also under pressure from Republicans in Congress who insist the balloon should have been shot down sooner," said Glaser.

☆ Sending a spy balloon was a 'clumsy' move by China that 'put a missile' through an already bad situation with the US, foreign policy expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Chinese spy balloon "put a missile" through an already strained relationship with the US, an expert said. The balloon incident also torpedoed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's high-stakes trip to China. The Chinese balloon was an "incredibly clumsy gesture" on Beijing's part and it "deprived us of a very important moment to arrest the downward spiral," Schell said. And though Beijing has admitted that the downed balloon belonged to China, it has insisted it was a weather balloon that blew off course. Glaser added that it is also not in the US' interests "to completely rupture" its relationship with China.

☆ Japan's prime minister has a 'pretty long to-do list' on defense, think tank says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJapan's prime minister has a 'pretty long to-do list' on defense, think tank saysTobias Harris of the German Marshall Fund of the United States discusses Japan's political landscape and its national security strategy, and says Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has to find a way to stabilize public support.

His centre-left Social Democrats, the Greens and liberal Free Democrats, have had to wrangle to reach compromises, sometimes delaying decisions. Some European allies say the focus on domestic challenges and internal politicking have distracted Berlin from regional cooperation and especially the key German-French motor that traditionally drives the European Union. Relief measures worth hundreds of billions of euros have helped Scholz's coalition stave off serious social unrest due to soaring energy prices in the wake of the Ukraine war, but recent polls suggest it has lost its majority. MIXED MESSAGESTo be sure, Germany's allies have welcomed the Zeitenwende after years of warning the country of complacency on security. The government may for example not reach the NATO spending goal until 2025, a spokesman said this week.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. the person said, adding that the calls would connect but Chinese officials wouldn't pick up. Based on a long-standing practice, faxes continue to be exchanged between two semi-official organisations that handle routine affairs: Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. The council told Reuters that while Chinese officials do not reply directly, they have handled Taiwanese requests when needed or responded through public statements. China this year labeled Tsai's administration "evil" while Taiwan called China "incredibly absurd".

☆ Fact Check-WiFi access inside a polling place is not proof of election fraud
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Access to WiFi inside a polling place is not automatic proof of voter fraud, despite claims made online, experts told Reuters. The post led to claims that a new WiFi network suddenly appearing from inside a polling station can lead to voter fraud. WIFI PRESENCE NOT EVIDENCE OF FRAUDBut the presence of a WiFi network inside a polling place is not automatic proof of nefarious activity, experts in election security told Reuters. The presence of a WiFi network inside a polling place is not automatically proof of fraud, experts told Reuters. WiFi-connected electronic polling books that check in voters are commonplace at polling stations across the country.

Nov 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in person on Monday for the first time since taking office, with U.S. concerns over Taiwan, Russia's war in Ukraine and North Korea's nuclear ambitions on top of his agenda. Biden and Xi, who have held five phone or video calls since Biden became president in January 2021, last met in person during the Obama administration. Xi's government has also criticized the Biden administration's posture toward Taiwan as undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Biden will also discuss Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and plans to be "unapologetic" in his defence of Ukraine, U.S. officials said last week. Biden will also warn Xi that North Korea's continued pursuit of weapons development will lead to an enhanced U.S. military presence in the region, the White House said.

☆ France and Germany's relationship questioned as Scholz goes alone on policy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Officials have denied problems in the Franco-German relationship, but Chancellor Scholz's focus on domestic politics is upsetting some lawmakers in Europe. Fresh tensions between France and Germany are challenging their relationship at a time when their unity is critical for broader European policy in tackling the energy crisis. The leaders of the two nations will meet in Paris on Wednesday, but this encounter almost got canceled. He added that the action of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is "creating the deepest divides within the Union." France and Germany are the two largest economies in the European Union and two of the founding nations of this political grouping.

That loyal inner circle has not only strengthened Xi’s hold on power – but also tightened his grip over China’s future. In the eyes of Xi, China is closer than ever to achieving its dream of “national rejuvenation” and reclaiming its rightful place in the world. What he decides to do – and how he goes about doing it – will have a profound impact on the world. Under Xi, Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan, sending warplanes and conducting military drills near the island. Xi continues to back a costly zero-Covid policy that keeps borders heavily restricted and regularly sends its cities into lockdown – dragging down China’s economic growth.

☆ Nord Stream gas 'sabotage': who's being blamed and why?
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-30 | by ( Joanna Plucinska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday it was "unthinkable" that an investigation into ruptures on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines would proceed without Moscow's participation. President Vladimir Putin said on Friday the United States and its allies blew up Nord Stream. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday damage to Nord Stream was a deliberate act of sabotage. Map of Nord Stream pipelines and locations of reported leaksWHY SABOTAGE A PIPELINE? "They already succeeded in stopping Nord Stream 2.

Other voices in Russia have pressed for an end to the invasion and a withdrawal of forces. Putin even admitted Thursday after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that Xi has “questions and concerns” about the war. “They’re doing it at some political risk, but if the Russian army truly loses, I don’t think Putin can survive that defeat.”The nuclear option? With his own position perhaps more vulnerable as the war shifts in Ukraine’s favor, some analysts have warned that a cornered Putin might turn to Russia’s nuclear arsenal. Fears of a nuclear confrontation between Russia and NATO have eased since the start of the war, but analysts said a small-scale tactical strike against Ukraine could remain a possibility — especially if Putin’s prospects continue to sour.

☆ China had a plan to dominate tech and become the world's most powerful country. It's all gone wrong.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-08 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Semiconductor chips are the tiny brains that power our technological world, from cars and cellphones to fighter jets and advanced missile systems. Right now China is awash in money for tech, but you need the right people and customers that trust you. Why China needs the chipsThe Chinese economy is big, but it isn't wealthy. In other words, China needs a more lucrative line of business the same way someone with credit-card debt needs a raise. The Made in China 2025 plan lays out a goal for domestically manufactured chips to meet 70% of China's semiconductor needs within three years.

☆ 3 ONG-uri ce lucrează cu și pentru adulții cu dizabilități intelectuale – din Moldova, România și Transnistria – schimbă experiență și se sprijină reciproc în timpul pandemiei!
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-01 | by ( Alte Articole | ) www.civic.md time to read: +2 min

În perioada iunie – noiembrie 2021 partenerii vor face schimb de bune practici în gestionarea schimbărilor care apar din cauza situației pandemice și, în plus, vor crea canale de comunicare pentru persoanele cu dizabilități și familiile acestora. Proiectul se va finaliza cu un eveniment public – concert live în care vor participa toți beneficiarii și membrii echipelor partenerilor. Toate activitățile se vor regăsi într-un filmuleț care va fi montat tot în cadrul proiectului și va servi drept instrument de ridicare a gradului de conștientizare a publicului privind drepturile și necesitățile persoanelor cu dizabilități. Mai multe informații despre parteneri, precum și activitățile proiectului le puteți găsi dacă ne vizitați la:A.O. Speranță și Sănătate - https://www.facebook.com/Hope-And-Health-162055090495813Írisz Ház – Diakónia Sepsiszentgyörgy (Casa IRIS) – https://www.facebook.com/iriszhaz)OSORC (Centrul de bază pentru reabilitare și consiliere) - https://www.facebook.com/OSORC.md

Persons: German Marshall Organizations: Black Locations: Statele Unite, Chișinău, Ghearghe, Tiraspol, România, Moldova

☆ Criza din Moldova are implicații regionale și transatlantice, expertă de la București
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-18 | by ( ) www.ipn.md time to read: +4 min

Criza din Moldova are implicații regionale și transatlantice, expertă de la BucureștiDeși blocajele și luptele politice interne nu reprezintă un fenomen neobișnuit pentru Republica Moldova, evenimentele din weekendul trecut au implicații regionale și transatlantice, scrie într-un editorial Alina Inayeh, directoarea biroului regional de la București al German Marshall Fund/Black Sea Trust. Experta sugerează că Rusia sprijină acum lupta anti-oligarhică de la Chișinău pentru a obține bunăvoința UE și SUA într-o partidă mai amplă. „Ce e extraordinar în privința evenimentelor din acest weekend e că această coaliție între ACUM și socialiști, și guvernul rezultat, sunt susținute de UE, Statele Unite și Rusia. Acest fapt e foarte neobișnuit pentru o regiune în care Rusia și comunitatea transatlantică luptă pentru influență și stau pe poziții potrivnice”, spune Alina Inayeh. În 2017, Black Sea Trust a fost inclusă în lista organizațiilor indezirabile în Federația Rusă.

Persons: German Marshall, Experta, Alina Inayeh, Plahotniuc, Inayeh Organizations: German, UE, Black Locations: Moldova, București, Republica Moldova, Rusia, Chișinău, UE, SUA, Statele Unite, Mijlocii, Ucrainei, Rusiei, Ucraina, Georgia, americană, România, Federația Rusă

☆ Bucharest Forum 2020: Cel mai important eveniment geostrategic din regiunea Mării Negre începe astăzi
▼ + stars: | 2020-10-08 | by ( ) tvrmoldova.md time to read: +3 min

Potrivit caleaeuropeana.ro, tema din acest an a Bucharest Forum este centrată în jurul rezilienţei sistemelor financiare, instituţiilor şi sistemelor politice şi a societăţilor în ansamblul lor, în contextul transformărilor profunde generate la nivel global de pandemia COVID-19. Bucharest Forum este un eveniment organizat de Institutul Aspen România şi Biroul din Bucureşti al The German Marshall Fund of the United States, în parteneriat cu Guvernul României. Vorbitor principal în cadrul Bucharest Forum va fi secretarul general adjunct al NATO, Mircea Geoană, fost preşedinte al Institutului Aspen din România şi gazda Bucharest Forum în primele sale şapte ediţii. Prima zi a evenimentului va găzdui de asemenea o discuţie pe tema relaţiilor transatlantice între Amb. Pentru prima dată în acest an, evenimentele sectoriale ale Institutului Aspen România, inclusiv Healthcare Forum, Atlantic – Black Sea Security Forum, Energy Summit şi Governance Innovation Forum, vor avea loc sub umbrela Bucharest Forum 2020.

Persons: Ludovic Orban, Mircea Geoană, Svetlana Tihanovskaia, Adrian Zuckerman, Bogdan Aurescu, Adina, Andreas Schaal, Sven Smit, Jeff, Nicholas Burns, David McAllister, Steve, The Hill Organizations: Bucharest Forum, România, German, United States, NATO, OECD, Microsoft Europe, Aspen Strategy Group, Harvard Kennedy School, Energy Summit Locations: Mării Negre, Europa, Asia, America, Bucharest, Bucureşti, României, România, Belarus, SUA, The, Atlantic, Black

☆ Moldova’s crisis has regional and transatlantic implications, Bucharest expert
▼ + stars: | 2019-06-11 | by ( ) www.ipn.md time to read: +3 min

Moldova’s crisis has regional and transatlantic implications, Bucharest expertWhile Moldova is not new to political deadlock and infighting, what happened this weekend has regional and transatlantic implications, writes Alina Inayeh, director of the German Marshall Fund/Black Sea Trust in Bucharest, in an opinion piece. However, thinks the expert, Russia’s cooperation with the United States and the EU in this case should not be mistaken for realignment, or for the beginning of a new partnership. (...) Cooperation in Moldova hands Russia a chip it will eventually use in its interest”. According to the expert, Russia’s support for the ACUM-Socialists government also signals to regimes in the region that playing the transatlantic community against Moscow is no longer an option. In 2017, Black Sea Trust was blacklisted as an undesirable organization in Russia.

Persons: Alina Inayeh, “, ”, Plahotniuc, Georgia ” Organizations: German Marshall Fund, Trust, EU, Constitutional, Socialists, Ukraine —, German Marshall, Sea Trust, Regional Cooperation Locations: Bucharest, Moldova, Russia, Chisinau, ACUM, United States, Ukraine, Cooperation, Moscow, Georgia, American, Romania

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