The Anti-Silk Road

BERLIN/BEIJING (Own report) – At this week’s Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels, the EU will introduce a new “connectivity strategy” to counter China’s “New Silk Road.” As outlined by the EU’s head of foreign policy in September, the strategy is aimed at improving transportation infrastructure as well as digital and energy networks linking Asia and Europe. Beijing is also active in these domains in connection with its Silk Road initiative. Recently, Germany’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched an initial thrust in this project. At the time, Minister of State Niels Annen (SPD) declared in Uzbekistan that social standards and human rights are “priorities” for Brussels. “This is what makes our offer different from China’s Belt and Road initiative.” For years, Germany had supported – even with military assistance – the Uzbek regime that was applying torture. Washington has also launched a new infrastructure initiative in Asia, to which US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that the USA is committed to “honest accords” and would “never seek dominance over the Indo-Pacific.”

Poland’s US Military Base Is More About China Than Russia

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Poland is proposing to host a permanent US military base on its territory.

Poland wants to replace Germany as the US’ preferred partner in Europe, taking advantage of American distrust with Berlin over Nord Stream II and trade disagreements while capitalizing on the Pentagon’s desire to “contain” Russia, thus satisfying multiple strategic objectives at once. The Polish leadership believes that the region-wide “Three Seas Initiative” of 11 other Central and Eastern European states that it wants to lead is ideologically compatible with the Trump Administration’s anti-liberal populism and represents another strategic convergence with the US. Paradoxically, however, while Poland is striving to advance its national sovereignty, it’s nevertheless sacrificing it by wanting to host an American military base, which is why a deeper explanation of this proposal is necessary.

On Point: China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Camouflaged in Silk

Think of it as a revived Silk Road, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in 2013 when he announced China would proudly sponsor a multi-decade international commercial and infrastructure development project — notionally running from China through Central Asia and connecting to points beyond. Yes, a benign Silk Road where all prosper. The project would have a maritime development component as well.

India, however, was immediately suspicious. China and India are rival powers, militarily and economically. They have unresolved territorial disputes in the Himalayas that occasionally involve gunfire between their armies.

Trade War Game On!

“Things sure are getting exciting again, ain’t they?”  The remark was made by a colleague on Tuesday morning, as we stepped off the elevator to grab a cup of coffee.

…

“I’ll tell you one thing.  President Trump’s trade war with China won’t end well.  I mean, come on.  China’s outplayed the U.S. at this game for over a quarter century.  They have the upper hand.

New Rumblings In The Horn Of Africa Over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam

Tensions are rising between Egypt and Ethiopia over the latter’s Grand Renaissance Dam.

One world under China? Beijing rolls out BRI initiative; U.S. can’t agree on renewing its own infrastructure

Screen shot from CCTV News.

 

The Belt and Road Initiative is the vanguard for Beijing’s reach for global power. It may not work, given all the imponderables of a project on this scale, not to mention conflicting interests with nations along its route. But at least the Chinese are showing the kind of social energy necessary to achieve great things. Do Americans still have that trait?

The state-owned press in China was all aglow about President Xi Jinping’s address to the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. Xinhua proclaimed how “Many overseas experts and scholars have praised” it. Towards the end of his remarks, President Xi brought up his pet project; recreating the ancient Silk Road that once linked Imperial China to Europe through Central Asia and the Middle East. He proclaimed, “Commitment of the Belt and Road Forum is highly compatible with the goal of the G20” and should be seen as part of a “new and inclusive globalization.” The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation had been held in Beijing, May 14-15. It attracted 29 heads of state (including Russian President Vladimir Putin) and representatives of 130 other countries (including the U.S.), plus the leaders of 70 international organizations, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Trump’s stealth North Korea move sidelines China, could be game-changer

President Donald Trump and China’s Xi JInping in Florida.

 

Just how the shape of the new global strategic architecture will settle out as the framework for the 21st Century is still open to challenge, but the key dynamic — the initial door to that new world — is now being opened by a deliberately-orchestrated U.S.-North Korea confrontation.

What is emerging beyond this door is an overarching strategic alternative to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) démarche of “One Belt, One Road” dominance of the Eurasian and Indo-Pacific geopolitical space, and an alternative, or balance, to the PRC’s reach into Africa and the Americas.

The confrontation between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean (DPRK) leader Kim Jong-Un is very much just between those two leaders, with the People’s Republic of China somewhat marginalized. Beijing is now fighting to find a path into this equation.

The Coming China-Germany Trade Juggernaut

 

ISTOCK.COM/AKE1150SB

 

In a post-American trade war, this emerging bloc will wield devastating power.

Stories of international angst over United States President Donald Trump’s protectionist approach are becoming more commonplace. Mr. Trump’s “buy American, hire American” catchphrase sounds good for many at home, but abroad, it is prompting a weighty reorganization of international trade relationships. And long term, the result will be a trade war that will prove ruinous to the U.S.

World trade has changed a great deal over the last several decades. The international community at large no longer depends on America’s giant import expenditures and exports. Parag Khanna of Politico wrote:

As Americans, it’s easy to assume that global trade still depends on America as the consumer of last resort. But that’s no longer true. In fact, the majority of trade in emerging-market nations is with each other, not with the U.S. In 1990, emerging economies sent 65 percent of their exports to developed nations like the U.S. and Europe, and only 35 percent to other developing countries. Today, that figure is nearly reversed.

China’s New Silk Road to Make a Big Move in Gold

It’s one of the great engineering achievements in history…

At 48 miles long, the Panama Canal cuts through a narrow strip of land in Central America.

It links up the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, allowing ships to pass through the landmass instead of sailing around a whole continent.

Ships pay dearly to use this shortcut… up to $375,000 for a one-way toll.

It’s worth the price.

Russia’s Plan to Destroy American Prestige, and China’s Plan to Remake the World

 

Russia brazenly defied America in Syria last week, bombing American-backed forces despite the presence of American fighter jets. There have been no consequences. Trumpet staff writer Richard Palmer shows how the attack fits in with Russia’s strategy to destroy America’s credibility. Also on today’s show, he discusses why China is pouring billions into the creation of a new trade route in central Asia. The demise of the Silk Road in Central Asia and the rise of ocean-bound trade revolutionized the world. It is the reason we speak English today. China’s efforts to re-create the Silk Road with modern railways could be just as revolutionary.

Jim Willie: Petrodollar death by July

(TRUNEWS) Statistical analyst Jim Willie says the recent moves by the rising Eurasian Trade Zone have set the stage for a historic toppling of the Anglo-American petrodollar by July.

Willie’s statements were made during an exclusive interview with Rick Wiles of TRUNEWS  on Tuesday, while discussing the significance and meaning of a series of major geopolitical events over the past 3 months from China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

In the beginning of the interview, Willie said one of his veteran sources informed him that government analysts are predicting major economic turmoil to begin in the June/July timeframe. Willie noted that if he had to guess, the July 4^th holiday weekend would be the flashpoint for the unraveling of this crisis. Willie said it would be prudent for Americans to stop all investments; and begin hoarding cash, food, and water to weather this impending financial super storm.

China Establishes Its Silk Road in Greece by Purchasing the Port of Piraeus

 

Opening a gateway to Europe is a ‘once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity’ for China.

In October 2009, government-owned China Ocean Shipping Company (cosco) took over one of two piers in the Port of Piraeus from its Greek authorities. Since then, cosco worked to increase the annual container volume nearly 10-fold. Finally, after waiting seven years, Beijing’s One Belt, One Road (obor) initiative took a step further when cosco purchased full control of the Port of Piraeus on April 8.

Top Headlines: Febuary 25th, 2016

Top Intel Officials: U.S. Faces Highest Terror Threat Level Since 9/11 (Washington Free Beacon)

Merging with the Germans: LSE and Deutsche Boerse to create world’s biggest stock exchange (Express)

Citi: Here Comes a Global Recession (Bloomberg)

China accounts for 90 per cent of world’s new billionaires as the number of super-rich swells globally (South China Morning Post)

China’s Silk Road Reaches Iran, Pushes Toward Europe (The Trumpet)

An Escalating War on Cash (Euro Pacific Capital)

Battle over Syria (III) (German Foreign Policy)

Iran accused by Israel of building terror network to strike U.S. and Europe (TruNews)

Russia Deploys to Mediterranean Large Fleet of Stealth Submarines (DEBKAfile)*

Russia reinforces Black Sea Fleet in Crimea with patrol boats and submarines (UNIAN)

EU policy chief warning of ‘hot war’ between Turkey and Russia (TruNews)

Pacific WAR looms as U.S. to steps up patrols near Chinese missile islands (Express)

Inside the Ring: U.S. Mulls Pledge on Disputed Philippines Outpost (Washington Free Beacon)

China ‘Clearly’ Militarizing South China Sea: Pacific Command Chief (DefenseTech)

‘A message to the US’: Chinese missile frigate enters service in East China Sea (South China Morning Post)

China Warns U.S. After Trump Wins Nevada (Money Morning)

Forbes: Putin’s newest satellite state (UNIAN)

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Iran Interested in Free Trade Zone With Eurasian Economic Union

“Iran is interested in the introduction of a free trade regime with the EEU and considers that the establishment of closer ties with the union may become the basis for the development of economic cooperation of Iran with the association’s member countries,” Sanaei told the Gaidar Forum in Moscow.

First Chinese Silk Road cargo train arrives in Georgia

The Georgian railway has received its first cargo train from China and has officially launched the Silk Road Project, according to Georgia Today.

The project will connect Europe, Eastern Asia, India, Central Asia and the Middle East, the newspaper reports.