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The complex proxy web of political tussel in the Middle East

The Economist Daily Chart = The Middle East Mesh of 3 April 2015 gives a clear pictorial diagram showing the complex web of political rivalry between Sunni and Shiite forces and their respective backers in the Middle East, including the Islamic State (ISIS), Libya, Syria and Yemen, where civil wars are proxy theatres.

Building BRICS influence, challenging the global financial order?

TV panel discussion on Inside Story with Aljazeera English channel on 8th July, 2015

Pentagon warns of threats from ISIS, Russia and possibly China

My live TV interview with RT on 3 July on Pentagon's 2015 National Military Strategy Paper.

The updated Strategy highlights the geopolitical reality of rising and perceived new threats to American maritime interests and an America-led world order.

In particular, it categories a Continuum of Conflict the American Military faces into State Conflict, Hybrid Conflict and Non-State Conflict which the United States has to "Deter, Deny and Defeat" towards the State Conflict end of the Contiuum and to "Disrupt, Degrade and Defeat" towards the Non-State Conflict end of the Continuum. 

It stresses the imperative of "full spectrum" robust power projection, including air-sea battle, cyber warfare and space warfare. However, increasing reliance has to be placed on America's key strategic strength of strong and powerful regional allies in mounting a robust response to such threats where they occur. 社評：美國新海洋戰略針對誰？

According to David Shambaugh, in a fundamental shift, the United States now finds herself engaged in an all-out competition (read rivalry) with a rapidly rising China. As China is a main beneficiary of the extant US-anchored world order, the world's two great powers would need to find a way to co-exist in sharing power and responsibility, however difficult that may be, as global war is no option. Click here