CHINA says That A “State Of War” Now Exists With UNITED STATES

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US charges Chinese, Taiwan co.'s with trade theft

Nov. 1 US SESSIONS CHINA ESPIONAGE
http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/9219b74ee51a246cb77860fe59606c23
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Injunction against Misappropriation of Trade Secrets
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public...a_v_United_Microelectronics_Corporation_et_al

Up to $8.8 billion worth of patented American technology was stolen by a Chinese
state-owned company and its Taiwanese partner, according to United States Justice
Department charges unsealed this month.

The victim was the Idaho-based Micron Technology Inc.,
the U.S.’s largest memory-chip manufacturer.

Over the years, Micron has invested billions of dollars to develop dynamic random-access
memory microchips, or dram chips. These are vital components of most electronics, such as
smartphones, cars, and tvs, and Micron is America’s only dram chip maker.

China has, for years, bought Micron’s dram chips for use in its electronics. But in 2016, the
Chinese government said weaning itself off dependence on foreign technology, partly by
making its own dram chips, was a national security priority.
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John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security with the Justice Department,
said the scale of the threat is “both impressive and frightening.” Chinese operatives are
“methodical, persistent and well resourced,” he said. “It’s a concerted effort to steal and
gather the know-how to produce technology.”

Precious secrets regarding jet engines, wind turbine technology, bio-pharmaceutical pro-
ducts and genetically modified rice are among those that China has been caught stealing,
or attempting to steal. And even when China’s operatives are caught and prosecuted,
the nation’s leadership is undeterred. “They don’t care if they get caught or if people
go to jail,” Bennett said. “As long as it justifies their ends, they are not going to stop.”
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President Donald Trump has slapped tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods,
taking aim at China's theft of US intellectual property.

Altogether, China’s intellectual property thefts cost the U.S. between $225 billion and
$600 billion each year. On the high end of that estimate, that is $1,870 each year for
every man, woman and child in the United States—each year.
https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/23/technology/china-us-trump-tariffs-ip-theft/index.html

"China has sought to acquire US technology by any means, licit or illicit, ......"

Chuck Schumer discussed last year the endemic problem of China stealing American
intellectual property, saying, “China continues to steal our family jewels, the things
that have made America great: the intellectual property, the know-how in the highest
-end industries. It makes no sense.”
 

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he ongoing Russian push, and Finland’s interest in joining nato

Background-June 2016 Could Sweden and Finland become NATO’s newest members?
https://www.fpri.org/article/2016/06/friends-not-allies-finland-sweden-nato-baltic-sea/
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In May, Finland signed a major agreement with nato stipulating its full involvement in
nato drills and granting it access to nato command and control and weapons systems.
In return, nato was given full access to Finland’s airspace and territorial waters.
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July 25 2018 Russia Warns Neighbours Finland, Sweden Against Joining NATO
https://eurasiantimes.com/russia-threatens-finland-sweden-nato/

Russia has issued severe warnings to Sweden and Finland against their plans to join the NATO.

The Defence Minister of Russia, Sergei Shoigu said that Russia will not shy away from taking
countermeasures if Sweden and Finland join the western military alliance. He expressed concern
over NATO’s plans to encircle Russia which will only lead to heightening tensions in the region,

As reported by PressTV, the Russian minister said that if Sweden and Finland end up joining
the NATO then it would be against the precedent of global security. NATO at present is a 29
nations military alliance of American and European nations.

The Russian minister highlighted that a treaty signed in May enabled Finland and Sweden to
participate in the NATO exercises and also gave the two nations the access to the command
and control systems of NATO for their troops.

In response, NATO got an uninterrupted access to the airspace of the two nations and also the
territorial waters. He said that such steps taken by the west will jeopardise the very abstract of
global security and causes massive distrust. He further added that such measures undermining
global security will push Russia to take actions in response.' .........

'Before these warnings issues to Sweden and Finland, Russia also threatened Georgia
and Ukraine of dire consequences if at all they join the western military alliance.'
 

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Trident Juncture 2018
https://forsvaret.no/en/exercise-and-operations/exercises/nato-exercise-2018

NATO and Norway holding one of the largest military exercises ever held in the country.
During some hectic weeks this October and November, around 50,000 participants from
all over NATO and its partners will be in Norway for exercise Trident Juncture 2018.
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“To me, Trident Juncture 2018 seems to be replaying scenarios from more than 30 years ago,”
wrote Geopolitical Futures founder George Friedman. “ The exercise’s participants mean to see
if they can secure Norway and block Russian bombers from penetrating the Atlantic. ”
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The greatest military exercise after the Cold War "virtual enemy country" is Russia
http://mainichi.jp/articles/20181110/k00/00m/030/178000c
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Despite the Warning Threat from Russia, Finland participated in the October-November
nato military drill Trident Juncture, the organization’s largest war games since the Cold War.
 

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Nov. 12 Possible Russia Cyberattacks on NATO During Massive War Games

Finland Probes Possible Russian GPS Jamming During NATO Exercises
https://www.rferl.org/a/finland-pro...s-jamming-during-nato-exercises/29595807.html

Finland says it is investigating whether Russia has recently interfered with global
positioning system (GPS) signals in the northern Finish region of Lapland during
NATO war games, endangering civilian air traffic.

Prime Minister Juha Sipila made the announcement on November 11, days after
Finland's air-navigation services issued a warning for air traffic due to a large-scale
GPS interruption in the north of the country.

Neighboring Norway issued a similar warning about loss of GPS signals for
pilots in its own airspace at the end of the October, when NATO's massive
Trident Juncture military exercise kicked off.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman on November 12 said
the Kremlin knows "nothing" about the disruption of the GPS signal."

"The goal of the alleged Russian interference was "to demonstrate
the capabilities for such actions," the prime minister also said.

"It's no small matter, since civilian flights have been put in danger," Sipila also said,
adding that the incident should be taken as seriously as "airspace violations."
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NATO: Russia jammed GPS signals during exercise with US troops
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/...ed-gps-signals-during-exercise-with-us-troops

"Norway has determined that Russia was responsible for jamming GPS signals in the Kola
Peninsula during Exercise Trident Juncture," NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu told
CNN on Wednesday. "In view of the civilian usage of GPS, jamming of this sort is dangerous,
disruptive and irresponsible."

The Pentagon declined to comment for CNN's report."
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Nov. 16 Russian Ambassador to Finland Summoned Over GPS Disruption
https://www.voanews.com/a/russian-ambassador-to-finland-summoned-over-gps-disruption-/4662349.html
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They will just say "I know nothink "
 

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Vladimir Putin may be preparing to reopen a Soviet-era military base in Cuba

theLourdes [Cuba] Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) facility
https://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/cuba/lourdes.htm
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Nov. 2017 Is Russia about to reopen its Cuba military base..?
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4851617/russia-donald-trump-cuba-military-base/

" RUSSIA should reopen its military base in Cuba, in the backyard of
the United States, two key supporters of Vladimir Putin have demanded.

Such a move would massively ramp up tensions between Washington and
Moscow at a time when relations are already at their worst since the Cold War.
"
also demanding a reopening of the former Russian military base in Vietnam.
"

The Cuban missile crisis saw the world stand on the brink of nuclear catastrophe when
US President John F Kennedy fronted up to Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev...."
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Cuba's new president reaches out to old allies Russia & China, seeking trade deals
https://www.rt.com/business/442836-russia-cuba-new-contracts/

Nov. 2 2018 Moscow and Havana have been re-establishing trade ties, a tradition
going back to Soviet times. Diaz-Canel will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin
and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. After the visit to Moscow, he will continue his
trip to China, Vietnam, North Korea and Laos.

Moscow and Havana have inked deals worth more than $260 million, said Russian
Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, adding that more new agreements are expected
to be reached soon...."
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Nov. 2 Russia close to granting Cuba 38 million euro loan to buy arms
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-r...8-million-euro-loan-to-buy-arms-idUKKCN1N71IF

Diaz-Canel, on his first official visit to Russia since taking office,
invited Putin to visit Cuba next year.

In a joint statement after their talks, the two men called on the United States
to reconsider its intention to withdraw from a Cold War-era nuclear arms treaty,

saying "the move would be detrimental for international security"......"
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Remember Putin has already vowed to restore Russia to it's former glory days.
 

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Nov. 18 Apec summit ends without agreement
as US and China’s deep divisions over trade emerge
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/dip...ithout-agreement-us-and-chinas-deep-divisions

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (apec)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia-Pacific_Economic_Cooperation
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"
The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit ended without agreement on a joint
communique for the first time in its history on Sunday as the escalating rivalry between the
United States and China dominated proceedings.

The impasse emerged a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice-President Mike
Pence blamed their rivals in the continuing trade war in back-to-back speeches.

Sunday’s dramatic conclusion was foreshadowed by accusations that Chinese officials had tried
to strong-arm officials in Papua New Guinea, which was hosting the event, into issuing a state-
ment that fitted what Beijing wanted. The Chinese vigorously denied the claims.

When asked about the impasse, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said:
“You know the two big giants in the room, so what can I say?” .........."
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‘Simply not true’: China rejects claims Apec diplomats tried to ‘barge’ in on PNG minister’s office
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/aust...hinese-diplomats-barging-png-foreign-minister
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According to Chinese State Councillor Wany Yi, China has built more than 100 projects in
the region. These projects are coercing, or forcing, Pacific nations—one way or another—
into China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

In the lead-up to apec, Beijing sold Papua New Guinea 40 custom-made Maseratis and three
Bentleys. The Maseratis retailed at well over $200,000 per car. The kicker is, the vehicles
weren’t even used for apec. Most dignitaries used armored transport.

China also built a six-lane “road to nowhere.” It cost $16 million. Ironically, it is named
Independence Boulevard. Papua New Guinea’s national debt to China is the largest in
the Pacific, stacking up to $590 million.

Income inequality here is the highest in the Pacific. Weak government and institutionalized
corruption undermine national sovereignty.This leaves the nation ripe for Chinese exploitation.

The Lowy Institute estimates that from 2006 to 2016 Australia dedicated $7.7 billion
in aid to the region. China dedicated only $1.7 billion.

Australia poured more than $86 million into this year’s apec. Canberra budgeted $572
million this year for Papua New Guinean aid. If they can’t repay any debts, Australia
won’t demand the nation give up its sovereignty—but China will.

https://www.businessadvantagepng.co...-opportunities-and-risks-says-treasurer-abel/
https://www.businessadvantagepng.co...xploitation-says-papua-new-guineas-treasurer/
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During apec, China pitched the initiative to eight member nations. Tonga signed up on the spot,
earning a reprieve from debt repayments to Beijing. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence
pleaded with nations not to fall for the debt trap. His pleas didn’t fall on deaf ears, but hostile ones.

“I was just pleased with the message from the Chinese president. I thought his views better repre-
sented how we feel,” Papua New Guinean Treasurer Charles Abel told Reuters. Of course, who
wouldn’t side with the nation handing out “free” Maseratis and Bentleys?

Australia and America can no longer outgive China. Nor is the West willing or able to use its
generous aid packages as leverage against China. The unscrupulous “gifts” from Beijing are
too enticing for the impoverished island nations.Despite the deadlock, Beijing walked away
a winner, further cementing itself as the regional powerhouse.
 

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Nov. 10 Japan-Russia Summit Meeting
http://mainichi.jp/articles/20181110/k00/00m/030/211000c

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has adjusted to propose acceleration of the Northern Territories
negotiations towards concluding a peace treaty at the Japan - Russia Summit, which will be
held next week in Singapore, in keeping with the ASEAN - related summit meeting.
Several government officials revealed.
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https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201811301070264056-russia-japan-g-20/

"
On November 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe met in Singapore and agreed to advance negotiations on a peace treaty based on the
1956 Soviet-Japanese joint declaration, the only document recognized by both countries.

Same day, Putin said that his next meeting with the Japanese prime minister would take place at
the G20 summit that will be held on November 30 — December 1. On Wednesday, the Japanese
chief cabinet secretary confirmed that Abe would meet with Putin in Argentina. According to
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the two leaders will discuss the establishment of ? mechanism for
negotiations on the Kuril Islands.

Differences and Compromises

The fact that Japan and Russia have never signed a permanent peace treaty after the end of World
War II has long been a stumbling block in bilateral relations. The main issue standing in the way of
a treaty is an agreement concerning a group of four islands that both countries claim — Iturup,
Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai, collectively referred to as the Southern Kurils by Russia and
the Northern Territories by Japan.

"
Abe’s latest announcement about stepping up negotiations with Russia based on the 1956 declaration,
under which the transfer of the two islands should take place after signing a peace treaty, might be
perceived as his readiness to compromise, Associate Professor and Academic Program Coordinator
for International Affairs at the Temple University Japan Campus James D.J. Brown told Sputnik.

'Abe's agreement in Singapore to accelerate peace treaty talks on the basis of the 1956 Joint Dec-
laration does indicate a new willing to compromise. This is because the 1956 Joint Declaration makes
no mention of the larger two islands of Iturup and Kunashir (Etorofu and Kunashiri in Japanese).

It is also notable that Abe has stopped making public demands for the return of four islands.
He therefore seems to have given up all hope of all four islands ever being returned to
Japanese sovereignty,' Brown said.

According to the expert, Abe might be now pursuing the so-called 'two plus alpha' option.

'This means that Abe is seeking the transfer of Shikotan and Habomai to Japanese sovereignty
after the signature of a peace treaty. In addition, while Iturup and Kunashir would remain under
Russian sovereignty, Japan is seeking agreement on a special system of visa-free access and
joint economic projects on these two islands (this is the 'alpha'),' Brown said...."

Possible US Military Presence

"
Japan’s security obligations to its key ally, the United States, is among major concerns of
Moscow as it fears that Washington may deploy troops and missile defense systems on the
two islands under the US-Japan Security Treaty once the territories are handed over to Japan.

Abe has reportedly assured Putin that Japan would not allow US military bases on the islands,
but Tokyo’s ability to provide feasible guarantees is questionable, Kistanov noted....
"
 

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Nov. 18 Vietnam, Russia aim to nearly triple trade to $10 billion by 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ple-trade-to-10-billion-by-2020-idUSKCN1NO0HO

Vietnam and Russia on Monday agreed to nearly triple bilateral trade to $10 billion
by 2020 from $3.55 billion last year, while expanding energy ties.

Russia is Vietnam’s biggest weapons supplier and Russian companies are involved
in several Vietnamese energy projects.

“We have agreed to cooperate more closely and effectively implement a free trade
agreement Vietnam has signed with the (Russia-led) Eurasian Economic Union,”
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told reporters in Hanoi on Monday
after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

Phuc said the two countries are looking to facilitate bilateral trade in farm produce
and seafood and will have measures to support joint energy investment projects.

“Russian and Vietnamese energy companies are cooperating effectively and we want
to strengthen these ties further with measures to facilitate joint energy investment
projects in Russia, Vietnam and in third countries,” Medvedev said....
"
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Russia currently invests approximately $990 million in projects in Vietnam, mostly
in oil and gas exploration. Russia is Vietnam’s largest weapons supplier and is also
its “second-largest foreign investment destination.”
https://www.scmp.com/comment/insigh...1/putin-pivots-asia-will-more-russian-defence


Vietnam is the only strategic partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific region, with the
partnership established in 2001,” said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran
Quoc Khanh. He added that both countries have benefited from having “time-tested
and close-knit relations in all fields.”
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Vietnam’s warm relations with Russia could lead to it joining the Russian-led “kings
of the east” alliance. With Vietnam’s large population, it could end up contributing to
the 200 million-man army.
 

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Philippine-China Joint Energy Exploration deal and “Belt and Road” initiative

Nov. 12 Duterte: Joint oil exploration deal must be favorable to PHL
https://businessmirror.com.ph/duterte-joint-oil-exploration-deal-must-be-favorable-to-phl/

President Duterte said he will insist on getting a bigger share of oil and gas resources that
will be found in the West Philippine Sea under a planned joint exploration deal between
the Philippines and China. Duterte said the Philippine government needs more resources
to solve the power problem in provinces like Palawan.
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Within the Philippines’ 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, which international law stipulates
belongs to the Philippines alone, are untapped fuel deposits, including those off the coast of
Palawan. The Philippine News Agency estimated the total worth of fuel deposits in the
Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone at $26.3 trillion.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1024842

This is “more than enough to free the country from the shackles of poverty,” the agency
writes. But tapping it has proved challenging, partly because parts of this zone lie within
the areas that China claims sovereignty over.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. told reporters in a text message that the
focus of the visit is the country’s commitment to join China’s “Belt and Road” initiative,
which was already authorized by the Cabinet in a meeting last week........"

"
The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration backed the Philippines when it issued
the landmark decision invalidating China’s claims to the West Philippine Sea in 2016.

However, China still refuses to recognize the arbitral ruling.

The President has also said in his previous speeches that he will bring up
the arbitral court’s ruling with China “at the right time.”......."
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If China and the Philippines reached a deal on joint exploration, it could signal that
Manila is accepting China’s claims to resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone.
This would represent a major victory for China. But the Philippines has other options.

Ignore Constitution and Drill With China
https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/03/0...-of-resources-before-joint-exploration-carpio
Drill Without China and Risk Its Wrath
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...r-if-philippines-drills-for-oil-idUSKCN18F1DJ
Ignore Oil and Go Bankrupt
https://businessmirror.com.ph/no-signing-seen-on-phl-china-oil-exploration-during-xis-visit/
http://www.pewglobal.org/2017/09/21...ll-favor-u-s-over-china-but-gap-is-narrowing/

The Philippines is in dire need of a new energy resource. The Malampaya gas field, which
supplies about 30 percent of the country’s power needs, is expected to dry out by 2027.

With oil prices and inflation rising, the Philippines needs to find a replacement for its dying
gas field. And unless a replacement is found, the Philippines will be forced to pay for
expensive imported oil, or it will face severe oil shortages.
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Philippine-China Joint Energy Exploration Shows Off China’s Power

In March of last year, Xi threatened to go to war with the Philippines if it
tried to drill oil in disputed parts of the South China Sea.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...r-if-philippines-drills-for-oil-idUSKCN18F1DJ

Duterte succumbed to Xi’s intimidation, and the Philippines refrained from drilling for oil in its
own territorial waters. With Duterte now considering working with China to conduct joint oil
exploration in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Manila is effectively acknowledging
China’s de facto control over its own waters.


“China is already in possession” of the South China Sea, Duterte told the Straits Times.
He continued: “It’s now in their hands. So why do you have to create frictions … that will
prompt a response from China?”
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/s...n-of-south-china-sea-tells-us-to-end-military
 

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“The security and well-being of the United States
are at greater risk than at any time in decades.”

Nov. 4 National Defense Strategy Commission Report
https://fas.org/man/eprint/common.pdf

Providing for the Common DefenseThe Assessment and
Recommendations of the National Defense Strategy Commission

U.S. is in danger of losing a war against major powers like Russia and China.


If the nation does not act promptly to remedy these circumstances, the consequences
will be grave and lasting,” the commission warns, going on to identify several major
causes for concern....

"
Because of our recent focus on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, and because
our enemies have developed new ways of defeating U.S. forces, America is losing its
advantage in key warfighting areas, such as power projection, air and missile defense,
cyber and space operations, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, long-range ground
-based fires, and electronic warfare.

Many of the skills necessary to plan for and conduct military operations
against capable adversaries—especially China and Russia—have atrophied.
"
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Air and missile defense, space and cyber operations, and anti-submarine warfare are all areas
in which Russia and China are quickly advancing. The report also warns that in the event of war
with a major power, cyberattacks will be directed against the American public in addition to the
military, requiring constant, costly modernization and training to be dealt with effectively.

The report says that the Department of Defense is struggling to coordinate its resources in an
organized and effective way. It lacks the organization, resources and manpower to fight a major
war on two fronts. Even with just one powerful adversary on one front, the U.S. could suffer
“unacceptably high casualties and loss of major capital assets.”
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Under the Obama administration, America saw major cuts to its defense budget

If next year’s defense budget is cut by $16 billion, as expected,
this will make matters even more difficult.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-military-crisis-could-lose-war-russia-china-report-n936431
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America has the most expensive military in the world. That doesn’t necessarily mean it has the
strongest. Not Much Bang for the Buck when we add in waste and coruption. The System Is Broken,
America also has lost the pride of its power, and been awhile since we done any real good for the world.
 

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Nov. 25 Russian special forces storm and capture three Ukrainian Navy ships
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...ecial-forces-seize-ukraine-navy-ships-crimea/

"
Russia reopened the Kerch Strait near Crimea to shipping in the early hours of Monday morning,
a day after its coast guard vessels opened fire and seized three Ukrainian navy vessels as they
sailed through disputed waters around Crimea, raising fears of a new regional crisis.

Nato and the European Union issued demands for restraint after Ukraine accused Russian FSB
border guards of damaging two armoured artillery boats and injuring six crew members.

All three of its vessels were immobilised and stormed by Russian special forces, the Ukrainian
defence ministry said. The FSB confirmed it seized the ships, claiming they had sailed illegally
into Russian territorial waters.

“Weapons were used with the aim of forcibly stopping the Ukrainian warships,”
it said in a statement circulated to Russian state media.

Ukraine denied its ships had done anything wrong and accused Russia of military aggression.
"
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Russia rams, fires on and seizes three Ukrainian ships off coast of Crimea, Ukraine says
https://americanmilitarynews.com/20...inian-ships-off-coast-of-crimea-ukraine-says/

Nov. 26 The Latest: Security Council to meet over Russia, Ukraine
https://www.apnews.com/2faf065be3d941369fce0cdfe25f823e
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This occurred off the coast of Crimea, which Russia invaded and annexed from Ukraine
in 2014 against the warnings of international leaders, including then U.S. President Obama.

The Kerch Strait lies off the eastern edge of the Crimean Peninsula and is a vital shipping route
connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, home to two of Ukraine’s most important ports.

The Crimean Peninsula was part of Ukraine’s sovereign territory until 2014, when Russian forces
unlawfully and forcibly annexed it. In May, Russia completed construction of a 12-mile-long bridge
across the Kerch Strait, which connects Crimea to Russia.

Obama said Putin was “challenging truths that only a few weeks ago seemed self-evident:
That in the 21st century, the borders of Europe cannot be redrawn with force.”

John Kerry called it “19th-century behavior in the 21st century.” But Putin proved that even
in the “enlightened world” of the 21st century borders can be redrawn by force. That’s exactly
what he did by seizing Crimea and grafting it into Mother Russia.

The Crimean Bridge stands as a glaring indication of how meaningless international law has
become in this era of declining American power and rapidly rising authoritarianism.
 

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Nov. 26 Ukrainian president signs martial law decree after Russia seizes ships, 23 sailors
https://americanmilitarynews.com/20...Bu_93L3vOkAlNceqqRuyP6LneOq4ooeTHTjEZbgjXE6E0

"
The Ukrainian President has signed a decree introducing martial law in the country for 60 days,
this after an unprecedented incident on Sunday when Russian forces fired on and then seized
three Ukrainian Naval vessels in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia-controlled Crimea.

Russia also captured and is holding 23 Ukrainian sailors, six of whom are said to be wounded.

The last time Kyiv declared martial law was in 2014, when Russia seized and took control of
the Crimean Peninsula in a war against eastern Ukraine, which is still being waged today.

“The use of weapons by the Russian Federation, the attack on the Ukrainian ships was
unprovoked. It was, as the Chief of the General Staff has already said, a usual operation
aimed to move the ships to the deployment sites Mariupol-Berdiansk.

They did not have any special weapons, except for the service weapon, they had no special
missions,” the President explained. “We have irrefutable evidence that this aggression, this
attack on the Ukrainian Navy’s warships was not a mistake, not an accident, but a targeted
action, including as regards the use of weapons against Ukrainian sailors, which had severe
consequences.”

“In no way were the Ukrainian authorities and the Ukrainian military leadership informed
about such a behavior by the Russian armed forces,” he added.

According to Russian news agencies, the Russian FSB claims it seized the three ships because
they “illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted illegal actions, and ignored warnings to
stop while maneuvering dangerously,” the Irish Times reported.

Poroshenko has demanded that Russia release the Ukrainian sailors and ships, and says the
sailors have been “brutally detained in violation of international law,” Radio Free Europe reported.
 

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Nov. 28 ‘Putin is in control’
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-russia-putin-is-in-control/

"
Chalk another one up for Vlad.

By the time Western officials had figured out what and where the Kerch Strait was, the
Russian leader had sewn up his naval operation, taking around two dozen Ukrainian sailors
prisoner (shooting and wounding at least three of them), and impounded their vessels.
Not bad for a Sunday outing.

Meanwhile, over in the EU cocoon, Germans debated whether the United Nations refugee
compact would be legally binding and the French squabbled over the price of gasoline.

And the U.S.? Lost somewhere in Trumpland. [Who’s fault is that? Mr Trump addressed
this very forcefully. If the press aren’t talking about it, it’s not Trump’s fault].

In case there were any lingering doubts over the efficacy of Western efforts to rein in Russia,
Moscow’s latest aggression made it pretty clear that the attempts to coax Vladimir Putin into
de-escalating the confrontation with Ukraine have failed. No degree of sanctions, German-led
“dialogue,” or even genuflection has made much of an impression on the Russian leader…

Sunday’s showdown wasn’t random, it was the culmination of a yearslong strategy to
assert control over the Azov Sea, a process that the West largely ignored.

Remember the high-level outrage over Russia’s construction of a bridge over the Kerch Strait,
despite Ukrainian protests that it would further constrict trade and access to Mariupol, a regional
hub in the east of the country? No? That might be because there was none.

So Putin continued to push the limits, harassing Ukrainian ships through the strait,
while quadrupling the size of Russian naval forces in the area.

Again, nary a peep from the West.......
 

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
5,977
400
83
63
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he sees nothing wrong with the
Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact that the Soviet Union made with
Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany just days before World War ii broke out.

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was a promise of non-belligerence by either party toward the
other. Just a week after it was signed, Germany invaded Poland, officially igniting World War ii.

“Serious research must show that those were the foreign policy methods then,” Putin said
to a group of young historians in Moscow. “The Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty
with Germany. People say: ‘Ach, that’s bad.’ But what’s bad about that if the Soviet Union
didn’t want to fight; what’s bad about it?”
-

But the details of the Molotov–Ribbentrop agreement show that it was no declaration of
pacifism by the Soviets. In fact, Putin knows full well that the pact included secret protocols
that divided Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland into “spheres of influence”
for Germany and for the Soviets. Until 1989, the Russians denied these protocols, but since then
they have acknowledged them.

As a direct result of the protection from each other granted by the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact,
both the Soviets and the Nazis ravaged Poland. The ussr captured and executed more than
20,000 Poles in the 1940 Katyn massacre, and the Germans started a campaign that
slaughtered around 3 million Polish Jews.

The pact secretly delineated the spheres of interest between the two powers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov–Ribbentrop_Pact
-

Hitler had allayed his primary fear; the eastern front was secure.
Russia was his friend. Eight days later, the slaughter began.

Germany and Russia have a long history of conflict. There have been bouts of cooperation,
such as the Treaty of Rapallo in 1922 and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939.

Vladimir Putin’s defense of the Soviet Union’s pact with Hitler suggests that
the idea of an equivalent modern agreement may well be on his mind.
-

Dec. 1 Germany promotes friendly Merkel-Putin greeting
https://euobserver.com/tickers/143562

German chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman tweeted a picture of her shaking Russian
leader Vladimir Putin's hand at a G20 summit in Argentina Saturday, one week after Russian
warships fired on Ukrainian vessels, an action condemned by the EU.

"The focus was on the situation in Syria and the situation between Russia
and Ukraine in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov," Merkel's spokesman said.
 

Kaps89

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2018
219
305
63
Kent, England

TabinRivCA

Well-known member
Oct 23, 2018
12,245
9,974
113
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he sees nothing wrong with the
Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact that the Soviet Union made with
Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany just days before World War ii broke out.

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was a promise of non-belligerence by either party toward the
other. Just a week after it was signed, Germany invaded Poland, officially igniting World War ii.

“Serious research must show that those were the foreign policy methods then,” Putin said
to a group of young historians in Moscow. “The Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty
with Germany. People say: ‘Ach, that’s bad.’ But what’s bad about that if the Soviet Union
didn’t want to fight; what’s bad about it?”
-

But the details of the Molotov–Ribbentrop agreement show that it was no declaration of
pacifism by the Soviets. In fact, Putin knows full well that the pact included secret protocols
that divided Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland into “spheres of influence”
for Germany and for the Soviets. Until 1989, the Russians denied these protocols, but since then
they have acknowledged them.

As a direct result of the protection from each other granted by the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact,
both the Soviets and the Nazis ravaged Poland. The ussr captured and executed more than
20,000 Poles in the 1940 Katyn massacre, and the Germans started a campaign that
slaughtered around 3 million Polish Jews.

The pact secretly delineated the spheres of interest between the two powers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov–Ribbentrop_Pact
-

Hitler had allayed his primary fear; the eastern front was secure.
Russia was his friend. Eight days later, the slaughter began.

Germany and Russia have a long history of conflict. There have been bouts of cooperation,
such as the Treaty of Rapallo in 1922 and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939.

Vladimir Putin’s defense of the Soviet Union’s pact with Hitler suggests that
the idea of an equivalent modern agreement may well be on his mind.
-

Dec. 1 Germany promotes friendly Merkel-Putin greeting
https://euobserver.com/tickers/143562

German chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman tweeted a picture of her shaking Russian
leader Vladimir Putin's hand at a G20 summit in Argentina Saturday, one week after Russian
warships fired on Ukrainian vessels, an action condemned by the EU.

"The focus was on the situation in Syria and the situation between Russia
and Ukraine in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov," Merkel's spokesman said.
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Trump a friend of Putin and has money in banks there? Not to take sides but shouldn't Putin b concerned about countries breaking the pact about closing in on Russia? There are some extremists in Uk who are awful to Russians there who simply want to see their relatives across the border. Do you know who's in charge in UK? Not Russia friendly, so provoking Russia to b aggressive or b in danger of infiltration. My concern would b if Russia, China and Iran got together to do something first in order to protect themselves. The US can b forceful at times, ie Iraq, but some countries might not want to give up their sovereignty w/o a fight. Also I'm thankful God is and always will know and b in control of all.