Rachman, FT: "The current wars in Ukraine and Iran underline how foolish it is to assume that a military superpower will always win a war against a smaller country."
China's assumption that Taiwan would be helpless without American support is a dangerous mistake.
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Ukraine has no navy — yet forced the Russian navy out of the Black Sea. Iran's navy was reportedly destroyed — yet Tehran keeps the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed with drones, missiles and speedboats.
Naval superpowers are increasingly vulnerable to cheap weapons.
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Taiwan's strengths: a top-20 global economy, 90%+ of the world's most advanced semiconductors, its own anti-ship missiles and drones, and the natural protection of being an island.
China would need one of the most ambitious seaborne invasions in history.
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CNN: Russian drones circle targeting vehicles and dropping explosives on troops. You have to keep moving or they may swarm around you.
The battlefield has completely changed in a year. Nobody drives cars or tanks unless they have to. Nets and robots are now key protection. 1/
CNN: Drones also target heavy gunfire. Their friend, a lieutenant, killed when this car was hit just two days ago.
We are nearing their bunker position. There are moments here to rest, to see the trophies of drones that failed. It's a bit tough at this moment. 2/
CNN: The drones never stop, but neither does Ukraine. Ukraine is adapting and engineering new warfare to bridge its manpower crisis. The sense that Ukraine was inevitably losing is gone. Deep strikes are now inflicting pain in the heart of Russia. 3X
Graham: If China invades Taiwan, the full weight of U.S. sanctions and tariffs should hit on day one.
That is deterrence. If we had done this with Russia before Ukraine, I do not think Putin would have invaded. 1/
Graham: China buys 90% of Iran’s oil.
Trump says he does not need Beijing’s help, but there will come a moment when China has to be held accountable. If you keep funding Iran, there must be a price. 2/
Graham: I think negotiations with Iran have hit a wall. They agree one day and back up the next.
You cannot want a deal more than the other side wants one. The smart play now is to weaken them militarily and keep the embargo on. 3/
Sybiha, Ukrainian FM: Russia plans to complete what the Russian Empire began and what the Soviet Union failed to finish.
They want to destroy the very foundation of the existence of Ukrainians as a separate nation. — Times of Central Asia.
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Sybiha: “Ukraine and Kazakhstan both remember bans on language and culture, the destruction of the intelligentsia, deportations, repression, and famines. We cannot allow this to happen again."
Kazakhstan provided Ukraine with around 600 tons of humanitarian aid since 2022.
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Sybiha: Ukraine wants to join the China-Central Asia-Caspian-South Caucasus-Black Sea-EU logistics chain. Our Black Sea ports can serve as a gateway into the European Union.
Ukraine is not just a destination — we are a fully integrated participant in the regional logistics system.
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