Foreign Digest: Russia, Syria, China and Taiwan

Russia: One of the leading opposition leaders in Russia, Vladimir Kara-Murza, last week became the latest opponent of the Russian dictatorship of ex-Soviet intelligence officer Vladimir Putin to receive a lengthy prison term for expressing his opposition to the Russian aggression against Ukraine , in violation of human rights. Opponents to tyranny in Russia, are imprisoned, assaulted, murdered or driven into exile, where even there they are often attacked by Russian agents. Kara-Murza, like main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who is facing additional trumped-up charges, are both center-right leaders who support liberty, representative government and free markets. They and other opponents of Russian aggression have been persecuted for expressing their beliefs. The European Union is extending visas to the imprisoned Russian opposition leaders. Syria: The United States conducted another raid in northern Syria, killing Islamic State terrorists. The IS is an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Iraqi branch of the Islamist terrorists responsible for the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on New York, Virginia and over Pennsylvania that killed nearly 3,000 people, the deadliest in history. The U.S. has maintained a force in Iraq and Northern Syria since the IS took over large swaths of territory and declared a “caliphate” in 2014. The Americans led an international force against the IS that took away all their territory. Al-Qaeda and Iranian-backed jihadis are also sometimes targeted, especially since the latter has been attacking U.S. forces, as I have been posting. Communist China and Taiwan: The United States continues to conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the Taiwan Straight, between Communist China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). Red China claims the area, which is in international waters. Meanwhile, Taiwan is opening a de facto consulate in Milan, the Italian financial capital, while Italy considers whether or not to renew the Communist Chinese Belt and Road infrascture initative, as its trade with Taiwan increases. Under a previous populist government, Italy became the only Western State to have joined the trade infrastructure program designed to increase Communist Chinese influence. The United States is urging Italy not to renew the initiative. Italy and the European Union oppose Communist Chinese threats of violence against Taiwan, which is the part of China not conquered in 1949 by the Communists during the Chinese Civil War.