Foreign Digest: Russia, Ukraine, Yemen, Taiwan and Communist China

Russia and Ukraine: The lack of United States Congressional approval of military aid to Ukraine is emboldening the Russians in their aggression against their neighbor. As I have posted, aid has run out until Congress approves another authorization, but Republicans are insisting on curtailing the human rights of refugees seeking asylum from persecution in exchange for aid to Ukraine and Israel. The Russian Federation launched a full-scare invasion of the former Soviet Republic two years ago, after seizing some Ukrainian territory in a partial invasion in 2014, in violation of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity that Russia had recognized. Russia is led by a tyrannical ex-Soviet intelligence officer who intends to restore the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, there have been increased protests in Russia against the war, particularly by family members of draftees. A municipal legislator is gathering signatures for the presidential election on a platform of opposition to the draft and support for peace. Yemen: The United States and the United Kingdom, supported by several Western and regional allies, struck multiple targets in Yemen late last week to degrade the capacity of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who control much of the northern part of the state on the Arabian Peninsula that has been in civil war for a decade, after more attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and on the American-led coalition to protect the freedom of navigation in that region that I had posted about at the end of the year. Taiwan and Communist China: In the Taiwanese Presidential Elections yesterday, the Vice President and candidate of the ruling party that favors independence for the Republic of China (Taiwan) won the presidential elections with a plurality of votes. The nationalist party that is more accommodationist toward Communist China came in close second. A party whose position was in between those of the two main parties enjoyed a strong third-place finish. In the simultaneous parliamentary elections, the pro-independence party won a plurality of the votes, but not a majority and will thus have to compromise. Communist China interfered in Taiwan’s elections to divide the Taiwanese, undermine confidence in elections and representative government, and to intimidate what it claims as a renegade province. The election interference is in combination with an ongoing campaign of military incursions into Taiwan’s security zones. After the Communists seized power in China in 1947 following a civil war, the Government of the Republic of China and its supporters fled to the island of Taiwan and some other islands off the coast of mainland China. The incoming President of Taiwan has stated that he would not declare independence formally, which is a line Peking has threatened would lead to war, as he states the Republic of China is already independent, for which he seeks more international recognition. He favors engagement and trade with Communist China, not confrontation. The United States has diplomatically recognized Communist China’s government and officially maintains a “One China” policy, but maintains informal diplomatic relations and trade relations with Taiwan and has pledged to defend it. An unofficial American delegation will visit Taiwan’s incoming leadership. The U.S. provides arms and materiel to Taiwan and has defended the freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait of the South China Sea, which Communist China claims as its territory, contrary to international law.