FASTEST GEOPOLITICAL SHIFT.

      GLOBAL PEACE & SECURITY IN THE SHIFTING GEOPOLITICAL LANDSCAPE: 21st century Geopolitics.

A time of global conflict.  Pt 1, ASIA 1.1

In a time where Geo-politics is proving to be an effective proxy modus operandi for wielding global influence, it plays a very vital role in the balance and maintenance of the status of Global Peace and Security. Every region in the world is currently experiencing a conflict, ranging from internal to regional conflicts. Regional cooperation plays an integral role in maintaining the status of peace and security. However, this cooperation can be affected by international factors, bypassing bilateral relations leading to a divide in regional unity. This, in turn, threatens a region's status of peace and security raising the risk of conflict. 
Europe, Middle-East and Asia are all experiencing forms of geopolitical conflicts, which in turn are becoming more regional with involvement of major global powers(some considered external interference by involved states). 

First off, let's start with Asia. Asia's case is complex. In East Asia, there are multiple conflicts and regional tensions at diplomatic levels fuelled by China's expansion policy and American involvements in the region's politics. China, or rather Beijing, lays claims on its former emperor's territories which includes Taiwan, The Taiwan Strait, The East and South China sea. To its rulers, a dream to achieve the reunification of China is very much top of their agenda with the end goal being the re-establishment of China as the dominant power in global military and economic might. In its recent push to return China back to its imperial borders, Hong Kong became the first Nation or State to merge back with China, giving up its autonomous and sovereign status. Next in line, in this expansive and re-unification policy is Taiwan. A state recognised by only 11 out 193 United Nations members. The history behind Taiwan is contentious, with the US recognising Taiwan as a state with its own sovereign rights, while China views Taiwan as a de-facto state. Historically, Taiwan was the remaining stronghold of the last democratic government in China, ruled by the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT) which was overthrown in 1949 after spending close to three decades at war with the Chinese Communist Party(CCP) from the year 1911.  The loss of mainland China to communists saw the ruling party Kuomintang retreat to Taiwan where they established rule and lay claim to mainland China. Taiwan, officially recognised as the Republic Of China(ROC), was the official representative of China up until 1991, when the UN changed its recognition of the CCP as a rebel group to the ruling powers in China. Since then, China cuts and avoids diplomatic relations with nations which recognise Taiwan as an independent state. 
To add salt to injury, the US-China trade war is being used as a tool to advance American and Chinese interest on Taiwan. 


Images courtesy of the Council on Foreign Relations and visual capitalist(https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Mapping_World_Ongoing_Conflicts_vertical.jpg).


Conflict in Asia isn't limited to China-Taiwan only. Recent developments in geopolitical trends are proving otherwise. For instance, North Korean provocations aimed at Japan and South Korea are coming up as new threats to regional peace and stability. Firing and testing of ballistics missiles by Pyongyang seem to be the new norm when it comes to showing off military advancement and power. Infringement of rights to navigations in international waters and breach of airspaces has become South East Asias new ways of showing political discontent.      



   


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