Lord Stirling's News Blog EUROPE

The Big Story Behind China’s New Military Strategy ~ link ~ 
As China reemerges as one of the globe’s leading powers, just what type of actor it will be on the world stage has become a subject of intense debate among China watchers and the broader public. With tensions rising to what one eminent China scholar has called a “tipping point” in U.S.-China relations, the Chinese government released its first-ever white paper on military strategy just before the fourteenth annual Shangri-La Dialogue was held in Singapore this past weekend. Since 2012, Beijing has indeed become more assertive in proximate waters, and the paper underscores determination to strengthen Chinese “strategic management of the sea.” Attention has rightly focused on expressions of Chinese resolve with respect to current points of contention such as China’s land reclamation on disputed features in the South China Sea. Most recently – following Pentagon predictions – China’s Coast Guard appears to be increasing activity near Luconia Shoals, roughly 60 miles north of Borneo in Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone. But the strategic thinking just published also reflects a much larger story of profound changes in Chinese foreign policy.

The story itself is relatively simple: China’s participation in globalization has catalyzed an irreversible explosion of overseas interests. It has also afforded China greater resources and capabilities with which to advance and defend them. This combination has drawn China inexorably outward to become “more willing and able” – that is, active in international security affairs. In fact in many ways, China’s first-ever defense white paper on strategy is official policy catching up to reality. Because this trend is likely only to intensify, U.S. scholars and policymakers must understand it if they are to shape policies that can seize the benefits and manage the challenges stemming from China’s new normal of increasing international security activism.

Donetsk: Coup Junta forces violate ceasefire 30 times over the last 24 hours ~ link ~ 
The shelling targeted the Oktyabrsky village, the Oktyabrskaya coal mine and the area of the embattled Donetsk airport, as well as Gorlovka and Yasinovataya. The settlements of Golmovsky, Zaytsevo, Spartak, Shirokaya Balka, Leniniskoye and Shirokino also came under fire. 

Nuclear Saudi Arabia – ‘All options on the table over Iran deals’ says Saudi Ambassador in UK ~ link ~ 

Saudi Arabia is ready to acquire nuclear weapons if diplomatic talks aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions break down, the Saudi ambassador to the UK has said.

Prince Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz al-Saud said the oil-rich Gulf kingdom hoped negotiations being led by US President Barack Obama would result in a “watertight” deal with Iran.
 
However if does not happen, then “all options are on the table,” he said.
 

Three interrelated stories:
Nukes on Yemen: Confirming proofs – Calculating nuclear blast yield from the flash ~ link 

Nukes on Yemen: Confirming proofs – Yield estimation from Illumination Time ~ link  

Nukes on Yemen: Confirming Proofs – Introduction to Nuclear Operations ~ link  
 

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, Saturday to reaffirm Ottawa’s support for Ukraine’s ultra-nationalist, pro-western regime and the US-led drive against Russia.

From Kiev, Harper flew to Germany for the G-7 summit, at which he promised to advocate for the Ukrainian regime—i.e. to join Washington in pressing for no let-up in the economic sanctions, aggressive NATO military deployments, and war threats against Russia.

G-7 Summit convenes with US threats against Russia ~ link ~ 

As the leaders of the seven most powerful imperialist nations assembled near the south German resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the annual G-7 (Group of Seven) summit, US officials kept up a drumbeat of demands for intensified economic and military pressure on Russia over the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

As he arrived for the talks, Obama said a major focus of the summit would be “standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine.” He reiterated the US position that there should be no letup of economic pressure on Russia, saying, “The duration of sanctions should be clearly linked to Russia’s full implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

G-7 Nations declare Economic War on their citizens ~ link ~