Your Monday Briefing: Arms Race in Asia

An arms race in Asia

Asian and Pacific countries are strengthen their defense budgets, spooked by China’s military buildup, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and doubts about US resolve in the region. The current arms race is the largest in Asia since World War II.

Over the past month, North Korea launched cruise missiles of a submarine for the first time and Australia unveiled a $200 billion plan to build nuclear-powered submarines. Japan, after decades of pacifism, acquires new offensive capabilities with American Tomahawk missiles. US officials are trying to amass a giant stockpile of weapons In Taiwan. And India conducted joint training exercises with Japan And Vietnam.

India and Japan have signed several agreements that characterize the region’s interdependent defense plans. The two countries are also expanding their cooperation with the United States, which focuses on coordinated regional interdependence, while being careful not to depend too much on Washington.

China’s ambitions: China increase territorial threats are a major factor in its neighbors’ turn toward military power. President Xi Jinping has made it clear that China wants to control access to the South China Sea and bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control.

American doubts: Many Asian leaders fear that the war in ukraine moved American capabilities away from the region. Diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing being at their the lowest point in half a century, some American commanders have suggested that war could come in the next few years.

History: The small island of Tinian was the launching point for American planes carrying atomic bombs to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Now it is a joint exercise site between American and Japanese airmen.

Analysts said the claim was likely bluster, but it underscored Putin’s desire to increase the the specter of nuclear war pressure the West to drop its support for Ukraine.

During a wide-ranging interview for a weekly public TV show, Putin provided new details about a plan he first outlined last year. He said 10 Belarusian warplanes had already been upgraded to carry Russian nuclear weapons and a warhead storage facility would be ready by July 1.

A NATO spokesman on Sunday called Putin’s rhetoric “dangerous and irresponsible” but said “we have not seen any change in Russia’s nuclear posture that would cause us to adjust ours.” John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said there was no indication that Putin intended to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

On the ground: Ukrainian forces could be close to stabilize the front lines in Bakhmutsaid the commander of the country’s armed forces.

Tensions: In Ukraine, American volunteers with questionable backgrounds rushed to join the fight. In Russia, former prisoners who fought in the war are buried as heroes, but not everyone can forget their crimes.

Netanyahu fires critic

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel sacked its minister of defenseYoav Gallant, less than a day after Gallant called on the government to delay its overhaul of the justice system.

This decision intensified one of the most serious internal crises in the country’s history. Israel has been rocked by weeks of protests sparked by the proposal to give the government better control on the selection of Supreme Court judges and limit its authority over Parliament. Critics say the plan would deal a mortal blow to the independence of the judiciary and steer the nation away from liberal democracy.

The unrest spilled over to the militaryWho Gallant quoted in his speech. “This is a clear, immediate and tangible danger to state security,” he said. So many reservists have threatened to quit if the law is enforced that Israel Defense Forces leaders have warned of a threat to operational capability.

And after: Netanyahu’s decision to fire Gallant appears to signal the government’s intention to vote on the first part of the legislation in parliament early this week. But two other coalition members have backed Gallant’s call to halt the process, and if a third follows suit, the government could lose its majority.

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Asia Pacific

There is a long tradition in China that men pay a dowry to the family of their future wife. But after nearly 40 years of a one-child policy, which has led many families to prefer boys to girls, an imbalanced gender ratio has driven up the bride price. to skyrocket. Today, the authorities are cracking down on a custom that is increasingly perceived as burdensome.

Amelie here. I wanted to share some of the nice answers to our recent question about the silver linings of the pandemic. Thank you to the more than 200 of you who have written from New Zealand to South Korea, from Nepal to China, telling us about the unexpected joys of these difficult few years.

Many of you have written about being able to spend unexpected time with your family or take time to reflect.

In New Delhi, Gorvi Sajnani “had the chance to enjoy many elements of the ‘slow life'”.

“My day started with yoga and meditation, followed by a session with my parents on the balcony of my house,” he wrote.

Chris, in Auckland, New Zealand, experimented with vegan cooking. Karin, who lives in Hong Kong, studied the Bible more and began to pray more often. Kartik Sharma moved from India to Switzerland to be with his wife. And Anna opened Hong Kong’s first and only cannoli business.

Many of you have shared stories of new pets. “Before the pandemic, I used to feed a sweet little street cat named Mao, who lived under my office building,” said Namrata Mayur Shah, who lives in Mumbai. When the lockdown hit, Namrata drove – for the first time in six years – and through police checkpoints to find Mao and bring him home. — Amelia Nierenberg

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