Why a vote for Trump is good for Armenia — and the future of the West



After years of liberal lockstep, Armenian-Americans seem to be breaking for Donald Trump. This is good news, not just for ethnic Armenians but for all Americans. Let me explain.

The first big break with the status quo came from Armenian Weekly columnist Armen Morian, who recently urged his readership to vote for Trump.

But just take a look at a map, and the significance of Armenia’s role as it relates to Western hegemony becomes clear.

Traditionally, Democrat candidates have pushed for Armenian causes, such as recognition of Armenian genocide. This has generally been enough for Armenians, like many other minority American groups, to nod their heads and go along with the empty promises of the liberal platform.

Establishment stooges

Morian acknowledges this habit as he makes a solidly persuasive case for why Armenian-Americans should vote for Trump. The Biden administration is simply the latest iteration of the fundamentally anti-human “Establishment” ideology:

For decades the official ideology of the Establishment has been a globalist one that disdains the cultures, traditions and interests of individual nations, beginning with those of the nation they profess to serve: America. They regard men and nations as interchangeable pawns to be played, regardless, and often in spite of, their unique cultures, histories and traditions, which they see not as determinants of policy but obstacles to be overcome on the path toward advancing their ideology.

For Morian, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government is but an extension of this liberal establishment, with Pashinyan and his cronies doing the globalist work of trying to normalize relations between the republic and Turkey, harassing the Armenian Apostolic Church, and sowing division between Armenians of the mainland and of the diaspora, among other things.

Donald Trump himself seemed to vindicate Morian's claims a few days later, when he made a post on Truth Social blaming Kamala Harris and the rest of the Biden administration for doing nothing as Islamic Azerbaijan ethnically cleansed 120,000 Armenians from their historic homeland in Artsakh, which was, up until 2023, a disputed enclave within the boundaries of Azerbaijan.

I surmise that advisers like Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have had something to do with raising his awareness of the crisis in that part of the world.

As an ethnic Armenian myself, these developments are all fine and dandy. If the Armenian-American community can wake up from its liberal slumber and manage to find its conservative spine, I can call that progress.

Why you should care

But why should you care? Why should you care about the political goings-on of the Republic of Armenia and about the Armenians in general? After all, Armenians make up a tiny minority in America. Their vote most likely won’t make a dent in the election.

Likewise, the Western perception of Armenia and Armenians is barely existent, if it even exists at all. What does this tiny nation located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East have to do with you?

Well, allow me to appeal to your sense of geopolitics. On the surface, Armenia comes off as a backwater post-Soviet country tucked away from the rest of Europe under the Caucasus mountain range. It doesn’t contribute much in terms of GDP, as its 1991 statehood came with significant disadvantages: It's completely landlocked on all sides and neighbored by two bloodthirsty enemies — Turkey and Azerbaijan.

But just take a look at a map, and the significance of Armenia’s role as it relates to Western hegemony becomes clear.

Garen Christopher Kaloustian

Armenia is the lone obstacle standing in the way of Turkey’s pursuit of establishing a pan-Turanic land and sea bridge that would span Europe and Asia. Contrary to public perception, the bonds these nations share are less based on Islam than they are on ethnicity.

The pan-Turanic menace

The nations highlighted in the graphic are all demographically composed of ethnically Turkic peoples. And if they were to establish that pan-Turanic land and sea bridge, you can bet your bottom dollar they would throw the power of that newfound Turanic empire around.

Some scenarios you can expect with the rise of the pan-Turanic empire:

  • Turkey abuses its position in NATO even more, extracting any and all demands it may have due to its new status as a trading world power.
  • The European states stand to pay even more for the oil they get from Azerbaijan, risking a position of total indentured dependence.
  • Even more immigrants from Central Asia flood Europe.
  • The U.S. is forced to comply with Turkish demands, norms, and cultural exports, so as not to lose out on major trade routes and markets.
  • The eventual Islamified Turkification of all icons, symbols, and cultural artifacts the West holds dear and sacred.

And if you think this isn’t coming down the pipeline, just look at both Greece and Armenia as your prime examples of what happens when Turks become the power brokers.

The Hagia Sophia is no longer a church. Every major Armenian church and historical site has either been destroyed or retroactively cast as an ancient Turkish site. The ruthless predation of the Turkic world has remained only regional for Christians up until now, but it can very easily become international, very soon.

What stands in the way is Armenia. That’s it.

Very stable genius

That is why the Azeris just cleaned out 120,000 Armenians from their ancestral homeland with military force. It’s why the traitorous, globalist Armenian government is pushing to “normalize” relations between itself and Turkey and Azerbaijan. And yes, it’s even why Iran considers Armenia’s territorial integrity a “red line” that it would not tolerate Azerbaijan breaching.

It’s also why I want you, the reader, to be aware of this pressing issue.

If Donald Trump becomes president, especially with advisers like Vivek Ramaswamy and RFK Jr. on his team, there will be a real opportunity to ward off this threat.

What I’m pushing for is not more taxpayer-funded aid to yet another region of the world. Instead, I'd like us to siphon the power, influence, and money away from antagonists like Turkey and Azerbaijan, whom we help out a lot.

The Middle East can be very stable, if we want it to be. That it happens to be occupied and governed by non-Christians is an anomaly — for much of history, Christians were in charge. A restoration of a Christian Middle East must be on the table as an agenda item for the next administration.

Biden signs 10-year defense pact with Ukraine, greasing its path to NATO membership



President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck a deal Thursday in Italy on the sidelines of the G7 summit, committing the United States to deepening "security and defense cooperation [with Ukraine] and collaborating closely with Ukraine's broad network of security partners" for the next ten years.

The White House characterized the pact, which further paves the eastern European nation's way toward membership in NATO, as a "powerful signal of our strong support for Ukraine now and into the future."

At a joint press conference with Zelenskyy, Biden said, "Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine's credible defense and deterrence capabilities for the long term."

While Biden stressed it "makes a lot of sense for Ukraine to be able to take out or combat what is going across that border," he did, however, rule out Ukraine expanding its use of American missiles in Russia.

"In terms of long-range weapons ... we have not changed our position on that," said Biden, who reiterated further that American troops would also not be committed to Ukraine's defense.

Although Biden's potential successor has expressed interest in a swift resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war and in European powers shouldering more of the financial burden for their own defense, Zelenskyy expressed confidence that perceived popular support for Ukraine will translate into continued fidelity to the pact.

"If the people are with us, any leader will be with us in this struggle for freedom," said Zelenskyy.

As the pact is only between the Biden and Zelenskyy administrations and will not be ratified by Congress, the next president could tear up the pact upon securing the White House.

The agreement comes just days after the Biden administration lifted a long-standing ban on arming a controversial Ukrainian brigade founded and shaped by neo-Nazis and midway through a year in which Congress appropriated $61 billion for military and economic aide to Ukraine — $14 billion of which was for advanced weapon systems and defense equipment and $13.7 billion of which is so that Kiev can buy American defense systems.

Biden has also committed to help 'develop Ukraine's capabilities to counter Russian and any other propaganda and disinformation.'

The agreement also comes in the wake of the European parliamentary elections, in which several right-leaning parties critical of the EU's approach to the Russian war against Ukraine made significant gains and amid waning interest among eastern European countries such as Slovakia to continue supporting Kiev's defensive campaign.

Although apparently happy to defer much of the cost to the U.S., wealthy powers at the G7 committed to a $50 billion loan to Ukraine backed by confiscated Russian assets.

The pact states in its preamble that "the security of Ukraine is integral to the security of the Euro-Atlantic region," and it is necessary to "preserve and promote Ukraine’s sovereignty, democracy, and capacity to deter and respond to current and future external threats."

In addition to advancing "trade and investment ties," the pact will build on the existing security partnerships facilitated under the Strategic Defense Framework between the Pentagon and Ukraine's defense ministry in 2021.

This means more help with military training; increased industrial cooperation; continued joint planning "to confront threats"; help with the procurement of squadrons of modern fighter aircraft; and material and logistical assistance with the defense of Ukraine's sovereignty and borders.

Biden has also committed to help "develop Ukraine's capabilities to counter Russian and any other propaganda and disinformation." This assistance would ostensibly be extra to what the Biden administration is already shelling out to help Ukrainian outfits target individuals and entities believed to be unsympathetic or antipathetic.

Blaze News recently reported that the Biden State Department is funding a Ukrainian NGO that has compiled a list of American politicians, activists, and media outlets — including Blaze Media — who have allegedly shared "Russian disinformation" or made "anti-Ukrainian statements."

The pact links a "just end to the war" to Ukraine's maintenance of its internationally recognized borders and territorial waters; reaffirms "Ukraine's future is in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)"; and emphasizes the importance of using sanctions and export controls against Russia, which some critics say have pushed the Slavic nation further into the arms of communist China and have proven costly for Europe.

'NATO expansion has not improved American security.'

To execute this pact, the White House indicated the Biden administration will look to Congress to continue funding Ukraine "over the long term."

There are apparently 15 other countries with similar security pacts with Ukraine, including Germany, Britain, and France.

The response to the agreement has so far been mixed.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) suggested on X that Biden was "risking another US forever war."

"By supporting Ukraine's NATO membership, he commits future US servicemembers to Ukraine's conflicts," continued Paul. "It's time to put America 1st, seek diplomatic solutions, and protect our people and economy."

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) noted that "NATO expansion has not improved American security."

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Others emphasized the importance of helping Ukraine see its way through to victory.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated Thursday, "The outcome of Ukraine’s fight will set the trajectory for global security for decades. We must continue to stand up to Putin's aggression and atrocities. Let me be clear: Ukraine matters to the United States and to the entire world."

The State Department said the pact was "a historic show of support for Ukraine’s long-term security that furthers commitments made under the G7 Joint Declaration of Support to Ukraine in July 2023 and the President’s approval of the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act this spring."

Zelenskyy suggested earlier this year that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the outset of the invasion, although the BBC indicated U.S. intelligence suggests the number is far higher. As of April, the BBC's Russian unit indicated over 50,000 Russian soldiers had been slain. Between the two countries, there have been hundreds of thousands more combatants injured in the fighting.

For two points of contrast: Pentagon data indicates that between Oct. 7, 2011, and Dec. 31, 2014, 2,354 American service members died during Operation Enduring Freedom, and 20,149 were wounded in action. Between March 2003 and August 2010, 4,431 American service members died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 31,994 were injured.

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Officials worry that foreign interests might be behind purchase of nearly $1 billion-worth of land around major USAF base



An investment group has snatched up roughly 52,000 acres of land — much of dubious agricultural value — around a critical U.S. Air Force base northeast of San Francisco.

These acquisitions and the investors' obscurity have government officials worried about possible ulterior motivations as well as security risks.

Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, on the southwestern edge of the Sacramento Valley, is known as the "Gateway to the Pacific." Its host unit is the 60th Air Mobility Wing and is home to the 621st Contingency Response Wing, the 349th Air Mobility Wing, and over 50 partner organizations. The base itself has just over 7,600 active USAF personnel and 4,250 Air Force Reserve personnel.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the investment group Flannery Associates has spent around $1 billion in recent years to become the largest landowner in Solano County, acquiring some 52,000 acres across 300 parcels of land near the base, 20 of which surround Travis.

The company has admitted in court filings to paying prices of "multiples of fair market value" for the land.

Solano County Supervisor Mitch Mashburn said, "The majority of the land they're purchasing is dry farmland. ... I don't see where that land can turn a profit to make it worth almost a billion dollars in investment."

Rio Vista Mayor Ronald Kott told the Journal, "Nobody can figure out who they are. ... Whatever they're doing—this looks like a very long-term play."

A spokesman for the base indicated that USAF officials "are aware of the multiple land purchases near the base and are actively working internally and externally with other agencies."

The USAF's Foreign Investment Risk Review Office has reportedly been looking into the group's acquisitions, but has not yet been able to determine precisely who is backing Flannery Associates.

An attorney for the group, whose CEO was listed with the California Secretary of State's Office as Andrew Lerner, claimed Flannery is controlled by American citizens and that 97% of its invested capital derives from U.S. investors. The remainder is allegedly from British and Irish investors.

"Any speculation that Flannery’s purchases are motivated by the proximity to Travis Air Force Base" is unfounded, the attorney told the Journal.

The group's attorney previously told Solano County that Flannery "is owned by a group of families looking to diversify their portfolio from equities into real assets, including agricultural land in the western United States," reported the Daily Republic.

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), on the House Armed Services Committee's readiness panel, said, "We don’t know who Flannery is, and their extensive purchases do not make sense to anybody in the area. ... The fact that they're buying land purposefully right up to the fence at Travis raises significant questions."

This is not the first land grab in recent months to inspire concern.

The Washington Examiner recently noted that China, the U.S.'s preeminent adversary on the world stage, has been buying up vast swathes of American land. Whereas in 2011, when Chinese investors owned 69,295 acres of American land, by year-end 2021, they controlled nearly 400,000 acres.

A Beijing-linked group recently attempted to buy 300 acres of land, some 20 minutes away from the Grand Forks Air Force Base. This prompted bipartisan backlash as well as vexation amongst local airmen.

CNBC reported that Maj. Jeremy Fox circulated a memo inside the Air Force, claiming the purchase would both be a security threat to the U.S. and fit a pattern of "Chinese subnational espionage campaigns using commercial economic development projects to get close to Department of Defense installations."

Fox wrote, "Some of the most sensitive elements of Grand Forks exist with the digital uplinks and downlinks inherent with unmanned air systems and their interaction with space-based assets."

According to Fox, the USAF would be more or less unable to detect surveillance on drone and satellite transmissions being waged by potential Chinese actors.

"Passive collection of those signals would be undetectable, as the requirements to do so would merely require ordinary antennas tuned to the right collecting frequencies. ... This introduces a grave vulnerability to our Department of Defense installations and is incredibly compromising to US National Security," wrote Fox.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told the Examiner earlier this year, "Allowing Chinese companies with connections to the party-state to buy strategically important land in the United States is a national security threat. ... We need to treat the Chinese Communist Party for what it is — our greatest adversary."

Extra to land grabs, the Chinese regime has: agents conducting illegal police operations in the U.S. along with harassment and espionage campaigns; a hand in the deadly influx of fentanyl across the southern border via their informal partners in the Mexican cartels; and has flown reconnaissance flyovers through American skies.

Microsoft publicly revealed earlier this summer that the Chinese communist regime has also taken significant steps to undermine critical American infrastructure. These attacks — using malicious computer code that enables remote access to various devices — appear to be a pre-emptive attempt by the genocidal state to develop the upper hand should the two nations soon come to blows.

While attempting to corrode American capability and making clandestine incursions into the U.S., Chinese officials have also issued threats.

Concerning the land grabs in Solano County, Garamendi and fellow California Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson have pushed for a probe by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., reported the Journal.

The U.S. Agriculture Department has also pressed for answers concerning Flannery's backers.

The Journal indicated that local and federal officials' inability to learn the identities of those in the Flannery group is in part due to the fact that Delaware-registered LLCs, such as Flannery Associates, do not have to publicly disclose the identity of their owners.

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Barbie Gets A Lesson In Geopolitics

Hollywood can no longer claim obliviousness or pretend to be naive about its role in spreading communist China’s propaganda.

Europeans unwilling to back US in war with China: Poll



The U.S. fought valiantly to liberate Europe from totalitarian powers in the 20th century and footed the bill for its latest fight with Russia.

Now, confronted with the threat of an increasingly aggressive and genocidal threat in the east, it appears America may not be able to rely on its continental beneficiaries to return the favor.

The European Council on Foreign Relations just published the results of an extensive poll of over 6,000 people across 11 European Union member nations — Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden — "to understand how European citizens see their place in the world today."

In the event of a war between the U.S. and China — as might result from a Chinese invasion of the island nation of Taiwan — only a quarter of European respondents, on average, "would like their country, or Europe, to take America’s side."

62% of Europeans surveyed would like to remain neutral, notwithstanding their nations' ongoing infiltration by Chinese communist spies, subversion by illegal Chinese police operations, and economic coercion by Beijing.

The survey also found:

  • On average, 3.3% of European citizens regard China as an ally "that shares our interests and values";
  • 43% recognize China as a "necessary partner ... with which we must strategically cooperate";
  • 7% of both French and German respondents suggested Europe or their countries should support China against the U.S in a war, whereas only 4.7% of Europeans, on average, would want to side with the genocidal communists;
  • Bulgarians, the most anti-American of the bunch, were the most likely to regard China as a "necessary partner" (58%) and tied for most likely to regard China as an ally (8%);
  • Swedes were the most hawkish on China, with 26% calling it an adversary "with which we are in conflict" and 24% calling it a rival "with which we need to compete"; and
  • 35% of Swedes and 31% of Poles would want to support the U.S. in a war with China over Taiwan.

Jana Puglierin and Pawel Zerka, senior policy fellows at the ECFR, indicated the notion of neutrality was naïve, writing, "While remaining neutral in the case of great power confrontation is an appealing idea, a US-China confrontation would have a massive impact on Europe’s trade and economy at a minimum and European countries would certainly not be neutral bystanders. In addition, the US would likely demand loyalty from Europeans, reminding them of America’s pivotal role in ensuring a strong Western response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine."

There appear to be two dominant schools of thought in Europe: de-risking and deference. While both entail some form of continued appeasement of Beijing, the latter appears to involve more mental gymnastics on the part of leaders who routinely pay lip service to the importance of democracy and human rights.

The ECFR indicated that European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron exemplify the two varieties of collaborators.

Von der Leyen acknowledged in a March speech that China is ramping up its military posture, its policies of disinformation, and economic and trade coercion, stressing, "These escalatory actions point to a China that is becoming more repressive at home and more assertive abroad."

While recognizing the destabilization and repression China threatens, von der Leyen went on to say, "I believe it is neither viable – nor in Europe's interest – to decouple from China. Our relations are not black or white – and our response cannot be either. This is why we need to focus on de-risk – not de-couple."

De-risking, according to von der Leyen, will require addressing "distortions created by China's state capitalist system," reassessing the terms of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, altogether reducing dependence on China, and limiting economic and national security exposure "in the context of China's explicit fusion of its military and commercial sectors."

Macron, alternatively, makes von der Leyen out to be a hawk with his deferential stance to Beijing.

The ECFR suggested that Macron is willing to prioritize close economic relations, even if that compromises allied nations.

"Macron spoke of reviving the strategic and global partnership with China and deliberately avoided critical remarks on the subject of Taiwan. Like Scholz before him, Macron was accompanied by a business delegation, which concluded numerous agreements in China," reported the ECFR. "Macron’s message to Xi was clear: Paris wants close economic relations with Beijing, even if China does not oppose Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continues to maintain close relations with the Kremlin."

The New York Times reported that during his China trip in April, Macron reiterated his opposition to the economic decoupling from China favored by the U.S. and his preference for a world where American dominance was minimized or zapped altogether.

According to the ECFR's findings, "European citizens are more on Team Macron than Team von der Leyen. They do not see China as a power that challenges and wants to undermine Europe, and they do not buy into the 'democracy versus autocracy' framework promoted by the Biden administration."

Among the 11 nations where citizens were polled, it appears Germany, Sweden, France, and Denmark are outliers in terms of their citizenry recognizing China as a "rival" or an "adversary."

The rest reckon China to be an "ally" or a "partner."

The Euro-Sino love-in could be disrupted, however, if Beijing officially begins arming Russia.

"On average, 41 per cent would be ready to sanction Beijing in that event, even if that meant seriously damaging Western economies. A minority of 33 per cent, on average, would oppose this," reported the ECFR.

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How Democrats’ Push For Electric Cars Endangers National Security

Democrats’ highly expensive environmental policies have been developed without any meaningful strategic thinking or analyses about raw materials and geopolitics.

Taiwan's president meeting with US House Speaker McCarthy despite repeated Chinese threats of retaliation, protests



Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen is set to meet with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday, despite threats from the communist regime in Beijing and fierce street opposition by protesters allegedly funded by China.

Tsai, McCarthy, and a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers will convene at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California's Simi Valley, reported CNN.

Former Republican speaker Newt Gingrich indicated that the meeting will serve as a "morale boost."

"I think it's a useful thing to communicate to a country — that’s under enormous pressure — that they have real allies," said Gingrich.

Bonny Lin, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told CNN, "For President Tsai, an in-person meeting with Speaker McCarthy would showcase U.S. bipartisan support for Taiwan."

Lin added, "Speaker McCarthy will likely use the meeting to demonstrate that the United States stands with Taiwan and is willing to push back against [China’s] attempts to pressure, coerce, and internationally isolate the island."

Tsai, who arrived in New York City last week, said Taiwan's relationship with the U.S. has "never been closer," despite America's reluctance to take an official position on Taiwan's sovereignty.

Democratic President Jimmy Carter ended America's diplomatic relationship with Taiwan in 1979 in order to satisfy and improve commercial relations with the communist regime in Beijing, which Washington then recognized as the sole legal government of all China. Following this decision, Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, enabling the U.S. to continue collaborating with the people of Taiwan, albeit without formal diplomatic ties or guarantees that the U.S. would intervene militarily if China invades.

Notwithstanding the two nations' informal partnership, the U.S. remains the primary arms provider to Taiwan and has made multibillion-dollar weapons deals with the island nation in recent years.

NPR noted that China has threatened "countermeasures" in response to the meeting, just as it did when Rep. Nancy Pelosi visited the island nation in August 2022.

TheBlaze previously reported that China extended its threatening military exercises around Taiwan after Pelosi's visit.

"If she has contact with U.S. House Speaker McCarthy, it will be another provocation that seriously violates the one-China principle, harms China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and destroys peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," said Zhu Fenglian, spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office. "We firmly oppose this and will definitely take measures to resolutely fight back."

Xu Xueyuan, a spokesman for the Chinese regime, claimed, "What the U.S. has done seriously undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," stressing that the U.S. should bear "all consequences."

Earlier this week, Li Xiang, a communist apparatchik who deals with congressional affairs at the Chinese embassy in Washington, stressed to members of Congress that Beijing opposed "any form of official interaction" between the U.S. and Taiwan, reported Newsweek.

"I have to point out that China will not sit idly by in the face of a blatant provocation and will most likely take necessary and resolute actions in response to the unwanted situation," Lin wrote, imploring members of McCarthy's entourage to cave.

Taiwan's Foreign Affairs Ministry called Beijing's threats "increasingly absurd," reported NBC News.

"Even if the authoritarian government continues to expand and increase coercion, Taiwan will not back down," said the ministry.

It appears as though Beijing may test Taipei's resolve.

The Guardian reported that Taiwan's defense ministry has spotted a Chinese aircraft carrier group passing off the island's southeast coast.

"The Chinese communists continue to send aircraft and ships to encroach in the seas and airspace around Taiwan," said the ministry. "In addition to posing a substantial threat to our national security, it also destroys the status quo of regional security and stability. Such actions are by no means the acts of a responsible modern country."

In responses to threats from Beijing, White House spokesman John Kirby underscored that Tsai's visits to the U.S. were "private" and "unofficial."

"The People’s Republic of China should not use this transit as a pretext to step up any aggressive activity around the Taiwan Strait. The United States and China have differences when it comes to Taiwan, but we have managed those differences for more than 40 years," said Kirby.

The White House has not endorsed McCarthy's meeting with the Taiwanese president.

While China is militarily threatening Taiwan once again, it is apparently also taking retaliatory action on American soil.

Newsweek indicated that Li Chunlin, a senior communist diplomat at China's consulate in Los Angeles, has been coordinating protests with the intention of disrupting the meeting. The deputy consul is allegedly paying Chinese agitators between $200 and $400 in hopes of mobilizing "more than 1,000 people."

The Chinese consulate in Los Angeles issued a statement saying that McCarthy "will undoubtedly repeat disastrous past mistakes and further damage Sino-U.S. relations. ... It will only strengthen the Chinese people’s strong will and determination to share the same enemy and support national reunification."

While it remains to be seen what Tsai and McCarthy discuss, Elbridge Colby, lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development, suggested it may be worthwhile for the House speaker to underscore the need for Taiwan to bolster its defenses.

"Speaker McCarthy should therefore give President Tsai a very direct and forceful message: Taiwan must do far more to prepare and defend itself. It needs to spend much more on defense and spend that money much more rigorously on the things ... that would help defeat a Chinese invasion, not fancy but useless ships and the like," tweeted Colby.

"Right now Taiwan spends 2.5% of its GDP on defense. A lot compared to Belgium but nothing when you consider Taiwan is 1/75 China's population and Beijing is openly talking about ... reeducating the island's inhabitants. In fact it's less than Americans themselves spend."

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Russia is requesting that China provide support for the ongoing invasion of Ukraine



Russia asked China for assistance in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials warn.

The New York Times reported that Russian officials sought military equipment and support from their Chinese counterparts as the invasion of Ukraine — launched last month by Russian President Vladimir Putin — continues.

Russian leaders also sought economic assistance from China to help lessen the burden of sanctions issued by Western nations that have devastated the Russian economy.

American officials declined to describe the specific hardware requested by the Russian government.

Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, said that China will “absolutely” face consequences if it chooses to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Fox News reported.

Sullivan said, “We believe China, in fact, was aware before the invasion took place that Vladimir Putin was planning something. They may not have known the full extent of it, because it’s very possible that Putin lied to them in the same way he lied to Europeans and others. We also are watching closely to see the extent to which China actually does provide any form of support, material support, or economic support to Russia.”

He went on to say, “I’m not going to sit here publicly and brandish threats, but what I will tell you is that we are communicating directly, privately to Beijing that there will absolutely be consequences for large scale sanctions evasion efforts or support to Russia to backfill them. We will not allow that to go forward and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country anywhere in the world.”

Sullivan would not say whether the U.S. would issue sanctions on China if it was found to be supporting the Russian invasion.

During the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Vladimir Putin for a series of diplomatic discussions where the two leaders agreed to declare a “no limits” partnership.

This agreement committed China and Russia to support each other on the geopolitical stage as both countries grow increasingly aggressive.

At the time of the agreement, Russian leadership continued to deny that it had any intention of launching an invasion of Ukraine.

China is one of the few global powers to avoid condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the Chinese government did call for a diplomatic peace to be brokered between Russia and Ukraine.

MarketWatch reported that the Chinese government abstained on the votes in the United Nations censuring Russia and has criticized the West’s sanctions against Russia.

Biden's Biggest Ukraine Failures

Biden's Biggest Ukraine Failures