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Today’s focus: Israel strikes key points with China, potentially becoming a strong ally for Taiwan; Iran’s missteps, Ukraine vows retaliation, China tugs at Putin’s reins; Brazil’s mass “June Fourth” event, Musk and X in the spotlight; even the “50-cent Army” is turning against the master’s shocking speech.
The Middle East, which had been calm for several days, is once again seeing smoke with Israel launching a powerful attack, this time not on Gaza, Lebanon, or Yemen’s Houthi militants, but on Syria, Israel’s neighbor to the northeast.
On September 8th, the Israeli Air Force carried out multiple airstrikes in the vicinity of Masyaf City in Hama Province, Syria. Syrian official media confirmed that at least 14 people were killed and 43 others were injured. Why did Israel attack this area in Syria? The main target of the Israeli attack was a military research center producing chemical weapons, where an Iranian military expert team involved in weapon manufacturing was stationed. Looking at Israel’s strikes in Syria over the past year, they have all been directed at Iran, the force behind terrorist organizations. In fact, just the day before, Israel also struck a weapons depot of Iran’s Hezbollah in Damascus, Syria.
In the global context, Israel stands out as a unique presence, being unafraid to strike its neighboring countries simultaneously. The Israeli military recently adopted a hit-and-run tactic in Gaza, seemingly a baiting strategy to draw out Hamas, as they withdrew from Khan Yunis only to return with swift and deadly operations.
Israel’s Defense Minister Galant suddenly appeared in the central corridor of Gaza on September 8th, hinting at the beginning of a new round of operations by the Israeli military targeting Gaza. In response to speculation that Hamas’s new leader in Gaza, Sinwar, is planning to flee to Iran, Galant emphasized that the prime target for Israeli forces is to “eliminate Sinwar and his associates” and intensify attacks on Hamas and terrorist organizations. The Israeli military also released photos announcing the killing of two commanders of “jihadist organizations” in Gaza.
With China’s support for Hamas and Iran in the Israel-Palestine conflict, Israelis who had close ties with China are starting to wake up. Perhaps China may have underestimated Israel’s “an eye for an eye” mentality. Recently, Israel made two moves that have put China on edge.
At a United Nations meeting where China spoke up for Iran, Israel suddenly reached a cooperation agreement with the Philippines on the South China Sea issue. Israel announced the sale of two advanced ATR-72-600 maritime patrol aircraft to the Philippines. These aircraft are jointly developed by France and Italy, with the 600 model being the latest improved version equipped with multi-mode X-band surveillance radar.
As we know, the Philippines and China’s maritime police clashed over the issue of the Ren’ai Reef recently. For the Philippines, the lack of reconnaissance aircraft with maritime monitoring capabilities is a critical gap. With these patrol aircraft, the Philippines will significantly enhance its monitoring capabilities in the South China Sea.
Surprisingly, Israel simultaneously touched on both China’s sensitive South China Sea issue and Taiwan’s sensitive issue by publishing an article by Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung, on September 8th. The title reads: “Taiwan in the UN system will help ensure peace in the Indo-Pacific region.” Some commentators pointed out that for Israel, which has been sharing US-prohibited military technology with China for over twenty years, this is a truly heart-wrenching change.
Who would doubt that post-war Israel will become a strong supporter of Taiwan’s defense? Some netizens even remarked: “Offending Israel in the Israel-Palestine conflict, offending Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China’s strategic chess skills and Chinese football skills can certainly match up. Apart from the ten-mile stench in the wind, the only thing left is the mouthpiece of the Chinese Propaganda Department.”
Iran is a key supporter of terrorist groups in the Middle East, and while it was believed that only Israel would target Iran, Iran’s actions suggest they may be playing a bigger game, potentially linking the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In Western media reports, it was revealed that Iran has handed 200 ballistic missiles to Russia. While Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied this, a member of Iran’s Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Adstani, admitted that the ballistic missiles given to Russia would be used to attack Ukraine.
When asked whether providing missiles to Russia would lead to further international sanctions on Iran, Adstani responded, “We have provided missiles to militias supported by Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Iraqi government, so why not provide missiles to Russia? The situation will not be more severe than it is now.”
Iranians may only focus on the consequences of economic sanctions without realizing that they are linking two major regional conflicts in the world today. Recently, Ukraine issued a warning to Iran that if Ukrainian civilians are harmed by Iran’s ballistic missiles, Ukraine’s retaliation against Iran will be severe.
At the same time Iran risks providing missiles to Russia, a September 7th report from Newsweek stated China’s state-owned banks are selling off Russian assets. In the second quarter of 2024, Bank of China’s assets in Russia decreased by 37%. Chinese banks are now refusing to process more payments related to Russia. Russian media also confirmed that in August, 98% of Chinese banks refused to accept transactions in yuan from Russia. Analysis suggests that Western sanctions against Russia are complicating trade between China and Russia, with Chinese banks’ actions aimed at avoiding the secondary sanctions imposed by the US government. However, this approach is undoubtedly making Russia’s economic situation even worse.
On September 7th, in Kursk, Russia, the last bridge barely passable for small vehicles on the Seym River was also blasted with a hole. It seems that the Ukrainian forces are determined to eliminate around 3,000 besieged Russian troops at all costs, cutting off external routes and tightening the encirclement.
To create a retreat path for the besieged Russian troops, they built another inconspicuous underwater bridge on the Seym River under cover of darkness. Yet two Russian military vehicles crossing the water surface were immediately spotted by Ukrainian drones, leading to heavy bombardment that sank the underwater bridge.
While Ukrainian forces continue their assault on Kursk in Russia, they are also constantly attacked by Ukrainian forces in Belgorod, Russia, adjacent to Kursk Region. Now, the Russians in Belgorod are experiencing daily air raid alarms like the Ukrainians, with entering and exiting air-raid shelters becoming a daily routine.
On September 9th, the UK Defense Minister proposed issuing a final ultimatum to Russia: either stop using glide bombs within Ukraine or Western powers will allow Ukraine to use missiles from the UK, France, Germany, and the US across all of Russia. On the same day, China’s Foreign Ministry announced Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit St. Petersburg, Russia, this week. Also on the same day, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced that China and Russia will hold joint naval and air force exercises again this month.
A few days ago, Brazil’s Supreme Court announced the suspension of Musk’s X (Twitter) service in Brazil. Brazilians using Twitter through VPN will face fines. This decision has thoroughly angered the Brazilian people.
September 7th was Brazil’s Independence Day, and in Sao Paulo, thousands of Brazilians, including former President Bolsonaro, took to the streets to protest against President Lula and Supreme Court Justice Morais’s censorship regime, with many holding signs thanking Musk and his X.
One might wonder why the Brazilian government would block Twitter? Simply put, the Brazilian government asked Musk to block what they considered “untrue remarks” about Brazil, essentially referring to dissenting opinions from the government’s narrative. In other words, the Brazilian government demanded that Musk do what the Chinese Propaganda Department and Cyberspace Administration are known for.
Unsurprisingly, Musk refused, citing freedom of speech. Consequently, the decision to suspend Twitter’s use in Brazil was made by a Brazilian Supreme Court judge. Does this echo the methods of a certain major country? Individuals posted a list of countries where using X is prohibited, including China, North Korea, Russia, Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Venezuela, Iran, and Brazil. Unfortunately, they are all governments proclaiming themselves as “great, glorious, and correct,” “leading from afar” compared to ordinary people.
In fact, you will find that even many so-called “patriotic supporters” of authoritarian governments are just refined opportunists. Once they lose the benefits they could gain from leaning on those governments, their attitudes may make a 180-degree turn.
Recently, the national strategist Li Yi, whose salary has been suspended, no longer talks about how many Chinese should sacrifice to attack Taiwan or mentions the “imperialist America’s unwavering animosity.” Instead, he has started praising the United States, using such flowery language that it even makes me, an American of Chinese descent, a bit embarrassed.
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