Don’t Poke the Bear

JM White

Information

Opinion

Ukraine has been a US vassal state since 2014. Russia considers that – as a vassal state – Ukraine in this post-2014 form fulfils neither the conditions of being a state forming people nor a system forming state. Therefore Russia considers it has not invaded a sovereign country.

Meanwhile, in the State Duma of Russia, Crimean deputy Mikhail Sheremet recently proposed to unite the Republic of Crimea with the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions into the Tauride province within the Russian Federation. “Residents of the regions do not seem to mind – they raise Russian flags everywhere and complain about the attitude of the Ukrainian authorities.” he said.

The Tauride Province comprises Kherson, Zaporizhia and Donetsk. Crimea will join this province. They will all join the Russian Federation.

In the interim, on the south-eastern side of the Black Sea – “Turkey will not let NATO warships into the Black Sea,” said Minister of Defence, Hulusi Akar, even though Turkey is a member of NATO. Turkey is not happy about mines in the Black Sea and they don’t blame Russia.

Prodding the dragon.

Here in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s Pacific Minister, Zed Seselja, flew to Honiara in the Solomon Islands on 12 April 2022 to strengthen Australia’s relationship with the Solomon Islands after a leaked Chinese request to import arms was made public. This action has been taken despite the government currently being in caretaker mode due to the upcoming federal election.

Australia and the United States are stepping up diplomatic outreach to the Solomon Islands after China signed a security deal with the South Pacific island nation that could lead to Beijing establishing a military presence there.

Washington plans to reopen an embassy in the Solomon’s capital, Honiara.

A Chinese military presence in the Solomon Islands would put it not only on the doorstep of Australia and New Zealand but also in close proximity to Guam, with its massive US military bases.

Did you know that Timor and New Guinea are closer to Australia than we are? Guadalcanal, Midway, Pearl Harbour, the Coral Sea – all these names were familiar to those who lived through WWII and I think they may become familiar to us again.

New Zealand will send 50 troops, eight logistics specialists and a C-130 Hercules aircraft to Europe as part of efforts to assist Ukraine with weapons and aid. This little country of 5 million will also donate NZ$13 million in further support, “including a contribution via the United Kingdom to procure weapons and ammunition,” as per a statement from Jacinda Ardern…(who) stressed that “at no point will they enter Ukraine, and nor have they been asked to.”

What a foolish move. There goes our chance of ever being considered a neutral country. Look at where we are in the part of the world we occupy.

What a huge mass of land and people rests north of us. We are five million people living on three little islands on the edge of the Southern Ocean. No resources, no industry, and too distant to be of strategic use. If an ‘accident’ happened and we weren’t there anymore we wouldn’t even be missed.