We shouldn’t be surprised at last week’s defence assessments which argue for more defence spending and closer relations with “traditional allies” (European countries) in plans to contain and isolate China. They are the people at our end of the “five eyes” spying alliance with “likeminded European countries” – the UK, USA, Australia and Canada are the other four. What is surprising though is that the new alignment in the US strategies against China have been so warmly endorsed by Defence Minister Andrew Little and the Labour government. This is precisely what happened before the First World War as European countries split into empires pitted against each other with irresponsible, rising rhetoric deepening the divide and fanning resentment and hatred of the “other side”. Wars always begin with words and Andrew Little delivered some of those words on Friday to the delight of the US and the dismay of China.

Source: The Guardian August 09, 2023 07:54 UTC