Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a war of annexation; the strike against the Iranian regime is a war of accountability. A rules-based order does not collapse because a violator is finally confronted; it collapses because the rules carry no cost for those who break them. Fourth, the argument that US action in Iran distracts from the Indo-Pacific region ignores the reality that deterrence is indivisible. The old world order, upheld by a paralyzed UN had already been hollowed out by the very autocrats they fear could be emboldened. Calling this moment the collapse of international order misunderstands the fragility of that order and the responsibilities required to sustain it.

Source: Taipei Times March 07, 2026 17:26 UTC