Rumors of War

ABC - China's new defence chief visits Russia to 'let the Americans know' about their deep military ties
ABC.NET reports: "China's new defence minister has said his visit to Russia is a signal to the United States about the increasingly close military ties between Moscow and Beijing. [...] Moscow and Beijing have forged what they described as a 'strategic partnership,' expressing their shared opposition to the 'unipolar' world — the term they use to describe perceived US global domination. As part of their burgeoning military cooperation, Moscow and Beijing have conducted joint military manoeuvrers, including exercises in the South China Sea and last summer's joint navy drills in the Baltics."

Comment: At a time when the new American president seems intent on undermining the institutions of the post-WWII order a new counter-order is rising. China have ostensibly fully subscribed to the post-war world order, they are full members of the UN Security Council and other major international bodies, but they are also in accord on their opposition to American leadership. I suppose it's fair to say that they are not so much opposed the the post-war system, it's just that they want to be the leaders of the world system and not the United States. At some point, such profound differences will no longer be contained by diplomacy and will spill over into overt conflict. This has become a very dangerous time in world history.