Cuba Nato Russia Tawain Hong Kong & the South China Sea

I was just listening to a newscast remarking about Russia's presence in Cuba. The United States has decidedly not had a strong relationship with Cuba historically, and now we see (ironically) Russia capitalizing on that neutrality; I say "ironically" since the verb 'to capitalize' is similar in spelling.

I think that we see something similar with our NATO allies, many of whose nationalities are of countries close enough to Russia's borders or sharing Russia's borders (I don't know as I'm not that familiar with whom all are NATO allied countries). Perhaps then this is satire and intended as social commentary about 'imperialism' as the force driving (rather unapologetically) to arm up against Russia. I think a more neutral approach is more amicable and diplomatic.

In terms of China's relationship with the United States, I'd really like to improve and to start by embracing an economic partnership and then in years to come allied partnership in global unity. The problem? Hong Kong and democracy. The South China Sea and territorial disputes and with whom the United States chooses to align, and with whom the countries concerned choose to align. Their decision (the countries whose territory is geographically contested) seems to be of independence and democracy; as Americans and the American government seem to view it, a more modern style of governance giving ultimately a voice to the people who live there in terms of their politics and philosophy and to some extent their way and mode of life, though China is quite modern in that way as well.

I believe our status as a powerful military country is appealing to the countries who feel China's influence is an overreach. But to China it is an attack on its regional sovereignty; similar to the complaint from Russia about NATO - NATO is a militaristically capable threat to the Russian Federation, whereas the issue of independence is more a matter of philosophical influence; something I tend to paint with a broad brush of 'sovereignty'. Essentially, I believe they would like to avoid our 'imperialism' and to avoid our concepts of freedom or other outside influence from damaging the value of tradition and the culture that is best preserved by a more conservative society.

In all these, I think every interest can be served. Territorially I can see that Hong Kong is located as a part of, and adjoining mainland China. Taiwan is an island near China (like the US and Cuba?). In both cases I can see the argument for regional integrity. Is there a way for both sides to serve the interests of their populations without territorial cessation (something we could compare to cessation of Alaska or California being a separate entity from the 48 contiguous, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and so on; I don't actually know the rest)? I believe in that, and yes, I believe there is.

This post can serve as a sounding board very generally for all of these or possibly moderated into separate topics and discussed more individually!

 

Both russia & china & several other nations are under authoritarian rule.

 

This new chinese bullying thing with filipino vessels whadda yall think?

 

The game goes on. -----BUY MORE---BUY MORE NOW,