Edition of Friday, August 11, 2023
Innsbruck (OTS) – The two superpowers USA and China are on a collision course. Both sides are preparing for a confrontation that would have fatal consequences for the world.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has given Europe a repeat of the Cold War. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz proclaimed a turning point, the Western military alliance NATO is celebrating its new unity and strength. Putin’s Russia is Europe’s greatest threat.
On the other side of the Atlantic, US President Joe Biden continues to support Ukraine with military and financial support, but for many US strategists, the primary concern has long been a conflict of a completely different dimension. The USA, acting globally as a regulatory power as the anchor of the Western-liberal world order established after the Second World War, and the rising world power China, which not only ties Russia to itself as a satellite but also tries to captivate the Global South, are on a collision course. And a course change is not in sight. It is inconceivable what the consequences of a military confrontation between the two superpowers would be. The word “end of the world” is probably no exaggeration.
One thing is clear: neither side is ready to back down. The US will not relinquish its claim to global leadership, particularly when it comes to control of the Indo-Pacific region. In terms of economic growth, Asia has emerged as the hotspot of global development. And Asia will continue to gain in importance – and overshadow Europe more and more. Europe becomes a sideshow of world politics.
The US has long priced this into their geostrategic plans. You want to continue playing first fiddle in Asia in the future. And defend their supremacy tooth and nail. The conflict over Taiwan is of enormous strategic importance. Washington will not accept Beijing’s attempts to incorporate Taiwan.
In addition, the USA is trying to secure its lead over China in terms of high-tech, despite close ties. This is where China’s rise should be slowed down. That US President Joe Biden now wants to ban US high-tech investments is a logical conclusion.
But even China will not be satisfied with the second row, especially in its forecourt. And despite all attempts at containment by the USA, China’s military and economic power is growing. The struggle between the two world powers has long since begun. Now it’s about not letting it escalate.
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