International chaos is expanding and deepening. Although the current world still largely adheres to the order established after World War II, known as the Pax Americana, this order has begun to fray and become riddled with holes. The fundamental principles of the UN Charter have been challenged by some countries, leaving the international community in a state of confusion.
Russia, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, has waged a three-year war of aggression against Ukraine. It has not only annexed parts of Ukrainian territory but also sought to eliminate an independent Ukraine. Russian leaders have openly discussed their ambitions toward neighboring countries, including EU and NATO members.
The People’s Republic of China, another permanent member of the Security Council, not only supports Russia’s war machine but is also preparing for a war to unify Taiwan by force and threatening the Philippines and other countries with its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.
At the same time, disputes between the United States and its allies and friends Canada, Mexico, the European Union, and the People's Republic of China over tariffs, Greenland under Danish jurisdiction, and Panama and its Panama Canal (which ceded jurisdiction to China) have caused widespread unrest in the international community.
Beijing is seizing the opportunity to drive a wedge between the United States and its allies. The CCP's major foreign propaganda outlet, China Daily, actually tried to sow discord between the EU and the US in an editorial on December 18th, stating, "It's time for the EU to realize that the US doesn't actually have its best interests at heart." Following the US tariff threats against Mexico, Canada, and even the EU, many observers have pointed out that Beijing will undoubtedly seize this opportunity to reshape the world order in its favor. China has long accused the US of exploiting its global dominance to curb its rise and is now attempting to sow discord between the US and its allies, such as the EU, Japan, and Australia.
Henry Huiyao Wang, an official Chinese economist and founder of the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing, told The New York Times, "China will certainly never give up Taiwan or the South China Sea, but with what Trump is doing now, China will definitely defend its interests there more firmly."
Smaller nations are also following the lead of larger powers. Turkey and Israel have expanded their military presence in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime. Azerbaijan has threatened to annihilate Armenia, claiming it was founded on "historical Azerbaijani land
