Photo Courtesy of www.kremlin.ru (No, we’re not working for them, just using the photo)
Russia seeking military aid from China, says US official
A United States official says Russia has asked China for military equipment to use in its invasion of Ukraine, a request that heightened tensions about the ongoing war before a meeting between senior US and Chinese officials in Rome. In advance of the talks on Monday, White House NSA Jake Sullivan bluntly warned China to avoid helping Russia evade punishment from global sanctions that have hammered the Russian economy.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/14/us-official-russia-seeking-military-aid-from-china
US Tells Europe That Russia Wanted Armed Drones And Beijing “Responded Positively”
Meanwhile, the U.S. has warned European allies that Russia asked China for surface-to-air missiles, drones, armored vehicles, logistics vehicles, and intelligence-related equipment – and that China responded positively. Bloomberg notes that the request has alarmed Biden administration officials who are seeking to prevent China from coming to Vladimir Putin’s aid in the war, which could potentially escalate it into a truly World War. Going back to Every, he writes that “naturally, the implications are enormous – the White House says there will be “consequences” for China if this occurs and the State Department that “we will ensure that no country is able to get away with trying to bail out Russia”. A D.C.-based analyst also Tweets to underline: “The view from Washington is unanimous: a decision by China to aid Russia’s war in Ukraine would be a betrayal of its commitment to act as a responsible great power and would severely and irrevocably damage what remains of the US-China relationship. There is no doubt that China would share in the unprecedented economic and political pain that Russia now suffers as a pariah state. Much of the favor Beijing has had cultivated in Europe over the past 30 years would evaporate overnight.”
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/here-are-all-latest-news-and-developments-ukraine-war-march-14
Possible Outcomes of the Russo-Ukrainian War and China’s Choice uscnpm.org
China cannot be tied to Putin and needs to be cut off as soon as possible. In the sense that an escalation of conflict between Russia and the West helps divert U.S. attention from China, China should rejoice with and even support Putin, but only if Russia does not fall. Being in the same boat with Putin will impact China should he lose power. Unless Putin can secure victory with China’s backing, a prospect which looks bleak at the moment, China does not have the clout to back Russia. The law of international politics says that there are “no eternal allies nor perpetual enemies,” but “our interests are eternal and perpetual.” Under current international circumstances, China can only proceed by safeguarding its own best interests, choosing the lesser of two evils, and unloading the burden of Russia as soon as possible. At present, it is estimated that there is still a window period of one or two weeks before China loses its wiggle room. China must act decisively.
https://uscnpm.org/2022/03/12/hu-wei-russia-ukraine-war-china-choice/
China’s ‘Black Lives Matter’ Official Scolds Biden Envoy (Again) in 7-Hour Meeting
Senior Chinese Politburo member Yang Jiechi berated U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan over America’s support for Taiwan and opposition to genocide in an “intense” meeting on Monday that lasted seven hours, according to Chinese state media. “The Chinese side expresses grave concern over and firm opposition to the recent wrong words and deeds of the U.S. side on Taiwan-related issues, Yang noted,” according to Xinhua, “adding that any attempts to condone and support ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, or play the ‘Taiwan card’ and use the Taiwan question to contain China will be futile.”
https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2022/03/15/chinas-black-lives-matter-official-scolds-biden-envoy-again-in-7-hour-meeting/
China Plans To Take Advantage Of The Big Oil Exodus From Russia
According to Bloomberg sources, the government in Beijing is talking to four state-owned entities about the acquisition of stakes in Russian oil and metals companies. The entities include China National Petroleum Corp, or CNPC, China Petrochemical Corp, or Sinopec, the country’s largest refiner, as well as Aluminum Corp and China Minmetals Group.
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/China-Plans-To-Take-Advantage-Of-The-Big-Oil-Exodus-From-Russia.html
Russia, India explore opening alternative payment channels amid sanctions
According to Dmitry A. Solodov, a spokesperson for the Russian embassy in New Delhi, his government has also asked Indian lenders to connect to the financial messaging system of the Bank of Russia to facilitate interbank transactions. In addition, the two sides are discussing accepting RuPay and MIR Cards within national payment infrastructures, Solodov said in an emailed statement. “All these options are on the table and are being discussed by the two governments, the Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Russia,” said a senior Indian government official, requesting anonymity.
https://www.livemint.com/politics/policy/russia-india-explore-opening-alternative-payment-channels-amid-sanctions-11647371750761.html
Shenzhen under citywide Covid-19 lockdown, Shanghai restricts travel
China’s tech hub of Shenzhen came under a citywide lockdown on Sunday (March 13) while Shanghai ordered residents to avoid all but essential travel and closed schools, as the Covid-19 outbreak continued to spread in many parts of China. The country’s new daily cases almost doubled to 3,400 on Saturday as netizens went on social media to question whether its tough stance on Covid-19 should be loosened, given that the Omicron variant is less fatal than earlier variants. Shenzhen residents must undergo daily Covid-19 tests and their movements in or out of housing buildings have been restricted after the city reported 66 cases of infection on Saturday. The authorities in Shanghai advised residents not to leave the financial hub unless necessary and tourist attractions started requiring visitors to provide negative test results.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/shenzhen-under-citywide-covid-19-lockdown-shanghai-restricts-travel
Saudi Arabia Considers Ditching The Dollar For Chinese Oil Sales
One of the core staples of the past 40 years, and an anchor propping up the dollar’s reserve status, was a global financial system based on the petrodollar. This was a world in which oil producers would sell their product to the US (and the rest of the world) for dollars, which they would then recycle the proceeds of in dollar-denominated assets and, while investing in dollar-denominated markets, explicitly prop up the USD as the world reserve currency. All of this would support the standing of the US as the world’s undisputed financial superpower.
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Saudi-Arabia-Considers-Ditching-The-Dollar-For-Chinese-Oil-Sales.html
Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order by Ray Dalio
I believe the world is changing in big ways that haven’t happened before in our lifetimes but have many times in history, so I knew I needed to study past changes to understand what is happening now and help me to anticipate what is likely to happen. I shared what I learned in my book, Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, and my hope is that this animation gives people an easy way to understand the key ideas from the book in a simple and entertaining way. In the first 18 minutes, you’ll get the gist of what drives the “Big Cycle” of rise and decline of nations through time and where we now are in that cycle. If you give me 20 minutes more to watch the whole thing, and I will show you how the big cycle worked across the last 500 years of history—and what the current world leading power, the United States, needs to do to remain strong.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xguam0TKMw8
China calls for Russia-Ukraine ceasefire over ‘grave’ conflict
China, meanwhile, has repeatedly called for the crisis to be resolved through diplomatic means, but Beijing’s ties with Moscow – described by the two nations as “without limits” – has raised suspicions in the West.
On Friday at a press conference capping the national legislative gathering for the year, Li called for ceasefire talks between Ukraine and Russia, warning that the West-led sanctions could hurt the world economic recovery.
“The current situation in Ukraine is indeed worrying, and every effort should be made to support the Russian and Ukrainian sides in overcoming difficulties to negotiate a peaceful outcome,” Li said, without using the term “invasion”.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3170178/china-calls-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-over-grave-conflict
Kim Iversen: China, Russia Declare A NEW WORLD ORDER In Released Joint Statement
Kim Iversen reviews Russia and China’s friendship pact made February 4, and how it might currently affect Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-te4nwj9Z4
China Tech Selloff Deepens as U.S. Delisting Fears Alarm Traders
Friday’s early morning selloff came as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission identified five Chinese firms this week that could be subject to delisting if they failed to comply with certain auditing requirements. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index sank 10% overnight, its biggest slide since October 2008, even as the Chinese securities regulator said it will cooperate with the U.S. While analysts say the risk of delisting is unlikely to materialize in the near term, the news had unnerved investors already on edge following Beijing’s yearlong crackdown and the fallout from the war in Ukraine. Since its February 2021 peak, the China tech gauge has slumped more than 60%.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-tech-selloff-deepens-u-020034657.html
Russia ally China tries to protect itself from the ruble’s collapse by letting it fall more against the yuan
China is seeking to protect itself and its fiat currency from Western sanctions aimed at Russia’s economy as President Vladimir Putin’s forces attack Ukraine. Starting Friday, the China Foreign Exchange Trade System will double the margin by which the Russian ruble can move against the Chinese yuan to 10% in daily state-controlled trading.
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/russia-ally-china-ruble-collapse-yuan-wider-exchange-trading-range-2022-3
Documents Expose Barack Obama Ordered Construction Of Biolabs In Ukraine To Create Dangerous Pathogens
The article “Biolab Opens in Ukraine,” which was originally published on June 18th, 2010, describes how Obama, when functioning as an Illinois Senator, helped secure an agreement to create a level-3 bio-safety laboratory in the Ukrainian city of Odessa.
https://greatgameindia.com/obama-authorized-biolabs-ukraine/