Trump as Japan’s Solution Amid Counterattacks from Dictators Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong-un
Japan's threat level has risen by a different order of magnitude as Russia, China, and North Korea move closer and closer to each other.
World Peace Summit, Russia-North Korea Summit, and South China Sea Disputes.
China, Russia, and North Korea, the three authoritarian regimes aiming to dismantle the post-WWII order led by the U.S., have significantly shifted towards changing the status quo through increased military cooperation. Looking back at June 2024, when China, Russia, and North Korea focused their show of force globally, it might be said that “this was the beginning of the end of the post-war order.”
China-Russia Honeymoon and Russia-North Korea Thaw
There were signs. First, on May 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin (71) visited China and met with President Xi Jinping (71), praising China’s fair and balanced stance. The discussion focused on China’s absence from the World Peace Summit, the first international conference on Ukraine peace, and the request for China to stay away.
For Xi, avoiding isolation in the international community due to a Russian defeat in the Ukraine war was crucial. To continue countering the US, China needed to showcase its close relationship with Russia and have a strong ally in Russia for joint opposition against the US.
In fact, China maintained its absence from the peace summit held in Switzerland for two days starting June 15, a month after the meeting.
Countries such as India, Brazil, and South Africa, which play central roles in the Global South, did not sign the joint statement confirming the territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine. These nations are either members or prospective members of BRICS, a multilateral organization centered around China and Russia. The statement did not even include condemnation of Russia.
On June 19, shortly after, President Putin visited North Korea. He contributed an article to the Korean Workers’ Party’s newspaper, praising the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Japanese forces during the Korean War and emphasizing the “glorious historical tradition” of the alliance.
Highlighting Japan and the US as common enemies, Putin signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with North Korea. For neighboring Japan, this has significantly heightened the threat level from Russia and North Korea.
