Women and politics: contextualizing why Iran cannot mandate that women wear head-covering in public places but Europe's high court is ok with ban on on women wearing head-covering in work places

Women and politics: contextualizing why Iran cannot mandate that women wear head-covering in public places but Europe's high court is ok with ban on on women wearing head-covering in work places

    Thursday, October 13, 2022   No comments

EU companies can ban headscarfs as long as it is a general prohibition that does not discriminate against employees, Europe's top court said on Thursday, the latest ruling on an issue that has divided Europe for years.

The case concerned a Muslim woman who was told she could not wear a headscarf when she applied to do a six-week work traineeship at a Belgian company.

 

The firm said it has a neutrality rule, meaning no head covering is allowed on its premises, whether a cap, beanie or scarf. The woman took her grievance to a Belgian court, which subsequently sought advice from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).  Read source article...

The court justified its ruling arguing that "the internal rule for any economic activity that prohibits the wearing of visible religious, philosophical or spiritual signs does not constitute direct discrimination if it is applied to all employees in a general and non-discriminatory manner." 

The court said last year that EU companies could prevent employees from wearing headscarves under certain circumstances if they had to present an impartial image to clients.

In Germany, the ban on headscarves for women at work has stirred controversy for years. Most of the cases concerned female teachers who aspired to work in public schools and women trained to advance to the judiciary.

France, which has the largest Muslim minority in Europe, banned the wearing of the Islamic headscarf in public schools in 2004.

This ruling is not unique or new. By 2021, EU court ruled that Muslim women wearing headscarf can be fired. The European Union's top court said then that companies can ban Muslim female employees from wearing the headscarf finding against two cases  two women who filed cases in Germany. The two were suspended from work after wearing the hijab.

The court stated that "the prohibition of wearing anything that expresses political, philosophical or religious beliefs in the workplace may be justified by the employer's need to present a neutral image to clients or to prevent any social squabbles."

In November 2020, the German District Court of Dusseldorf announced a ban on wearing the niqab while driving, according to the "Amal Berlin" website.

The court upheld the county government's rejection of a woman's request to wear the niqab while driving, arguing that under road traffic regulations the face of the motorized vehicle driver must remain known, which does not conflict with the fundamental right to freedom of belief, noting that only the uncovered face enables the authorities to register violations traffic effectively.

In France, in 2004, the French national assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a ban on Islamic headcoverings (hijab) in state schools. The law took effect September 2, 2004, forcing more than 70,000  Muslim school girls who attend elementary and high schools to remove the hijab. Even the women and girls had swathed their heads in varying pieces of fabric were forced to remove them.

 

Since than, and in addition to France, more European states including Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, and Norway introduced and enforced restrictive laws that targeted Muslim women who would otherwise wear headcoverings.

  

The White House: Washington is reassessing the relationship with Riyadh after the “OPEC +” decision

The White House: Washington is reassessing the relationship with Riyadh after the “OPEC +” decision

    Tuesday, October 11, 2022   No comments

 The United States announced that it needs to reconsider relations with Saudi Arabia, after it supported the decision of the "OPEC +" group to reduce oil production.

John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council at the White House, told CNN that the United States needs to reassess its relationship with the kingdom, including arms sales.

"I think the president has been very clear that this is a relationship that we have to continue to re-evaluate, that we need to be ready to reconsider, and certainly in light of the OPEC decision, I think this is his time," he added.

 

"We are willing to work with Congress to think about what that relationship should look like," Kirby said when asked about his reaction to Democrats' call for a freeze on arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

On Friday, oil prices jumped to their highest level in five weeks, two days after “OPEC +” cut its production by two million barrels per day, before falling back on Monday amid fears of a possible global recession.

This comes after Democratic lawmakers called for a freeze in relations with Riyadh, most notably Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations in the US Senate, who called for a freeze on cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including arms sales.

 "I think it's time for a comprehensive reassessment of the U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia," Senator Chris Murphy, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East, told CNBC.

In the House of Representatives, Tom Malinowski, Sean Kasten, and Susan Wilde introduced legislation seeking to withdraw US forces from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Rep. Robin Gallego suggested that the United States restore the Patriot missile defense systems deployed in Saudi Arabia, adding on Twitter: "If they prefer the Russians that much, they can use their very reliable military technology."

A few days ago, the "Washington Times" newspaper reported that a group of US Democratic representatives proposed a bill that would provide for the withdrawal of all forces from Saudi Arabia, in addition to the withdrawal of missile defense systems.

And the newspaper "Bloomberg" indicated that the United States should end the "special status" of the Kingdom in US foreign policy, and reduce the level of diplomatic relations with it.

As for US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, he said that the United States is studying a number of response measures, including Saudi Arabia, after the "OPEC +" decision to reduce oil production.

The United States criticized the decision, considering it "short-sighted", while the White House saw that the decision shows the bias of the "OPEC +" alliance to Russia.

Meanwhile, UAE's Mohamed bin Zayed meets Putin, highlighting the shifting of allliances and roles resulting from the war in Ukraine.

Speaking with Bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Putin said Russia aimed to create stability on energy markets and ensure that supply and consumption were balanced.

Chinese firms put deeper roots in Pakistan in post-flood reconstruction; more joint efforts needed for regional recovery

Chinese firms put deeper roots in Pakistan in post-flood reconstruction; more joint efforts needed for regional recovery

    Sunday, October 09, 2022   No comments

Chinese infrastructure companies in Pakistan are playing an increasingly important role in supporting the regional economy and livelihoods as the country looks for more joint efforts from the international community to facilitate the gradual recovery from the lingering devastation of recent floods.

While Chinese companies have taken an active approach in providing constant aid, they have also beefed up efforts to maintain the smooth operation of their projects in some key areas such as power generation and housing in Pakistan, as the country, hit by unprecedented floods in September, has seen its economic recovery slowing down.

Industry insiders and experts said that more joint efforts, including safety guarantees for local personnel and projects of Chinese companies, are needed more than ever to ensure the smooth operation of these projects.

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Media Review: The West is Paying the Price for Instrumentalizing Human Rights and Convenience-Driven Policies

Media Review: The West is Paying the Price for Instrumentalizing Human Rights and Convenience-Driven Policies

    Sunday, October 09, 2022   No comments

As revealed again by the West’s rhetorical support of protesters in Iran, the practice of using human rights claims to go after governments the West does not like and ignoring human rights abuses when they are done by Western-supported regimes or when done in Western countries, such a practice is very short-sighted and tends to backfire.

Case in point: for more than seventy years, the US and other

European governments provided unwavering support to the Saudi regime even when such regime banned women from driving, unleashed its morality police to beat shop owners who did not close their shops during Friday prayers, abused migrant workers, oppressed its Shia community, beheaded dissidents, launched illegal wars against its neighbors, and sent a team of 15 operatives to lure a dissident into its embassy building and dismember his body. Then, after one single decision by the Saudi regime to cut oil export just one month before midterm elections in the US and when Russia's oil is sanctioned, and the media and politicians are now gearing up to tell the world how bad the Saudi regime is. Soon, you will see more commentaries and political talking points unmasking Saudi Arabia’s “bad” human rights record. Given the context, few informed people will pay attention, and even fewer will trust the human rights claims behind which the West stands to justify its sanctions or interventions in countries run by leaders who do not follow and obey Western preferences. Here, the preeminent NYT and its top influencer is using a line from Trump’s book, They Are Laughing At Us, to promote the idea of punishing the Saudi regime.

Erdoğan, Putin discuss bilateral ties, Ukraine war

Erdoğan, Putin discuss bilateral ties, Ukraine war

    Friday, October 07, 2022   No comments

 Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, by phone, on Friday, bilateral relations between the two countries and the current situation in Ukraine.

A statement issued by the Turkish president's office said, "During the call, the two sides discussed ways to develop Turkish-Russian relations, as well as the situation in Ukraine."
He added, "President Erdogan stressed, during the talks, that Turkey is ready to contribute and do everything in its power to reach a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis, to the satisfaction of all parties." 

Erdogan said he was counting on meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in the next three or four days, adding: "Today is Mr. Putin's birthday. I wanted to congratulate him, and he, in turn, thanked us for our mediation in the Ukraine crisis."
He continued, "It would be good if we had a detailed meeting in 3 or 4 days, if Mr. Putin could come to the Asian talks. Next week the President of Kazakhstan will hold summits to discuss confidence-building measures in Asia, and then we will be able to have bilateral talks, as well as talks." On Russia and Ukraine.

However, in a statement issued by the Communications Directorate informed that the two leaders spoke by phone on Oct. 7, a day after President Erdoğan attended the European Political Community in Prague where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
“The call addressed matters that would enhance Türkiye-Russia relations as well as the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war,” the statement informed. It also stressed that President Erdoğan “reiterated that they stood ready to do their part for the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine issue in a way that would benefit everyone.”

Türkiye has long been in an effort to convene Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky together for ending the armed conflict that started in February by Moscow. It also mediated for the resumption of the Ukrainian export of grain to the world markets to avoid a major global food crisis.

At a press conference he held following the Prague summit, President Erdoğan noted that he is probably the only leader in the world who can easily talk with both Putin and Zelensky. He underscored the importance Ankara attaches to the exchange of war prisoners between the two countries as well as to the ongoing efforts as regards the shipment of fertilizers and grains, Erdoğan stressed that it would be useful if Russia would start exporting its fertilizers to the world via Türkiye.
On July 22, Turkey hosted a meeting to sign multilateral agreements, which included lifting restrictions on the export of Russian grain and food products, and allowing the export of Ukrainian grain.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that "Russia is not a country that can be underestimated", and considered that Western countries are pursuing a wrong policy regarding Ukraine, because it is based on provocations, stressing that "Turkey adheres to a balanced policy towards Ukraine."

After Meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Confirms that He Wants to Meet with Syrian leader Bashar Assad

After Meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Confirms that He Wants to Meet with Syrian leader Bashar Assad

    Friday, October 07, 2022   No comments

Türkiye believes that full normalization based on good neighborly relations can be achieved in the region as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he did not rule out a meeting with Syrian leader Bashar Assad after an in-person encounter with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit.

Erdoğan attended the EPC’s first summit in Prague on Oct. 6 from where he conveyed messages to the regional leaders, including Armenia and Syria with which Türkiye’s ties were once very strained.

Erdoğan held a bilateral meeting with Pashinyan after a brief trilateral dialogue that also included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Erdoğan issued important messages at a press conference after the summit on late Oct. 6, particularly on Syria.

“Meeting with Assad is out of the question for now. But when the time comes, we can also meet with the president of Syria… Currently, low-level meetings are being held,” Erdoğan replied to a question on whether he would meet the Syrian leader for peace.

Türkiye has been taking steps to accelerate the return of Syrian refugees as the Turkish government constructs briquette houses in the north of the neighboring country, he, said noting that some 500,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland.

On the other hand, Ankara wants to get rid of the terrorist groups in Syria, he added. Erdoğan emphasized that the war between Russia and Ukraine had impacts on Syria as well.

“Of course, the Russia-Ukraine War delayed the steps to be taken in the region. Because Russia also has an active role in these events in Syria, Iran has an active role, and on the other hand, coalition forces have an active role,” he said.

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Dmitry Medvedev: Western govs have realized that their sanctions are self-mutilation... A typical crossbow in your own **s

Dmitry Medvedev: Western govs have realized that their sanctions are self-mutilation... A typical crossbow in your own **s

    Thursday, October 06, 2022   No comments

Russian leaders react to recent round of Western sanctions; Dmitry Medvedev: Western govs have realized that their sanctions are self-mutilation... A typical crossbow in your own **s

 Medvedev's full statement:

"Infernal Sanctions" went to the eighth round. As you know, there are nine circles in hell. So there are still reserves.

Let our enemies rage on. After all, it has long been clear that winding these circles without much harm to the “appointed sinner” is an empty business. And expensive.

What did this idiotic idea of ​​​​former partners result in today?

For Russia. From the very beginning of the special military operation, the West began consistently firing at our country from a multi-barreled sanctions MLRS. Our stupid opponents fail to understand a simple thing: Russia has long lived in conditions of restrictions and has learned well to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Our economy demonstrates a very decent vitality. Inflation is gradually slowing down, dropping from a peak of 17.8% in April to 13.7% in September. There is every reason to believe that by the end of the year it will not exceed 12%. Greater stability is shown by GDP, which by the end of the year will decline much less than expected.

In general, the West once again failed to "tear to shreds" our economy. The main thing is that Russia has not only the necessary margin of safety, but also all the opportunities for further development.

For the West. At first, our enemies desperately pounded their chests. They convinced their citizens and the whole world that they could easily do without Russian oil, gas, fertilizers, medicines and grain. Without buyers for their burgers, clothes, cosmetics, cars and Internet services. Now they have realized that their sanctions are self-mutilation. A typical crossbow in your own **s. Gasoline, groceries, and utilities are rising sharply in price. People out of desperation go to rallies. Politicians shrug helplessly. Beautiful words are repeated - it seems like "you have to pay for democracy." Without answering, however, the question of why the hell such a "democracy" is needed.

According to Eurostat, the eurozone is experiencing record inflation over the past decades - more than 9%. However, in some EU countries the situation is simply catastrophic. Among them are the most frostbitten enemies of Russia. They are fully reaping the fruits of their vomiting hatred of our country. In Estonia, inflation increased by 22.2% in annual terms, in Lithuania - by 21.1%, in Latvia - by 20.8%, in the Czech Republic - by 17.3%. And these two-digit anti-records are far from the limit. Ahead is a cold winter without Russian gas. And this despite the fact that the marginal price for our blue fuel has not yet been introduced. It seems that now they can be left without gas forever. In parallel, Europe's stupid bureaucrats are begging their citizens to save energy. And in order to better stimulate them, they are ready to shift the growing costs to users and even put them in jail, as in the once prosperous Switzerland.

For the whole world. The result is sad. With its manic sanctions, the West has achieved only one thing - the rapid destruction of the entire architecture of world trade in the form in which it has developed at a record pace for the past half century. Private property is no longer sacred, trade contracts are not binding, the currency of settlement is not a means of payment. Global supply chains are undermined. Western analysts expect a slowdown in the economic growth of all developed countries. In the next 12 months, Europe is facing a recession. At the same time, it should be noted that for the main instigator of the hybrid war against Russia - the United States - the results will be less catastrophic. But even there they are well aware of the grave consequences the actions of their decrepit president lead to.

There are no illusions. The West intends to go against Russia to the end. To introduce ever new senseless restrictions against it, hoping, like in recent years, to undermine the Russian economy as much as possible. Scattering of fragments from such indiscriminate use of sanctions weapons - throughout all countries of the world and to innocent people. Meanwhile, without normal international trade, chaos and poverty will be felt in various parts of the world. However, it is useless to appeal to the prudence of our enemies in the West. And you don't need to. Enemies must be made to beg for mercy in a lost economic battle. And complete it with their complete and unconditional surrender.

“OPEC +” agrees to reduce oil production by an average of two million barrels per day

“OPEC +” agrees to reduce oil production by an average of two million barrels per day

    Thursday, October 06, 2022   No comments

 Reuters quoted sources in Vienna as confirming that the "OPEC +" group agreed today to reduce oil production by two million barrels per day.

The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee of the Global Oil Exporters Alliance "OPEC +", which includes ministers of prominent producing countries, agreed to reduce crude production by two million barrels per day in response to the decline in prices.

This came according to what was quoted by "Reuters" agency, quoting 3 sources familiar with the events, and as expected by media reports earlier, and in a move believed to destroy the efforts of the United States to increase supplies and reduce prices.

A disaster for the United States and will cause crises

On Tuesday, CNN reported, quoting a White House document, that "the United States is concerned that a possible decision by "OPEC" to reduce oil production may cause major crises for the country, and can be considered a hostile act."

And a report by the American network stated that the White House “warns that the “OPEC +” meeting may cause great damage to the United States, and that the decision to reduce oil production will be a “complete disaster” for the country.

The United States, in an attempt to persuade its OPEC allies, is proposing to buy back up to 200 million barrels of oil from its OPEC partners, which will be used to refill the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which President Joe Biden uses to help lower oil prices.

This is while another US official stated, according to "CNN", that the White House "is in a state of panic and panic."

"We have made clear that energy supplies must meet demand to support economic growth and lower prices for consumers around the world, and we will continue to talk to our partners about that," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrian Watson said in a statement.

A few days ago, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting participants in the upcoming “OPEC +” meeting, that the coalition countries were “considering reducing oil production by more than one million barrels per day.”

Action to Prevent fluctuations

Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC Plus, which includes OPEC countries and non-OPEC producers including Russia, say they are seeking to prevent volatility and not target a specific oil price.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose today, Wednesday, towards $93 a barrel, after rising yesterday.

The West accuses Russia of using energy as a weapon, and of creating a crisis in Europe that may force it to ration gas and electricity this winter.

In contrast, Moscow accuses the West of using the dollar and financial systems - such as Swift - as a weapon in response to Russia sending troops to Ukraine last February.

Reactions

US President Joe Biden expressed his disappointment over the decision of the OPEC Plus alliance to reduce oil production, and stressed that his administration would seek to reduce the alliance's control over energy prices, according to a statement issued by the White House.

The statement described the OPEC Plus decision as "short-sighted", and said that the decision - which is the largest reduction in oil production since the Covid-19 pandemic - will harm countries that are "already reeling" under the weight of high oil prices in light of a global economy that in turn suffers from the "negative impact". Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to the statement.

The White House considered that the "wrong" decision was in Russia's own interest, and said, "It is clear that OPEC Plus is allied with Russia."

He added that "in light of today's decision, the Biden administration will consult with Congress on additional tools and mechanisms to reduce the control of the coalition of oil-producing countries on energy prices."

On the other hand, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak described the decision taken by the OPEC Plus alliance during its meeting in Vienna today, Wednesday, as "unprecedented", and attributed it to the need to achieve balance in the oil market.

Novak warned - in statements he made to state television - that the trend to impose a ceiling on the price of Russian oil - a step proposed by the European Union as part of new planned sanctions on Moscow - will have a detrimental effect on global markets.

Novak stressed that Russian companies will not send oil supplies to countries that adopt this ceiling.

On Thursday, the US administration seem to escalate its reaction to this event. The White House hinted that it would “re-evaluate the issue of Saudi Arabia’s trade preference with regard to arms sales and defense support,” following the decision of the “OPEC +” group to reduce the collective production limit.

The President of the US National Economic Council, Brian Dees, indicated today, Thursday, that "the administration of President Joe Biden is in the process of consulting with Congress on the issue of Saudi Arabia's commercial preference for arms sales and defense support."

In response to a question about whether Saudi Arabia deserves to obtain weapons and US defense support in light of the decision of the “OPEC +” group, Deiss said: “We will conduct an assessment and consult closely with Congress on a number of issues related to this matter.”

The member countries of the “OPEC +” alliance agreed, yesterday, Wednesday, to reduce the collective production limit by two million barrels per day, in what is considered the largest supply curb since the 2020 agreement, in the midst of the historic price collapse due to the Corona pandemic.

Following the producers' decision, US President Joe Biden expressed his disappointment with the "OPEC +" agreement, stressing the importance of global energy supplies in light of the war in Ukraine.

White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said that the “OPEC +” decision to reduce oil production, which is likely to raise prices in Western countries, “shows that the alliance is biased towards Russia.”

And the American network “CNN” reported, earlier, quoting a document of the White House, that “the United States is concerned that a possible decision by “OPEC” to reduce oil production may cause major crises for the country, and it can be considered a “hostile act.”

And a report by the American network stated that the White House “warns that the “OPEC +” meeting may cause great damage to the United States, and that the decision to reduce oil production will be a “complete disaster” for the country.

Read also: The “OPEC +” decision to reduce production .. its political and economic impact on the Biden administration

In turn, the Saudi Energy Minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman, confirmed that the decision of the “OPEC +” group to reduce oil production by two million barrels per day “is not an aggressive move and does not aim to harm anyone.”

As for Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, he announced that the decision of the “OPEC +” alliance to reduce oil production “is an unprecedented decision,” noting that the reason for taking such a decision “is the need to balance the market before winter.”

US intelligence: parties within the government of Ukraine are behind the assassination of Daria Dugin

US intelligence: parties within the government of Ukraine are behind the assassination of Daria Dugin

    Thursday, October 06, 2022   No comments

The New York Times reported that US intelligence agencies said that the Ukrainian government authorized the car bomb attack near Moscow in August, which killed Daria Dugin, the daughter of the Russian philosopher and thinker Alexander Dugin.

The newspaper quoted officials as saying that "the United States did not participate in the attack, whether by providing intelligence or other assistance."

They also added that they "were not aware of the operation ahead of time, and would have opposed the killing if they had been consulted," as they put it.

"We are frustrated by Ukraine's lack of transparency about its military and secret plans, especially on Russian soil," they said.

According to the newspaper, US officials warned Ukrainian officials against the assassination.

An accurate assessment of Ukrainian complicity, which has not previously been reported, was shared within the US government last week.

The newspaper pointed out that "the United States is concerned that such attacks - despite their high symbolic value - have little direct impact on the battlefield and could provoke Moscow to carry out its own strikes against senior Ukrainian officials."

It is worth noting that on August 22, the Russian Federal Security Service announced, in a statement, that "as a result of a set of urgent operational search procedures, the service has uncovered the details of the case of the murder of Russian journalist Daria Dugin, born in 1992."

How has the Chinese president restructured his army to become the largest power in the world?

How has the Chinese president restructured his army to become the largest power in the world?

    Tuesday, October 04, 2022   No comments

During the decade of Xi Jinping's rule, China has restructured the world's largest professional army, and developed a nuclear and ballistic arsenal capable of alarming its enemies.

As China's neighbors seek to follow this pattern, a third five-year term for the current Chinese president is likely to be accompanied by an acceleration in the arms race in the Asia-Pacific region.

China now has two aircraft carriers in service, hundreds of long- and medium-range ballistic missiles, thousands of combat aircraft, and the world's largest naval power, far ahead of the United States.

China's military budget has been rising for 27 years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, China now has about 350 nuclear warheads, twice the amount it had during the Cold War. US intelligence agencies estimate that this stockpile may more than double to 700 warheads by 2027. New nuclear missile silos are being built in the northwest of the country.

"They have a very large navy, and if they want to intimidate and put ships in the vicinity of Taiwan, they can really do it," the commander of the Seventh Fleet told US media, Carl Thomas.

At the same time, China's nuclear arsenal is increasing dramatically and may be able - according to the Pentagon - to be launched from land, sea and air.

And last July, the Chinese president warned in a speech that "the Chinese people will never allow any external force to oppress, oppress or enslave them, and whoever dares to do so will be destroyed in front of a great steel wall built by 1.4 billion Chinese." He stressed that the time for bullying his country is over.

In January 2021, China signed a pledge, along with Russia, the United States, Britain and France, that would "reduce the risk of nuclear conflict."

The United States of America expressed its "concern" over a report published by the "Washington Post", that China has begun building more than 110 silos for launching intercontinental ballistic missiles.

A 2021 Pentagon report stated that China "is the only adversary capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to pose a long-term challenge to a stable and open international order."

For years, the People's Liberation Army was considered outdated and ineffective, with one historian describing it as "the largest military museum in the world." It was equipped with old military equipment made in the former Soviet Union, and was based mainly on infantry units that did not perform well on the ground abroad.

During the Korean War, the People's Liberation Army intervened on the side of North Korea, losing 400,000 men, according to Westerners, or 180,000, according to Beijing. In 1979, he faced Vietnam during a brief but bloody war.

By the time Xi Jinping became commander-in-chief of the armed forces in 2013, reforms had begun. It was initiated in the 1990s by Jiang Zemin.

"All the major players in the Indo-Pacific are responding as quickly as possible to the modernization of the Chinese military," said Malcolm Davis, a former Australian defense official now at the Institute for Policy Strategy.

For its part, South Korea wants to develop a naval force capable of operating off its coast, and Australia plans to buy eight nuclear submarines with British and American assistance under the "Ocos Agreement".

Canberra is also talking about buying hypersonic weapons, long-range ballistic missiles, and even stealth bombers capable of striking anywhere in the world without being detected. Here, Malcolm Davis says, these projects reflect a realization that China has a growing ability to engineer the region according to its will.

According to the former Australian defense official, "the era in which the US Navy dominated the seas in the western Pacific is coming to an end," explaining: "We would not have seen Okus if the Chinese president had not been... In a way, he has done us a favor." big.”

Arms purchases are on the rise, from South Korea, which has developed its deep-sea navy, to Australia, which is buying nuclear submarines.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, based in London, defense expenditures last year exceeded one trillion dollars in the Asia-Pacific region.

China, the Philippines and Vietnam have doubled their military spending over the past decade, and South Korea, India and Pakistan are not far from them. Even Japan presented this year a record budget in the field of defense, ending its reservations and talking about an "increasingly violent" security environment.