Hotone

I am not unhappy that the US has a strong currency and economy. I would be very happy if America used that wealth to tackle domestic social issues, rather than use it for waging war. We have had problems with the US dollar in the past e.g. the Asian financial crisis of 1997. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Asian_financial_crisis At the time, our regional economies were going strong and most governments had sound fiscal policies, i.e. most countries had public budget surpluses. However, we had a lot of external debt in US dollars. American rouge vulture capitalists led by George Soros took the opportunity to attack our currencies and caused huge economic disruption. Fast forward, and today it is America that is acting rogue. E.g. Between 2021 and 2022, America printed More Than Double the amount of US dollar in all previous circulation, thereby debasing what other countries worked so hard to earn. America has also weaponized the dollar to wage economic war on its enemies, in a manner that ensnares innocent third parties. It has become too risky to hold onto the dollar as a reserve currency, at least in my region. More than 80% of our trade is intraregional and with China; perhaps 10% is with the US. It doesn't make sense for us to use the dollar for trade and as reserve, and it carries very high risk. https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/asean-finance-ministers-and-central-banks-consider-dropping-us-dollar-euro-and-yen-indonesia-calls-for-phasing-out-visa-and-mastercard/

America's wealth is derived from consumption, running massive trade deficits and printing huge amount of dollars. Weaponizing the dollar is causing a backlash, in my part of the world and it seems globally. You shouldn't shit where you eat. https://fortune.com/2023/06/02/global-backlash-us-dollar-currency-brazil-china-india-malaysia-france/

You shouldn't believe everything the MSM portrays to you. At least in my region, we are still peaceful neighbours. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/asia-power-snapshot-china-united-states-southeast-asia China's claims in the South China Sea has its merits, and dates back historically before our region became independent from Western colonialism. This territory is claimed both by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the PRC. https://en.mofa.gov.tw/theme.aspx?n=1462&s=40&sms=294#:~:text=The South China Sea Islands,the sea is beyond dispute. The militarisation of the South China Sea was pioneered by my country Malaysia, then followed by the Philippines and only much later by China. In spite of the overlapping claims, and because we have coexisted peacefully for thousands of years, we believe that issues can be resolved through compromise. What we resent is America trying to instigate and provoke conflict between us and China.

There may be a very few, but Chinese people will not want to live in Russia's Far East, when they can live in the comfort of China's Southern cities. This is what conditions look like for Asians in that part of the world: https://youtu.be/lj5GXZaE7qs

A Russian warlord is pushing for this and I only reposted it to draw your attention. Stop your provocative acts of war or else the situation will spiral out of control https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Ukraine-war/Russia-should-use-low-grade-nuclear-bomb-Chechen-warlord-Kadyrov https://youtu.be/_us-0ZIvIfY https://youtu.be/h3Gzy0mVM3w No, we are not interested in fighting in Ukraine; it has nothing to do with us and we are merely spectators. But if you come and cause trouble in our part of the world again, we will surely fight you.

To a certain extent, I agree with you that my country shouldn't take sides, for now. But our leaders are very pro-China. Our foreign minister referred to China as our elder brother. Bear in mind that family relationships are very much more important to us Asians, compared to you Westerners. https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/22696/hishammuddin-hails-china-as-elder-brother-miffed-academics-demand-explanation Recently, in the face of American provocation, Mahathir urged all the rest of ASEAN to follow Malaysia and move towards China. https://www.ft.com/content/0f80bc63-7e07-4396-a496-2c125c597014 As Kissinger said "To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal.”. So it's dangerous for us and fatal for you. Based on current trends in the Ukraine conflict, nuclear weapons are going to be used sooner rather than later. I am not advocating for nuclear war, but I am a realist; WW3 is coming. https://youtu.be/ngW3-gySiew I have compassion for my relatives in Australia and compassion for you, my dear friend. It's my hope that things won't turn out fatal for you guys.

Nah. America did it. Listen to Tucker Carlson and Joe Biden https://youtu.be/AJ994JuQ0Gk VID-20221001-WA0006.mp4

You disavowed what Trump said. Fair enough, he is a habitual liar. What about Biden? He said that the US will take out Nord Stream. VID-20221001-WA0006.mp4

What does the USA stand to gain? A lot. This has been leaked by a respectable Swedish newspaper: https://www.riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/modern-day-censorship/swedish-newspaper-publishes-leaked-u-s-strategic-plan-to-destroy-german-economy/

Whodunnit? Remember Trump's suggestion? https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/07/donald-trump-russia-ukraine-jets-chinese. My money is on America.

Hey you! Mind your language and stay civil or else you will be kicked out of this forum again! You should appreciate my kind advice for you to stay out of harm's way. I don't wish you or Oz to be nuked. I used to live in Cremone and Dee Why in North Sydney, and I have fond memories of the place. I also have close relatives living in Australia. Your are partially right. The Chinese should take out Pine Gap. However, I don't think they will use their nukes. Unlike America and Russia which have thousands of warheads, China only possess a few hundred. China should reserve their nukes for high density targets. From your photos, the Pine Gap spy farm, seems such a small place that a few hypersonic missiles with conventional bombs should be able to destroy it.

Oh, Ok. That's acting against China but not Russia. I was referring to this: https://youtu.be/vWHduohxc9M I think the only way that Russia can win its war against the collective West is to use nuclear and biological weapons.

This may escalate into a nuclear war between America, the West and Russia. The Ukraine conflict doesn't involve you guys down under, so why do you need to poke your nose into it? Since you are in a safe corner down south, far away from the conflict zone, why don't you just keep a low profile?

You may be right that the UK is better off than your neighbours. However, that's a depressing commentary of Europe's predicament. Sorry to pop your bubble, but at last count, the UK imports 35% of its energy needs and self sufficiency (never mind earning export income) is many years away. https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-10702803/UKs-energy-production-fell-lowest-level-50-years-year.html https://www.statista.com/topics/4938/energy-imports-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/

There is not a lot going for the UK in the foreseeable future, and I am not sure what difference Liz Truss can make. She seems to be prioritizing diversity and gender equality in her cabinet appointments - no White men in top posts. https://youtu.be/qw87uW4hcKQ