The open fronts on the planet are multiplying at a huge rate.
Until recently the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East monopolized international interest, due to the extreme nature of events that occurred there.
In Ukraine it was the shooting down of the Malaysian passenger aircraft which shocked the world.
Shortly after the beheadings of hostages by the Islamic State caused chills throughout humanity.
Both these fronts still remain active, constantly triggering new events which are capable of further increasing an international sense of insecurity.
Last week another source of international tension emerged, that of Hong Kong and China, which wants to control the promised democratization process.
After incorporating Hong Kong, Beijing promised free election in 2017 and now it demands that the candidates receive approval.
In response to Beijing’s demands, the people of Hong Kong – primarily the youth – reacted dynamically and started gathering in the streets and did not hesitate to clash with the authorities, demanding free and fair elections.
Hundreds of thousands have been protesting since last Friday, creating the circumstances for great tension.
Already these events have shaken the Asian credit center and caused waves of concern in the leadership of the Chinese Communist party.
Beijing fears a democratic revolt in the country’s powerful financial center and is concerned that the democratization movement may expand to neighboring Macao or even Shanghai, the “Mecca” of Chinese growth.
For years many have warned capitalist-communist China will have to face the ghosts of Tiananmen.
All the signs suggest that this moment is approaching and it is taking place at a time when there are tensions in the greater region, namely the conflicts with the Japanese in the Chinese Sea where the American Navy has managed to ensure peace up to now.
Let us not forget that Barrack Obama was associated the departure of American troops from Afghanistan and Iraq with an expressed shift of American interest towards the greater Pacific and Southeast Asia.
America felt that China was rather competitive in the Pacific one and was planning diplomatic and other moves in order to establish its hegemonic presence.
The events in the Middle East though curbed this shift of American policy towards the East.
It seems though that the events in Hong Kong will bring it back to the forefront; more so if Beijing attempts to violently suppress the protests. In this case the exacerbation of Chinese-American relations must be considered a given.
Perhaps Beijing will offer the USA an excuse to express its plans of “retaking” Southeast Asia.
It is no coincidence that the Americans are planning to expand the American-European trade union, including countries such as Japan, South China and even Viet Nam, which is currently negotiating the presence of an American naval base in their lands.
The truth is that the Americans were never happy about China’s financial expansion, nor where they ever indifferent to China becoming stronger and the top global financial power. The stated shift of interest towards Asia was indicative of these concerns.
Under these circumstances it is not unlikely for the events in Hong Kong to trigger further tension in the world. Only this time it will be amongst giants and in this case the crisis in the Middle East will seem like a paper cut.
In any case, the sense of insecurity that is increasing is forcing us to become more alert, mobilize diplomatically and make sound choices to preserve stability, above all.
Soon enough everything else may seem insignificant…
Antonis Karakousis
