So dangerous is the trio of villains

China, Russia and North Korea form alliance

A dangerous triangle of power!

Kim Jong-un is back on a piece of the world stage, which is mainly determined by his powerful friends China and Russia — in their fight against the West.

The North Korean dictator met with Kremlin despot Vladimir Putin last week during his five-day trip through Russia. During the meeting, they spoke openly about the potential of expanding military-technical cooperation.

Experts say North Korea could supply artillery ammunition and missiles for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In return, a transfer of modern Russian military technologies to North Korea is to take place.

It is clear that Kim is particularly fond of missile and nuclear technology.

And North Korea’s protective power China? Doesn’t seem to have a problem with that! On the contrary.

What does this rogue alliance mean for the West, what for the USA, Taiwan and South Korea, all of which are directly or indirectly threatened by the dictator countries?

In addition, Moscow only on Tuesday called on Beijing to step up cooperation to fend off the West. Explosive: In the process, Russia was assured that it supported China’s claims to Taiwan.

► East Asia expert Prof. Dr. Ralph M. Wrobel of Zwickau University shared his assessment of the new situation.

He begins his analysis with a direct warning: “Now that China has not dropped Russia, a new Eurasian alliance is forming against the West. We must therefore also be prepared for military escalations in the Far East — Korea and Taiwan.”

“One can speak of a new Cold War”.

Wrobel makes clear that “the motto ‘change through trade’ has not worked with regard to Russia and China. Both countries have become more autocratic, despite all the hopes in the West.”

One can therefore speak of a “new competition of systems — democracy and free market economy versus dictatorship and state capitalism — perhaps even of a new Cold War already,” the expert explains.

Explosive thesis: “West dependent on East”

As the Russian attack on Ukraine makes clear, “there is also a geopolitical conflict between East and West,” Wrobel says. “But we, the West, are dependent on the East in many ways.”

Wrobel cites examples: “Until recently on Russian oil and gas, and further on imports from China, including important raw materials for our industry, but also many high-quality finished products such as cell phones or laptops.”

A formation against the West

The fact is: “China has never clearly condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Instead, the two states continue to cooperate with each other. Likewise, China is not dropping North Korea as an ally, but stabilizing the regime there.”

The reason for this, he said, is “that North Korea forms a buffer state between China and South Korea — where numerous U.S. troops are stationed.” What is explosive is that “Putin is now buying ammunition in North Korea,” which, according to Wrobel, means that all three countries are forming a united front against the West.

How realistic is an attack on South Korea?

What is clear: North Korea continues to threaten South Korea and Japan with its nuclear missiles. It is true that “a deliberate escalation is unlikely,” because North Korea would use its military and nuclear strength above all “to stabilize the regime and force economic aid,” says Wrobel.

But: “Accidents with far-reaching consequences are possible,” the expert warns.

Attack on Taiwan would mean war with U.S.

Wrobel hopes “that the Chinese leadership has learned from the reactions of the West to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.” Especially because of the massive sanctions against Russia.

Still, “there is an aspiration in Beijing to bring Taiwan under control,” Wrobel knows. “Since Taiwan is an important link in the ‘U.S.’ island chain off the Chinese coast — Japan-South Korea-Taiwan-Philippines — an attack on Taiwan would be a war-triggering event for the U.S.”

The expert’s plain language: “Europe would also be drawn into such a conflict. Economically, an integration of Taiwan into the People’s Republic of China would also mean complete dependence on China for us in the West in the area of high-quality microchips.”

After all, a large proportion of these are now manufactured in Taiwan.