Finland and Sweden in NATO...forget about China?

 

Finland and Sweden are actively trying to join NATO, abandoning traditional (since 1945 in Finland) neutrality.  They cite a fear of potential Russian aggression.  The problem is that given Russia's underwhelming military performance in Ukraine, it just seems a little premature.  Plus, now this gives Russia a reason to aim nukes at Helsinki and Stockholm. Finland's early bilateral agreement with Britain was probably a good middle route.

Meanwhile, China is basically surrounding Taiwan with ships and planes and there seems some stockpiling of supplies in southeast China right across from what Beijing calls "the renegade province".  The there was the news of the Soloman Islands sighing a basing agreement with China, giving Beijing a stepping stone beyond the First Island Chain.  The Solomans and China say it is not a basing agreement, but we know what that means--its a Chinese base.

Australia was upset, considering the area it sphere of influence.  If they had not been so busy repressing their own citizens, they might have notice the Chinese diplomatic incursion on their front door.

Be on the lookout for the moving of superconductor chip manufacturing to the US. Taiwan leads the world in this field, but if that capacity is moved stateside, it might be over for Taiwan before it even starts.  

Next, Indonesia will start to see a lot of Western and Chinese "aid packages" coming their way and Chinese attempts to attempt to cruise towards Guam and Pearl Harbor without being seen.

If History does not repeat, it certainly rhymes.