WORLD ROUNDUPIs China Capable of Attacking Taiwan? | Hamas’ South African Support Network | Netherlands Narco-Terror: Is the Nation at a Tipping Point?, and more

Published 4 March 2024

·  Lack of Plan for Governing Gaza Formed Backdrop to Deadly Convoy Chaos
Israel has no clear plan for governing Gaza. That is a particular problem in the north, where the fighting has ebbed, and where a deadly stampede occurred on Thursday around an aid convoy.

·  Netherlands Narco-Terror: Is the Nation at a Tipping Point?
The battle to bring down a murderous drugs gang has left the Dutch wondering if it will calm tensions in the country, or lead to a criminal free-for-all

·  Israeli Security Minister Barred After Sensitive Information Leaks
Right-wing Itamar Ben-Gvir accused of breaching the very guidelines he has been appointed to protect

·  China Dominates the West in EV Market
China already has a large presence in the American smartphone market, and the Chinese dominate the market for laptops, with over 80% of laptops bought in the United States being Chinese-made

·  Is China Capable of Attacking Taiwan?
Xi’s intentions are clear, but China’s military is plagued with corruption

·  Why North Korea Survives
Here’s how the Kim regime has proven so resilient

·  In the Name of God, Lead
The Prime Minister appears terrified of making a stand against racism in his own party

·  Hamas’ South African Support Network
A web of unsanctioned organizations operating in South Africa support and enable the terrorist group free of consequences

Lack of Plan for Governing Gaza Formed Backdrop to Deadly Convoy Chaos  (Patrick Kingsley, New York Times)
Israel has no clear plan for governing Gaza. That is a particular problem in the north, where the fighting has ebbed, and where a deadly stampede occurred on Thursday around an aid convoy.

Netherlands Narco-Terror: Is the Nation at a Tipping Point?  (Senay Boztas, The Times)
Marengo was the name of Napoleon’s horse, a small, grey Arab that carried him through most of his greatest victories — and on to defeat at Waterloo.

Israeli Security Minister Barred After Sensitive Information Leaks  (Melanie Swan, The Telegraph)
Israel’s hardline security minister has been barred from intelligence briefings after a series of leaks of sensitive documents.
Itamar Ben-Gvir is accused of breaching the very security guidelines he is appointed to protect and is facing a boycott by the country’s National Security Council.

China Dominates the West in EV Market  (Philip Pilkington, Unherd)
Over the weekend Mathias Miedreich, chief executive of the battery-maker Umicore, told the Financial Times that Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) are beating out their American counterparts in the market. 

Is China Capable of Attacking Taiwan?  (Aaron Sarin, Persuasion)
Many commentators, myself included, have warned of the PLA’s military prowess. It turns out that appearances may have been deceptive. Recent U.S. intelligence revealed that a quantity of China’s formidable-looking nuclear missiles are actually filled with water. 

Why North Korea Survives  (Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Persuasion)
North Korea’s recent jettisoning of reunification with South Korea as a national goal has raised much speculation about Pyongyang’s goals and strategy. 

In the Name of God, Lead  (Robert Hutton, The Critic)
We are told that Lee Anderson’s words about Sadiq Khan are unacceptable and wrong, so unacceptable and wrong that Anderson can no longer sit as a Conservative MP. This is a decision not without cost to Sunak: there are plenty of Tory members who like Anderson more than they like him. 

Hamas’ South African Support Network  (David May, National Interest)
South Africa does not just carry water for Hamas by attacking Israel in international forums. It has also allowed Hamas to turn South Africa into a base for fundraising, where an extensive network of front organizations builds support for terrorism.