February 24, 2022 - 9:58am
The tanks rolling across Ukraine’s sovereign territory are Russian, but according to a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry it’s all our fault. A comment tweeted out by the Xinhua news agency, claims that Putin was provoked by “five waves of NATO expansion eastward all the way to Russia’s doorstep”:
"When the U.S. drove five waves of NATO expansion eastward all the way to Russia's doorstep…, did it ever think about the consequences of pushing a big country to the wall?" — spokesperson pic.twitter.com/UvGUtc2vAJ
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) February 24, 2022
The Chinese foreign ministry should look at a map. Of the 15 countries that have joined NATO since the fall of the Berlin Wall, only two have a border with Russia — Estonia and Latvia. (That rises to four if you count Kaliningrad — a detached piece of Russian territory wedged between Poland and Lithuania.)
More to the point, it was Russia that provoked NATO enlargement, not the other way round.
In the post-war period, the USSR’s neighbours were given every reason to fear Moscow’s military might. Most of central and eastern Europe was subjected to communist rule — while the independence of the Baltic states was snuffed out completely. When the Hungarians dared to hope for freedom in 1956, and the Czechs in 1968, Moscow sent the tanks in. The threat of Soviet invasion also led to the declaration of martial law in Poland in 1981.
The collapse of the USSR was a chance for a fresh start. Perhaps the new Russian Federation would be less of a nightmare neighbour than either the Soviets or the Tsars. But it soon became clear that Moscow was still to be feared. The first sign was the Transnistria War (1990-92) — in which ethnic Russian rebels, supported by elements of the Russian military, established a breakaway republic on the sovereign territory of Moldova.
The Russians weren’t so keen on self-determination when the Chechens tried to establish a breakaway republic on Russian sovereign territory. The separatist forces were defeated in the First Chechen War (1994-96), but at the cost of tens of thousands of civilian lives. Given what the Russian government was prepared to do its own citizens in the siege and storming of Grozny, the rest of Europe could be forgiven for shoring-up its defences.
It’s also worth mentioning the fate of post-soviet Georgia — which has had two chunks ripped from its sovereign territory. The first was Abkhazia, which broke away during the 1992-93 war. The extent of Russia’s involvement in that conflict is still murky. But there’s no doubt about Moscow’s involvement in the 2008 war in which Russian military forces intervened to help South Ossetia breakaway and Abkhazia to expand.
Years before the 2013 Euromaidan protests in Kyiv — and the subsequent events in Crimea and the Donbas, Russia had a track record of military intervention and territorial violation.
So the Chinese are exactly wrong. This isn’t about NATO pushing “a big country to the wall”, but about what Russia does to its smaller neighbours.
Peter Franklin is Associate Editor of UnHerd. He was previously a policy advisor and speechwriter on environmental and social issues.
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SubscribeIt’s not a mistake. It’s absolutely deliberate. The Scottish and Welsh administrations have both reduced the voting age to 16, and believe that younger voters lap this stuff up. They also believe that in the current climate their own core voters will never switch to the Conservatives, and have nowhere else to go. Vulnerable women in prisons or refuges can go hang as far as these ministers are concerned: they will never be in one anyway.
Labour intends to lower the voting age in England as soon as they are in power.
I’m not so sure. My nieces, one age 30 is millennial and the other a Gen Z, are totally opposed. I wonder if its because they’re not students.
The younger one decided not to go to university because she didn’t want to have to listen to that. She has a good job.
The other is planning to study technology and had chosen a campus not given over to winery.
I’m very proud of them but its sad they’re missing the kind of intellectually exciting education I had.
Both agree that paedophilia plays a role in trans activist ideology.
Labour intends to lower the voting age in England as soon as they are in power.
I’m not so sure. My nieces, one age 30 is millennial and the other a Gen Z, are totally opposed. I wonder if its because they’re not students.
The younger one decided not to go to university because she didn’t want to have to listen to that. She has a good job.
The other is planning to study technology and had chosen a campus not given over to winery.
I’m very proud of them but its sad they’re missing the kind of intellectually exciting education I had.
Both agree that paedophilia plays a role in trans activist ideology.
It’s not a mistake. It’s absolutely deliberate. The Scottish and Welsh administrations have both reduced the voting age to 16, and believe that younger voters lap this stuff up. They also believe that in the current climate their own core voters will never switch to the Conservatives, and have nowhere else to go. Vulnerable women in prisons or refuges can go hang as far as these ministers are concerned: they will never be in one anyway.
Our current generation of politicians are just not serious. They have not outgrown student union politics and are ignoring the many severe difficulties the West currently faces, preferring instead to virtue signal about pronouns.
As I write, I am listening, live, to Zelensky’s speech to the UK Parliament. The contrast between real events and imaginary micro-aggressions couldn’t be starker.
I agree, but I’m hearing this “calm down dear, it’s just such a *silly* culture war, heavens, so toxic on *both* sides isn’t it” attitude from a lot of men and I’m increasingly enraged by it. Yes, wars are far more important than someone collapsing after being misgendered. That is presumably a given. But this is a very real issue for women. Our language is being bastardised and our speech is being curtailed. Our bitterly hard-won spaces, sports, opportunities, not to mention our sex lives, are being invaded. I’m sorry there aren’t enough exciting pictures of tanks involved for men to notice all this or take it seriously but I assure you, it is happening, it is very real and it is deeply concerning.
I agree, but I’m hearing this “calm down dear, it’s just such a *silly* culture war, heavens, so toxic on *both* sides isn’t it” attitude from a lot of men and I’m increasingly enraged by it. Yes, wars are far more important than someone collapsing after being misgendered. That is presumably a given. But this is a very real issue for women. Our language is being bastardised and our speech is being curtailed. Our bitterly hard-won spaces, sports, opportunities, not to mention our sex lives, are being invaded. I’m sorry there aren’t enough exciting pictures of tanks involved for men to notice all this or take it seriously but I assure you, it is happening, it is very real and it is deeply concerning.
Our current generation of politicians are just not serious. They have not outgrown student union politics and are ignoring the many severe difficulties the West currently faces, preferring instead to virtue signal about pronouns.
As I write, I am listening, live, to Zelensky’s speech to the UK Parliament. The contrast between real events and imaginary micro-aggressions couldn’t be starker.
We need clarity in law – sex is based on biology, gender is based on culture. People can change their gender (how they present themselves to the world) but not their sex. Men should not be able to change their legal sex by obtaining a gender recognition certificate. Then there would at least be some legal protection for biological women.
I am appalled at how many women don’t seem to think this is important. I guess they have been lucky in life and can’t imagine being locked up or in a rape crisis centre with a male bodied person, whatever they call themselves. Or perhaps they just don’t care about women in less fortunate circumstances.
There must also be legal protection for anyone who refuses to publicly go along with their self-delusion, too.
Sex Matters (Maya Forstater’s organsation) is trying to create that clarity in law by asking people in the UK to sign their official petition calling on the government to update the Equality Act 2010 to make clear that the protected characteristic of “sex” means biological sex, and is not modified by the holding of a gender recognition certificate.
You can sign the petition here: https://sex-matters.org/take-action/make-the-equality-act-clear/
There must also be legal protection for anyone who refuses to publicly go along with their self-delusion, too.
Sex Matters (Maya Forstater’s organsation) is trying to create that clarity in law by asking people in the UK to sign their official petition calling on the government to update the Equality Act 2010 to make clear that the protected characteristic of “sex” means biological sex, and is not modified by the holding of a gender recognition certificate.
You can sign the petition here: https://sex-matters.org/take-action/make-the-equality-act-clear/
We need clarity in law – sex is based on biology, gender is based on culture. People can change their gender (how they present themselves to the world) but not their sex. Men should not be able to change their legal sex by obtaining a gender recognition certificate. Then there would at least be some legal protection for biological women.
I am appalled at how many women don’t seem to think this is important. I guess they have been lucky in life and can’t imagine being locked up or in a rape crisis centre with a male bodied person, whatever they call themselves. Or perhaps they just don’t care about women in less fortunate circumstances.
The Labour Party has dug itself in on this issue and now finds it cannot back away. Totally kamikaze, and in thrall to the gender activists and pressure groups they have been funding for years.
The Labour Party has dug itself in on this issue and now finds it cannot back away. Totally kamikaze, and in thrall to the gender activists and pressure groups they have been funding for years.
“Your words have a dangerous impact, Laura Anne Jones, it harms people, the words that you say, the discrimination that comes out of your mouth,” she said with unconcealed contempt.
The now popular tactic of accusing people of harm for challenging your view. If anyone uses this on you, call them what they are, hysterical and a liar. Point out exactly the tactic they are using.
Absolutely right. Don’t stand for the specious nonsense and lies of the woke scum. Let them know how deeply you despise them.
Absolutely right. Don’t stand for the specious nonsense and lies of the woke scvm. Let them know how deeply you despise them.
Absolutely right. Don’t stand for the specious nonsense and lies of the woke scum. Let them know how deeply you despise them.
Absolutely right. Don’t stand for the specious nonsense and lies of the woke scvm. Let them know how deeply you despise them.
“Your words have a dangerous impact, Laura Anne Jones, it harms people, the words that you say, the discrimination that comes out of your mouth,” she said with unconcealed contempt.
The now popular tactic of accusing people of harm for challenging your view. If anyone uses this on you, call them what they are, hysterical and a liar. Point out exactly the tactic they are using.
Anything Wales and Scotland decide to do is always in opposite reaction to England, even to their own detriment.
Anything Wales and Scotland decide to do is always in opposite reaction to England, even to their own detriment.
I thought that such changes were beyond the scope of the Welsh assembly. Maybe it is just another case if virtue signalling knowing that nothing will come out of it.
Anyway, it does speak volumes about the quality of the people involved.
It is.
They seem to want their Section 35 moment.
Not content with throwing women under the bus, they are using Trans people to do it
It is.
They seem to want their Section 35 moment.
Not content with throwing women under the bus, they are using Trans people to do it
I thought that such changes were beyond the scope of the Welsh assembly. Maybe it is just another case if virtue signalling knowing that nothing will come out of it.
Anyway, it does speak volumes about the quality of the people involved.
We can put together well honed arguments, go in to in depth analysis etc but sometimes you just have to go straight to the nub of the issue. Too many of our elected officials are just stupid.
We can put together well honed arguments, go in to in depth analysis etc but sometimes you just have to go straight to the nub of the issue. Too many of our elected officials are just stupid.
Let the women of Wales revolt and get these idiots out at the next election.
Let the PEOPLE of Wales revolt, this is not just a women’s issue to be solved by women – again.
Let the PEOPLE of Wales revolt, this is not just a women’s issue to be solved by women – again.
Let the women of Wales revolt and get these idiots out at the next election.
I brought this to the attention of my local Assembly Member at a meeting last July regarding a video showing how children as young as four were being taught that your sex was immaterial and that you could be a boy, girl, non binary etc. Organisations such as Mermaids and Stonewall are promoting what 99.99% of the public consider to be nonsense and are receiving government grants for their poisonous propaganda. The Labour Party in Wales like the S N P in Scotland can ride rough shod over public opinion because it knows when push comes to shove its supporters will continue to vote for it come what may. The Welsh Government is deliberately picking a fight with Westminster and challenging the Secretary of State for Wales to block any GR bill coming from the Assembly. Such is the arrogance. There can be no doubt that as it seems likely there will be a Labour government at Westminster in two years time England will be saddled with similar legislation. since its leader and prospective Prime Minister seems unable to define a woman.
I brought this to the attention of my local Assembly Member at a meeting last July regarding a video showing how children as young as four were being taught that your sex was immaterial and that you could be a boy, girl, non binary etc. Organisations such as Mermaids and Stonewall are promoting what 99.99% of the public consider to be nonsense and are receiving government grants for their poisonous propaganda. The Labour Party in Wales like the S N P in Scotland can ride rough shod over public opinion because it knows when push comes to shove its supporters will continue to vote for it come what may. The Welsh Government is deliberately picking a fight with Westminster and challenging the Secretary of State for Wales to block any GR bill coming from the Assembly. Such is the arrogance. There can be no doubt that as it seems likely there will be a Labour government at Westminster in two years time England will be saddled with similar legislation. since its leader and prospective Prime Minister seems unable to define a woman.
“But then half the electorate is female”
So vote accordingly. There are a fair few men who would join in.
“But then half the electorate is female”
So vote accordingly. There are a fair few men who would join in.
“Why is Wales copying Scotland’s gender self-ID blunder?”
Inertia and momentum.
“Why is Wales copying Scotland’s gender self-ID blunder?”
Inertia and momentum.
Please encourage them. Flushing this nonsense into the open real world- al Scotland has exposed it for the nonsense it is.
Please encourage them. Flushing this nonsense into the open real world- al Scotland has exposed it for the nonsense it is.
Women’s rights are no longer sexy. They are boring and old-fashioned. Women got the right to vote about 100 years ago. Enough is enough. To defend myself, I stress that this is ‘politician-think’ not ‘me-think’. (If I believed that I would spend even longer in the shed every day.)
At the moment there is a belief in government and in the media that there are too many old people around. These oldies in Wales (maybe) always vote Labour to get back at Margaret Thatcher. What we need is to prepare the way for young people. Votes at 16, all TV programmes vetted as suitable for the under-30s, a possibility of doing anything you want and the government will support you to do it.
I would suggest another referendum, one which will please everybody except those old people. To pave the way the UK would have to rejoin the EU first. Then the referendum for ALL voters in the UK (16+ of course) – would you like the Scotland and Wales to leave the UK. I think that 75% would say ‘yes’. No more problems.
Women’s rights are no longer sexy. They are boring and old-fashioned. Women got the right to vote about 100 years ago. Enough is enough. To defend myself, I stress that this is ‘politician-think’ not ‘me-think’. (If I believed that I would spend even longer in the shed every day.)
At the moment there is a belief in government and in the media that there are too many old people around. These oldies in Wales (maybe) always vote Labour to get back at Margaret Thatcher. What we need is to prepare the way for young people. Votes at 16, all TV programmes vetted as suitable for the under-30s, a possibility of doing anything you want and the government will support you to do it.
I would suggest another referendum, one which will please everybody except those old people. To pave the way the UK would have to rejoin the EU first. Then the referendum for ALL voters in the UK (16+ of course) – would you like the Scotland and Wales to leave the UK. I think that 75% would say ‘yes’. No more problems.