Divide and conquer, well-honed in Middle East and Latin America over decades, is being applied to only real growth engine of world economy.

A peaceful and prosperous Asia? Think about it, there is no upside in that for the United States. This is especially so because there is no scenario in which that doesn’t also mean a more stable, prosperous and, therefore, even more powerful China.

For the US to contain China must also mean impoverishment and instability for its neighbours, intentionally or as collateral damage.

That is the real meaning behind the hatefest currently taking place at Nato’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington. For an alliance that has “North Atlantic” in its name, it’s extraordinary that it now spends as much time fretting about China as Russia, against which it is waging a hot proxy war.

The purest expression of this US strategy in Asia has been Australia’s costly deal for nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus security partnership with the United Kingdom and the US.

In a new book, Australian investigative journalist........

© Pearls and Irritations