The US 28-point plan, which favoured Russia, was seen in Moscow as a potential starting point, but the revised, Western-aligned version has been dismissed as “entirely unconstructive.”
The US 28-point plan, which favoured Russia, was seen in Moscow as a potential starting point, but the revised, Western-aligned version has been dismissed as “entirely unconstructive.”
While China has warned of serious consequences and may impose sanctions, the U.S. frames the sale as a necessary sustainment measure for existing aircraft rather than an escalation.
Yet, over the long term, tilting towards the US doesn't seem to be the natural choice, especially when America is looking to re-shore manufacturing and disengage from China-centric supply chains.
The world may be disappointed by the US policy — I am — but equally, it’s disappointed by the Chinese policy. Else why the split between China and the Group of 77 on verification of CO2 reduction?
Commonsense is that external verification is essential, not just as a legal constraint, but because in the future it will be essential as a basis of negotiations to keep climate-change reduction on track.
Yet China refuses external verification which unavoidably raises questions as to its commitment, leading to the split within the 77.
In the arena of climate change politics, it seems, there are no heroes except, perhaps, the small island nations that will be submerged by rising sea levels and who must speak the truth or be destroyed. No wonder that the Copenhagen conference is doomed.
The world may be disappointed by the US policy — I am — but equally, it’s disappointed by the Chinese policy. Else why the split between China and the Group of 77 on verification of CO2 reduction?
Commonsense is that external verification is essential, not just as a legal constraint, but because in the future it will be essential as a basis of negotiations to keep climate-change reduction on track.
Yet China refuses external verification which unavoidably raises questions as to its commitment, leading to the split within the 77.
In the arena of climate change politics, it seems, there are no heroes except, perhaps, the small island nations that will be submerged by rising sea levels and who must speak the truth or be destroyed. No wonder that the Copenhagen conference is doomed.