The world seems paused for a moment. Rival forces push against each other in many places, but mostly I see deadlock. Trump remains in power, America's alliances remain in place, China and Russia are still partners, Iran and Saudi Arabia still glower at each other.
Of all the places where nothing is happening, I choose to mention the latest border tension between China and India. Technically it's in Bhutan, but the Indian fear, I have learned, is that China will be in a position to sever the narrow Siliguri corridor connecting India to its north-east states.
Japan has now stepped in, to assist development of the region. The hope is not just to secure the area militarily and politically, but also to make it a bridge between India and ASEAN. Thus India hastens to weave its own network of influence; even as China now talks of an "Ice Silk Road" in the Arctic.
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