That's a fair summary, Hari. I've stressed the NATO context in (1), condemned
the invasion as counterproductive ("adventurist") for strengthening the
NATO-Ukraine alliance in (2), and don't view Russia and China as expansionist
imperialist powers in (3), but as reacting defensively to US imperialist
pressure on their borders .
Russia has restored capitalism but I don't believe this to be the case in China
where the economy is predominantly state-owned. Capitalism may or may not be
restored in China and the PRC is not yet socialist as we understand it.
On Ukraine: I see it as an inter-capitalist war which has harmed the interests
of working people everywhere, not least in that country. I favour an immediate
ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops accompanied by a UN-supervised
referendum allowing all who resided in the territories seized by Russia since
2014 to exercise their right of self-determination.
I'm not particularly bothered that you and others view China and Russia as
rival imperialist powers to the US, akin to the inter-imperialist rivalry which
led to WW 1. History will decide.
The immediate issue is whether to call for a halt to the fighting and talks
ideally leading to a settlement as proposed above or, as many on the list
propose, to ship more advanced arms supplies and funding to Ukraine in order
for it to continue the war. Am I right in assuming the latter is not your
position? That's what underlay my suggestion that we could narrow our
differences on Ukraine. If you share the pro-war position of others on the
list, it would be better to set that issue aside.
On Taiwan: I support its autonomy and would oppose any Chinese invasion of the
island (which I don't anticipate). As with Ukraine, I don't want to see Taiwan
turned into a heavily-armed forward base for US imperialism, its nearest point
on Kinmen island only 6 miles from the Chinese mainland, on the pretext that
China is responsible for increasing tensions in preparation for an invasion.
It's the same pretext the US has historically used to intervene everywhere - to
paint the other side as the aggressor while it is busily furthering its
imperialist interests in their neighbourhood.
I'll look forward as always to your reply.
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