Strong states or empires imposing their will on and collecting tribute from weaker people is not something new. The Romans did that in the whole Mediterranean and South European area. The British Empire imposed its policies and trading conditions on many parts of the World as long as it was the strongest. When the Brits lost power after WW2, the US and the Soviet Union took over, each in their respective share of the World. At the beginng of colonisation, our colonies may have felt similarly to what we feel now in relation to US, China and Russia trying to impose their will on Europe and South East Asia. History repeats itself, though with different means in the age of the atom, space travel, the internet and AI.
Depressing but very perceptive, thanks for this piece.
Strong states or empires imposing their will on and collecting tribute from weaker people is not something new. The Romans did that in the whole Mediterranean and South European area. The British Empire imposed its policies and trading conditions on many parts of the World as long as it was the strongest. When the Brits lost power after WW2, the US and the Soviet Union took over, each in their respective share of the World. At the beginng of colonisation, our colonies may have felt similarly to what we feel now in relation to US, China and Russia trying to impose their will on Europe and South East Asia. History repeats itself, though with different means in the age of the atom, space travel, the internet and AI.
Stronger defence integration of (most of) ASEAN and its allies (ANZ/Canada/UK) is imperative.