In this new series, we take a look at 5 current conflicts, crises and events around the world every two weeks. This time in focus: tensions in the South China Sea, the Gaza war, a feared genocide in Sudan, a conference on “killer robots” in Vienna and the planned tightening of Western sanctions against Russia.
Event #1: Renewed tensions in the South China Sea
As reported by the Ministry of Defense in the Taiwanese capital Taipei, twelve Chinese fighter planes crossed the unofficial maritime border between China and Taiwan, known as the median line, on 27 April. The aircraft were part of a “combat patrol” in which naval vessels also took part. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and is threatening to use military force to reunify it.
The incident occurred at the same time as joint military exercises by the USA and the Philippines in the South China Sea. China accuses the USA of fomenting a military confrontation. The Philippines, in turn, feels under pressure from China. Here you can read more on the aggressive behavior of the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea.
Event #2: Possible ceasefire in Gaza
Under Egyptian mediation, an agreement was negotiated with Israel that provides for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for Israeli hostages. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Hamas to accept the proposal, calling it “extraordinarily generous”. However, the leader of the Islamist Hamas is skeptical about the negotiation offer because the draft does not contain any guarantee of an end to the war in Gaza. A definitive answer from Hamas is still pending.
In our short interview, Israeli Middle East expert Gershon Basin talks about the agreement talks about the agreement and the two-state solution, which he believes is more real than ever before. https://militaeraktuell.at/im-gespraech-mit-nahost-experte-gershon-baskin/
Event #3: UN fears genocide in Sudan
For a year now, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have been fighting for power in Sudan. Now the RSF are marching against Al-Fashir, the last town in the western state of Darfur that is still under SAF control.
There are around one million internally displaced people in the city and the surrounding area. Experts fear that there could be another massacre in the region like 20 years ago. Around 300,000 people were killed in the genocide in Darfur at that time. Arab horsemen militias (Janjaweed), who still make up a large part of the RSF today, were responsible for the ethnically motivated mass murders. Al-Fashir is on the verge of a massacre, warns US diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN meeting. Read more about the humanitarian crisis in the war zone of Sudan read here.
Event #4: Conference in Vienna wants rules for “killer robots”
At the beginning of the week, experts met at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna to discuss autonomous weapons systems and the ethical and legal aspects arising from them. Representatives from around 130 countries took part in the conference entitled “Humanity at the Crossroads”.
Autonomous weapon systems, colloquially referred to as “killer robots”, operate independently using artificial intelligence (AI) without human intervention. The spectrum ranges from weapons that identify targets to those that make independent life-and-death decisions based on data or their programming.
Negotiations on a legal framework for lethal autonomous weapons have been ongoing for years – but have so far been unsuccessful, as weapons-producing countries in particular are preventing restrictions.
With “How to (not) build the Terminator”, Frank Sauer from the University of German Armed Forces (Munich) gave a vivid presentation on current and foreseeable developments in weapons systems at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Vienna. Militär Aktuell editor Christian Bendl spoke to him afterwards about further developments in the autonomy of weapons systems and the likelihood of a real-life “Terminator” scenario. https://militaeraktuell.at/vergabe-fix-neuer-kampfanzug-fuer-das-jagdkommando/
Event #5: New sanctions to stop war supplies to Russia
On Wednesday, US officials announced a comprehensive sanctions package targeting nearly 300 individuals and companies in Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia and other countries. “The measures will further disrupt and weaken Russia’s war effort by targeting its military-industrial base and the circumvention networks that supply it,” said US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. So far, Russia has been able to maintain its arms production by finding ways to circumvent the sanctions. You can also read about the war in Ukraine in our Interview with political scientist Professor Carlo Masala.
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Topics: China’s head of state strengthens his influence in Europe with a European tour, US allies in Syria come under pressure and the USA loses important drone bases with its withdrawal from Niger.
