Listen carefully to George Yeo, former foreign minister of Singapore.
He displays a far deeper understanding of European history and its conflicts than most Western politicians ever have.
It’s rare to see a high-ranking official speak with this level of depth, clarity, and insight in an interview. Here.
Having listened, I don't agree with George Yeo on Taiwan. I don't believe Taiwanese are taking an independent line, wanting to remain as they are, de facto if not de jure independent, just because the US says so. All the polls over many years, shows they don't want to be a part of the mainland. And that's the story. An independent people want to remain independent.
But on the Ukraine-Russia war question, perhaps he's got a point. Which is simply this: that any settlement, any Cease Fire, will involve Ukraine giving up some land. I think those of us that followed this at all were already there.
By the way, to be clear when i say "independent line" I don't mean that the want to declare independence. Which would be suicidal. They simply want the status quo. Which is effective independence. Without calling for it in legal international terms.
