Global Courant
Crisis subsiding in Russia
The day after an armed uprising by Wagner mercenaries against Vladimir Putin’s government was defused at the last minute, neither Putin nor the leader of the mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, appeared in public, adding to the sense of uncertainty and confusion that permeated Russia. The whirlwind of events in recent days has raised questions about Putin’s authority and the future of the war in Ukraine.
The armed uprising, led by Prigozhin, cast doubt on Russia’s justification for its war in Ukraine and the competence of its military leaders. Wagner’s troops marched on Moscow with the aim of challenging the Russian military leadership, and although they took control of a medium-sized Russian city, Rostov-on-Don, they failed to gain much public support.
On Saturday night, Aleksandr Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, had intervened and arranged for Prigozhin to go to Belarus to avoid criminal charges, and for the Wagner fighters to avoid repercussions.
Response: Residents cheered and hugged the mercenaries as they left Rostov-on-Don on Saturday. My colleague Roger Cohen writes that Prigozhin’s description of his actions as a “march for justice” may have struck some, perhaps many, Russians.
Is China Offering Deadly Aid to Russia?
Previously unreported shipments between a Chinese state-owned company and a Russian munitions factory raise new questions about Beijing’s role in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
On two separate occasions last year, Poly Technologies, a Chinese state-owned company, shipped tens of thousands of kilograms of smokeless powder to a munitions factory in central Russia that had historically supplied the Russian government. These shipments were identified by Import Genius, a US-based trade data aggregator.
US officials have expressed concern that China could be funneling products to Russia that would aid in its war effort — what is known as “lethal aid” — though they have not said outright that China has made such shipments.
Takeaway: There is no known direct link between the smokeless powder shipments and the Ukrainian battlefield, but some experts said the shipments constituted deadly aid.
Context: China has officially remained untethered in the war. In practice, however, it has become an important partner for Russia, having declared a borderless partnership early last year.
Taiwan’s #MeToo wave
A deluge of allegations of sexual harassment and assault has reached the top of Taiwan’s political establishment, sparking a reckoning with women’s rights on the democratic island – one of the most progressive places in Asia. New allegations emerge almost every day, sparking debate on talk shows and social media.
Senior party and government officials in President Tsai Ing-wen’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party were among the first to be accused, prompting her to apologize for her party’s mishandling of internal complaints. The scandal has tarnished the party’s reputation as a champion of liberal values and risks its credibility with younger voters ahead of next year’s election.
Catalyst: The deluge of complaints was triggered by a popular political drama on Netflix, “Wave Makers.” The show features a subplot about sexual harassment in a Taiwanese political party, and one character’s response – “Let’s just let this go this time” – has become a rallying cry online.
Context: Taiwan is notable for the significant progress women have made, but the flood of allegations of sexual harassment points to what scientists say is deep-seated sexism and a victim-blaming culture.
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Asia Pacific
The Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japan
On Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four main islands, a 1,200-kilometer route links 88 Buddhist temples that claim to be connected to Kukai, the celebrated monk who founded one of Japan’s most important schools of Buddhism.
In the past, the route was traveled almost exclusively by Buddhist pilgrims, but the journey has grown to include young explorers, elderly hikers enjoying their retirement, and even foreign visitors. Our writer also found a remarkable tradition of generosity. The people of Shikoku practice osettai, giving gifts to pilgrims, in the form of a trinket, a meal, a car ride, or even a place to sleep.
