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Geopolitics

In Case You Missed It: Our Weekly Olympic Roundup (Bonus Edition)

London 2012 roundup for the week: everything you need to know -- and some things you don't:


Articles:

Welcome To The *Lodnon Oimplycs*

Finally A Chance To Shine: Libya's First Olympics Without Gaddafi

Olympic Biz - Why London Is Rolling Out Red Carpet For China

Fearing Doping Tests, China Has Banned All "Foreign" Food For Olympic Athletes

World's Biggest Online Community Hoping to Cash in on the Olympics


Crunch It:

Olympics: Bad Badminton And Crashing Cyclists, Is That Strategy Or Cheating?

New Zealand Olympics Athlete Says He's No Pimp

Former U.S. Team Member Answers Vital Question: Do Olympic Swimmers Pee In The Pool?

Eight Badminton Players Disqualified For Throwing Games

Olympic Horses: Most Pampered Athletes In The Olympic Games

Sour Grapes? China Swimming Prodigy Raises Red Flags

Bed Bugs Invade London Just In Time For The Olympics

London 2012 Gets No Medals For Its Dreadful Marketing

Oh No They Didn't: First Day Of Olympic Events, First Major Diplomatic Gaffe

Perils Of Olympic Tweeting: Greek Athlete Kicked Off Team For Racism

The World's Most Famous Street Artist Banksy Takes On The Olympics

French Paralympic Athlete Gets Stolen Arm Back

Bonus video:

Phelps wins a medal, Lego-style...

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Geopolitics

China's Military Intentions Are Clear — And Arming Taiwan Is The Only Deterrence

China is spending more money on weapons and defense than ever. The reason is evident: Xi Jinping wants to take Taiwan. Europe should follow the U.S. and support Taipei militarily as the only way to deter Beijing from war.

Photo of Military drills in Taiwan amid rising China-U.S. Tensions

Taiwanese soldiers stand guard at a base during a military drill simulating defense operations against a possible Chinese PLA intrusion

Gregor Schwung

-OpEd-

BERLIN — Fear is never the best advisor.

It is, however, an understandable emotion when China announces the biggest increase in its defense budget in memory. And when Beijing does so after siding with Russia in the Ukraine war with its supposed "peace plan" and justifying the increase with an alleged "escalating oppression" of China in the world.

The budget plan unveiled by outgoing Premier Li Keqiang calls for a 7.2% increase in defense spending. That's more than in previous years — and just the official figure.

Experts estimate the true spending is much higher, as Beijing finances its military through numerous shadow budgets.

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