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Geopolitics

The Libyan Diaspora And The War

Libyans who have left, and others with experience abroad, play a key role for the anti-government forces in coordinating and communicating with the outside world.

Libyan voter (by septimius severus)
Rebel media center in Benghazi
Florent Marcie

ZINTAN - For decades, Libyans have been fleeing oppression and authoritarian rule, leaving behind their home country in hopes of finding a better life abroad. This so-called Libyan diaspora has spread across Europe, North America and Australia.

Other Libyans, especially those working for international oil companies, have frequently spent different periods abroad for either professional or language training. When unrest broke out in Libya in mid-February, most of those with foreign connections supported the rebels' cause, and some ex-patriots even returned home.

This Libyan version of "globalization" means there are three co-existing societies: Libyans living abroad, most of them English-speaking and open-minded; Libyans living in Libya who've been psychologically marked by Muammar Gaddafi's 41-year rule; and those living in Libya but who have tried to open up to the world using the Internet.

Under current circumstances, the diaspora has turned out to be crucial. Besides the fact they speak English, they have the capacity to do things that can't be done by those living under an authoritarian regime. They have been especially important to the media, a driving force during the Arab Spring.

The first thing rebels set up in villages they control in western Libya are "Media Centers." Even in Yafran, where power cuts are common, twin brothers Mazigh and Madghis -- who both studied in Australia -- proudly visit the new center. "It only opened a few days ago, but it already has WiFi. Hopefully, we'll soon be able to welcome lots of journalists."

Other members of the diaspora go even further, and are taking up arms. "I grew up in Manchester," says Abdul, a strong-looking man, "but my family is from Yafran. I feel better holding a Kalashnikov than a camera. Most of all, we need military aid."

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Photo - Al Jazeera English

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Geopolitics

Why Beijing Needs Ukraine To Lose

As the Chinese government puts together what it calls a peace plan for Ukraine, it's also considering sending weapons to Russia. The Biden administration warns China will "pay a real price" if it helps Russia, but Beijing's real goal is to weaken the United States.

Why Beijing Needs Ukraine To Lose
Oleksandr Demchenko

This article was updated on March 21, 2023 at 12:15 PM CST

-Analysis-

KYIV — In Moscow for his visit since the Russian invasion, Chinese President Xi Jinping is presenting himself as possible peacemaker to end the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to talk with Xi in a bid to stop Beijing from supplying Moscow with weapons.

And yet China has no strategic interest in Ukraine winning the war. Why?

Xi's only priority is establishing a future world order on Beijing's own terms — and the defeat of Ukraine and its allies, particularly the United States, would create an opportunity for Beijing to absorb Taiwan and increase its influence in the Pacific.

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China is the main beneficiary of the full-scale war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine, viewing the confrontation as a tool to weaken the West.

Like Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese authorities were convinced that Russian troops could capture Kyiv in three days and take control of most of Ukraine within a month. This is probably what Putin and Xi agreed when they met during the Beijing Olympics in Feb. 2022: the Russian leader promised to destroy Ukraine, weakening Europe and eroding the trust other democratic states had in the United States — and in exchange, the Chinese leader assured Putin that he would back Moscow.

Instead, what was hailed as "No. 2 army of the world" was forced to retreat. On Sept. 15, as Ukrainian forces were liberating the Kharkiv region, Putin met Xi in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. After returning to Moscow, Putin announced a partial mobilization.

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