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jordanianroyals · 2 years

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Rajwa Al Saif’s 9-day university study trip to Dubai, 2016

Rajwa, along with her 9 classmates, undertook a nine-day trip about sustainable design in Dubai during spring break 2016. Her father’s company generously sponsored the entire trip. Below is an article from the university’s blog.

Architecture Students Explore Sustainable Design in Heart of Dubai Thursday, April 14, 2016, By Elaine Wackerow

Each semester, advanced-level architecture students enrolled in Syracuse Architecture visiting critic studios have the opportunity to engage in a unique, full-scope design experience led by highly knowledgeable faculty and/or architects. Within a small setting, students work in teams to pursue a common studio objective. They learn to consider a full range of contextual factors in their work through site visits and first-hand engagement with cross-disciplinary thought leaders in public and private sectors.

In spring 2016, 10 students in Assistant Professor Tarek Rakha’s “Sustainable Start Ups in the Desert” studio received a once-in-a-lifetime educational benefit, a nine-day trip to Dubai during spring break, thanks to the generosity of Saudi-based firm El Seif Engineering Contracting Co.

“The Dubai trip was an exhilarating learning medium for Syracuse Architecture students,” says Rakha, who is also a Center of Excellence faculty research fellow. “Not only did they experience one of the built environment spectacles of the Middle East, but also they presented their projects for feedback from prominent practicing architects and engineers in the region, as well as academic leaders focusing on energy in buildings.”

“What made this trip so memorable for me,” says Rajwa Alseif ’17, “was seeing the students in the studio experience Arabic culture and architecture for the first time. Dubai is very intriguing, having contemporary architecture while also attempting to maintain the traditional beauty of the Arabic culture and history.”

Dubai is inarguably one of the world’s most spectacular cities. The city’s amenities often evoke descriptives such as “world’s largest,” an outgrowth of an affluent, oil-rich economy. But Dubai’s sprawling development in the face of climatic conditions has created unique challenges and opportunities. Increasing knowledge and technologies in the area of sustainable design practices are paving the way for new thinking.

In his studio, Rakha’s students have been developing speculative approaches to sustainable design of an entrepreneurial startup campus on a site located in the heart of Dubai. The studio project has been divided into three stages: urban campus design, start-up incubator building development and feasibility analysis of developed design, with a focus on energy and sustainability. During their trip, students benefited from a wide range of experiences to inform their projects.

Beginning with a visit to the American University of Sharjah, students attended a lecture that gave them background on early master planning and socioeconomic factors that influenced Dubai’s development. “A trip to ‘Old’ Dubai,” says Colin Hoover G’17, “gave insight into both cultural heritage as well as potential passive strategies that could be used to reduce energy in contemporary buildings.”

A visit to architecture firm CallisonRTKL gave students the opportunity for a guided tour of Dubai in addition to a critique on their midterm projects. Alice Gorodetsky ’18 reports that a visit to Dubai’s Design District (D3) included experience with an intricate model of the district’s master plan. Steven Veligrinis of Perkins + Will joined them to “discuss his design decisions and confer with the group about relevant topics in practice such as undesirable ‘green-washing.’”

A day that included a visit to engineering firm Buro Happold focused largely on the theme of extreme experience in the built environment. With Buro Happold’s John Sullivan as their guide, “We explored the biggest mall in the world,” says Yen-Chun Liu MS ‘16, “and then took the world’s fastest elevator to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the word.” A follow-up tour of the firm ended with students presenting their projects for feedback by firm consultants.

“In Masdar City in Abu Dhabi,” reports Christian Martinez G‘17, “we had opportunity to use the famous and fully automated Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system to travel to the Masdar Institute.” Students delivered quick project presentations to the Masdar Institute engineering team and learned about the institute’s Abu Dhabi-based research.

Additional outings throughout the city region—including the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque (UAE’s largest)—provided students with additional insight, but there was also time for “just fun” experiences including a desert safari, dune dashing and camel rides.

The studio is in its final phase of project development and preparing for a symposium, “Start Ups in the Desert: Finding Value in Environmentally Responsive Built Environments,” on Monday, April 25, from 9 a.m.-noon in the Slocum Hall first-floor atrium. Discussions and presentations will focus on the architecture and urbanism of the UAE, Dubai and the Gulf, and the value of sustainability in the desert. The symposium will also serve as the final review of student projects. Guest presenters with Gulf-based work expertise include: D. Rodman Henderer, senior vice president, RTKL, and chair, Syracuse Architecture Advisory Board; Christoph Reinhart, associate professor, MIT School of Architecture and Planning; and Nezar Alsayyad, Professor of Architecture, Planning, Urban Design and Urban History, College of Environmental Design, University of California at Berkeley.

Says Alseif, the symposium student organizer, “The studio is looking forward to participating in this culminating event, sharing their projects with other students and faculty, as well as learning from an interesting team of experts who will provide helpful insights on sustainability issues in the Gulf.”

Student reporters Austin Adams ’18, Alice Gorodetsky ’18, Colin Hoover G’17, Victoria Hughes ’18, Yen-Chun Liu MS ’16, Seungah Sally Lee MS ’16, Christian Martinez G’17, Killian Miles G’17 and Derek Dongmin Shin ’18 contributed to this story.

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sbgraphic · 4 months

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vimeo

Astonishing Little Feet from Maegan Houang on Vimeo.

Starring Celia Au, Perry Yung, Robert Lewis Stephenson, Brian Wallace, Max Faugno and Robert Brettenaugh

Written and directed by Maegan Houang Produced by Pin-Chun Liu Executive Produced by Glenn Kaino, Lauri Michelle Firstenberg, and Elaine Sir Cinematography by Christopher Ripley Production Design by Terry Watson Edited by Gus Spelman Composer: Robert Ouyang Rusli Costume Design by Anne Valliant Hair & Makeup by Moung Park Casting Director: Tanya Giang Co-EP: Brooke Baker Sound Design & Mix by Grant Meyers Lead VFX Artist: Jeff Desom Animation & Title design by Laura Nasir-Tamara Production Manager: John Lozada 1st AD: Ted Keffer 2nd AD: Kat McArdle Associate Producer: Po-wei Su Script Supervisor: Merina Seidel Language Consultant: Alice Ko Set PAs: Ferran Molina, Slava Makarov Production Intern: Max Hickman Art Director: Jay Dizon Scenic: Alexandra Papoban Art PA: Le Quang Nhan Lead Man: Angel de La Rosa Set Dressers: Franki Wujcik, Vincent Quintana, Yingxi Wan 1st AC: Jacob Perry, Felipe Larrondo Loader: Darrell Ham 2nd AC: Mohammed Samra Still Photographer: Peter Yung Gaffer: Chase DuBose BBE: Vahagan Gukasyan Swing: Tanner Johnson Key Grips: Luke Poole, Lance Gegner, Brandon Diaz BBG: Myles Evenson Swings: Erik Gold, Ricky Ramon Velazquez Production Sound Mixer: Gabriel Linkiewicz Key Makeup & Hair: Akihito Sawada Healthy Safety Supervisors: Loreto Rodriguez, Wayne Landry, Joowan Bosco Kim On Set VFX Supervisor: Cooper Vacheron @coopvchrn VFX Artist: Matthew Wauhkonen ADR Recordist: Mauricio Escamilla

Shot on Kodak

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gioiafinejewellery · 2 years

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Ruby Proposal Ring Featuring a cushion pigeon blood ruby with fancy side trillion and micro-tapered diamond. Graceful and timeless design in rose gold perfectly highlight the center ruby. Congratulations to Lin Chun and Elaine! May your engagement be the beginning of a lifetime filled with special love and happiness. https://gioia.com.sg/ruby/ #gioiafinejewellery #finejewellery #jewellery #rubyred #promisering #proposalring #pigeonblood #engagmentring #weddingring #wedding2022 #proposed #engaged #wedding #instagood #instagramjewelry #instagram #instagramtags #singapore #foryou #foryoupage #fyp (at GIOIA Fine Jewellery) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClFitfWScYI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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potential-fate · 1 year

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“And the one over there is the one who was only a toddler?” Abraham raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

Elaine glanced towards the front door where their two older children stood.

“Yes, that’s Nathan,” Ian could hear the irritation in her voice, though she hid it well. If Abraham caught it himself, he didn’t show it, “He was only four when you–...”

“Indeed. I remember.” Abraham’s gaze hadn’t left the two by the door, nor had the frown softened at all.

#arkhelios #sims stories #sims 2 #sims 2 stories #sims 2 gameplay #ts2 #my posts #Arkh Ch5 #Elaine Chun #Ian Chun #Nathan Chun #Abe Chun #Abraham Helios

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arkhelios-gameplay · 2 years

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Elaine gave him a look of annoyance. “How am I?” she echoed.

“You are my wife, of course I want to know how you’re doing!” Ian said. “I haven’t heard from you in... a very long time.”

Elaine rubbed her temples. “You cheat on me... With that woman... And ask me how I’m doing?”

“Look, I’m sorry-”

#arkhelios #elaine chun #ian chun #sims 2 #the sims 2

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luverofralts · 6 months

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"Still? When's this going to be over?" Adrienne shouted at the cards on the floor. It was nearly Winterfest, which meant that it was time for the Helios family birthday party. Noelle, Adrienne, and Luciana all had the same birthday and their grandparents wanted to celebrate it the most economical way possible. By combining the three birthdays into one party, Elaine saved time and money. It also usually meant that her children wouldn't feel obligated to show up at her house on Winterfest itself. The less time she had to spend with Nathan and whoever he was bringing home that day, the better.

Theo had absolutely no interest in answering Roman. Instead, he and Adam were texting, since Theo had been unable to ditch the family event. They'd been texting non-stop about all the interesting things Adam was going to do with his own family on the school break. Adam was going snowboarding, and shopping in the high-end magical stores while Theo watched his little sisters blow out candles and his father argue with his siblings for an entire afternoon. They wouldn't get to see each other until after Winterfest, which felt like an eternity. How was he supposed to manage without Adam for so long?

"Theo? Can you help your father set up the living room? He needs a second pair of hands."

"Theo! Now. Go help your father. When you're done, you can come help me make dinner in the kitchen."

"I don't get it!" Adrienne shrieked, shouting at the unresponsive deck of tarot cards on the floor. "They can't just show up here, I told them that! Victoriana is supposed to know and then they come. They'll mess up everything!"

"Rien, put your cards away. Just because it's your birthday doesn’t mean that you can shut yourself away with them. Go celebrate with your sister and cousin. Make a friend, I don't care who. Please, Rien, please."

"Yes, Dad," Adrienne sighed. "But-but it's important that I see what's coming. There are huge plans in motion that-"

"Give me the cards," Roman snapped, cutting his daughter off before she could mumble strange prophecies again. "You're not getting these back for at least a week. No one can accurately predict the future, and even if you could, what's the point if you're not living it? Let whatever happens happen and we'll deal with it then."

"But Dad-"

"Now it's two weeks," Roman declared, glowering in the direction of his son. "Theo! Get off your ass now and help your father or Adam won't be allowed to come over for three months. Now mister, go."

Theo grudgingly stood, no doubt telling Adam how cruel his parents were via text. Roman didn't care what the teenagers thought of him, so long as it got Theo off the couch and helping his family set up.

Elaine passed her youngest son in the hall, deliberately avoiding him as best she could. The last thing she needed was to deal with Nathan's drama while the Bellamys undoubtedly brought enough of their own drama for the day.

"Ugh, Kaeileen is obsessed with me," Nathan grumbled, scrolling through his messages. "'Your child support didn't come in this month, why haven't you signed the form for Naethan's school trip?' Doesn't she have anything better to do with her time than bother me?"

"Happy birthday!" Luciana exclaimed, hugging her grumpy cousin. "What's wrong? We're getting presents and cake today."

"I don't want to talk about it," Noelle replied. "You wouldn't understand. Your parents care about you."

"Oh, what did Aunt Lucy do now?" Luciana asked. "Dad hasn't yelled about her for a long time. Did she get an important case? Is she suing the school so we get a longer break?"

"No, none of that. I found out who my other mom is and...and I can't talk about it."

"Okay!" Luciana chirped, ignoring her cousin's moodiness. Today was still going to be awesome even if Noelle was grumpy. Cake and presents always made things better. "Have you seen the presents on the present table? There's so many of them!"

"I don't care," Noelle sighed dramatically. "It's our birthday and I'll never see my other mother here. I've been abandoned. No one wants me."

"I can get you some pretzels," Luciana offered. She didn't have the focus today to put up with her stepcousin's drama. "Dad hasn't got the desserts out yet, but there are pretzels."

"Hard or soft pretzels?" Noelle asked. "I love the soft ones that just came out of the oven."

"Both," Luciana replied cheerfully. "You know my dad doesn't skimp on anything. Let's go find some before dinner. It'll be fun."

Noelle paused for a moment and considered her options. Her absent mother wasn't a priority to anyone else, and the one mother she did have in her life was completely distracted with her attention seeking behavior. No one wanted to listen to Noelle, so she might as well join her friend for a birthday pretzel.

"Hey, how are things going? Busy? I'm pretty busy. I don't get back to Arkhelios as often as i should," Nicholas said.

His old friend and stepbrother, Nathan, had been erratic their entire lives and didn't often call Nicholas to hang out, so this was probably the only time they'd see each other for a while. From what Nicholas understood, Nathan spent his life jumping from job to job, country to country. He spent days with royalty in Crystal Cove and then weeks hanging out with a vampire coven in Strangetown. Anything to avoid the typical life his mother wanted for him. Anything to avoid paying child support to Kaeileen, not that he held a steady enough job for her to collect from. He had Gareth and his boys for the length of the party, after which, Naethan would be returned to his mother and Gareth and Garth would return with him home, until Nathan had another impulse to disappear again. It wasn't exactly parent or partner of the year behaviour, but no one fought Nathan on it. He always came back, didn't he?

"Yeah, things are busy," Nathan replied dismissively. "I travel a lot, do a little work here and there. I can't complain. You're still where? Strangetown, right? You fled one desert for another. At least they have good clubs there."

Nicholas shrugged.

"I guess so. I wouldn't know, we're expecting our first child soon. All I've been doing is fixing the nursery and reading book after book. It's the greatest thing to ever happen to us. We're so excited."

"Eh, I guess," Nathan replied, rolling his eyes. "They're expensive and whiny too. Don't have too many."

"I can see why Gareth keeps you around," Nicholas remarked. "You're such a romantic."

"Oh, Gareth! Good to see you."

Abe waved to his ex and Nathan's fiancé as he walked down the hall.

"Hey Abe! How's the birthday girls? Excited for their party?"

Abe paused to consider his answer. Noelle had been sulking all day while glaring daggers at her mother and Rien was busy crying on the stairs because Roman took her tarot cards. Luciana at least was running around, shoving food in her mouth and laughing. At least one of the kids seemed to be enjoying the party.

"You know those three, always off doing something," he settled on. "God only knows what Theo's up to too. He's spent the whole morning texting and now I can't find him. He's supposed to be in the kitchen helping, but I can guess what he's actually doing. Just wait until your boys are teenagers; everything you ask of them will suddenly be the end of the world."

Gareth smiled politely.

"I can imagine. Is...uh, is Roman here too? He'd not like, running errands or anything?"

Abe cringed, remembering the first time Nathan had brought Gareth to the family house and how Roman had lost his mind threatening him for having slept with Abe a few times in college. Roman had been better with prolonged exposure to the man and the fact that Gareth was now engaged to Nathan. There was still hostility when Roman went anywhere near Gareth, but Gareth believed that there would be large consequences if Roman threatened him again. He'd lost Elaine's automatic support from his affair with Ulyssa, and Lucy tried not to indulge in petty pranks when her high profile wife was nearby. With all that protecting him, Gareth had downgraded the threat Roman posed enough to just be nervous of the man.

"Roman's in the kitchen, or he will be once he hunts down our son," Abe assured him. I doubt that you'll see him until dinner."

"Gareth? Gareth! Did you send Kaeileen money yesterday? My account is mysteriously missing the amount she wanted. I told you, Mom's going to draft something to get her off our backs."

"Sorry, I should talk with him," Gareth apologized. "He doesn't understand that child support is not optional, and that his mother can't just make his responsibilities go away."

"Yeah, of course," Abe said, watching Gareth storm off to yell at his partner.

He had no idea how Gareth tolerated Nathan. He was Abe's little brother and Abe couldn't stand to be in a room with him for more than ten minutes.

Naethan and Garth were well behaved, unlike their father. They were only half siblings, but they seemed to be inseparable and weren't too impacted by their shared father's inability to be a functioning adult. Abe didn't see them often, as he didn't willingly spend any time near his brother, but it looked like Gareth and Kaeileen's parenting was making up for Nathan's.

Elaine scoured the living room for her missing grandson. Roman was getting pissed off in the kitchen with Ironman, which made Elaine pissed off that her first grandson, with at least some of her DNA in him, was being a lazy slacker. For all the money she helped his parents pay to his fancy school, Theo certainly hadn't been taught manners or responsibility.

"Theodosius Bellamy, you come here this instant. You have been summoned to help with dinner, and if you don't get in there in the next three minutes, there will be consequences. Ironman knows how to block cell reception and take down the wifi network. It'd be a shame if you couldn't call anyone, wouldn't it?"

"God, I have to go, Adam, my bitch grandma is yelling at me for some reason. Yeah, I know. I miss you too. I'll try calling you later."

On his way to the kitchen, Theo's eyes spotted his grandmother's new karaoke machine in the living room. He loved to sing and play guitar, and it was there for the party guests to use, right? One little song wo wuldn't be the end of the world before he was trapped, cutting onions and peppers with his father.

He scanned a few songs in the catalog, while Noelle was already prematurely booing his future performance.

"Boooo! No one wants to hear you sing, leave the machine for the people with talent!" Noelle called out. Teasing Theo was almost too easy, but it helped ease the hurt she felt when she thought of her mothers.

Theo glared back at her, completely unshaken. It would take a lot more than heckling to rattle him. He could be just as petty as her.

"Her name is Noelle, I have a dream about her," Theo sang, making sure that his voice was extra obnoxious for his cousin. "Something something, I've got gym class in half an hour."

"Shut up already!" Noelle shouted, stamping her feet. "It's my birthday, and I'm sick of that stupid song everyone thinks is funny. There are other songs with Noelle in them! You're stupid! This whole party is stupid! Don't make me break your stuff. I'm still a kid, no one will blame me."

"THEODOSIUS ULYSSES BELLAMY. Get in the kitchen now, or I swear to god-"

"Coming," Theo groaned, putting the microphone away angrily. "This whole party sucks. I wish I were with Adam. His parents would never make me help with dinner."

#sims 2 #arkhelios #roman bellamy #abe chun #sim: theo bellamy #lucy chun #elaine helios #noelle helios #sim: noelle helios #luciana bellamy #Adrienne Bellamy #nathan chun #nickolas fontana #theo bellamy #arkhelios adventures

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saralynnx · 2 years

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I figured I might as well document all the fights that happen, since there is no stopping them lol.

This time, Fabio Rivales defeats Elaine Chun-Helios.

#arkhelios #arkhelios scripted events #fontana #fontana scripted events #fabio rivales #elaine chun-helios #wanda hydes #ian chun #jolanda rivales #malika bellamy

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opedguy · 2 years

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China Pressures Taiwan to Nix Pelosi’s Trip

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), July 28, 2022.--Beijing warned Taiwan today about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s upcoming trip to Taipei serving notice that the Republic of China [ROC] would pay a serious price. China routinely flies fighter jets into the Taiwan Strait, pressing the Peoples Republic of China [PRC] to take action. While most PRC experts don’t think and invasion of Taiwan is imminent now, Beijing can find more ways to make life on the Island of Formosa unbearable. Gen. Chiang Kai-Shek led a band of Chinese nationalists to the Island of Formosa during the 1949 Maoist Revolution. where some 20 million Chinese lost their lives. Successive generations of U.S. president backed the ROC, supplying defense-and-offensive weapons to defend nationalists against a threatened Communist invasion. With U.S. support, the ROC prospered over the last 73 years, despite occasional friction with Mainland China.

At no time has the friction been greater than now with the PRC. President Joe Biden, 79, spent over two hours on the phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping today, hearing a mouthful from Xi if Pelosi goes ahead with her trip to Taipei. Since former President Jimmy Carter, 97, signed the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act [TRA] Act into law, the new law forced the U.S. to recognized only one China, the one in Beijing. Carter’s TRA also cancelled the 1954 Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty that obligated the U.S. to defend Taiwan in the event of a Mainland takeover. So, when it comes to U.S. relations with Taiwan, it’s a sore topic with Beijing. Xi is acutely aware of the amount of arms supplied by the U.S. to Taipei for the purpose of defending the island against a possible invasion. Xi told Biden today that any official trip by the U.S. to Taipei is strictly prohibited.

Bipartisan members of Congress have encouraged Pelosi to go ahead with her trip, no matter what the consequences. Pelosi has been a big critic of Mainland China and staunch ally of Taipei over her career in Congress. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is married to Transportation Secretary Elain Chow who’s an ex-ROC national, whose family still owns a shipping business in Taiwan. So, bipartisan support or Taiwan comes from both sides to the aisle. But circumstances are different today with Biden fighting a bloody proxy war against the Russia Federation. State Department officials estimate that Russia has lost or injured some 75,000 soldiers since the star of the Ukraine War Feb. 24. Mentioning Russian casualties reminds the Kremlin of the high price of the proxy war with the U.S.. U.S. lawmakers find a two-front war with Russia and China unthinkable.

Beijing sees Taiwan like Hong Kong, the once British Crown Colony where life was relatively normal until 2018 when Beijing began cracking down. Pro-democracy protesters were systematically squelched by Hong Kong authorities led by Administrator Carrie Lamb when she authorized Hong Kong police to crack down. When it comes to the Island of Formosa, it’s a far more complicated mission for Beijing to crack down on Taiwan, other than sending menacing flights into the Taiwan Strait. Pelosi has gotten backing for her trip from Democrats and Republican, despite the fact that Biden said July 20 that the Pentagon said the trip “was not a good idea.” What’s not a good idea is the fact that the U.S. cannot afford a new front with China at a time it’s spending billions on a proxy war against Russia. Beijing will make Taipei pay a draconic price if Pelosi goes ahead with her visit.

Taiwan officials have mixed feelings about Pelosi’s visit, knowing she can conduct whatever business needed on Zoom. “It would be extremely difficult for the government of President Tsai Ing-wen to decline Pelosi’s offier to visit, given [her position in U.S. politics] and that she has long been known for her support of Taiwan,” said Wang Kung-yi, director of Taiwan’s International Strategic Study Society, a Taipei think tank. Chiefh Chung, senior researcher at the National Policy Foundation, said Beijing has many options to respond to Pelosi’s visit. Chung didn’t rule out Beijing sending warplanes and warships into near Taiwan’s Southern coast, showing a menacing show of force near the Island.. Chung thinks it’s doubtful the PRC would show any overt aggression toward the U.S., presenting less of a safety concern for Pelosi that the Tsai government.

Creating problems for Taiwan, you’d think that Pelosi would re-route her trip not because of danger to her or her entourage but to Taipei. Watching the Ukraine War, Beijing knows that Biden is consumed with his proxy war against the Russian Federation, leaving a glaring opening if Beijing really wanted to take action in Taiwan. Faced with a Chinese Communist Congress in Beijing to seek another five-year-term, Xi doesn’t want to rock the boat until he gets the green light on another term in office. Julian Kuo, a political commentator in Taipei, said he thinks Pelosi would go ahead with her visit. “But if she comes, the impact on Taiwan will be greater than on the U.S.,” said Kuo, referring to any reprisals from Beijing. Nearing the end of her career, Pelosi looks to burnish her legacy as an intrepid anti-Communist warrior, paying little attention to current geopolitical risks.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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