Written by Cameron Chambers - September 5, 2022 Tensions are on the rise in the Pacific following U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. This visit intended to signal the ties between the United States and the island of Taiwan, which is ahead of the 20th Party Congress in Beijing. As a... Continue Reading →
The Russia-Ukraine War: How Russia Violated the United Nations Charter
When representatives from the United Nations signed the UN Charter on June 26, 1945, those representatives bound their governments to the entirety of the Charter, including provisions regarding sovereignty. Article 2 is organized with the understanding that nations would respect the sovereignty of other nations. Specifically, Article 2 states, "The Organization is based on the... Continue Reading →
Enlargement and Article 10: NATO, Finland, & Sweden
Last week, the United States Senate voted to ratify adding Finland and Sweden to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (hereinafter "NATO"). The resolution passed the Senate with a 95-1 vote after Senators Schumer (D-NY) and McConnell (R-KY) urged lawmakers to support the measure as Russia's aggression threatened national security. While President Biden hosted the leaders... Continue Reading →
The Poland-Belarus Border Crisis: Asylum Rights Altered as Troops Guard Border
As the migrants trapped in "no man's land" begin to face the winter months, the European Union ("EU") recently proposed emergency measures to allow Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania to derogate from EU asylum rules. According to Human Rights Watch, while the measures would still need to be approved by the European Council, they would "systemize... Continue Reading →
The Poland-Belarus Border Conflict
As instability rises in the Middle East, migrants are looking for different avenues to safety, and one of these avenues is seeking passage through Eastern Europe. On September 2, 2021, The Economist reported a large influx of migrants were crossing into Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia at the direction of the Belarusian government (https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/09/02/europes-latest-migrant-crisis-leaves-refugees-stuck-between-two-borders). Belarus' dictator,... Continue Reading →
Confucius Institutes in the Wake of the Confucius Act
By Daniel Stephens THURSDAY- The United States Senate unanimously passed the Confucius Act (S. 939), placing restrictions on Confucius Institutes that operate on college campuses. Confucius Institutes hold cultural events, teach Chinese, and sponsor trips to China. The Confucius Act addresses China’s influence on the postsecondary educational institutions, citing the need for protection of academic... Continue Reading →
