Opinion Archives - Page 11 of 28 - The Diplomatic Envoy

April 27, 2021 Joaquin Matamis

The Taiwan Question: Strategic Ambiguity Is Not Enough

Ever since Taiwan separated itself from mainland China in 1949, relations between Beijing and Tapiei have been tenuous at best. At worst, the Taiwan Strait is a hotbed for diplomatic and military gridlock as Beijing and Taiwan vie for control of the region. On April 20, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army flew a squadron of 25 aircraft into Taiwan airspace, the South China Morning Post reports. While these exercises are not uncommon in the Taiwan Strait, the incursion comes at a time of great tension between China and the United States’ growing relationship with Taiwan.

2021 April 2021 Opinion Americas

April 27, 2021 Joseph MacKenna

Is the Biden Administration’s Immigration Policy All That Different from His Predecessor?

The administration has started rolling back some Trump-era policies, but the pace at which President Biden is acting has failed to live up to the expectations promised from the campaign. The Biden-Harris campaign site listed ambitious goals for the first 100 days in office, stating objectives such as overturning the “Muslim Ban,” strengthening the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and ending construction on the border wall, but their ability to achieve these goals is justifiably coming under scrutiny.

2021 Global April 2021 Opinion Americas

April 27, 2021 Patrick Condon

U.S. Anti-Trans Bills Signal Growing Transphobic Legislation Around the World

Over the past four months, the United States has been hit with a wave of anti-transgender legislation. While these Republican Party-led bills claim to fight for the safety of both binary and non-binary children, courts and leading researchers affirmed the danger they pose to transgender children. But this wave in the U.S. does not come without equal movement around the world.

World 2021 April 2021 Opinion Americas Africa Asia

April 27, 2021 Collin Duran

Vaccinating Low-Income States is About More than Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly disrupted nearly every aspect of global society, making the emergence of several vaccines a welcome development. The United States, along with the European Union, has prioritized the purchasing and distribution of vaccines since early December 2020.

2021 March 2021 Opinion Americas

March 24, 2021 Lylian Pagan

Derek Chauvin’s Trial is Beginning: What has America Learned, and How Do We Continue Forward?

On March 25, 2020, the world watched as George Floyd laid face down on a street outside a Minneapolis shop, pleading for his life. Floyd was accused of attempting to pay for cigarettes with a “fake” $20 bill. Floyd was handcuffed and restrained by police officers, while then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin placed his knee on Floyd’s head and neck for 7 minutes and 46 seconds. Those moments, captured on spectators’ mobile cameras and shared on social media and the news, were Floyd’s final moments alive.

2021 March 2021 Opinion Americas

March 23, 2021 Patrick Condon

Legalizing Marijuana in Mexico Creates a Power Triangle Involving Transnational Drug Companies

Mexico is positioned to become the world’s largest legal marijuana market in the world. On March 11, 2020, the lower house of Mexico’s Congress passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana. This bill would “let users with a permit carry up to 28g and grow as many as eight plants at home for personal use,” according to BBC News. Currently, it is illegal to carry more than five grams in Mexico. This promising bill does not come without warning though, as it fails to address the violent history of Mexico’s cartel-led market.

2021 March 2021 Opinion Europe

March 23, 2021 Shweta Parthasarathy

“Burqa Ban” in the Age of COVID-19

Switzerland joined several other European countries in banning burqas, niqabs, and other face coverings in public. This so-called “burqa ban” and those that came before it are highly controversial and inspired debate over religious freedoms and secularism, all of course, complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 March 2021 Opinion Americas Middle East

March 23, 2021 Sebastian Kopec

The Biden Administration Must Make Amends for Trump’s Middle East Policy

As the first half of President Joe Biden’s 100 days passes by, many are now beginning to analyze the trajectory of his term. The most recent airstrikes in Syria on February 25, 2021 against Iranian backed militias, have seemingly set the tone for his Middle Eastern policy. Many Americans and foreign policy analysts now wonder where the Biden Administration will go moving forward.

2021 February 2021 Eastern Europe Opinion Americas

February 22, 2021 Sara Fakik

The United States Has Far More to Worry About than Russia’s Protests

Activist Alexei Navalny, Russia’s main opposition leader, is known for exposing corruption in Russia and campaigning against the ruling United Russia Party. The spark that captured global attention was when Navalny found President Putin’s secret country house built with Russian citizens’ money. Pensions in Russia are reduced every year and the economy continues to suffer–the citizens were rightly furious.

2021 February 2021 Opinion Americas

February 22, 2021 Patrick Condon

The Eerie Future of U.S. Political Protests, a Warning from Brazilian Demonstrators

Brazil and the United States have experienced a rise in anti-establishment protests over the last decade. As leftist groups gained social acceptance in both countries, far-right groups started to emerge. These groups began putting greater pressure on sitting officials to make substantial changes, showing the need for political reform.