« The spectacular decision of the United States to bring down this balloon last weekend highlights the growing distrust between the two superpowers » et « raises questions regarding the possibility of stabilizing China-US relations amid fears of a new Cold War », Analyzes the Japan Times. In any case, Chinese anger appears on the front page of the nationalist press like the Global Times who castigates the completely disproportionate reaction of the United States “in front of a” harmless weather balloon, […] it’s like shooting a mosquito with a cannon ».
While US Navy divers are now trying to recover the debris of the balloon at sea “, which might take ” several days », notes the New York Timesthe international press remains perplexed regarding the springs of this episode ” who drove a simple unmanned balloon to set fire to the Sino-American relationship “, emphasizes the Washington Post.
« But what was it for ? also asks the Guardian which emphasizes ” that if it was indeed a spy balloon, it was foreseeable that it would be spotted and shot down, and this only a few days before the visit of the head of American diplomacy in China. […] Was Beijing then seeking to sabotage negotiations with the United States or to test the speed of the American military response? ? asks the British daily. In any case, it is a reckless provocation “, believes for his part the Wall Street Journal denouncing ” China’s well-known diplomatic behavior of probing an adversary’s weakness ».
Is China threatening to retaliate, at the risk of escalation?
« There is a risk of unpredictable escalation “, worries the South German newspaper if the “ two superpowers do not agree on the proportionality of the means which wants the sanctions to answer sanctions, the maneuvers of the counter-manoeuvres and the shooting of other shots ». « China finds itself with limited options “, believes for his part the New York Times, « while the displayed fury of Beijing also did not hide the regrets that this shooting down of the ball undermined the efforts to stabilize relations between the two countries “. It’s a ” huge challenge for Xi Jinping who wants to improve relations, but without giving ground “, further comments the Times.
« Logic would dictate that there is a symbolic response “, analyzes a sinologist in The eveningbut it is in any case unlikely that ” Beijing embarks on revenge that might lead to an even stronger US response “. Analysis shared by another specialist in The Republic for who ” despite points of disagreement, neither China nor the United States have any interest in a military conflict “. The relationship with China will remain very unstable “, Still believes the Italian daily, which returns for the consequences, “ Joe Biden’s State of the Union address to Congress tomorrow ».
Kyrylo Boudanov, new Ukrainian Defense Minister in the midst of the Russian offensive
Exit Oleksii Reznikov, « weakened in a corruption scandal “, which will be replaced in the Ministry of Defense by ” head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov “, reports the Kyiv Independent. « It is the biggest cabinet reshuffle since the beginning of the Russian invasion “, underlines for his part the Washington Post, and who then intervenes that the fighting is increasing in the heart of winter and that a vast Russian offensive is looming ».
« Although he was not directly involved in the corruption scandal that affected his ministry, Reznikov’s position was weakened “, explains the Post who notes that his successor Kyrylo Boudanov, 36, is “ one of the youngest generals in Ukraine “, and who is notably known for having predicted” Russia’s large-scale attack on Ukraine that most officials believed was just an incursion ».
Iran to pardon many convicted protesters
« Ayatollah Khamenei to pardon some protesters anti-government, to mark the anniversary of the 1979 revolution “, reports the Guardian which emphasizes ” that this amnesty nevertheless remains limited and will not apply to dual nationals and convicted persons liable to the death penalty “. An amnesty ” presented by the authorities as an act of reconciliation now that the street demonstrations have been suppressed “, notes the British daily.
While the Wall Street Journal also believes ” that these pardons reflect the government’s growing confidence that the worst of the protests is now over “. After four months of suppressed anti-government protests with “ the greatest brutality, the protests have largely diminished », notes the American daily which underlines that at least « 20,000 people were arrested and more than 500 killed in recent months.
