‘We will not repudiate our duty… We will not abandon our opportunity in the Orient. We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race…. And we will move forward to our work, not howling out regrets like slaves whipped to their burdens, but with gratitude for a task worthy of our strength and thanksgiving to Almighty God that He has marked us as His chosen people, henceforth to lead in the regeneration of the world…. The Pacific is our ocean.’ – Albert J Beveridge, 9 January 1900. ‘We'll work with our allies and partners to defend the rules-based order that we've built together over decades to ensure the region remains open and accessible…. Let me be clear: the goal of defending the rules-based order is not to keep any country down. Rather, it's to protect the right of all countries to choose their own path, free from coercion and intimidation. It’s not about a contest between a US-centric region or a China-centric region. The Indo-Pacific is its own region.’ – Antony J Blinken, 14 December 2021. If you liked this post from Talleyrand, why not share it? © 2021 Talleyrand Unsubscribe |