NEW MACROSS DEFENCE INSTITUTE - GENESIS : GLOBAL CIVIL WAR Part 02
However, new threat emerges in Middle East when an Arab-military regime nation - Iraq, buoyed by misguided nationalism, invades Kuwait in 1990 CE. The hastily assembled international Coalition Forces headed by the powerful USA forces the Iraqis out of occupied territories in what to be known as the First Gulf War. Iraq - the catalyst responsible for decade long Iraq-Iran war & later the Gulf Wars - is later slapped with economic & military sanctions by UN. The victory later cements USA as the sole, most potent military force in world history, much like Roman Empire in ancient times.
While most developed & developing nations of the world continue to reap the benefits of capitalism in early & mid 1990s, perhaps the rise of the sleeping dragon - People's Republic of China - is nothing short of, some commentators of that era will say, spectacular. It throws away the Marxist-economic system, reforms its economy by adopting laissez-faire system, turning it into the world's largest consumer market while retaining its communist system of governance. As China begin to accumulate newfound wealth, so begun the first step towards modernizing its military might in earnest with acquisition of the latest in Russian military hardware & key technologies.
The world is horrified with the new scourge - in disguise as nationalism - as it ravages the Balkans & Africa as ‘ethnic-cleansing' stuns the world. The Serbs in Balkan region slaughter hundreds of thousands Muslim Slavs & Croats in senseless murders during the 1st Balkan conflict, while the same tragedy continue in African continent, the Rwandan Crisis where the death toll numbers in millions in civil war ravaged nation - Rwanda as ethnic Hutus butcher rival Tutsis. The United Nations (UN), the largest grouping of nations throughout the world, is criticized for its inaction over the Balkans & Rwandan issues, thus international peace keeping missions are sent in into the troubled regions. However, the damage is done as group of nations begin to loose faith in the UN. USA - aided by NATO - later assumes the mantle as the world number 1 ‘Policeman' as it tries to prevent the Serbian's second round of ethnic cleansing from slaughtering fellow Kosovars in the 2nd Balkan conflict through use of force. During its Balkan campaign, US forces mistakenly bombed China's Embassy, effectively strangles somewhat favorable relationship between two countries following China's economic boom.
As ties between two countries continue from bad to worse, China tests US patience through military exercises over Straits of Taiwan, as it begin issuing threats of invading Taiwan by any necessary means. Later in that decade, China's longtime ally, North Korea - besets with economic failure & starvation - starts a global nuclear crisis as it threatens to restart its nuclear programme. On top of that, crisis between Pakistan (armed by China) & India keep getting worse as both nations trading volleys in disputed border area.
Meanwhile, Russia begins its war campaign over her former USSR republic - Chechnya as her military forces battle Chechens insurgents in incessant insurgency campaign. To beef up her ravaged economy, Russia becomes the world's top major arms dealer where its military products practically litter the world, especially China. Various terrorists organizations also benefited from Russian new policy - albeit indirectly - through black markets. While on the African fronts, genocide & petty civil wars continue unabated.
Later, as economic crises of late 1990s destabilize & shake up several nations of the world, South East Asian nations (collectively known as ASEAN) are alarmed by China's claim over Spratlys islets in South China Sea, so much so that ASEAN begin their arms race over perceived China's threat to the region as naval clashes have begun in the Spratlys isles between China & their South East Asia communist rival, Vietnam. As world economic turn grim, so did humanity fate, as several nations gearing up for war. Korean crisis escalates as North Korea issues war threats to South Korea & Japan - with several border incursions; both Pakistan & India armed their nuclear arsenals from what has been full scale border conflict to become an outright nuclear war. While China, somewhat helpless by actions of both her allies (North Korea & Pakistan) begin to exert her war machines in show of force across the Straits of Taiwan & Spratlys isles. USA, alarmed by these events, send in her naval fleet over the Pacific to contain China, while bolstering USA forces stationed in Japan, South Korea & Singapore. The Five Power Defense Association (FPDA - Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand & United Kingdom) bolsters their presence in South East Asia to contain China's armed muscle in the region. Even several terrorists groups, armed with biological weapons, are waiting to strike against USA, European Union (EU) & Russia.
As China & her allies intensifying their presence over hotspots across Asian continent, so do USA & its allies. Even UN stand helpless as time of reckoning draws nearer & nearer for humankind.