As usual no reasoning was provided as to why Russia and China might block such a motion, the implication being that its because they’re evil, hate nature and cute animals, and want to destroy the environment. I’m sure there must be sensible reasons why Russia and China don’t want these reserves. Are they proposed for areas which China/Russia have interest in in Antarctica which would limit their operations? What do they do down there anyway? Is the Antarctic a useful surveillance/espionage outpost? Are there nuclear weapons in Antarctica? I have no idea, I’d love if anyone can educate me a bit on Antarctic geopolitics.

  • cfgaussian@lemmygrad.ml
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    1 year ago

    If the proposal comes from the collective West you can be sure there are ulterior motives and that it almost certainly at least in part is designed to in some way further the West’s strategic goals of weakening and containing Russia and China. Proposals like this need to be worked through with a fine tooth comb by experts who understand the subject and can spot where the US or its various tentacles disguised as “NGOs” are trying to insert poison pills.

    The US constantly tries to use international treaties to its advantage to cripple their competitors. At the same time they themselves almost never abide by the rules they seek to impose on others, they always find loopholes. If you ask me this is yet another instance of them trying to hide behind the pretense of environmental protection to deny Russia and China access to regions of the globe that in the future are going to be of critical strategic importance but where the US knows it cannot compete on equal terms. It is more “rules-based order” crap, where they make the rules in their interest and everyone else has to follow them.

    China and Russia, and in fact all of the global south would be wise to be very skeptical about any proposals the US and its vassals make no matter what they are about. Whether it’s environmental, nuclear, whatever. In fact until conclusively proven otherwise i would just assume it’s malicious/subversive and refuse on principle anything that any Western entity proposes, because they will never negotiate in good faith and will always seek to use your well intentioned but naive hope of reaching mutually beneficial agreements to advance their own nefarious agenda at your expense.