On Monday, I posted a piece on the Chinese Parliamanet's vote to go to war if Taiwan attempts to assert it's freedom from the PRC. Today, news comes that Russia will join with China in a military exercise that will rehearse the invasion of Taiwan. While I would expect such behavior from China, I was not expecting Russia to join in such an outrageous and provocative act.

This makes me begin to question what Russia's asperations are vis-a-vis its neighbors and its general foreign policy. If Russia is rehearsing the overthrow of the democratic government of Taiwan, will it not pursue its own despotic courses at home? Will Russia seek once again to stretch its hands of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia? Will Vladimir Putin pursue the reestablishment of revived Russian Empire?

(HT: Drudge)