Putin’s war in Ukraine has been called a global war. The West says the conflict in Europe is worrying everyone because of the violation of global rules. Those who don’t care so much about the rules of the world order as they are merely symbols of US imperialism will take home the consequences of war in the form of higher fuel prices or food shortages.

The invasion also shook international relations. America and Europe are totally opposed to Russia, which has few real friends in the United Nations. More than thirty countries do not want to take sides in the conflict and do not want to receive high-level visitors from Russia and the United States in turn. Last week, Biden’s foreign affairs man, Anthony Blinken, stopped by after Russian President Vladimir Putin had already toured Central Asia.

The war is fueling mistrust between the two rival superpowers, the US and China. After clashes over trade, technology, the origins of the coronavirus and the future of Taiwan, the two superpowers have recently clashed, notably in a war in Ukraine.

The US accuses China of wanting to supply weapons to Russia, although the world has been waiting two weeks for proof of that allegation. A Chinese peace plan that did not condemn Russian aggression and did not mention the return of occupied territories failed to convince the United States (and Europe) last week.

And among all the guests Xi Jinping has invited to a state visit for the first time since his re-election, this week he chose Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus and Putin’s most important ally. Our friendship is “indestructible,” Xi said, adding that he also sees Belarus as a defender of international law. The European Union does not recognize Lukashenko as the rightful leader of his country because his re-election is a travesty.

Recent clashes between Washington and Beijing have drawn renewed attention to a key global conflict that has dominated world relations for decades. So here’s a quiz in between: Who has the most power in Asia right now?

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It’s still America. And it will stay that way for at least another ten years – and much longer. The Australian came to that conclusion Loewy Company It maps Asia’s balance of power annually. And guess what: China can’t catch up with America.

Last year, China lost influence due to its strict Covid policy. While China has locked itself away, the US has continued to build its power in the region.

The Sydney-based researchers measured the power of 26 countries, stretching from Pakistan in the west to the United States in the east, and from Russia in the north to New Zealand in the south. Each country is rated against 133 criteria in 8 categories, which add up to overall strength. Extensive power, of a country. It is about economic capacity, military resources, diplomatic skills or cultural influence.

Russia, traditionally Asia’s fifth superpower, lost ground for the third year in a row. Moscow had to take a huge hit in the diplomatic clout department: discontent in Asia over the war in Europe meant Putin could lose power. And things don’t look good for the future either. With its diplomatic influence waning, Russia will have to rely mainly on its military power in the coming years – a tool that is losing value every day on the Ukrainian battlefield. Russia is not economically important.

Putin’s European war affects the power game between the big boys in two ways. Still possessing nuclear weapons, Russia itself risks becoming an invalid middle power that has lost much of its wealth and political capital.

While Putin in Ukraine says he is still busy solving the first Cold War, he is provoking a second Cold War. The relationship between China and the US is characterized by an all-encompassing mistrust, which can only make negotiations on climate action or arms control difficult. Putin’s war really worries everyone.

Teacher Geopolitics Michael Keres He writes here every week about the tilting world order.