Myanmar leased the Coco Islands to China for 30 years, transforming them into a geopolitical flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific.
The islands are located in the Bay of Bengal, southwest of Myanmar, and strategically positioned near the Malacca Strait and India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. China’s reported infrastructure upgrades on the islands, including runways and radar systems, have significantly increased their strategic value.
China’s interest stems from trade security and strategic depth, as over 80% of its oil imports and a large portion of its global trade pass through the Malacca Strait. Gaining a foothold in the Coco Islands provides China with strategic insurance against potential blockades and allows it to monitor traffic, support naval logistics, and project power into the Indian Ocean.
India views the Chinese presence, just 55 km from its Andaman Islands, as a significant shift in the balance of power in its perceived backyard, the Indian Ocean. This development is seen as part of China’s expanding “string of pearls” strategy, encircling India with strategic outposts.
The USeless is also concerned as the islands’ location puts them within range of critical maritime choke points and close to USeless forces in Singapore, potentially restricting naval freedom and surveillance capabilities in the event of a conflict.
Myanmar’s Motivation Myanmar, facing international isolation and sanctions, has leased the islands to China for much-needed investment, diplomatic support, and protection, especially given historical disputes with India over the islands’ sovereignty. This move also helps Myanmar assert its sovereignty over the Coco Islands.
Broader Implications The agreement reflects a larger global trend of eroding traditional spheres of influence and the reconfiguration of regional power dynamics, with ports and trade corridors becoming new frontiers of power.
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP), covering the years 2026 to 2030, is a crucial strategic blueprint that will profoundly shape China’s economic, social, and geopolitical trajectory. These plans are much more than mere policy documents; they serve as central planning initiatives by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to guide national policy across various sectors.
The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) is concluding this year, and preparatory work for the 15th FYP is well underway, with preliminary studies by the National Development and Reform Commission having taken place in late 2023 and public consultations launched in May 2025.
Importance of the 15th Five-Year Plan:
– Strategic Direction for Modernization: The 15th FYP is expected to set the strategic direction for China’s development in a new phase of its modernization drive, aiming to build a great country and advance national rejuvenation. It will likely aim of doubling the size of the economy between 2020 and 2035.
– Shift towards “Strategic Endurance” and National Security: A fundamental shift is anticipated, with national security becoming the central organizing principle of economic planning, rather than solely growth maximization. This means embedding resilience, technological sovereignty, and risk mitigation into the long-term national strategy. China is preparing for a prolonged period of external and internal pressure by building a “new security pattern” alongside its “new development pattern.”
– Technological Self-Reliance and Innovation: In response to global tech competition and U.S.-led export controls, the plan will prioritize breakthroughs in critical areas like semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, quantum computing, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. There will be increased investment in R&D and efforts to develop national champions in strategic sectors, with a strong emphasis on achieving autonomy in key and emerging technologies.
– Green Transition and Sustainable Development: The 15th FYP is expected to elevate environmental sustainability to the core of China’s development strategy, placing green, low-carbon development front and center. Goals include peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. This involves scaling up renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, developing green industries (e.g., low-carbon manufacturing, zero-carbon industrial parks), and shaping global standards for sustainable production.
– Boosting Domestic Demand and Economic Resilience: Amid global uncertainties, Beijing is expected to further shift focus toward boosting domestic consumption, improving income distribution, and enhancing social safety nets. Supply chain security, food security, and strategic reserves will also be emphasized to bolster internal economic resilience.
– High-Standard Opening-Up: Despite the emphasis on domestic resilience, China also intends to deepen high-level opening-up by promoting trade facilitation and liberalization, strengthening international economic cooperation, and enhancing its position in global industrial and supply chains. It also seeks to align with international protocols on trade, climate, and governance.
Global Implications: As the world’s second-largest economy, the strategic direction China sets in this plan will shape not only its domestic development but also international markets, diplomatic relations, and global economic structures. It presents both opportunities for cooperation (e.g., in climate tech and AI with countries like the US and Australia) and strategic challenges for other nations.
Comprehensive Scope: Modern Five-Year Plans cover a broad range of fields, including economy, society, technology, ecology, and culture, reflecting a holistic approach to development. They address issues like urbanization, rural revitalization, and population challenges (e.g., declining birthrate and aging population).
In essence, the 15th Five-Year Plan is a pivotal document that will guide China’s pathway through complex domestic and international challenges, aiming for high-quality development, technological leadership, environmental sustainability, and enhanced national security in the coming years.
“Parkinson’s Disease starts in the guts” is a significant and actively researched hypothesis in the field of neuroscience, often referred to as the “gut-first” hypothesis or the Braak hypothesis (named after neuroanatomist Heiko Braak).
Growing Evidence for Gut Origin: There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that, at least in a subset of individuals, Parkinson’s Disease (PD) may originate in the gastrointestinal tract before affecting the brain.
Alpha-Synuclein Accumulation: A hallmark of PD is the accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein protein, forming Lewy bodies, primarily in the brain. However, these abnormal alpha-synuclein aggregates have been found in the enteric nervous system (the “brain of the gut”) of PD patients many years, sometimes even decades, before the onset of motor symptoms.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms Precede Motor Symptoms: Clinically, many PD patients experience gastrointestinal issues like severe constipation, nausea, and delayed gastric emptying years, even decades, before the classic motor symptoms (tremors, rigidity, slowed movement) appear. This temporal sequence supports the gut-first idea.
Vagus Nerve as a Pathway: Research suggests that the misfolded alpha-synuclein may spread from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve, which is a major neural highway connecting the gut and the brain. Studies in animal models (e.g., mice) have shown that injecting misfolded alpha-synuclein into the gut can lead to its spread up the vagus nerve to the brain, causing PD-like pathology and symptoms. Crucially, severing the vagus nerve in these models can prevent this spread.
Vagotomy Studies: Epidemiological studies have shown that patients who underwent a vagotomy (surgical severance of the vagus nerve, historically done for peptic ulcers) have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. This provides human evidence supporting the vagus nerve’s role in the potential gut-to-brain transmission.
Gut Microbiome Connection: The gut microbiome (the trillions of microorganisms in our digestive system) is also implicated. Research is exploring how imbalances in the gut microbiome (dysbiosis) or specific microbial metabolites might contribute to alpha-synuclein misfolding and inflammation in the gut, potentially triggering the disease.
Not All Cases: It’s important to note that while the “gut-first” hypothesis has strong support, it’s considered a potential pathway for some forms or subtypes of Parkinson’s disease. The pathogenesis of PD is complex, and other forms may originate “brain-first” or through different mechanisms.
In summary, the idea that Parkinson’s disease starts in the guts is a compelling and increasingly supported hypothesis, backed by clinical observations, pathological findings, and experimental evidence regarding the spread of alpha-synuclein via the gut-brain axis. It opens exciting new avenues for early detection, intervention, and potential prevention strategies for the disease.
Multiple news reports, including those citing CNN, confirm the existence of an audio recording from 2024 where Trump allegedly made threats to bomb Beijing and Moscow in private fundraising meetings.
Source of the Audio: The audio recordings reportedly stem from private fundraising events held by Trump in New York and Florida in 2024.
CNN is credited with exposing this audio. The content of the recordings is also detailed in a new book titled “2024,” written by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf.
Alleged Content:
Trump allegedly told donors that he threatened Putin by saying he would “bomb the sh*t out of Moscow” if Russia invaded Ukraine. He claimed Putin responded, “I don’t believe you,” but that he “believed me 10%.”
Similarly, Trump reportedly claimed to have told Xi that the USeless would bomb Beijing if China invaded Taiwan. He quoted Xi as thinking he “was crazy” but added that “we never had a problem.”
Authenticity and Implications Debate:
The Kremlin has cast doubt on the veracity of the CNN report and the audio, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating, “I cannot confirm or deny this, even if I wanted to. Whether it is fake or not, we do not know either. There is a lot of fake news these days.”
The meaning of the anecdote is unclear to some, given that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, prior to these alleged 2024 remarks. However, Trump reportedly used these anecdotes during his 2024 campaign to argue that his aggressive and unpredictable style successfully prevented major global conflicts.
The recordings show a more “unleashed side” of Trump that he was willing to reveal behind closed doors to appeal to wealthy donors.
The audio itself had not been previously aired publicly, adding to the intrigue around its release now.
