Korea is headless now

Hi Global Recap readers,

What a weekend.

If you’ve been keeping up with the news from Syria, it’s been a geopolitical rollercoaster.

• One minute, they report the president has been shot down

• And the next, they claim it was all a fake-out

• Just when you think you can settle down with a cup of coffee, the next headline says Assad is already in Moscow.

• And with this, Israel has just ended a decades-long buffer zone agreement.

• Now, Syrian rebels are coming for the state of Israel, apparently.

What an absolute chaotic mess.

🇸🇾 SYRIA
Assad's Reign Finally Ends

The Assad family’s stranglehold over Syria, which lasted for over five decades, has finally come to a close after days of rebel insurgency.

Context

• For over 50 years, the Assad family ruled Syria with an iron fist.

• Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father in 2000 and crushed a pro-democracy uprising in 2011.

• The civil war claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced 12 million people.

Rebel Offensive

A swift offensive led by Islamist militants toppled Assad's regime.

• On 27 November, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched an offensive capturing Aleppo.

• The rebel forces advanced southward to Damascus, encountering little resistance.

• By 8 December, the rebels entered Damascus, prompting Assad to flee.

Initial Rumors

At first, there were numerous rumors:

• Plane trackers and 3D visualized routes suggested that a private plane crash-landed. Many speculated that this was Assad.

• Some speculated that he fled to the UAE.

However, it seems like Putin had other plans for Assad.

Escape to Moscow

• Russian media confirmed that Russia has granted Assad and his family asylum, citing humanitarian grounds.

• Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, emphasized it was Putin’s decision, stating, “It was his decision.”

World Reactions

• Turkey emphasized a peaceful, inclusive transition.

• US President Joe Biden called the regime's collapse a “fundamental act of justice.”

• Israel credited the fall to its actions against Hezbollah and Iran in Syria.

What's Next?

The road ahead for Syria remains uncertain.

• Former Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalili aims for a swift transitional period.

• The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces seeks a “democratic Syria.”

• HTS and allies continue fighting in other regions, including Deir al-Zour.

• The international community watches closely as Syria’s future unfolds.

And of course, there’s Israel. 👇🏻

Bold Proclamation

Syrian rebels in Damascus make a bold proclamation: they're coming for Jerusalem.

• On December 8, 2024, Islamist rebels issued a statement from a mosque.

• They declared, “From here to Jerusalem. We’re coming for Jerusalem. Patience, people of Gaza, patience.”

• The group’s leader made this announcement surrounded by gunmen chanting “Allahu akbar!”

When will this cycle of violence end…

🇮🇱 ISRAEL
Buffer Zone Grab

Israel has just nabbed control of a demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights while also launching airstrikes on Assad’s stash of “weapons depots.”

Military Moves

Well, it turns out Israel is taking no chances.

• Israeli troops have seized a demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights.

• The aim? Preventing weapons, including chemical ones, from falling into extremist hands.

• Israel’s prime minister described the move as a “temporary and limited step” in response to the recent upheaval in Syria.

This effectively ends the 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria, which created a demilitarized zone to separate Israeli and Syrian forces after the Yom Kippur War.

Concerns and Criticisms

• Jordan’s foreign minister condemned the incursion as a violation of international law.

• Syrians fear this might lead to permanent occupation or annexation by Israel.

🇰🇷 SOUTH KOREA
Constitutional Chaos

South Korea is in uncharted political territory, where nobody is currently leading the country.

• President Yoon said he would stop all duties and delegate them to his party (unprecedented).

• However, the opposition is trying to impeach him and charge him with insurrection.

What is going on?

Impeachment Attempt Fails

In response to Yoon’s recent short-live martial law declaration, tens of thousands protested, calling for Yoon's impeachment. But the opposition party's motion to remove him fell through when Yoon's conservative party boycotted the vote.

• In response, newspapers plastered their faces across the front page:

• Why did they boycott? The ruling party feared impeaching Yoon would hand the presidency to their rivals, the Democratic Party.

• Party leader Han Dong-hoon later said Yoon would make an "orderly resignation" and be excluded from state affairs, with the prime minister running the government instead.

What an absolute joke.

Constitutional Crisis Looms

With Yoon refusing to step down and the opposition determined to impeach him, South Korea now faces a prolonged battle of political uncertainty and a potential new constitutional crisis.

• Experts say Yoon's actions to block the legislature's authority violated the constitution, and he could face insurrection charges if impeached.

• The country is in uncharted territory, as a paralyzed president, a power-hungry party leader, and an opposition seeking to oust him collide.

• President Yoon is also banned from traveling abroad now.

🇹🇼 TAIWAN
China’s Naval Might Flexed

With governments around the globe toppling every other day, Taiwan can’t be too careful when it comes to the Chinese military.

China’s navy and coast guard have been busy flexing their muscles around Taiwan, recently.

Although this turned out to be a massive drill, one of these days, China might try its luck when Taiwan and the US have their guards down.

Tensions Rising

Taiwan’s on high alert, folks. China’s moving big.

• As of December 9, 2024, around 90 Chinese navy and coast guard ships are near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands, and the East and South China Seas.

• Two-thirds of these are naval vessels, according to a senior Taiwan security official.

• Beijing’s defense ministry? Crickets.

Drills & Exercises

China loves a good military exercise, especially when it involves Taiwan.

• This is the third round of major drills around Taiwan this year.

• Beijing set up seven “temporary reserved areas” of airspace until Wednesday, December 11.

• Some of these zones are so close they’re practically peeking over Taiwan’s shoulder.

Taiwan’s Stand

Taiwan isn’t just sitting back and watching.

• Combat readiness exercises are in full swing in strategic locations.

• The island’s defense ministry warned against any unilateral and irrational provocative actions.

• Taiwan’s coast guard reports harassment from seven Chinese coast guard ships but vows to respond if pushed.

Political Drama

It’s not just ships and planes causing trouble.

• Wang Ting-yu from Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party is calling for China to be a “civilized neighbor.”

• He suspects this might be a maneuver—or just a scare tactic.

• Why is China doing this? Beijing detests Taiwan President Lai, labeling him a “separatist.”

Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about Taiwan. It’s a part of a larger regional strategy.

Although there may be numerous reasons, I believe one of the biggest factors is chips.

• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer.

• Most of the advanced chips required for complex electronic equipment and military gear come from TSMC.

• Plus, China is a leading exporter of raw materials crucial for chip manufacturing, including gallium, germanium, and antimony. Recently, China has announced export restrictions on these materials.