Are We Back to the Age of Empires?

The 20th century was defined by decolonization, globalization, and the notion that empires were a relic of the past. But the 21st century tells a different story. The ghosts of imperial ambition are stirring once more, as world powers shift from cooperation to conquest, from alliances to acquisition. Are we witnessing a return to empire-building in real-time?

Xi Wants Taiwan

China has made no secret of its desire to reclaim Taiwan, a democratic island that Beijing considers a rogue province. The geopolitical consequences of a forced reunification would be enormous, but China, emboldened by its growing economic and military might, seems undeterred. Its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has already established a modern economic empire stretching across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, securing strategic influence without the need for direct military occupation.

The Belt and Road Initiative: A Threat to U.S. Interests

The BRI is more than just an infrastructure project — it is China’s blueprint for global dominance. By financing and constructing roads, ports, railways, and power plants in over 140 countries, Beijing is entrenching itself as the backbone of the global economy. Many of these nations, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia, become economically…