The stability of the global order that has fostered prosperity in the northern hemisphere for the past 80 years is increasingly in jeopardy. Significant events, such as Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its ongoing military actions in Ukraine, have marked critical turning points. Analysts suggest that recent developments, including U.S. diplomatic actions, may also be viewed as pivotal moments in this unraveling.

The admission of China into the World Trade Organization in 2001 is often cited as a key moment in the shift of global dynamics. In recent weeks, several incidents have highlighted China's expanding influence and aggressive posture, particularly in relation to democratic nations.

In Kazakhstan, authorities detained 16 members of the Atajurt Kazakh Human Rights organization, along with observers of China's Xinjiang camps, in Almaty. Meanwhile, at Shanghai Airport, an Indian national faced detention and mistreatment for 18 hours due to her passport listing Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace, a region China claims as its own.

On November 18, Britain's MI5 security agency alerted parliamentary leaders about Chinese spies posing as corporate recruiters. This revelation underscores concerns about foreign influence operations, a topic familiar to Canadians, who have seen similar issues arise without effective resolution.

In a troubling trend, Danish transportation officials discovered that buses manufactured in China were equipped with software allowing remote shutdowns from Beijing. Norway reported similar vulnerabilities in its Chinese-made buses, prompting investigations in the UK regarding potential risks associated with these vehicles.

While G7 nations have cautioned developing countries about China's Belt and Road Initiative, a recent report revealed a "shadow portfolio" of Chinese investments in critical infrastructure within NATO countries. This portfolio indicates that China has become the world's largest official creditor.

Tensions escalated further when Chinese officials made violent threats against Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with calls for her beheading circulating in state media. Additionally, several Chinese airlines canceled flights to Japan, affecting approximately 500,000 reservations in just two days, following Takaichi's remarks to Japanese lawmakers.

These incidents reflect a broader pattern of China's assertive actions on the global stage, raising alarms about the future of international relations and the stability of democratic institutions worldwide.