Benjamin Coates

China may soon invade Taiwan, a conflict for which the Royal Navy needs to be ready. But as Benjamin Coates writes, our navy appears woefully unprepared for such an event. China has been signalling its intentions regarding Taiwan very clearly. Extensive military drills in reaction to Pelosi's visit, suspension of military dialogue between America and China, Chinese military development, and the Party's August white paper's refusal to rule out 'reunification' by force.

“Hypocrisy-policing” is a popular genre of tabloid journalism. When a public figure flaunts their political opinions, tabloids will often gleefully report on (actual or perceived) inconsistencies between those opinions, and the lifestyle of the person expressing them. So you’re an environmentalist? How come you’re constantly jetting around the globe, then? So you oppose private schools? How come you’re sending your own children to one, then? So you’re a socialist?

So what’s new? Universities have been exposed by The Times this week for drawing up blacklists of books they don’t want their students to be exposed to. This is yet one more of a never-ending list of ways in which a slow-burning form of Culture Year Zero is taking place within Britain. I am, however, a little self-conscious about portraying the monstrous nature of what is taking place in the terms I have just employed.