Experts point to rising brinksmanship over Taiwan and the expanding standoff in the South China Sea as possible military flashpoints with unpredictable consequences for both sides. At the same time, the United Kingdom — a close US ally — has sent a carrier group to the South China Sea, including the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, and announced it would permanently deploy two warships to Asian waters. "This is where the globe is most stressed, China and the US and Taiwan are right there at the epicenter," he said. Both the US and China have offered potential ways forward to avoid any further deterioration. Earlier this month, China rejected the WHO's proposed investigation over its insistence that include the possibility of a lab leak.

Source: CNN July 30, 2021 06:22 UTC