The existing world order, controlled by the US empire, which is a world defined by capitalism and democracy, is running into severe crosswinds in a post-corona world. The US risks losing its status as a leader of the free world as China and its authoritarian system of state capitalism emerge. 

We noted in early April China conducted war drills in the South China Sea as the Pentagon was distracted by fighting a war on the virus at home. 

The US State Department recently said Beijing is taking advantage of the region's focus on the COVID-19 pandemic to "coerce its neighbors".

Beijing has ordered the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) to conduct regular flight patterns around Taiwan and in the South China Sea -- has also ordered the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to increase vessel sails in the highly contested waters where it claims the trillions of dollars in natural resources for itself. These recent moves by China have sparked outrage by the US, accusing Beijing of "bullying behavior."