In Hong Kong millions of people have taken to the street to protest the imposition of mainland China’s rule of Hong Kong. The protests have been ongoing for months. The Chinese government is looking to crackdown on the movement, and this raises major questions about the relation between the struggles in Hong Kong and mainland China.

This past April, Sri Lanka was rocked by a deadly terrorist attack that killed over 300 people. The Sri Lankan government has since used this as a pretext for cracking down on dissent. In order to understand this situation, we look at the history of Sri Lanka: British colonial rule, the modern neocolonial administration, and the imperialists who jockey to control it—as well as the revolutionary struggles to drive these oppressors out.

The conflict in Venezuela has dominated international headlines for months. The U.S. recently recognized Juan Guaidó as president, while China and Russia support the Maduro government. As Guaidó and his international supporters rachet up the pressure for a coup, both China and Russia have sent troops and military hardware to Venezuela.

Recent trade disputes and standoffs in the South China Sea have put the spotlight on U.S.-China relations. As tensions continue to mount between these rival empires, people are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of a possible third world war. Both of these countries are drastically expanding military spending, as are other imperialist powers around the world.