Neutrality allows Ireland to hedge its political stance. But not taking a position on things like invasions, etc., is morally bankrupt.<p>Ireland benefits greatly from a strong Europe, which exists due to military aid from the US and some European states to Ukraine. War is coming in Asia and we will see how this goes.
Reaction: Is ignorance of history a requirement to hold political office in Ireland? 'Cause last I heard, Ireland's experience with richer / larger / more powerful / more developed nations taking root in Irish soil was rather grim.<p>EDIT: I wasn't just thinking of China. As the article notes:<p>> Ireland’s budget watchdog, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council said last year that just three foreign companies contributed around a third of Ireland’s corporate tax revenue from 2017 to 2021. Company filings showed Apple, Google and Microsoft paid the most taxes in 2021.<p>> The Central Bank is also warning of the country’s over-dependence on income tax revenue from a small number of the world’s richest countries.<p>...which leaves Ireland hostage to a tiny number of foreign corporations, that obviously don't give a crap about the country. And to the foreign tax laws which - <i>for now</i> - allow trillion-dollar corporations to launder their profits through tax-haven Ireland.
"Europe, the U.S. and so-called "like-minded" partners have grown distrustful, too, as they're faced with economic coercion from Beijing, Chinese espionage, cyberthreats and disinformation operations."<p>omg
the "West" gets competition.<p>"hold the thieve!"<p>Media is all it needs ...