China’s Expansionism
When the Soviet Union fell apart, quite a few new fledgling democracies were born. Mongolia was one of them (just north of a second Mongolia connected to northern China). The new democratic Mongolia has recently experienced some really rough weather (with winter temperatures dropping to fifty below and killing the nomads’ sheep and goats. As a result, many former herdsmen have moved into town and sought employment with the help of government. China has been quick to step in and offer loans to the government. Why? Because Mongolia produces gold, copper, the materials from which new batteries are made (lithium), uranium, and huge amounts of coal. China has been scalping the Mongolians, and many of their nomads are concerned that Chinese coal trucks will destroy their pasture.