Why did latvia, lithuania and estonia have an easier time transitioning to democracy than the other republics of the former soviet union?

a: they had more natural resources and national wealth
b: they had a tradition of democratic government.
c: they had the m most educated political leaders
d: they were geographically closer to the west

china unilaterally claims the entire south china sea as sovereign territory, then builds artificial islands to bolster its claim. it suddenly activates an air defense identification zone over the east china sea, and threatens to down any aircraft that does not report its position. it builds roads into indian territory, then redraws the maps to show that it is actually chinese territory. the people's republic under president xi jinping is quickly becoming the bully of asia.