China, ASEAN fear threat to region?
-: R Muthu Kumar :-
Since entering office in 2021, one of the Biden administration’s foreign-policy priorities has been a more effective Indo-Pacific strategy to compete with China, especially in Southeast Asia.
American president Biden has revealed that he will foster security ties between our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, including by finding new opportunities to link our defense industrial bases, integrating our defense supply chains, and co-producing key technologies that will shore up our collective military advantages.
Currently, the Indo-Pacific region contains more than half of the world’s highest military spenders – Australia (ranked 13), China (2), India (5), Japan (8), Russia (4), South Korea (10), and the US (1).
In its widest sense, the term geopolitically covers all nations and islands surrounding either the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, encompassing mainland African and Asian nations who border these oceans, such as India and South Africa, Indian Ocean territories which consists of 38 countries, with 13 in Africa, 22 in Asia, and 1 in Oceania that either border on or are in the Indian Ocean, as well as 2 European countries which administer several dependencies or overseas territories in the region.
Now that sector is gearing up to face stormy situations , since US President Joe Biden will unveil a plan to restructure the US military command’s East Asia command structure very soon.
US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have indicated that unveil a plan in April to restructure the US military command as they are planning the biggest upgrade to their security alliance since they signed a mutual defense treaty in 1952. This includes plans to restructure the US military command in Japan to strengthen operational planning and military drills between the two nations. What is more worrying is the fact that Japan is trying to urge Washington to strengthen the command structure in Japan. It wants the leader of US forces stationed in Japan to have more authority, which will make it easier for US forces and Japanese Self-Defence Forces to take joint military action.
After 2015 talks, Japan decided that their Self-Defense Forces will defend allies in combat. A big move for Japan’s military forces as they have decided not to take part in military actions outside Japan since World War II.
Hence the upcoming plan to upgrade the US-Japan military alliance is even more dangerous. With NATO nations and it’s head the America is left high and dry due to internal reasons and commitments they are in no condition to help Ukraine, in terms of armaments or extending financial support.
Japan has over the past couple of years significantly increased its security capabilities, doubling its spending on defence since 2022, including the proposed purchase of US Tomahawk cruise missiles. The Japanese military has also decided to set up a “Joint Operations Command” next year to improve coordination between the branches of its Self-Defence Forces. Japan described China as an “unprecedented strategic challenge” in its recent defense document. Both Washington and Tokyo do not mince words when hyping up the threat from China. That explains why this upgrading of the Japan-US alliance will make the situation in East Asia even more unpleasant.
Basically the Taiwan is the bone of contention between China and Taiwan, sort of their internal issue. But American leaders are very keen to step in and have a firm footing there for keeping tab on China!
Japan and the Philippines might join the bandwagon for acting as pawns of the US in its geopolitical game, the two countries will only intensify the volatility in the region.
he continued upgrading of the military alliance between Japan and the US will increase regional tension and peace loving India too will be facing heat in the cross fire.
Very soon Russian President is planning to travel to China for talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping, in what could be the Kremlin chief’s first overseas trip of his new presidential term.
The United States casts China as its biggest competitor and Russia as its biggest nation-state threat under these situation Biden is indicating plans to restructure the US military command and are planning the biggest upgrade to their security alliance!
China has strengthened its trade and military ties with Russia in recent years as the United States and its allies imposed sanctions against both countries and now again America is turning the heat on in the Asia region.
Japan is a close ally and a key component of the US strategy towards China, North Korea and other Asian security issues.
Like most countries, Japan does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but Tokyo angered China earlier this year by congratulating Taiwan’s President-elect William Lai Ching-te.
There are 54,000 US military personnel based in Japan – the highest number stationed anywhere overseas.
The shifting balance of power in the Asia Pacific regions is now in the minds of ASEAN member nations also and India to is watching the developments closely.
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