7. They avoid requirements delivered under the U.N. Charter," he said, in a reference to aggressive Chinese actions in the South China Sea and rising Chinese incursions into Taiwanese air defense zones. Your browser does not support the
element. I want to close by making ten points to counter widespread myths, hopes, and narratives about the region: 1. I look forward to your comments and questions. Until a few years ago, the term Indo-Pacific was hardly uttered in international affairs. 0000003459 00000 n
The Indo-Pacific is the most significant region for America's future, and it has become the nation's highest-priority theater, the commander of the Hawaii-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. yesterday. The chance of conflict is increasing: Chinas military modernization is giving its leaders greater confidence that they can use force to achieve their objective of unification, while Beijing likely also feels emboldened as China met little resistance when it militarized the South China Sea and moved against Hong Kong. (IISS via AP), security alliance between China and the Solomon Islands, U.S. vessels and aircraft in the Taiwan Strait, Beijing has renewed its threats against Taiwan, South Korea and Japan were to meet at a Tokyo summit. United States Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino said Thursday that Washington does not seek to contain China, nor seek conflicts in the region, but it would take action to support the region against coercion and bullying by authoritarian regimes. Regional governments like Indonesia and Malaysia are certain that China will retaliate against them should they be seen as siding with the United States, said Drew Thompson, former director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. March 13, 2023 A historic transfer of power in the South Pacific, Postponing Indias census is terrible for the country, Pakistan and China find they have little leverage with the Taliban, California: Do Not Sell My Personal Information, The Anglophone military alliance in Asia is seriously ambitious, India is getting an eye-wateringly big transport upgrade. startxref
We should recognize that deterrence is eroding in the Indo-Pacific and we need to redouble our efforts to invest in capabilities that can deter Chinese adventurism and ensure that U.S. commitments are credible. What started 30 years ago as a slowly evolving and comparatively low-key peacetime military competition centered on Taiwan has grown in intensity and scope and is now playing out across the vast arc that extends from the Japanese home islands, down through the narrow straits of Southeast Asia, and then west to the . You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 0000073213 00000 n
All this is far more important and far more constructive than symbolic upgrades to how we conduct relations with Taiwan. After its invasion of Ukraine, concerns flared over a decoupling of Russia from the global internet. Chinese military threats towards Taiwan unsettle not only that self-governing island but the whole region. The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation, or APEC, a late-20th-century initiative of 21 states, was intended to unite the economic dynamism of the Pacific Rim, including especially East Asia. They empower law enforcement entities to harass nations operating legally within their own exclusive economic zones. It is destabilizing, it's unpredictable, it's continuing, it's not slowing down. Equally important, the Indo-Pacific concept is underpinned by the main challenge to this engine of Asian prosperity: China's destabilising behaviour as its military, economic and diplomatic. Joint projects with allies and partners will also give partners added reason to work with us to limit Chinas access to sensitive technologies or to exploit supply-chain dependencies. 0000069780 00000 n
It is based on Americas network of bilateral alliances, overlaid with ad hoc arrangements such as the Quad and the aukus defence technology pact of 2021, a deal between America, Britain and Australia to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines and develop other military technology. 0000008219 00000 n
The goal of denuclearization would not and should not be abandoned, but it would be understood to be a long-term objective. Those conversations should not be made conditional on Chinese behavior or viewed as a favor that we do for China. Adm. Philip Davidson, INDOPACOM commander, greats former Defense Secretary Mark Esper on a visit to Hawaii. February 13, 2023 Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) United States Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino said Thursday that Washington does not seek to contain China, nor seek conflicts in the region, but it would take action to support the region against coercion and bullying by authoritarian regimes. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. 0000014634 00000 n
Market data provided by Factset. And without mentioning China, South Koreas new Indo-Pacific Strategy published on Tuesday commits Seoul to expanding regional security cooperation in an effort to defend against threats to democracy and protect Indo-Pacific sea lanes. By using this site you indicate agreement with the use of cookies. 0000008115 00000 n
The collapse of SVB is a reminder that the fastest way for the United States to cede ground in the present era of great power competition is to debase its financial system and relinquish its global financial leadership position. Religion and Foreign Policy Webinars, C.V. Starr & Co. By contrast, regime change in China is beyond our ability to induce, and in any event is not a prerequisite to a successful China policy. Experts discuss the U.S. policy options available in Ukraine and how the current military situation on the ground affects what the United States should do next to achieve its goal in the region. This report looks at trends in conflict and instability in the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on climate change effects and a number of civil liberties. 0000070391 00000 n
It is essential that we develop a strategy for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and both 5G and 6G. While Washington will always be the hub of its alliance system, the spokes should be encouraged to do more with each other. It has interned millions of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. It must reinvent its economic ties at a time when the regions economies are becoming more integrated and doing so with little or no U.S. involvement. When Prime Minister Fumio Kishida travels to New Delhi next week for a bilateral summit with Indian leader Narendra Modi, the war in Ukraine and China's growing regional . The current Indo-Pacific security environment encompasses a dangerous mix of nuclear multipolarity and minimal arms control. Too often, however, the U.S. approach has been to pressure countries to reject Chinese financing and products without offering alternatives. While regional economic integration is picking up pace, first with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and now with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Washington has remained on the sidelines. The available evidence was sufficient for this purpose. Chinas 340-warship navy is currently the worlds largest, and the Pentagon last month called it an increasingly modern and flexible force. The U.S. Navy has 292 vessels. It was Japan, Americas principal ally in Asia, that first divined the importance of engaging traditionally aloof India, a move that helped crystallise the Indo-Pacific concept. The U.S. has engaged some allies to help it counter Beijings increasingly lopsided regional military advantages. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Australia is a victim of Chinese economic boycotts and insidious political-influence campaigns. That means the U.S. cannot sustain a long supply chain from Guam and Japan/Korea to project its power in the South China Sea, he wrote in an email. While the U.S. is not seeking conflicts nor supporting Taiwans independence, he said the military will continue to "fly, sail and operate" in the region to uphold the navigational rights and freedom of all nations. Mar 17, 2023. And the U.S. military presence in the region will become more lethal, more mobile and more resilient in the coming 12 months, Ratner said, hinting that new partnerships are in the works. Having frank conversations with Chinas top diplomats and holding a real strategic dialogue with Beijing on a regular basis is in our national interest. All rights reserved. The United States will need to have tough conversations with Taiwan about the need for it to invest more in its own defense and to increase its military preparedness. Navy. Many dislike taking instruction from former colonial powers. And most other Southeast Asian countries are likely to be reluctant to provide military or logistical support in the event of conflict with China due to fears of blowback from Beijing. SRO is defined as "aerial reconnaissance operations planned for and legally executed in international airspace" during peacetime. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. With the Indo-Pacific's centrality to global prosperity and security, the cost would extend far beyond us and reach into every region. The situation in Bangladesh and India is particularly serious and is already fuelling violence and In this scenario, North Korea would halt testing and commit to limits on its arsenal in exchange for some sanctions relief. China would subsume the islands vibrant, high-tech economy and overnight become the worlds leading semiconductor manufacturer. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies. "The Indo-Pacific is a rallying . The administration has spent the past two years building on the work of the Obama administration to engage partners to increase that support, Ratner said. August 3, 2022, What to Know About Sanctions on North Korea, Backgrounder Facing down Chinas military threat will require a larger navy force structure than we have in the foreseeable future, said Alexander Gray, former chief of staff of the National Security Council in the Trump administration. 0000002677 00000 n
Others argue that the concept is so capacious and vague as to be incoherent. 633 0 obj
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It has ratcheted up pressure on Taiwan. 0000002946 00000 n
They ignore international legal rulings. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to inflict a painful human and economic toll across the region. It also illustrates the importance for the United States to continue to provide public goods in the region, whether it be humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, or assistance in battling COVID-19. The Indo-Pacific encompasses three nuclear states, four of the world's largest militaries, more than half of the world's population, and some of the greatest challenges to U.S. and global security, including China and North Korea. The goal of our China policy should be to shape Chinas choices, to impose costs when China takes actions that harm our national interests and values, and to reward responsible Chinese behavior. The Aussies and the Japanese may have gotten the ball rolling on calling the region the Indo-Pacific, but the Trump team moved surprisingly quickly to articulate an Indo-Pacific strategy of its . The United States should also collaborate with its partners to offer high-quality, sustainable infrastructure as an alternative to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, possibly through a regional fund involving Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and European countries. Guarding civic space and including all voices encompasses a broad range of issues. Such reluctance may be one reason why Chinas outgoing foreign minister, Wang Yi, once scornfully predicted that talk of a free and open Indo-Pacific will dissipate like ocean foam. Maybe. What is required is an adjustment of the means of U.S. policy, not the ends. Given the wide range of issues and countries covered in this report (see below), it should be considered as a broad brush review it does not go into each issue in-depth. Copyright The Economist Newspaper Limited 2023. This vast area presents countless opportunities for the United States. by Olivia Angelino, Thomas J. Bollyky, Elle Ruggiero and Isabella Turilli or redistributed. India has warmly embraced the foip principle. Speaking at a lecture in Singapore, Aquilino said the era of globalization has evolved into one of "renewed great power competition" where the security environment influences economics, trade and investment. Aquilino said that Washington does not seek to contain China, but it would take action to support the Indo-Pacific region against bullying by authoritarian regimes. March 14, 2023 The region comprises at least 38 countries that share 44% of world surface area and 65% of world population, and account for 62% of world-GDP and 46% of the world's merchandise trade (Table 1 ). As the Marine Corps reorganizes to prepare for a potential conflict with China, the service is considering three new Marine Littoral Regiments for its campaign of land warfare in the Indo-Pacific. Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee April 29, 2021 The United States will need to maintain a balance of power in Asia, compete with China across multiple domains, and push back harder with its allies and partners against Chinese actions that threaten U.S. national interests and democratic values. The U.S. has pledged to deploy so much firepower to the Indo-Pacific in 2023 that China wont even consider invading Taiwan. The Indo-Pacific is the fastest growing region on the planet. Key points: Its a today problem. An MH-60S Knight Hawk Helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 conducts 'touch and go' drills aboard U.S. Coast Guard Legend-class cutter USCGC Munro (WMSL-755) during . He noted that earlier Thursday, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile hours before the leaders of South Korea and Japan were to meet at a Tokyo summit. They ignore international legal rulings. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- United States Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino said Thursday that Washington does not seek to contain China, nor seek conflicts in the region, but it would take action to support the region against coercion and bullying by authoritarian regimes. Aquilino also addressed China's protests over U.S. vessels and aircraft in the Taiwan Strait, where Beijing has renewed its threats against Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary. That is key to understanding what the Indo-Pacific is all about. 0000070040 00000 n
Australia Warns of Indo-Pacific Danger, Volatility. 0000072584 00000 n
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Generally, European countries do not view China as a systemic problem. These not only define a countrys natural region, Mr Medcalf writes. Again, thank you for the opportunity to testify on a region that will, more than any other, shape this century. Japan and South Korea both published security strategy documents this month implicitly aimed to address the growing threat from China. The stakes for the United States are enormous. Most non-defence regional initiatives, with the exception of Japanese infrastructure investment, are small beer. We will need to build evolving coalitions to deal with each of these issues. The challenge posed by China is far more complex than the one the United States faced when it squared off against the Soviet Union. Meanwhile the Philippines which has had to fend off ongoing incursions by Chinese vessels into its waters is working on building out current joint projects with the U.S. and exploring locations for new sites. (IISS via AP). Note that this EIR is confined to an assessment of conflict risks and does not examine measures being taken by the government or others to address these. March 16, 2023 The Indo-Pacific region is both highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and already facing significant security risks and challenges, many of which will be exacerbated by the impact of climate change. The Indo-Pacific region will shape the trajectory of the world in the 21st century. Trends in conflict and stability in the Indo-Pacific. So was the growing importance of India. Crucial to understanding the new Indo-Pacific map is that it connects the economic powerhouse of East Asia to the newer dynamism of South Asia, including along the sea lanes by which most of the worlds trade and ship-bound energy pass. Sri Lanka has seen its sovereignty eroded by indebtedness to China under the infrastructure-led Belt and Road Initiative. 3. These cookies do not identify you personally. Market data provided by Factset. And without mentioning China, South Korea's new Indo-Pacific Strategy published on Tuesday commits Seoul to expanding regional security cooperation in an effort to defend against threats. To make a counterbalance [to China], the only option is India, says Mr Kanehara. Aquilino said China has a role to play in the world if it adheres to the rules-based order, especially in regards to North Korea. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Examining emerging policies of cooperation and conflict adopted by Indo-Pacific states in response to a rising China, the book offers insights into the evolving Indo-Pacific visions and strategies being developed in Japan, India, Australia and the US in reaction to shifting geopolitical realities. by Christoph Meinel and David Hageblling Renewing America, Russias War Against Ukraine is Catalyzing Internet Fragmentation, Blog Post