Battle of Bach Dang River
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What is the U.S. strategy in the South China Sea?
May. 17, 2012
So what is the U.S. strategy in the South China Sea?
The U.S. strategy can be summarized in one sentence: to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
As Simon Tisdall, of the Guardian, puts it, "China syndrome dictates Washington's Asia-Pacific strategy. Barack Obama has no wish to conjure the specter of a new cold war but is determined to beat back any Chinese bid for hegemony in Asia-Pacific."
To do so, the first step in the U.S. South China Sea strategy is to build up the defense capabilities of the Philippines and other members of ASEAN so to improve their ability to protect their own shores.
As George Amurao, of Mahidol University in Bangkok, said, "Washington's openness towards Manila's military wish list suggests a belief that well-armed smaller claimants can keep China at bay. In an official statement released by the Philippines on May 3, the U.S. government has agreed to triple the Foreign Military Financing it will award to the Philippines in 2012."
As part of Washington's high-profile foreign policy shift toward the Asia-Pacific, the U.S. also is going beyond ASEAN to enhance and enlarge its alliance system with other key states in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Japan, South Korea and India. To counterbalance China's growing power, the Obama administration announced the establishment of a permanent military base in Darwin, Australia. Amid the global troop cuts, U.S. ballistic missile defense cooperation with Japan is well advanced, and the U.S. military presence in South Korea will be reinforced. And Washington's desire to contain China's ambitions is a driving force behind the recent rapprochement with New Delhi.
Finally, to safeguard one of the busiest sea lanes in the world, the U.S. evolving Asia-Pacific strategy includes a stronger presence in the South China Sea. "This area is growing in importance to the future of the U.S. economy and our national security," announced Panetta, "this means improving capabilities that maintain our military's technological edge and freedom of action."
While an all out U.S.-China shooting war in South China Sea is not an inevitability, the U.S.' new South China Sea strategy represents a delicate tightrope act, one that aims to contain China's growing territorial ambitions in the South China Sea but avoid to oblige the U.S. to an open confrontation with China.
What is the U.S. strategy in the South China Sea? | Coshocton Tribune | coshoctontribune.com
May. 17, 2012
So what is the U.S. strategy in the South China Sea?
The U.S. strategy can be summarized in one sentence: to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
As Simon Tisdall, of the Guardian, puts it, "China syndrome dictates Washington's Asia-Pacific strategy. Barack Obama has no wish to conjure the specter of a new cold war but is determined to beat back any Chinese bid for hegemony in Asia-Pacific."
To do so, the first step in the U.S. South China Sea strategy is to build up the defense capabilities of the Philippines and other members of ASEAN so to improve their ability to protect their own shores.
As George Amurao, of Mahidol University in Bangkok, said, "Washington's openness towards Manila's military wish list suggests a belief that well-armed smaller claimants can keep China at bay. In an official statement released by the Philippines on May 3, the U.S. government has agreed to triple the Foreign Military Financing it will award to the Philippines in 2012."
As part of Washington's high-profile foreign policy shift toward the Asia-Pacific, the U.S. also is going beyond ASEAN to enhance and enlarge its alliance system with other key states in the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Japan, South Korea and India. To counterbalance China's growing power, the Obama administration announced the establishment of a permanent military base in Darwin, Australia. Amid the global troop cuts, U.S. ballistic missile defense cooperation with Japan is well advanced, and the U.S. military presence in South Korea will be reinforced. And Washington's desire to contain China's ambitions is a driving force behind the recent rapprochement with New Delhi.
Finally, to safeguard one of the busiest sea lanes in the world, the U.S. evolving Asia-Pacific strategy includes a stronger presence in the South China Sea. "This area is growing in importance to the future of the U.S. economy and our national security," announced Panetta, "this means improving capabilities that maintain our military's technological edge and freedom of action."
While an all out U.S.-China shooting war in South China Sea is not an inevitability, the U.S.' new South China Sea strategy represents a delicate tightrope act, one that aims to contain China's growing territorial ambitions in the South China Sea but avoid to oblige the U.S. to an open confrontation with China.
What is the U.S. strategy in the South China Sea? | Coshocton Tribune | coshoctontribune.com
