America has just announced new naval deployment in the Asia Pacific in support of a beefed-up network of China-encircling military bases including Australia, Japan and Singapore. Click here
This is part of a new strategy declared by President Obama and Secretary Hilary Clinton that America will make this America's Pacific Century. Click here
The dramatic increase of American military presence in the Asia Pacific comes at a time of mounting tensions between China and her neigbours in the South China Sea; a move in the United States to compensate its perceived decline in economic influence in the region with military power projection; and rising concerns in China to speed up her blue-water defences of vital sea lanes for trade and resource imports.
Right now, a perceived decline of American economic and geopolitical power is translating into sinophobia targeting China as potential enemy No.1 in a new Cold War.
While this development is perhaps inevitable in the wake of a rapidly rising China perceived to challenge American dominance in the world order, the danger is that a real war between the two superpowers could break out by design as a quick way to redress economic problems. Or it could happen by accident, misunderstanding and miscalcualtion.
Both countries should realize that while regional defence is essential, the classic security dilemma can be pushed too far into creating a war of uncontrollable consequences for the entire world.
Indeed, in an era of global inter-dependence and ecological constraints and at the threshold of new breakthroughs in new energies, materials and life sciences, America and China need each other more than they realize and compete less in dominance than they imagine.
A good way to start avoiding an unwanted military Armageddon is to redouble efforts in building mutual trust through cooperative projects of a global scale rather than piling up regional chips for a Cold War.
Best regards,
Andrew
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