Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: Chinese navy Sovremenny-class destroyers, 138.

United States, “New York Times” article title: Asia anxiety

Panetta this week, U.S. Defense Secretary’s visit to Asia, the region will find itself increasingly as a future anxiety. These large and small countries is different from the 19th century in Europe, are seeking to be included in the protection network, which in turn exacerbated the other countries of insecurity. As a result of the risk of worsening cycle, but also increased the misjudgment or nationalist fervor, to determine the possibility of overwhelming normal.

worried about Asia is not the most important reason for the past 10 years China’s military growth. Instead, the key is China’s current ability to use these new ways. In particular, taking into account the importance of trade routes, the Chinese navy to expand the scope of action to the entire East China Sea and South China Sea, is arousing awareness.

in the East China Sea, the United States and Japan are in a huge navy, China is largely confined to the territory surrounding deterred in Japan, arrogantly sent the fleet around the Japanese islands by the sea. However, Japan last year of great strategic importance to the waters near the Diaoyu Islands, seized a Chinese fishing boat, which is almost a crisis, so that Beijing and afraid to offend the region’s most important democracy.

contrast, in the Straits of Malacca and the connection leading to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean waters, a small Southeast Asian country’s naval forces is very limited. In the South China Sea, Chinese warships always be much more active, mandate the United States and Vietnam intrusion of vessels.

even the Indian Navy’s presence felt in China. It is said that an Indian ship after a recent visit to Vietnam, was a provocation on the high seas.

However, regardless of how China’s neighbors self-inductance of the power is weak, do not ignore China’s growing more aggressive. Last month, the Philippines and Japan announced plans to strengthen the joint naval exercises, maritime defense will hold regular meetings between officials.

China’s move not only caused the response of Asian countries. In the past seven months, the U.S. Navy and Vietnam launched a non-combat training exercise, which continued with, including Malaysia, Cambodia, India and Bangladesh and other Southeast Asian and South Asian countries momentum expansion of naval exercises.

more importantly, the United States and Australia agreed to a significant deepening of military cooperation. U.S. military bases to be stationed in Australia, and the right to store goods in the country, and to hold more joint exercises and training.

Overall, Southeast Asia, more and more like a chess game involving multiple players. Different players their alliance, playing pieces by taking of territory. On Southeast Asia, the main focus of contention is the “United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea,” the provisions of the 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Caused a large number of islands, the South China Sea territorial disputes constitute overlapping territorial claims, including Beijing’s territorial claims to the entire South China Sea.

territorial battle obscures a more serious problem, and that is the balance of power in Asia. Beijing seeks to prevent an alliance between a small country and the United States and other major powers or the formation of partnerships in the region to try to form the balance of power to their advantage.

although the U.S. Navy and Southeast Asian countries to strengthen the joint training, but China’s leaders may still believe that Washington is not possible to extend security to all these countries. Because the United States to maintain forces in Asia will continue to weaken the ability, which ultimately will China become dominant in the region of sea power.

Asian situation will get out of control, it seems more and more dependent on China’s future actions of its neighbors.

Chinese Government may make further territorial claims and harassing neighbors, in order to consolidate their position. Washington and Asia, many analysts worry that China’s military will have a greater influence on government, senior military officers will likely released by the Chinese media aggressive words into action.

resulting insecurity will only highlight the United States to play in maintaining stability in the role of non-stop, and the Asian countries large and small dependence on the U.S. military. Slash the military budget in the hope, the United States how to maintain a reliable presence in Asia? This is Panetta faces new challenges. Unfortunately, the answer is likely to depend on Beijing.