Defence alliance among the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines potentially confronting China, as suggested by former government representative.
Hear ya, folks! Let's dive into the current chat about a proposed security alliance in Asia, often referred to as an "Asian NATO." The idea isn't directly linked to Joe Biden, but his former officials like Ely Ratner, mates from his administration, are stepping up to the plate.
This initiative is part of a broader strategic plan aimed at countering China's escalating military power in the region. Key countries on board include the US, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines—already engaged in security ties with the US and looking to fortify their collective defense.
So, what's this alliance's goal? It's all about synchronizing defense investments, boosting intelligence sharing, reinforcing cyber resilience, and improving operational coordination. These countries have been putting on joint naval and air exercises in the South China Sea and working to bring the Philippine military up to snuff[1][3].
The pact is occasionally referred to as the "Squad," differing from the Quad (US, Japan, Australia, and India). The Squad primarily focuses on security and defense, especially in response to China's ambitions regarding Taiwan[3][4].
The proposal might escalate regional tensions, as it's seen as a direct response to China's growing military ambitions. China's leaders might view this pact as a provocation to their strategic interests[1][2]. The alliance is designed as a deterrent against China's military intentions, including its aims to unify with Taiwan and dominate the South China Sea[1].
Should this pact succeed, it could help preserve US influence in the region and prevent China from redefining the regional order[1].
The Chinese leadership, led by Xi Jinping, haven't made a direct response to the proposal. However, their overall reaction to boosted US and allied military presence in the region has been less than thrilled. They view such moves as efforts to weaken their sovereignty and strategic interests[1].
Xi Jinping's vision entails a powerful Chinese military and economic might across Asia, including dominating the South China Sea and unifying with Taiwan[1]. Any defense alliance against these objectives would undoubtedly be seen as a threat to this vision[1].
Footnotes:
[1] "The US is plotting an Asian NATO to take on China: Report." South China Morning Post, April 20, 2023. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3198828/us-plotting-asian-nato-take-china-report[2] "What is the Quad, and why is it a turning point in regional strategy and geopolitics?" Business Standard, October 13, 2021. https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/what-is-the-quad-and-why-is-it-a-turning-point-in-regional-strategy-and-geopolitics-121101301335_1.html[3] "The 'Squad': Quad tool for emerging Asia defense architecture." Nikkei Asia, June 6, 2023. https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/The-Squad-Quad-tool-for-emerging-Asia-defense-architecture[4] "China’s New Ruling Work Party: A Potential Pathway to Unification with Taiwan?" The National Interest, April 29, 2023. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/baltic-source/chinas-new-ruling-work-party-potential-pathway-unification-taiwan-110528
The Asian NATO proposal, involving key countries like the US, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, is a military-related policy-and-legislation move in the war-and-conflicts arena, aiming to counter China's growing power in the region and serve as a deterrent against its military intentions, such as unification with Taiwan and dominance of the South China Sea. This regional politics development could escalate tensions with China, viewed by their leaders as a provocation to their strategic interests and a potential threat to their vision of economic and military dominance across Asia.
