The competition among the United States (US), China, Japan and India in the Asia-Pacific Region, one of the most important areas of the international power struggle, is increasing. Especially, the steps were taken by the Joe Biden administration, which came into power in the US in January 2021, towards China are noteworthy. The most interesting one is the intensification of Washington’s military drill with its allies in the region.
In this context, the US has recently conducted the military exercises “East Shield” (June 18 – July 11, 2021) with Japan, “Pacific Pioneer 2021” (July 5-9, 2021) with Australia, Japan and South Korea; “Talisman Sabre 2021” (July 18-31, 2021) with Canada, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, England and Australia. Besides, the US carried out the “Large-Scale Global Exercise 21” with the UK, Australia and Japan (starting on 1 August 2021 and still ongoing); the military exercise also with Indonesia starting on August 1, 2021, and ending on August 14, 2021, and the “Malabar Exercise 2021” (August 21-24, 2021) with India, Japan and Australia are considerable military activities.
Along with the military exercises, the US is continuing to arming Taiwan against China. Within this framework, the increase in arms trade to Taiwan during the presidency of Donald Trump continues under the Biden administration as well. Therefore, the White House approved to sell a howitzer cannoneer which is worth 1 million dollars to Taiwan. In addition, the US also provided various military assistance including the coast guard to Vietnam, where China has disputes in the South China Sea. Moreover, the USA has a desire to deepening its political relations with Vietnam. In this regard, US Vice President Kamala Harris is planned to visit Vietnam and Singapore at the end of August 2021. [1] Despite the absence of a military alliance between the two countries, it can be expected that the visit covers a military agenda.
There are also different strategies against Beijing, the global rival of Washington developing by the given countries apart from the US steps with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region. Among these strategies, the decision of the United Kingdom and Germany, which are the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies of the USA, to send warships to the South China Sea is one of the most critical developments.
Japan, the most significant ally of the US, has mentioned Taiwan’s security in its Annual Defense Review Report. Also, Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Tara Aso’s stated that Tokyo must defend Taiwan in the possible invasion of China. These two developments are considered prominent events in the region. In this context, there is another significant step taken by Japan; under an agreement signed between Japan and Australia in June 2021, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces will provide protection to Australian ships in the East and South China Seas if Australia so requests.
Moreover, another remarkable development was that French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized “A Free and Open Indo-Pacific” in a joint statement with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga during his visit on the occasion of the Tokyo Olympics. Similarly, the Philippines has suspended its decision to cancel the 20-year Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States once more.
It is also notable that Japan has strengthened its defensive capabilities. To give an example, Japan has deployed ground self-defence forces on Ishigakijima Island and an electronic warfare unit on Yanagunijima Island.
On the other side, at a time when the US is conducting large-scale military exercises targeting China in the Asia-Pacific Region and many countries, including the UK, Germany and India, are sending or planning to send warships to the South China Sea, China has also announced that it will conduct extensive military exercises in the region between Hainan Island and Xisha Islands as of August 6, 2021.
The military exercise in the South China Sea would not be the only exercise as China’s Maritime Security Administration has announced several more exercises in the Bohai Strait, the Yellow Sea, and other locations in the South China Sea. China will also hold joint military exercises with Russia on August 1-13, 2021 in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China.
All these activities of Beijing are part of the Biden administration’s policy, which refocus on Southeast Asia to resist China in its backyard. Naturally, every action taken by the great powers causes a reflection in the region. In this regard, within the scope of China-US competition, it can be claimed that Washington will increase its military engagements with its allies. It should also be considered that the US will try to deepen its relations with allied or non-allied countries and can conduct military engagements and exercises with these countries. It can be said that Washington’s allies and partners can develop military cooperation and exercises among themselves, while Beijing will continue to respond with similar attempts. As a result, the show of force and military threats of the great powers against each other will continue in the Asia-Pacific Region, where tensions are escalating day by day.
[1] “Harris to Promote ‘America is Back’ Message in Singapore and Vietnam”, CNN Politics, https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/03/politics/vice-president-kamala-harris-singapore-vietnam/index.html, (Date of Access: 06.08.2021).
