DESPITE the imminent withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan being seen by some that the superpower is losing grip over its hegemony, it is not necessarily the case.
It actually looks like that
the US taking on a new dimension. The withdrawal of forces should not be
interpreted as a sign of its weakness in the global arena.
By maintaining a minimal
presence in Afghanistan and requesting assistance from regional countries to
maintain peace and security there, they are signalling that their focus is
shifting elsewhere.
One clue to the shift in focus
is the US Senate unanimously passed legislation on July 14 to prohibit the
import of products from China’s Xinjiang region. This is a clear and strong
stance adopted by the US towards China, showing that the undercurrent tension
between the two countries has grown much more visible.
Malaysia and Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) must look into this changing geopolitical
dynamics. The continued civil unrest in Myanmar, as well as the impact of the
COVID-19 outbreak, may lead to Asean countries to pay less attention to the
rising US-China conflict.
Furthermore, the current
domestic political uncertainty, along with the recent invasions of foreign
military vessels and aircraft, raises concerns about whether Malaysia is
prepared to meet such security threats.
The
indicators
The US has spent US$2.26 tril
on the war in Afghanistan since 2001, according to the Watson Institute
International & Public Affairs at Brown University’s Costs of Project,
which includes operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
By withdrawing from
Afghanistan, the US will be left with substantial sum that can be used for
“other” purposes. What exactly are these purposes and why is it mobilising the
most advanced military assets to the Indo-Pacific area, remains a mystery.
Secondly, the US is mobilising
its collective support against China via the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) and the G7’s recent stand against it.
Canada, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, the UK and the US make up the G7. As guest countries, the UK has
invited leaders from Australia, India, South Africa and South Korea to the
Leaders’ Summit.
The G7 underscores the
significance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as deep
concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas, and strongly
condemns any unilateral moves to change the status quo and escalate tensions at
that summit.
China’s ambitions and
assertive behaviour, according to NATO’s Brussels Summit Communiqué, pose a
threat to the rules-based international order and areas crucial to Alliance
security. Furthermore, to construct a nuclear triad, China is rapidly growing
its nuclear arsenal with more warheads and sophisticated delivery technologies.
China is also collaborating militarily with Russia, participating in Russian
manoeuvres in the Euro-Atlantic region, for example.
The statements from G7 and
NATO are setting a tone and preparing the world for a future conflict in the
Indo-Pacific.
Thirdly, the US Air Force
(USAF) is sending more than two dozen F-22 stealth fighters which use stealth
technologies to a training exercise in the Western Pacific this month. This
aircraft is one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.
The F-22A Raptor is an
advanced tactical fighter aircraft developed for the USAF, according to
airforce-technology.com. With a focus on agility, stealth, and range, it was
introduced to the USAF in December 2005.
Next, the Department of
Defense’s Unified Command Plan designates the United States Indo-Pacific
Command (USINDOPACOM) as one of six geographic combatant commands, according to
pacom.mil (UCP).
USINDOPACOM is responsible for
deploying and integrating US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps forces in
the USINDOPACOM area of responsibility (AOR), which includes the South China
Sea, in order to fulfil US national security objectives while safeguarding
national interests.
USINDOPACOM is committed to
enhancing stability in the Asia-Pacific region with allies and partners by
promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to
contingencies, deterring aggression and fighting to victory when required.
Partnership, presence and military readiness are the cornerstones of this
strategy.
More than 35 aircraft and
nearly 800 airmen from Pacific Air Forces and Air Combat Command will be
deployed to the AOR this month to engage in Operation Pacific Iron 2021,
according to a statement posted on USINDOPACOM’s website on July 13.
In addition, it defines
Pacific Iron 2021 is a PACAF (Pacific Air Forces) dynamic force employment
operation aimed at projecting forces into USINDOPACOM’s area of responsibility
in support of the 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS), which urged the
military to become more lethal, adaptable and resilient.
Japan
joins the foray
Dynamic force employment
(DFE), according to the 2018 NDS, offers for greater flexibility in proactively
shaping the strategic environment while preserving readiness to respond to
contingencies and ensuring long-term warfighting preparedness.
Multi-capable Airmen skills
will be shown and simulated combat flight operations will be conducted from
local airports in Guam and Tinian in support of Pacific Iron 2021. This is one
of the most significant deployments of American army assets in recent memory.
In addition, last month, Japan’s
Deputy Defense Minister, Yasuhide Nakayama, warned of a growing threat
presented by Chinese and Russian collaboration, saying it was vital to “wake
up” to Beijing’s pressure on Taiwan and safeguard the island “as a democratic
country” in a speech to the Hudson Institute think tank.
Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister
Taro Aso stated earlier this month that in the event of a major conflict, Japan
and the US would have to defend Taiwan together, which was reported in Kyoto
news portal.
While Japan’s pacifist Constitution restricts the extent of its military, a 2015 reinterpretation of the document permits the country to send troops to overseas conflicts in certain circumstances.
Another evidence that the
US-China conflict is real is the naming of Operation Pacific Iron 2021. The
military advancement is referred to as an operation, which emphasises the
resemblance.
The US Government’s official
term for the Global War on Terrorism was Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
Operation Desert Storm was a military campaign to drive occupying Iraqi
soldiers out of Kuwait, which Iraq had invaded and occupied a few months
before.
Lastly, a few days ago, UK’s
Defence Minister Ben Wallace has announced that it will permanently deploy two
warships later this year in Indo-Pacific region to assist Japan by countering
the territorial expansion plan of China.
He added that the UK will also
deploy a Littoral Response Group, a unit of marines trained to undertake
missions including evacuations and anti-terrorism operations.
The UK and Japan are key
allies to the US. Ministerial remarks and the deployment of military assets to
the Indo-Pacific have only added to the speculation that a major future
conflict is concocting, between the biggest economies of the world. – July 25,
2021.
Source: https://focusmalaysia.my/us-and-allies-deploying-strategic-assets-sight-set-on-chinas-rise/
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