China’s claim of a new Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in East China Sea is a challenge to American supremacy in the region besides a deliberate effort to exacerbate tension. China’s Defence Ministry has conveyed that non-commercial flights entering into China’s airspace must first identify themselves and maintain radio contact with the Chinese authorities to avoid risk of any ‘defensive measure’ by its armed forces.
The long-running conflict between Japan, Taiwan and China over Senkaku and Diaoyu islets and the interlinked recent development, creation of the ADIZ, has increased chances of miscalculation. The US is likely to get entangled, because it is required (according to Treaty of Mutual Security and Cooperation Japan and the US) to protect sovereignty of Japan in case of an armed attack by any third party until United Nations Security Council (UNSC) takes any measure to restore peace.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mentioned in her speech that the mutual security pact also covers Senkaku and considers it as a part of Japan. It therefore does not seem an out-of-context move on the part of the US to send the US’ best crisis-manager, Joe Biden, on a week-long trip of three Asian giants (Japan, China and South Korea) to defuse the crisis between China and Japan.
Vice President Biden has completed his visit. Biden appeared busy in meeting with foreign newspaper reporters, American embassy personals and business community in China rather than talking with President Xi Jinping, whose policies have intensified long-standing territorial issues of the country with its neighbours.
An important reason for American presence in the region is maintaining the status-quo. In this regard, China’s ADIZ is undoubtedly a knock-back to the American goals in the region. China might have its own reasons for this move, but the US is not likely to accept it easily. Initially, several Chinese and foreign scholars had criticised abrupt change in the American force posture; however, it now makes sense.
The US remains a formidable actor in the Pacific political affairs. China, on the other hand, might be testing American commitment to secure allies and Japan’s reaction on any claim on its claimed territory. If both the US and Japan remain silent and comply with China’s new airspace, China, in turn, is likely to repeat this tactic even in South China Sea, which the US obviously cannot afford. The best available option for the US is to engage China, through negotiations and power projection, in order to maintain its credibility in the region.
MUHAMMAD SHOAIB,
Islamabad, December 23.