The political balance in the Asia-Pacific region is shaped around international power dynamics and alliances. In this context, it can be said that China and North Korea are strategic actors, and the United States (USA) is siding with these two actors in the region.[1]
China grew rapidly in 2008 after the global economic crisis and became the world’s second largest economy in a short time. In this process, China has risen to a leading position in the global supply chain. This economic growth has enabled China to rise in the post-Cold War period as a player that has adopted a multipolar approach, especially towards the West.[2] The rapid growth of the Chinese economy and its leading position in the global supply chain have enabled the country to become increasingly active in the international arena. This rise of China is changing the balance of power in the region.
The United States pursued a successful policy of containment against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Today, he continues the same approach towards China. This in turn strengthens the regional/global rivalry between Beijing and the West. This situation also negatively affects the regional balance of power.
Asia-Pacific countries are at the center of the China-West rivalry. Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea stand out as “Western allies” in the region. Japan and South Korea, in particular, are of great importance to the West because of their geopolitical positions, economic power, competition with China and threats “caused by North Korea”.[3]
In this context, Decelerating cooperation and exercises between Washington, Tokyo and Seoul have been drawing attention recently. These play a critical role in terms of the geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific region and the Washington-Beijing rivalry. South Korean President Yoon-suk Yeol states that his country is now a partner that shares universal values and has common interests. At the same time, South Korea is stepping up trilateral security cooperation with Japan and the United States against “North Korean-related” threats. President Yoon-suk Yeol emphasizes that this cooperation is important to prevent North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.[4]
On the other hand, although Japan and South Korea are cooperating on nuclear threats caused by North Korea and the Deconfliction of China under the leadership of the United States, there are many problems between them. The first of these, 19. it is a problem of forced labor workers dating back to the beginning of the century.[5] Another is the “comfort women” problem, which belongs to the same period again and has still not been fully reconciled.[6] In addition, the Dokdo/Takeshima Islands dispute between Tokyo and Seoul remains topical.[7]
It can be said that the rising tension caused by North Korea is in favor of the United States. The West considers and uses North Korea as a “convenient tool” in the context of its strategy of containment of China. For this reason, it can be predicted that the tension in the Asia-Pacific will not be resolved in the short term and that regional competition will deepen as long as the current situation continues. It can be said that this tension has also come to the benefit of the United States.
At this point, the cooperation and partnerships of countries such as Japan and South Korea in the Asia-Pacific region with the West create a remarkable situation. Because North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs increase security concerns in the region. This is also the South It emphasizes the strategic importance of Korea in the region. South Korea’s trilateral security cooperation with the United States and Japan is an important factor affecting the security balances in the region. Moreover, it can be predicted that the tension in the region will not be resolved in the short term and that the competition will deepen.
The balance between security and economy in the Asia-Pacific region is of critical importance for regional stability. While security concerns can affect economic cooperation and development, economic well-being is also an important factor in terms of security. Regional cooperation and diplomacy are important for ensuring security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Dialogue and negotiations between countries can reduce the risk of Deconfliction and protect common interests. It is also important to strengthen regional security mechanisms and cooperate with existing international organizations.
The political balance in the Asia-Pacific region has a complex structure shaped around international power dynamics and alliances. In particular, the rise of China and the presence of the United States in the region are one of the main factors affecting the balance of power in the region.
China’s economic growth and its leading position in the global supply chain have led to the country becoming increasingly active in the international arena. This situation is changing the balance of power in the region and expanding China’s regional sphere of influence. On the other hand, the containment policy pursued by the United States against China strengthens competition in the region and makes Sino-Western relations tense.
Especially countries such as Japan and South Korea play an important role in the balance of power in the region. Both their geopolitical position and their economic power make these countries important actors in the region. In addition, regional threats, such as North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, increase these countries’ regional security concerns. This situation strengthens the cooperation and partnerships between the United States, Japan and South Korea.
Historical and diplomatic disputes between Japan and South Korea complicate cooperation in the region. In particular, issues such as human rights violations Decried during Japan’s occupation of South Korea and the “comfort women” issue negatively affect relations between the two countries. Solving such problems is important to ensure security and stability in the region.
The balance between security and economy in the Asia-Pacific region is of critical importance for regional stability. While security concerns can affect economic cooperation and development in the region, economic prosperity can also affect regional security. Therefore, regional cooperation and diplomacy are important for ensuring security and stability in the region. Dialogue and negotiations between countries can reduce the risk of Deconfliction and protect common interests.
As a result, it is important to take into account cultural and ideological factors in order to understand the political balance in the Asia-Pacific region. The histories, cultures and ideologies of different countries shape regional relations and influence the potential for conflict or cooperation. When assessing the political balance in the Asia-Pacific region, it is important not to ignore the long-term perspective. The balance of power in the region may change over time and new security threats may emerge.
[1] “JP Morgan Bond Chief Bob Michele Sees Worrying Echoes of 2008 in Market Calm”, Consumer News and Business Channel, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/09/recession-jpmorgan-bond-chief-bob-michele-sees-worrying-echoes-of-2008.html, (Date of Access: 13.06.2023); “China Overtakes Japan as World’s Second-Biggest Economy”, British Broadcasting News, https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12427321, (Date of Access: 13.06.2023); “The World’s Largest Economies”, World Data Info, https://www.worlddata.info/largest-economies.php, (Date of Access: 13.12.2023).
[2] “China’s Dominance in Global Supply Chains”, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, https://www.gmfus.org/news/chinas-dominance-global-supply-chains, (Date of Access: 13.12.2023).
[3] “The History of Containment Policy”, Thought co, https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-containment-2361022, https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-containment-2361022, (Date of Access: 13.12.2023).
[4] “Yoon Says Japan is Partner Sharing Universal Values, Pursuing Common Interests”, China Global Television Network, https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-08-15/China-U-S-S-Korea-Japan-defense-alliance-harms-regional-peace-1mhGvA3xvWg/index.html, (Date of Access: 13.12.2023).
[5] “South Korae to Compensative Victims of Japan’s Wartime Forced Labour”, British Broadcast Corporation, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64858944, (Date of Access: 25.05.2023).
[6] “Dead End? US’ Two Biggest Allies, Japan&South Korea, Find No Comfort in Ties Over Issue of ‘Comfort Women’”, The Eurasian Times, https://eurasiantimes.com/uss-two-biggest-allies-to-counter-china-japan-south-korea-find/, (Date of Access: 25.05.2023).
[7] “Japan Protests South Korean Politician’s Landing on Disputed Islands”, Kyodo News, https://english.kyodonews.net/, (Date of Access: 25.05.2023).
