Date:

Share:

Equations of Security in China and Asia-Pacific

Similar Posts

This post is also available in: Türkçe Русский

The Asia-Pacific Region attracts attention because of the presence of a state like China that challenges the United States of America (USA), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and thus the Western hegemony. At the same time, security-based issues that come to the agenda due to issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea also increase the interest in the region. Undoubtedly, one of the parties to the aforementioned problems is China.

At this point, it can be said that the main purpose of the West and the USA is to surround China. Because the USA applied the containment strategy against the Soviet Union during the Cold War and obtained an advantageous result as a result of this strategy.[1] Because it can be said that countries such as South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam are important regional allies of the USA.

“The instability created by China’s activities” is shown as the reason for the unity and legitimacy of the Western alliance in the Asia-Pacific. At this point, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said that Beijing’s actions consolidated the Western alliance and increased the unity of the states included in this alliance. At the same time, Emanuel said that China should not be surprised if other countries take their own deterrent steps and deepen military ties with Washington’s allies in Asia.[2]

The general conjuncture in the Asia-Pacific Region; It is built through alliances, collaborations and exercises. As a matter of fact, this brings along the polarization policy in the region. As a matter of fact, the region is already divided into two. As a Western alliance, there is a blockade led by the USA and in which the above-mentioned countries are located. On the other hand, China, which objects to Western hegemony, deepens its cooperation with various actors. On the other hand, the moves and discourses of both sides against each other cause a provocative situation rather than a deterrent. As a matter of fact, China’s policies in the region expand and deepen the Japan-USA equation and relations.

Moreover, it does not seem possible to reach a reconciliation in the short term without preferring the means of negotiation and diplomacy in the region. Because all kinds of actions and discourses create a security dilemma and this makes the regional security equation fragile.

To give an example of the situation in question, a state-owned weapons developer in Taiwan introduced five new domestic military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on March 14, 2023, in line with its goals of increasing its symmetrical warfare capabilities in anti-Chinese point of view. Eric Chi, Taiwan Aviation Systems Research Division Manager, stated that the new UAVs are of different sizes and equipped with combat or surveillance capabilities, and that the devices are designed to be used by different units of the Taiwan Army.[3]

As a matter of fact, China’s seeing Taiwan as its red line and the efforts of the USA and NATO to use this situation to their advantage increase the concerns about the security in the region. At this point, it can be argued that the West is trying to pressure Beijing more and more through Taipei, and by this means, it wants to wage a struggle against China regionally. This raises the possibility of a hot conflict. At the same time, it can be said that this situation provokes China more against the USA and NATO.

On the other hand, it is a question mark how long the West will continue this pressure. Because China emphasizes that Taiwan is the red line at every opportunity. For this reason, it can be thought that the increasing pressure of the West will find a stronger response each time than the previous one. This can be interpreted as the conjuncture in the region will become more and more tense.

As a result, it can be predicted that security issues arising over China will be discussed more frequently due to the pressure of the West. This indicates that the rivalry between the USA in particular and the West and China in general will escalate. Naturally, the fragility of the regional security environment seems inevitable.


[1] “The History of Containment Policy”, Thought Co., https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-containment-2361022, (Date of Accession: 12.04.2023).

[2] “Exclusive: China’s ‘Attacks’ Unite Region Against Beijing, US Ambassador to Japan Says”, Cable News Network, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/08/asia/us-ambassador-japan-emanuel-interview-intl-hnk, (Date of Accession: 12.04.2023).

[3] “Taiwan Unveils Its New Combat and Surveillance Drones as China Threat Grows”, Cable News Network, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/14/asia/taiwan-china-military-drones-unveiled-hnk-intl, (Date of Accession: 12.04.2023).

Zeki Talustan GÜLTEN
Zeki Talustan GÜLTEN
Zeki Talustan Gülten graduated from Yalova University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of International Relations in 2021 with his graduation thesis titled "American Foreign Policy" and from Anadolu University, Open Education Faculty, Department of Foreign Trade in 2023. Gülten, who is currently pursuing her Master's Degree with Thesis at Marmara University Institute of Social Sciences, Department of International Relations, was a student at the Faculty of International and Political Studies at Lodz University for a semester within the framework of the Erasmus+ program during her undergraduate education. Working as an Asia-Pacific Research Assistant at ANKASAM, Gülten's main areas of interest are American Foreign Policy, Asia-Pacific and International Law. Gülten is fluent in English.