Military tensions in the Pacific are on the rise as the United States cements its China oriented “Asia Pivot” amid visible signs of naval collaboration between Beijing and Moscow.
Beijing is closely monitoring Washington’s decision to step up aerial monitoring and attack capability in the Pacific as part of a five-year plan.Last week, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the chief of naval operations, disclosed in a five-page “navigation plan” that Washington would beef up the aerial component of the U.S. Pacific Command.
Aerial command postsHe revealed Pentagon’s intent to deploy the latest E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes-new aerial command posts, which would be central to surveillance network in the skies.The strengthening of the “Asia Pivot” — a “containment” doctrine targeting China — has escalated tensions over competing sovereignty claims over islands in the South China Sea.
The Chinese, sensing deviation from its previous hands-off stance, are especially concerned about a recent surge in U.S. activism in the South China Sea.
Last Monday, the Chinese defence ministry slammed the surveillance mission undertaken by U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Scott Swift, who, for seven hours, flew on a reconnaissance mission aboard a P-8A plane in the South China Sea.
Philippines a close U.S. ally, and a country which has a dispute with China in the South China Sea, welcomed Admiral Swift’s flight, calling it a demonstration of Washington’s political will to stand by its allies who have territorial disputes with China. Apart from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei and have claims over islands in the South China Sea.
The Russians, already allied with China in game-changing strategic projects in Eurasia, have now become unambiguous in accusing Washington of pursuing a “containment” policy towards Russia and China.
“We are concerned by U.S. policies in the region, especially since every day it becomes increasingly focused on a systemic containment of Russia and China, “Russian Deputy-Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov told Russia Today.
He also announced that Russia planned to join its Asia-pacific allies in May next year, in counter-terrorism naval exercises in the South China Sea. The Russians have also announced beefing up its military presence in Kuril islands, heightening the dispute in the area with Japan, a top U.S. ally in the Pacific.
