China on Tuesday dismissed the proposed Indo-Pacific security arrangement among the United States, Japan, India and Australia to contain China’s rise as “media speculation” and timed its remarks a day ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s arrival in Beijing.
In response to a question, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying signaled that the Indo-Pacific region was part of the global commons.
She said that the Indo-Pacific - an area in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean on either side of the Malacca straits - was a “dynamic region” with the biggest potential in the world. She stressed that that “stability and peace” in the Indo-Pacific was of great importance to ensure the prosperity of the region. Analysts point out that China stood opposed to any attempts to exercise military dominance by any country or set of countries over the area, which is vital to international trade.
Ms. Hua’s observations follow the remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday.
At a joint press conference in Tokyo with President Trump, Mr. Abe said that Tokyo and Washington “concurred” that they should beef up cooperation to realise “a free and open Indo-Pacific”, Japanese media reported. Mr. Abe first unveiled his "Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy" last year. According to Nikkei Asian Review, the Japanese premier’s approach involving the U.S, India and Australia as the other partners, “is partly intended to keep in check China's growing presence in the region under its "One Belt, One Road" initiative, aimed at extending its reach beyond its borders”.
But in China, there is quiet confidence that Beijing and Washington will be able to establish a special relationship, based on deep mutual interests, allowing China to remain unaffected by the fledgling Indo-Pacific doctrine.
“The US is still using a 2010 strategic White Paper which indicated that the way to contain China was to use India, in alliance with the Philippines, Australia, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea as part of a containment strategy,” says Einar Tangen, a Beijing-based political commentator.
In a conversation with The Hindu , he points out that only India, Australia, Japan and the U.S remain possible participants. “Given the uncertainty around Trump’s long- term strategy, South Korea may not commit to China containment and a sea change in Australia’s direction is possible, given Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s domestic problems and Australia’s reliance on China for trade,” he observed.
Ahead of the U.S President’s arrival, observers point out that Mr. Trump’s stance towards China is likely to be shaped by the three major influences.
The national security establishment in Washington is the chief advocate of the “free and open Indo-Pacific” arrangement.
Then there are the “trade hawks” who are saying that the President should show more steel in demanding greater market access for U.S products.
But the two views may be trumped by the position associated with the President’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Mr. Kushner, who has been credited with facilitating the April meeting in Mar-a-Lago between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr. Trump views China and U.S as indispensable partners.
On Friday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang was upbeat in his remarks at a media briefing, when he said that Mr. Xi and Mr. Trump “expected to map out a blueprint for the development of bilateral ties in a new era”.
Mr. Zheng said that apart from formal engagements, the two leaders will get sufficient time for "informal interactions". He highlighted that the two Presidents will have “strategic communication on significant issues of common concern to build new consensus, enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and promote bilateral relations in all spheres”.
Mr. Trump has described Mr. Xi in the U.S media as “a very good person”. In China there is considerable talk about the warm “personal chemistry” between the two men, built over personal meetings and regular telephonic conversations.
