U.S. Aiding Nations in Asia to Counter Chinese Expansion

On April 14, 2016, the U.S. announced it would be conducting joint patrols of the South China Sea with the Philippines. BBC reports that the U.S. has rarely conducted joint patrols in the region, and this move may point to the growing concern over China’s expansion in the region.

Along with launching joint patrols the U.S. will also sending aircrafts and pilots over to the former Clark Air Base, which is now apart of the Philippines Air Force. The New York Times reports “The aircraft will include five Warthog ground-attack planes, three search-and-rescue helicopters and a transport plane often used to ferry Special Operations forces.”

Coinciding with this announcement is the annual military exercise conducted between the U.S., Philippines, and Australia. The Balikatan, or shoulder to shoulder, exercise is used as a show of force to China’s territorial expansion in the region. The Chinese were quick to respond by claiming the U.S. was bringing a “Cold War mentality” to the South China Sea.

The Chinese criticisms are somewhat ironic as they have bolstered their defenses on several disputed islands, and have been developing massive artificial islands to expand their territorial claim. The Chinese have continued this strengthening of its defenses despite backlash from the U.S. and countries in the region. China’s response to all these criticisms is the islands belong to China’s sovereignty, so they have the right to build upon them.

Earlier this week the Military Times reported the Filipino ambassador to the U.S. asked for the U.S. to convince the Chinese to not build an artificial island near the Scarborough Shoal. The Filipino ambassador discussed the importance of that region to Filipino fishermen, and any attempt to build near the shoal would be a “very provocative” step. The U.S. announcing its plan to enter into joint patrols may have been its way of persuading China to back off.

While the Filipino government believes the U.S. presence will help protect their interests, it may also serve as a provocation to China. Responding to the U.S. announcement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released the statement, “Military exchanges by relevant countries should not target third parties, much less support a few countries in challenging China’s sovereignty and security, inciting regional contradictions and sabotaging regional peace and stability.”

However, other nations may not feel the same safety and stability, as just recently the Vietnamese seized a Chinese fishing vessel that encroached on its waters. Vietnam also has several disputed islands in the South China Sea, and has multiple times expressed its concern over China’s expansion in the region.

The U.S. has voiced criticism of China’s South China Sea activities many times, and has been patrolling the area to ensure the freedom of navigation. China’s foreign ministry has claimed its island construction will not interfere with the freedom of navigation or overflights, yet U.S. planes have been warned to divert their course when flying near the islands.

In order to further counter Chinese influence in the region, the U.S. and India agreed to strengthen military ties earlier this week. According to the New York Times, “the United States and India said they would allow their armed forces to share logistics abilities and enhance the exchange of defense technologies and other information.”

India’s primary interest in deterring China revolves around energy products, and trade coming from the Indian Ocean. Roughly 70% of India’s oil supply is imported, 77% of their trade goes through the Indian Ocean.

30% of China’s trade goes through the Indian Ocean, making the Strait of Malacca, which provides entry to the Indian Ocean from the South China Sea, a vital choke point for Chinese energy security. A Chinese newspaper noted “it is no exaggeration to say that whoever controls the Strait of Malacca will also have a stranglehold on the energy route of China.”

As China begins to assert its influence over more parts of the South China Sea and in Afghanistan, India may be looking for a partner that can help to counter this growing influence.

While The U.S. and its partners are taking steps to counter Chinese influence in the South China Sea, it may also be facilitating Chinese efforts to become a global power. The U.S. has stood behind China’s new Silk Road Initiative that would spread Chinese influence across the Middle East, parts of Africa, and Europe. While the U.S. has supported the idea to link the world in trade, it will be allowing China to grow economically, and further allow the Chinese to influence more parts of the world.

The U.S. is starting to show physical signs that it will not put up with Chinese expansion in the South China Sea. With trillions of dollars of trade running through its waters every year, the U.S. cannot afford to allow China to dictate who can and cannot trade in the region.