Event ReportsPublished on May 11, 2011
China has avoided taking up regional and global responsibilities despite the United States' basic policy and efforts to make it a responsible stakeholder in the international community and help it take its rightful place as a global power, according to US scholar Dr Michael Auslin.
China acquiring weapons that can target US systems: US scholar

China has avoided taking up regional and global responsibilities despite the United States’ basic policy and efforts to make it a responsible stakeholder in the international community and help it take its rightful place as a global power, according to US scholar Dr Michael Auslin.

Delivering a talk on ’Security of the Indo-Pacific commons and the future of US-China Relations ’ at Observer Research Foundation on May 11, 2011, Dr Auslin, Director of Japan Studies at the American Enterprise Institute of Public Policy Research and author of many books, said as China gained confidence and strength, it began challenging the norms of the inter-regional and international behaviour order in the region, particularly with regard to territorial claims in the commons.

Dr. Auslin said China was not only building up its military but was focussing on attaining the types of weapons that can be used to target the advanced systems of the US. He said US engagement of China at the civil and military levels has not achieved anything. While no one begrudges China’s military build up, its increasing assertiveness has raised concerns, he said.

What should the US do about the question of China? Dr Auslin suggested that the US should enhance its presence in the regional despite increasing financial constraints. He proposed a new security architecture for the region composed of two concentric triangles to work with the US: one comprising Australia, South Korea and Japan and India and a smaller triangle comprising of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The US should seek the further democratic evolvement of these States and help them improve their military, naval, air and intelligence capabilities. Dr Auslin asserted that this partnership is not designed to contain China.

Dr Auslin stressed that China is not an enemy of the US. But the US will have a much more sceptical approach towards China from now on. The US is likely to be a reach out to its old partners like Australia, South Korea and Japan and new partners like India, Indonesia and Malaysia to attempt to maintain the balance of power and stability in the Indo-Pacific due to the uncertainty created by China. So, there will be increasing tension between Washington and China, though not outright conflict. The pressures that other countries feel due to China’s build up will find purchase in Washington and widen the gulf between the US and China. Therefore, in his opinion, Sino-US relations will be more jaded and more realistic in the future.

According to Dr Auslin, one of the greatest challenge or the globe in the coming years will be to maintain stability and promote prosperity of the Indo-Pacific commons. The US has always been involved in the Indo-Pacific and its gaze is increasingly shifting eastwards. Dr Auslin said that this will continue in the foreseeable future with one difference: for the first time, the US’ engagement will be on Asia’s terms. He said that the Indo-Pacific era has arrived and it is one in which the US increasingly will recognise itself as an Indo-Pacific power.

Dr Auslin said there is an instinctive trans-Atlantic bias in America’s view of the world. He argued that this mindset must change as Europe is getting older, Africa is tragic case of unfulfilled promise and endemic problems and Latin America does not have the growth potential of the Indo-Pacific. On the other hand, the Indo-Pacific region has the greatest opportunity for continued growth, promoting prosperity around the world as well as significant security challenges. Therefore, Dr Auslin argued, the debate in Washington will increasingly centre on how best to engage with the Indo-Pacific and how best to maintain stability in the region.

Dr Auslin stressed that for the health and stability of the region, the US’ efforts must be on key areas like the commons that have allowed the free passage of goods, people, ideas, etc. The regional and global commons have provided a fundamental element of certainty to all countries in domestic and foreign relations and have allowed them to focus on economic growth and development. These norms of the US-led liberal international order have prevented systemic/regional war. However, the security, economic and political relations in the region are changing rapidly with the rise of China and India and the emergence of nuclear-armed states like North Korea and this is happening at a time when the role of the US is beginning to be questioned. Dr Auslin argued it would be far-fetched to believe that the stability that has been taken for granted in the region will continue automatically if the US’ presence in the region is reduced.

The interaction was chaired by Mr. M.K. Rasgotra, President of the ORF Centre for International Relations.

(This report was prepared by Dr Uma Purushothaman, Junior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation)

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