US Unveils Plans to Counter China’s Rise in Asia | Business and economic news

In a new document, the United States says it wants to counter China’s “predatory economic practices”, “accelerate the rise of India” and help Taiwan ensure its “freedom from coercion.”

The Trump administration has declassified its strategy for ensuring continued dominance over China, which focuses on accelerating India’s rise as a counterweight to Beijing and the ability to defend Taiwan from attack.

National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien on Tuesday announced the release of the document titled “United States Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific.” Approved by President Donald Trump in February 2018, it has provided the “overarching strategic direction” for US actions over the past three years and has been released to show the US commitment to “keep the Indo-Pacific region. free and open long into the future, “O,” Brien said in a statement.

“Beijing is putting more and more pressure on Indo-Pacific nations to subordinate their freedom and sovereignty to a ‘common destiny’ envisioned by the Chinese Communist Party,” O’Brien said in an expanded statement. “The American approach is different. We seek to ensure that our allies and partners – all those who share the values ​​and aspirations of a free and open Indo-Pacific – can preserve and protect their sovereignty. “

The document presents a vision for the region in which North Korea is no longer a threat, India predominates in South Asia, and the United States is working with partners around the world to resist Chinese activities aimed at undermining sovereignty. by coercion. He assumes that China will take “increasingly assertive” measures to force unification with Taiwan and warns that its dominance over advanced technologies like artificial intelligence “will pose profound challenges to free societies.”

While the timing of publication, just a week before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, raises questions about the motive, the Trump administration’s actions to counter China in Asia have received broad support. bipartisan. New Biden officials spoke of the need to work more with allies and partners against China, which is also a key part of the strategy – especially to strengthen security ties with Australia, Japan and the United States. India.

Rory Medcalf, professor and director of the National Security College at the Australian National University, said the document showed US policy in Asia was driven by efforts to “strengthen allies and counter China.” But he noted that the strategy was so ambitious that “failure was almost assured” on issues such as disarming North Korea, maintaining “primacy” in the region and seeking international consensus. against harmful Chinese economic practices.

“The declassified framework will have lasting value as the start of a whole-of-government plan to manage the strategic rivalry with China,” Medcalf wrote in an article for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute research group. “If the United States takes this long-term struggle seriously, it will not be able to choose between tidying up their homes nationally and projecting their might into the Indo-Pacific. He will have to do both at the same time. “

The main highlights of the report include:

China

• Suppose China “aims to dissolve American alliances and partnerships in the region.” China will exploit the gaps and opportunities created by these reduced obligations. “
• “China seeks to dominate advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and bio-genetics, and put them at the service of authoritarianism. Chinese domination in these technologies would pose serious challenges to free societies.
• “China will take increasingly assertive measures to force unification with Taiwan.”
• Act to “counter predatory Chinese economic practices that freeze foreign competition, undermine the economic competitiveness of the United States and encourage the Chinese Communist Party’s aspiration to dominate the economy of the 21st century.”
• “Building an international consensus that China’s industrial policies and unfair trade practices are damaging the global trading system.”
• “Work closely with allies and like-minded countries to prevent China from acquiring military and strategic capabilities.”

India

• Desired Outcome: “The United States is India’s preferred security partner. The two are cooperating to preserve maritime security and counter Chinese influence in South and Southeast Asia and other regions of mutual interest.
• “India remains preeminent in South Asia and plays a leading role in maintaining security in the Indian Ocean.”
• “Accelerate India’s rise to power and its ability to serve as a net security provider and a major defense partner; solidify a lasting strategic partnership with India, supported by a strong Indian army. “
• “Strengthen the capacity of emerging partners in South Asia, including the Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, to contribute to a free and open order.”

Taiwan

• “Design and implement a defense strategy capable of, but not limited to: (1) denying China’s air and sea dominance within the ‘first chain of islands’ in conflict; (2) defend the nations of the first island chain, including Taiwan; and (3) dominate all areas outside of the first island chain. “
• “Enable Taiwan to develop an effective asymmetric defense strategy and capabilities that will help ensure its security, freedom from coercion, resilience and ability to engage China on its own terms.

North Korea:

• Objective: “To convince the Kim regime that the only way to survive is to give up its nuclear weapons.”
• “Maximize the pressure on Pyongyang by using economic, diplomatic, military, law enforcement, intelligence and information tools to cripple North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction programs, stifle currency flows , weaken the regime and define the conditions for negotiations aimed at reversing its nuclear power. and missile programs, ultimately enabling the full, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the peninsula. “
• “To do this: (1) helping South Korea and Japan acquire advanced conventional military capabilities; (2) bring South Korea and Japan together. “

South East Asia

• Objective: “To promote and strengthen the central role of Southeast Asia and ASEAN in the security architecture of the region, and encourage it to speak with one voice on key issues.”
• “Promote an integrated economic development model in the Indo-Pacific region that offers a credible alternative to One Belt One Road; create a working group on how best to use public-private partnerships. “