1914 Redux? Growing Asia-Pacific Tensions Demand New US Strategy

1914 Redux? Growing Asia-Pacific Tensions Demand New US Strategy

Several Asia-Pacific nations have begun to respond to the potential threat posed by the rising dragon that is China. To balance Chinese expansionism, East Asian nations are designing new defense cooperation agreements and are increasing their defense spending. The threat posed by China has even helped to overcome historical differences. Most recently, Vietnam has begun purchasing arms from the United States. Japan has reversed security laws in place since the end of World War II to allow its military to become more involved regionally, and it is crafting bilateral defense agreements with Indonesia and Vietnam. This response to China has not only been militarily focused. The Philippines challenged China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea at the International Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. The tribunal ruled overwhelmingly in favor of the ...

Full article: http://breakingdefense.com/2017/03/growing-asia-pacific-t...