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On South China Sea Visit, Defense Secretary Says U.S. Presence Isn’t a Provocation In South China Sea Visit, U.S. Defense Chief Flexes Military Muscle
(about 7 hours later)
ON BOARD THE U.S.S. JOHN C. STENNIS, in the South China Sea — As it tries to persuade Beijing to abandon its military buildup in the South China Sea, the Obama administration has been reluctant to describe its approach as a revival of “containment,” the Cold War strategy aimed at preventing the spread of Communism. It insists that its policies in Asia are neither targeted at China nor focused on military measures, as containment was against the Soviet Union. ABOARD THE U.S.S. JOHN C. STENNIS, in the South China Sea — Over the last week in Asia, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter has visited two aircraft carriers, revealed new military agreements with India and the Philippines, and generally signaled that the Obama administration has decided to lean more heavily on military power to counter China’s territorial ambitions in the region.
But on a six-day visit to India and the Philippines this week, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter left little doubt that China is one of the Pentagon’s primary concerns in the region — and that the United States intends both to strengthen alliances and move more hardware and troops here to counter China’s growing military reach. But the newly muscular approach on display during Mr. Carter’s tour represents a gamble. While it sends a message that the United States will work with its allies to challenge Beijing’s expanding presence in the disputed South China Sea, it also plays into fears within the Chinese leadership about American efforts to halt China’s rise.
On Friday, Mr. Carter took a helicopter to a symbol of American power projection in the Pacific, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, as it cruised through the South China Sea near waters claimed by the Chinese. He watched jets taking off and landing about 50 feet in front him and said China should not consider the carrier’s presence a provocation. That may mean that the more the Pentagon steps up in the region, the more China may feel it needs to accelerate its military buildup, including the construction of new islands equipped with radar and airstrips in contested waters.
“We have been here for decade upon decade. The only reason that question even comes up is because of what has gone on over the last year, and that’s a question of Chinese behavior,” he said in a news conference below deck. “What’s not new is an American carrier in this region. What’s new is the context and tension that exists, which we want to reduce.” With a mix of showmanship and concrete initiatives during a six-day visit to India and the Philippines, Mr. Carter left little doubt that the United States intended both to strengthen alliances and move more hardware and troops here to counter China’s growing military reach.
Before visiting the carrier John C. Stennis, Mr. Carter marked the end of 11 days of military exercises between United States and the Philippines and said some American troops would stay behind “to contribute to regional security and stability.” He also said the United States had begun joint patrols of the South China Sea with the Philippine Navy and would soon do the same with its air force. On Friday, he rode a helicopter to a symbol of American power projection in the Pacific, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, as it cruised through the South China Sea near waters claimed by the Chinese.
Earlier in the week, Mr. Carter toured another aircraft carrier, an Indian one, the first time an American defense secretary had boarded such a ship. He noted a small ramp resembling a ski jump at the end of its runway, making it unsuitable for heavier aircraft, and said the United States would help India upgrade its carriers. He also unveiled a new logistics agreement and said the two nations would work together on other military technologies. Before visiting the carrier John C. Stennis, he marked the end of 11 days of military exercises between the United States and the Philippines and said some American troops would stay behind “to contribute to regional security and stability.”
The measures announced by Mr. Carter suggest that, after a prolonged internal debate, the Obama administration has decided to lean more heavily on military power to pressure the Chinese to ratchet back or suspend their buildup in the South China Sea, including the construction in contested waters of new islands equipped with radar and airstrips. He also said the United States had begun joint patrols of the South China Sea with the Philippine navy and would soon do the same with the country’s air force.
The shift represents a bet by the administration that China will back down after concluding that its buildup could result in an American military resurgence in a part of the world that it believes it is destined to dominate. Earlier in the week, Mr. Carter toured an Indian aircraft carrier, the first time an American defense secretary had boarded such a ship, and said the United States would help India upgrade its carriers. He also revealed a new logistics agreement and said the two nations would work together on other military technologies.
But some analysts warn that China could react instead by taking more aggressive actions, challenging America’s commitment to the region in a high-profile game of chicken and raising the risk of a military conflict. Together, the measures announced by Mr. Carter hint at a potential American military resurgence in a part of the world where China believes it is destined to surpass the United States in influence. The Obama administration seems to be betting that China will back off rather than continue making moves that lead its neighbors to embrace the American military.
The Chinese have been closely watching Mr. Carter’s tour, which had originally included a stop in Beijing before it was abruptly scrubbed from the schedule a few weeks ago. In a late-night statement on Thursday, the Chinese Defense Ministry accused the United States of reverting to a “Cold War mentality” and said the Chinese military would “pay close attention to the situation and resolutely defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.” More than once during the last week, Mr. Carter cited China’s actions as the driving force behind tensions in the region and, implicitly, the reason for its neighbors’ increased engagement with the Pentagon.
On Friday, China also disclosed that its most senior uniformed military commander had visited the disputed Spratly Islands, a first that appeared intended to signal Beijing’s resolve in the South China Sea, most of which it considers Chinese territory. Below deck on the John C. Stennis, he said China should not see the carrier’s presence as a provocation.
Speaking in Manila, Mr. Carter denied that the United States was trying to contain China, describing the new military initiatives in the region as consistent with longstanding American policy to work closely with countries that share common interests. “We have been here for decade upon decade. The only reason that question even comes up is because of what has gone on over the last year, and that’s a question of Chinese behavior,” he said. “What’s not new is an American carrier in this region. What’s new is the context and tension that exists, which we want to reduce.”
But some analysts warn that China could react to the Pentagon’s moves by taking more aggressive actions, challenging America’s commitment to the region in a high-profile game of chicken and raising the risk of a military conflict.
The Chinese have been closely watching Mr. Carter’s tour, which had included a stop in Beijing before it was abruptly scrubbed from the schedule a few weeks ago. In a late-night statement on Thursday, the Chinese Defense Ministry accused the United States of reverting to a “Cold War mentality” and said the Chinese military would “pay close attention to the situation and resolutely defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.”
On Friday, China also disclosed that its most senior uniformed military commander had visited the disputed Spratly Islands, which appeared intended to signal Beijing’s resolve in the South China Sea, most of which it considers Chinese territory.
The Obama administration has declined to describe its approach toward China as a revival of “containment,” the Cold War strategy aimed at preventing the spread of Communism. Instead, Mr. Carter said the new military initiatives in the region were consistent with longstanding American policy to work closely with countries that share its interests.
“America’s policy continues to be one valued on principles of peaceful resolutions of disputes, lawful settlement of things like territorial disputes like the South China Sea, or anywhere else, freedom of navigation, freedom of commerce,” he said. “These are all things the United States stands for.”“America’s policy continues to be one valued on principles of peaceful resolutions of disputes, lawful settlement of things like territorial disputes like the South China Sea, or anywhere else, freedom of navigation, freedom of commerce,” he said. “These are all things the United States stands for.”
“Now countries who don’t stand for those things, who don’t stand with those things, are going to end up isolating themselves,” he added. “That will be self-isolation, not isolation by us.”“Now countries who don’t stand for those things, who don’t stand with those things, are going to end up isolating themselves,” he added. “That will be self-isolation, not isolation by us.”
Mr. Carter rejected Chinese criticism that an expanded American military presence in the western Pacific was raising tensions in the region, blaming instead China’s “self-isolating behavior” and “its militarization of the South China Sea.”
For decades, neither India nor the Philippines was particularly interested in military cooperation with the United States. As a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, India has been suspicious of alliances with other countries, particularly large world powers. And the Philippines expelled American forces in the early 1990s, ending a military presence that began with the United States’ capture of the islands from Spain in 1898.For decades, neither India nor the Philippines was particularly interested in military cooperation with the United States. As a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, India has been suspicious of alliances with other countries, particularly large world powers. And the Philippines expelled American forces in the early 1990s, ending a military presence that began with the United States’ capture of the islands from Spain in 1898.
But both countries have grown wary of China’s rising military profile — more wary than they are of the United States.But both countries have grown wary of China’s rising military profile — more wary than they are of the United States.
The initiatives that Mr. Carter announced with India were largely symbolic but could signal greater cooperation in the future, like joint patrols in the South China Sea and the sale of heavy weaponry and other equipment. In a significant policy shift, India is already in talks with Japan, an American ally, to upgrade civilian infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an Indian archipelago seen as a potential strategic asset in efforts to counter Chinese naval expansion.The initiatives that Mr. Carter announced with India were largely symbolic but could signal greater cooperation in the future, like joint patrols in the South China Sea and the sale of heavy weaponry and other equipment. In a significant policy shift, India is already in talks with Japan, an American ally, to upgrade civilian infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an Indian archipelago seen as a potential strategic asset in efforts to counter Chinese naval expansion.
A sweeping 10-year deal with the Philippines, approved by the nation’s Supreme Court in January, will allow American forces to return to the country and build military facilities and station personnel, planes and ships on existing Philippine bases. Mr. Carter announced that more than 200 American pilots and crew members, as well as six aircraft and three helicopters, involved in the joint exercises would remain in the country. A sweeping 10-year deal with the Philippines, approved by the nation’s Supreme Court in January, will allow American forces to return to the country and build military facilities and assign personnel, planes and ships to existing Philippine bases. Mr. Carter announced that more than 200 American pilots and crew members, as well as six aircraft and three helicopters, involved in the joint exercises would remain in the country.
The developments represent a setback for President Xi Jinping of China, who has overseen the acceleration of Beijing’s buildup in the South China Sea and could be accused of needlessly drawing the United States back into the region.The developments represent a setback for President Xi Jinping of China, who has overseen the acceleration of Beijing’s buildup in the South China Sea and could be accused of needlessly drawing the United States back into the region.
But analysts in China said the Obama administration’s initiatives were unlikely to achieve its goal of persuading Mr. Xi to back off. Instead, they could heighten fears in the Chinese leadership that Washington is using Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea as an excuse to encircle China and halt its global rise.But analysts in China said the Obama administration’s initiatives were unlikely to achieve its goal of persuading Mr. Xi to back off. Instead, they could heighten fears in the Chinese leadership that Washington is using Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea as an excuse to encircle China and halt its global rise.
China has already objected to or expressed concern about American moves in several countries around its periphery. The United States has opened talks with South Korea about deploying a missile defense system, condoned Japan’s efforts to allow its armed forces to undertake overseas combat missions and proposed closer military ties with Australia and Vietnam.China has already objected to or expressed concern about American moves in several countries around its periphery. The United States has opened talks with South Korea about deploying a missile defense system, condoned Japan’s efforts to allow its armed forces to undertake overseas combat missions and proposed closer military ties with Australia and Vietnam.
Su Hao, a professor of international relations at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, said that it was “crystal clear” to China that Mr. Carter’s visits to India and the Philippines were part of Washington’s effort to “contain China by using the South China Sea dispute as an entry point.”Su Hao, a professor of international relations at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, said that it was “crystal clear” to China that Mr. Carter’s visits to India and the Philippines were part of Washington’s effort to “contain China by using the South China Sea dispute as an entry point.”
“China sees its actions in the South China Seas as legitimate in protecting its own sovereignty and integrity,” he added. “China will not just change its behaviors or deployment plan simply because of the Americans.”“China sees its actions in the South China Seas as legitimate in protecting its own sovereignty and integrity,” he added. “China will not just change its behaviors or deployment plan simply because of the Americans.”
Speaking on the John C. Stennis, though, Mr. Carter said that the United States would stand by its allies in the region. “The Cold War was a long time in the past,” he said. “We are living in the present and in the future, and in the present we have peace and stability here. That’s what we stand for.”