U.S. and China: A “Silent” Strife

Regional strategic competition between the United States and the People’s Republic of China has intensified in recent months. China will need to take control in the Asian region if it wants to make the leap toward becoming a world power. However, this will be no easy task under the scrutiny of the Obama White House, as Asia has regained the importance it deserves within the State Department, the Pentagon and the Trade Representative’s office.

Since the beginning of this summer, the United States has been involved in issues that have a unique regional character and are considered vital for the survival and growth to the Chinese and their neighbors. Three foreign policy actions highlighted this: statements made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding mediation in the dispute over the Spratly and Paracel Islands, highlighting that it was now of American national interest; the military exercises with South Korea as part of a deterrence strategy geared toward North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, actions that have a demonstrative nature to the other countries of the region; and the lifting of the ban on military cooperation with the units of Indonesia’s special forces — which in the past had been sanctioned due to their record of human rights violations — and are now needed so that the U.S. can be seen in a different light and gain acceptance in the largest Muslim state in the world and whose geographical location allows for commercial and military control of the entire Southeast Asian region.

For its part, China conducted military exercises with its air force which involved about 12,000 men, spy planes, jets and helicopters in open demonstration of its capacity to wage war. Further, the PRC strongly rejected the statements by Secretary Clinton and noted that the issue of the South China Sea was a matter of consolidating their territory — in line with regional energy, food and other geostrategic interests — and announced plans for the development of tourism in the disputed islands and warned Western oil companies to refrain from drawing up contracts for exploration and exploitation in Vietnam. Finally, China has also approached Indonesia to strengthen its economic and military ties so that they may gain a strategic ally and act as a counterweight to the policies of Washington.

For the countries of East Asia, this remains a peaceful confrontation for now and countries in this region do not want to choose sides and be placed in a position of direct antagonism. The two powers are moving their regional chess pieces to prevent the other from increasing its influence and control.

Despite its limited relevance in our media, this reality goes beyond our traditional parochialism and will sooner or later come through our doors. This competition will escalate in sub-or micro-regions until it becomes a matter of global concern.

And perhaps we are already progressing toward this outcome. Is it any coincidence that, while the agreement with the United States on the use of military bases fell through on account of the Constitutional Court, China announced a donation of 1 million dollars for use in logistic areas of our military forces and announced joint training? These are more than coincidences. Colombia has already been inserted into these clashes and the Foreign Ministry must be attentive to how they are going to make the best decisions for the country.