The Sino-U.S. Military Game Is a Competition for Influence

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 14 October 2011
by Han Xudong (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Sharon Chiao. Edited by Hoishan Chan.
Following the narrowing of the gap between China and the U.S.’s overall national strength, the military game played by both countries has become the focus of people’s attention. Competing for military influence in Asia-Pacific region has become the main aspect of the game for China and the U.S.

On the one hand, China and the U.S.’s weapons affects the military developmental choices of other Asia-Pacific countries. On the other hand, how can China and the U.S. make the Asia-Pacific countries accept China and America’s military superiority? Both countries have launched a soft power game in the Asia-Pacific region. Although this type of game cannot be seen nor can it be touched, it will definitely be the potential leading force in the future of the Asia-Pacific military game; and it will directly influence the future military structure and development direction of the Asia-Pacific region.

Currently, the military influence game that China and the U.S. are playing in the Asia-Pacific region is in full swing. Looking at the problem of the Korean Peninsula, China and the U.S. are showing off their strength. If the U.S. stopped playing in the high stakes chess game that is the nuclear Korean Peninsula problem, then the U.S. may well solve problems in other regions; the same is true for China.

As for the problem of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, this chronic illness can be defeated through the use of China and the U.S.’s military influence. In actuality, America isn’t selling military equipment to Taiwan, it is selling military influence. Starting from 1979, in the dozens of times the U.S. sold arms to Taiwan, the amount and types of weapons, equipment and technology sold has changed many times. China has unceasingly changed its tactics to express its protest and dissatisfaction of this arms sale. This shows that China and the U.S. continuously adjust their military strategy and tactics as a means to test their military influence.

This is the case with the South China Sea problem. In reality, there is no country in the South China Sea that is willing to start a war to solve its disputes and differences. Everyone knows that winning without fighting is the best policy. China and the U.S. are both increasing the frequency of high-level military exchanges with the countries surrounding the South China Sea. China and the U.S. are also both increasing their military presence in the South China Sea. The influence game played by both China and the U.S. in the South China Sea will be very significant in the larger game both countries are playing in the Asia-Pacific region.

China and the U.S. display their military influence in the Asia-Pacific region in different ways. America is strengthening the military presence of other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Before 2015, America plans on having Guam become its biggest overseas military base; this shows how much importance America places on the region. At the same time, the U.S. will increase the number of weapons in the region, thus increasing the Asia-Pacific countries’ dependence on the U.S.

China on the other hand will increase military diplomatic exchanges with other countries in the region and will increase military cooperation in non-traditional security fields. China and other Asia-Pacific countries working together to perform non-traditional security exercises will become the main focus of Chinese military policy in the future. At the same time, China will expand its recruitment of Asia-Pacific military exchange students and vigorously promote China’s security interests. This will become an important method for China to expand its military influence in the Asia-Pacific region.


 随着中美综合国力差距缩小,两国军力的博弈成为人们关注的焦点。争夺亚太地区的军事影响力成为双方主要博弈的方面。


  一方面,中美两国的武器装备等方面影响亚太地区其他国家军备发展的选择。另一方面,如何使亚太地区的国家接受本国的军事价值取向,中美两国在亚太地区展开一种软实力的博弈。虽然这种博弈看不见摸不着,却将是亚太地区未来军事主导力量的潜博弈,直接影响该地区未来军事格局与军事发展走向。


  现在,中美两国在亚太地区军事影响力的博弈正如火如荼地进行着。就朝鲜半岛问题而言,中美两国正较着劲。如果美国在大国利益交汇的朝鲜半岛核问题上走出高人一筹的棋局,美国将可能顺利解决其他地区的问题;对于中国也同样如此。


  在对台军售问题上,中美两国也在通过自己的军事影响力来冲破对台军售这多年来的痼疾。实际上,美国对台出售的不是武器装备,而是出售的军事影响力。自1979年以来,美国对台数十次军售中武器装备的数量、技术、种类等发生多次变化。中国也不断地改变遏制手段来表达自己的抗议与不满。这表明,中美两国都在不断地调整各自的战略战术来测试本国军事影响力。


  在南海问题上也是如此。实际上,南海周边没有一个国家能靠发动战争来解决争议与分歧问题的。谁都知道不战而屈人之兵是上策。中美两国都在加大与南海周边国家军事高层间的往来。中美两国也都在加大在南海地区的军事存在。中美两国在南海地区的影响力博弈将是两国在亚太地区影响力博弈的重点地区。


  中美两国在亚太地区表现军事影响力的方式将各有不同。就美国而言,美国将加大其在亚太地区的军事存在。美国计划在2015年之前将关岛打造成其海外最大的军事基地就能说明美国对亚太地区的重视。同时,美国将在亚太地区扩大其军火输出力度,这将加大亚太地区国家对美国的依赖。就中国而言,中国将加大对亚太地区国家的军事外交,加大在非传统安全领域的军事合作。中国与亚太地区国家共同进行非传统安全军事演习将是未来的一个重点与看点。同时,中国将扩大招收亚太地区军事留学生的数量与规模,大力宣传中国的军事安全理念。这将是中国未来扩大其在亚太地区军事影响的一个重要手段。
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