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

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.