China became a diplomatic superpower when strongman Xi Jinping tamed US President Trump, converting his intense grievances toward the number one economic superpower to outright admiration. The United States is increasingly turning to China in its campaign to denuclearize North Korea.
China has taken advantage of its strategic role in the Korean negotiations to silently continue its agenda to fortify three islands in the South China Sea. The program includes sophisticated weapon systems including cruise missiles, some with nuclear warheads. They might be designated for research, but the point is that the islands are unilaterally assumed to be in Chinese waters.
China’s claim to these waters are opposed by numerous nations primarily Taiwan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Other ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand have assumed similar positions. Chinese policy is a direct challenge to the United States which has been protecting the South China Sea since the end of World War II. With President Trump’s emotional affinity towards President Xi Jinping there is reason to be concerned whether the US will be resolute in facing the issue. Diplomacy is not a skill developed in the current US administration.
The situation makes Taiwan particularly nervous as Chinese domination of the waters will make it it impossible for the US Navy to come to Taiwan’s defense should China assume its historical belligerence. It seriously weakens US commitment to Taiwan and the Two-China Policy.
China’s aim is to put more and more pressure, not only on Taiwan but also on Japan. China has been in a serious dispute with Japan over the boundaries of its declared maritime Economic Zone.
Today the US is preoccupied by headline issues without the foreign policy depth necessary for a comprehensive regional strategy. The depleted State Department is trying to continue business as usual. Chinese actions pose a formidable challenge to the traditional American role of sA uperpower based on military and political power.
Regional alliances should seriously align their policies to deal with the new China-US rapprochement. It is obvious Chinese domination is creeping in inexorably. Trump’s distorted focus on his bromance with Xi Jinping makes it unlikely that he will see the reality soon.
