china fears, and MORE NMD

found this on janes.

14 May 2001
Asia’s new power balance

THE emergence of a post-Soviet world in which the United States is the only superpower is causing shifts in the balance of power in Asia. Russia and China, both fearful of losing ground to America, have converged, while smaller and less heavily armed countries worry about China’s growing regional influence and strengthen their ties. FOREIGN REPORT reveals the latest move.

Vietnam, always worried about the presence of China on its border, has drawn close to India, which has the same concern, as we have reported. Now the next logical move is being taken: India is moving closer to Japan, another country obsessed by China, and also to the United States.

Two events revealed this shift. First, India announced its support for America’s projected National Missile Defence programme. This went down well in Washington, where the Bush administration is growing irritated with China. The Indian move increased tensions with China, even though the two sides are cautiously engaging in dialogue.

Watch the East China Sea
Furthermore, India and Japan are holding joint naval manœuvres off their respective coastlines as part of what has been described by one seasoned analyst as the burgeoning strategic relations between the two Asian democracies. Two Japanese Coastguard vessels conducted exercises over three days off India’s south-eastern coast in mid-May and two Indian Navy coastguard ships are travelling to Kagoshima, in southern Japan, for joint exercises in the East China Sea at the end of the month. The official reason for the exercises? “To combat trans-national crimes and increase regional co-operation,” an Indian Coastguard official said.

Significantly, on their way to Japan the Indian vessels were to visit the Philippines and Vietnam, both members of the ‘worriers about China’ club. India has conducted naval manœuvres over the past three years with these countries – not only to promote regional goodwill, but also to send a message to China: This is that if China continues to assert its presence in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, as it is now doing in some of Burma’s Andaman Islands, “these exercises with Japan will convey to China that India has friends and interests in the East and South China Seas,” said a senior Indian navy officer.

In another development, Japan has agreed in principle to start a ‘security dialogue’ with India, although it has not yet resumed its annual aid payment. This was suspended after India conducted nuclear tests in 1998. Japan wants India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

observations, and handy comments that could help tie up other threads??

coanda:7