China has been on “high alert” for a while, even before the Camp David summit called for by Washington. This summit was the first of its kind. South Korean President Yoon Sok Yul and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida participated in the summit, along with US President Joe Biden. The main topic was boosting coordination among them in order to confront China. They agreed to establish a new joint mechanism for facing crises and to meet annually in the future.
Of course, Beijing opposes practices that exacerbate confrontation and also endanger the strategic security of other countries. Therefore, it believes that Friday’s meeting may lead to a military alliance that will harm Beijing.
The summit came after months of diplomatic efforts by the US administration to bring together its two allies, Japan and South Korea after differences flared up between them over the legacy of World War II. Despite the differences between the two countries, they share common interests related to their concern about the rise of China and the arsenal of Russian and North Korean weapons. Without the slightest doubt, the announcement of deepening defense relations between Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul is a “clear provocation” to China and North Korea. Also, the idea of establishing an “Asian NATO” that works to undermine China’s movement in the region and to place strategic weapons near its borders is a declaration of war on Beijing.
What is happening is similar to the developments that worsened before the Ukraine war. Similarly, we find that this war broke out due to Ukraine’s declaration of its intention to abandon neutrality, which provoked Russia and raised its concern that NATO would have a foot on its borders by exploiting Ukrainian lands.
Japan and South Korea will bring themselves a great crisis if they form a military alliance, and China may take punitive measures against them. As for America, its actions ignite the region and tamper with peace and stability.
So far, there is no official Asian alliance to counter China. Establishing an Asian military alliance similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is still within the framework of strategic discussion and analysis. However, there are some security moves and cooperation between certain Asian countries to enhance their ability to address security challenges in the region, including those posed by China. For example, there is the “Quad of Democracy” initiative that brings together India, the United States, Australia, and Japan and aims to enhance security, economic and political cooperation between these countries.
It is important to note that the formation of an Asian military alliance requires political and economic consensus among the countries involved, and this is not an easy matter. There are geopolitical, economic, cultural, and historical challenges that impede the formation of a similar alliance in the region.
However, the establishment of an Asian NATO requires a comprehensive political and economic consensus among the countries involved, and this is something that could take a long time and may not be achieved immediately. It is also important to note that there is complex tension and rivalry between states in the region, which could affect the possibility of forming a unified Asian alliance.
As geopolitical and economic conditions change, so can things in the future. Therefore, the current developments in the region should be followed to see if there are plans to form an Asian NATO or any other alliance to confront China.
Estimating the usefulness of establishing an Asian NATO alliance to confront China depends on several factors, and there are different opinions regarding the effectiveness of this type of alliance in dealing with complex security challenges.
On the positive side, an Asian NATO may help enhance security cooperation among Asian countries and unite efforts to confront China on security, economic, and political issues. The alliance may provide a platform for military, intelligence, and technology cooperation among member states, thus enhancing collective strength to meet Chinese challenges.
On the negative side, the establishment of an Asian NATO may increase regional tensions and escalate existing disputes and may lead to negative reactions from China and promote instability in the region. It may complicate diplomatic and economic relations between the participating countries and China, and it may have a negative impact on trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
In general, the possibility of establishing an Asian NATO should be evaluated based on the strategic circumstances and interests of the countries concerned, the political and economic compatibility between them, and an assessment of the potential risks and benefits. Other options for enhancing security and cooperation in the region, such as bilateral partnerships and joint regional initiatives, should also be considered.
Yes, Asian countries face a wide range of security challenges in the region. These challenges vary from country to country and depend on geographic, political, economic, and historical factors. There are many major security problems facing Asian countries as some regions in Asia are witnessing ongoing regional tensions, such as tensions on the Korean Peninsula, disputes over the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and border disputes between India and Pakistan and India and China.
Some countries in Asia also witness persistent terrorist threats, such as extremist groups in Southeast Asia and the Korean subcontinent. In addition, the region suffers from economic and social challenges, such as poverty, social marginalization, social, ethnic, and religious conflicts, and environmental challenges such as climate change and lack of water resources.
These are just some of the security challenges facing Asian countries, and they indicate that the challenges are diverse and complex. Dealing with these challenges requires effective cooperation at the regional and international levels, in addition to taking internal measures to enhance security and stability in the region, not including seeking to establish a military alliance directed at a country like China, with its great economic and military weight.
Dr. Hatem Sadek: Professor at Helwan University
