Indo-Pacific: A New Epicenter for Power Politics
- Strategic Significance: The Indo-Pacific region links three continents, accounts for 60% of global GDP, and holds critical trade routes, making it central to global economic and geopolitical activities.
- China-U.S. Rivalry: China's territorial claims and Belt and Road Initiative challenge U.S. dominance, leading to military alliances like QUAD and AUKUS, escalating regional tensions.
- Global Implications: The region's stability is vital; unresolved rivalries over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and militarization could lead to broader conflicts, necessitating cooperative approaches.
The Indo-Pacific is one of the most important geographical regions, connecting three continents of the world. Most importantly, the trade route carries out about 60% of global GDP, trading goods that account for about 2/3 of the world’s total. Also, it represents more than half of humanity. This region is relevant for important states in the current situation when the world is moving from a unipolar to a multipolar system once again.
The term was coined by German geopolitician Dr. Karl Haushofer in the early 1920s to rejuvenate the axis of Germany, Japan, China, and India against Britain. This area has always been of great significance because of the important trade corridors in this area. During colonization, European powers took advantage and used the Indo-Pacific for its minerals and raw materials. This region was an active theater of both World Wars, and the Second World War ended with atom bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States.
During the Cold War, the Indo-Pacific region continued to be important because of decolonization, which made many countries gain independence. Newly independent states mainly affiliated with the Non-Aligned Movement, but the Cold War between the USA and USSR led to regional wars in Korea and Vietnam. Also, the nuclear tests by China and India affected the region, and so did Japan’s post-war economic miracle.
Currently, the Indo-Pacific region has emerged as a hotbed of power struggle because of China’s growing influence in the region. Thus, China has developed its power strategically and economically over the years, forming a threat to Washington’s hegemony. Chinese territorial claims on the South China Sea, for instance, through the overlaying of the nine-dash line, provide access to trade routes.
Furthermore, China claims Taiwan as an integral part of its territory. Taiwan was separated from China after a civil war. The Beijing leaders claim that Taiwan and the South China Sea have always been a part of China, although colonizing periods interfered with dominance. After decolonization, China says it has the right to reclaim its original territories.
The Indo-Pacific is successfully relevant to China’s economic agenda. It bears up to 40% of global transshipment demand and 80% of China’s imported energy. Besides, it is strategically important for China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has the objective of improving its economy.
Nonetheless, the increasing influence of China undermines Washington’s dominance. In the post-Cold War era, America has continued to dominate the region through its military and diplomatic influence. In the post-WWII period, Japan and Washington signed what could be referred to as a security treaty whereby the US offered to safeguard Japan. Likewise, in 1979, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, acknowledging the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan issue and following the one-China policy. Taiwan is strategically important for the United States for geopolitical and economic reasons and is also the global leader in semiconductor production, generating 69% of the global semiconductors and 90% of the most advanced semiconductors. In February 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden said to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, “Those who play with fire will perish by it.”
In 2008, the US changed its direction of foreign policy under the Obama administration by embracing the “pivot to the Indo-Pacific” to rein in China’s dominance. It is thereby seen that these two states are power rivalries, which has led to an unstable region. To check the growth of China as a hegemon, the U.S. has tried traditional forms of alliances with regional states like QUAD and AUKUS with India and Australia. This has created an arms race whereby the U.S. and the U.K. offered Australia nuclear submarines, favored by China as a threatening weapon.
Furthermore, both states are still emphasizing militarization and the formation of more military bases in the region. The U.S. currently operates some of them, which include Camp Humphreys, Yokosuka Naval Base, and Changi Naval Base. However, the competition for dominance persists and can be observed in the example of the Solomon Islands; in May of 2023, the US Secretary of State visited PNG to sign the Bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement. On the other hand, the Solomon Islands signed a security deal with China early this year, 2022.
Consequently, small countries, the members of ASEAN and Papua New Guinea, for instance, experience challenges when dealing diplomatically with both states. However, for the benefit of the region and the world, the United States and China must work for a win-win result. In case the rivalry between those superpowers further deteriorates, it would result in a third world war since there are more sensitive areas where the interests of those two meet.
The author is an International Relations graduate from the University of Sindh Jamshoro with a keen interest in global issues and strategic studies.
