The march towards great powers conflict in East Asia. This is not pretty. Here are four things the world should note about China’s bold move. First, let’s call it what it is. Beijing has declared an air control zone, not a defense zone.....What China has done is very different....Second, Beijing’s announcement is a direct challenge to Japan and Korea, since China’s new control zone overlaps those of both Tokyo and Seoul....Third, regardless of what the United States does, the danger is that the tide of regional trends is headed in China’s favor. Within just 24 hours of the establishment of the control zone, Asian governments and commercial air transport companies hastily announced that they would comply with Beijing’s demands.....Fourth, this is just the beginning. Already, the Chinese have said that they will set up other air control zones once the East China Sea area is pacified. That, of course, means the South China Sea, the world’s busiest waterways, where China is embroiled in island territorial disputes with Southeast Asian nations like Brunei, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. If countries as rich and powerful as Japan and South Korea accede to Chinese control of international skies in their area, what hope is there for smaller nations to refuse? G
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 01:54:32 +0000
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