Inner Defence Layers

"Peace and stability in the South China Sea is a top priority for us and for countries in the region. We are very concerned by and strongly opposed to coercive and aggressive tactics to advance territorial claims."
"[The United States is] very concerned about recent actions that have increased tensions between China and Japan and we call for intensified negotiations and diplomatic initiatives."
"The zone [China's East China Sea air defence zone] should not be implemented and China should refrain from taking similar unilateral actions elsewhere, particularly in the South China Sea."
American Secretary of State John Kerry, Hanoi, Vietnam

AP Photo

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, second left, talks with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, third right, in Hanoi Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. Secretary of State Kerry is in Vietnam pressing the communist country on democratic and economic reforms and offering U.S. assistance to protect its maritime borders. (AP Photo/Brian Snyder, Pool) - See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/kerry-announces-new-security-aid-to-se-asia-as-us-rivalry-with-china-intensifies-1.760508#sthash.ZR8DtSLf.dpuf

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is doubtless feeling much relieved at these statements. Their trust in the pledges to action by their great benefactor remains intact. China's troubling growing assertiveness in lock-step with its growing confidence borne on the wings of a soaring economic tide of trade and rising political influence on the international scene, has put its neighbours deeply on edge.

Japan's deepening hostility toward China's intentions on claiming ownership of the disputed uninhabited islands in the East China Sea and the bristling actions of imperial sovereignty with the imposition of a defence zone and a maritime area between China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan has increased geographic tensions exponentially.

All of China's aggressive manoeuvring over what it sees as its territorial imperatives, challenging the territorial claims of its neighbours, has not endeared the commerce-and-influence giant to other countries in the region. Nor is the traditionally suspicious Tokyo enthralled by the spotlight Beijing has focused on what it claims as its territory. Tokyo has been musing about transforming itself from a pacifist constitution to a defensive one.

"We are only trying to shift closer to a normal country, and we have no intention whatsoever to become a military power. Peace policy is Japan's most important value, and I think we should keep that. But parts that have been too restrictive should be modified so that Japan can make international contributions. But again, we are not thinking about matching what America and Britain are doing", said Yousuke Isozaki, a ruling party lawmaker.

Certainly there is no perceived need now or at any future date to 'match' America and Britain. But there does loom on the close horizon the prospect of a belligerent showdown with Beijing which has deemed it a requirement that it demonstrate unequivocally with its new blue-water fleet that it controls the East and South China Seas; the entire eastern Pacific is its eventual goal, it might seem, but incremental steps will do.

Japan now plans with the purchase of its first surveillance drones, additional jet fighters and naval destroyers, a powerful new response capability should a possible foreign invasion of those disputed islands occur, in the face of China's military and non-diplomatic expansion plans. Still, the ten ASEAN members, including Vietnam and the Philippines will take much comfort from Mr. Kerry's declarations.

It is entirely possible that their attention has been so keenly focused on their watery backyard that they have not paid much attention to what has been occurring in the Mediterranean oceanic regions, and more specifically the Middle East. Where very similar expressions of undying support based on a long tradition of sharing American strength and power with Arab states has now resulted in the United States turning away from its comrade-nations-in-need.

Countries, for example, with long-standing mutual cooperatiom agreements with the United States, like Saudi Arabia and Egypt and Turkey and Israel, are now feeling somewhat less than confident about their situation, left to muse on the perfidy of a champion to their causes now turning the unblinking eye of disinterest in their direction, and steaming out of the region, literally dusting the sands of the deserts off their hands.

Of course a pledge of defence funding does leave a warm glow of appreciation and trusting hope for the future. Mr. Kerry's conveyance to ASEAN members of America's investment of an additional $32.5-million to aid South East Asian nations in the protection of their territorial waters and navigational freedom where four states have competing claims with China in the South China Sea appears convincingly trustworthy as a commitment.

This will make the American maritime security assistance contribution to the region a total of $156-million; a veritable pittance on the scale of American wealth distribution abroad but an obviously measurable mark of distinction related to American commitment to ASEAN nations' welfare. Taking care to stress U.S. neutrality on the competing sovereignty claims, Mr. Kerry diplomatically reminds ASEAN and China of the critical importance of a binding code of conduct.

Peace to be maintained through civil negotiations. Much as the American administration has advanced peace through the useful device of turning away from the butchery of the Syrian regime, from the malign intentions of the Iranian regime, and of abandoning collegial nations to look elsewhere for the right and might they feel might be available under quite stressful circumstances.

This May 2012 file photo provided by China’s Xinhua News Agency shows the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning cruising for a test on the sea. AP FILE PHOTO

In the Middle East and beyond, American relations with Russia have deteriorated thanks in part to ongoing rivalries and in part to the discomfort Moscow swelters under with the thought of NATO-US ballistic anti-missile silos situated too close to home for comfort. In the South China Sea is is the presence of an interfering American fleet, which too-close contact demonstrated in a near-hit between China's aircraft carrier Liaoning and an American cruiser USS Cowpens of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The USS Cowpens moves into position before firing missiles at a flying drone during a live fire weapons shoot in the western Pacific Ocean in this Sept. 2012 photo.  Paul Kelly/U.S. Navy

In international waters to be sure, during a Chinese naval drill, but within 48 kilometres of the Chinese fleet's "inner defence layer". All is well for the time being, however. Beijing sees virtue in forgiveness of the "near miss" incident. While the Pentagon claims its guided missile cruiser was forced to take evasive action to avoid colliding with a ship it hinted targeted it China, for its part, initially claimed harassment.

"During the encounter, the Chinese naval vessel properly handled it strictly in accordance with rules of operation," the defense ministry said, adding that some media reports of the incident were untrue. All, whatever 'all' is construed to be at the present time, is now forgiven.