‘US sees China as long-term regional threat’

The headline is a tad misleading, since I actually stated that East Asian nations such as Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, etc., see China as a long-term threat, hence their dependence on an unreliable US as a counterbalance. The US, on the other hand, considers China as a long-term global threat, although in this instance, they're jockeying for supermacy in the Western Pacific. Iran's Press TV, 9/19/12:

China has warned Japan over the landing of two Japanese on a group of disputed islets, amid more anti-Japan protests across China over the islands claimed by the two economic heavyweights and Taiwan.

Two Japanese activists arrived at waters near disputed islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, by boat and then swam ashore on the islands.

The islands would give the owner exclusive oil, mineral and fishing rights in surrounding waters.

Analysts say Tokyo has been enjoying Washington’s support in its island dispute with China, because Japan represents the regional interests of the United States.

Press TV has interviewed Linh Dinh, political analyst and writer from Philadelphia, to further discuss the issue.

The video offers the opinions of two additional guests: Paul James, China Radio International, from Beijing; and Bill Jones, Executive Intelligence Review, from Washington. The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Looking at the moves that have been made there in Washington, they’re saying that the policies adopted by Tokyo on this, at least on the surface, are ambiguous. It’s not saying what policy it’s precisely pursuing.

We’ve seen what has been called goodwill gestures, so to speak, from Tokyo: some activists were caught by Japan on those islands and then were deported back to China. They said that was a goodwill act on the part of Japan.

At the same time, we saw Japan purchasing the islands from their private owners, which run against that goodwill gesture. Basically, what do you think Japan’s policy on this is about?

Dinh: The behavior of both the USA and Japan have been very puzzling.

First off, this whole incident was instigated by the governor of Tokyo, who has made his name by bashing the USA as much as China. It is curious that the governor of Tokyo had in its authority to buy islands.

On the one hand, the US is claiming neutrality. It is not backing either side. Hillary Clinton is asking both sides to be calm.

On the other hand, Panetta just announced today, for example, that it’s going to equip Japan with a new missile defense system in the south, which is basically arming itself against China. It’s saying that this missile defense system is in reaction to the threats from North Korea, but that doesn’t make sense because North Korea is north of Japan.

So, is the US behind all this? It appears that way, but why was it spearheaded by the governor of Tokyo, who is a famous US basher?

Press TV: We’ve heard now on several occasions that the Chinese authorities, if I could put this question to Linh Dinh, are saying that they want the United States to keep itself away from this regional conflict. We can refer, for instance, to the military drills that have been going on with the United States’ participation in the East China Sea, etc.

When [previous guest speaker] Bill Jones is telling us that the United States would not be favoring a military conflict but, Linh Dinh, some other analysts are saying that actually the United States may be favoring a long-term conflict involving China because of its, what they call, ‘interests of the military security complex.’

What’s your opinion?

Dinh: China and the United States are both trying to control the western Pacific for its resources and for geopolitical reasons.

The United States is using these East Asian countries’ fear of China because China is a long-term threat to all these countries -- to Vietnam, to Japan, to the Philippines and to the other countries. The United States is using these countries’ fear of a rising China to stay relevant in the western Pacific. That’s the long-term confrontation.

The US is a declining power. It’s economically in decline and militarily, it’s keeping it relevant for now.

But will the US actually show up when the real war breaks out, let’s say, between Japan and China, or Vietnam and China, or the Philippines and China? -- Who knows?

For these East Asian countries’ survival in the long-term, they are banking on the US to back them up if there’s a conflict down the line. But I’m not so sure that’s such a wise decision. In a sense they have no choice because of the way they feel about China.

Press TV: The islands, of course we know, are in a very strategic location. They have gas deposits in them. Basically, that’s why observers are saying that this dispute is not going to end anytime soon.

Although we’re concluding that neither of the sides would want to create a military action on it, tensions are going to flare up. Would you agree with that conclusion?

Dinh: It appears that China is refraining from attacking Japan because it has a weak Navy, but in the long-term it will surpass Japan militarily.

Maybe that’s Japan’s fear in preempting that possibility by trying to stay the dominant power in Asia. Japan can see what’s coming.

China will surpass it in every arena and maybe that’s why it’s becoming a little more belligerent right now.

GMA/HSN



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