In
an April 6, 2014 Reuters.com article, titled “U.S.,
in nod to Tokyo, to send more ships to Japan, prods China,” authors Phil
Stewart and Nobuhiro Kubo warn that the United States and China relations could
deteriorate over the Spratly Island dispute. On April 6, US Secretary of
Defense Chuck Hagel and Japanese counterpart, Itsunori Onodera, met in Tokyo.
At the conference, it was established that the U.S. will send two more
destroyers, “equipped with missile defense systems,” by 2017.
A
few things have contributed to the recent deterioration of Japanese and
Philippine relations with China. The Spratly Island chain in the West
Philippine/South China Sea has been a hotbed of aggression between the three
nations, as many nations in the region prevaricate over disputed territories
with China. Most recently, Chinese efforts have stepped up aggression against
Japan and the Philippines causing parties involved to reference current
treaties such as the US-Phil Mutual Defense Treaty and others.
In
the case of blatant Chinese aggression, specifically in regards to the Ayungin
Shoal, United States military action as well as an increased military presence
could result. “An
attack against a Philippine commissioned naval vessel may… trigger the biggest
armed conflict in the region since the Vietnam and Indo-China conflict,” said University of the Philippines College of
Law professor, Harry Roque. The idea that the United States and China would go
to war over such a seemingly trivial issue may be farfetched, but it is
possible, on its face.
Let’s not jump to
conclusions just yet, but rather sit back and observe this Pacific theater
conflict unravel.
Christopher M. Vacek
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