Please agree to our privacy policy to enable news listening. (Central News Agency, Taipei, 29th) Deutsche Welle reported that the South China Sea has always been regarded as a potential flashpoint in the fierce geopolitical competition between China and the United States. Southeast Asian countries are often portrayed as smaller powers caught in the storm, but as a new and delicate security network gradually takes shape in the region, this picture is changing. The report pointed out that it is not built around a formal alliance, but is based on access agreements, missile sales, joint coast guard exercises, intelligence sharing consultations and defense consultations. This security network has changed the traditional map of South China Sea competition. At the same time, countries are still careful to avoid forming a formal anti-China alliance. This network includes the fact that on June 1, the Philippines and Vietnam upgraded their bilateral relations to an enhanced strategic partnership and signed a defense cooperation memorandum, committing to high-level exchanges, strategic dialogue, information sharing and joint maritime operations. It also includes a series of defense agreements between many countries. At the end of May, Indian officials said that New Delhi had signed a $629 million agreement to supply the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system to Vietnam. Vietnam is the second Southeast Asian buyer that India has publicly confirmed after the Philippines. The Philippines has signed a US$375 million contract in 2022 to purchase three BrahMos missile systems. This missile was jointly developed by India and Russia. Meanwhile, Japan’s security relationship with the Philippines has become quite concrete. A “Mutual Access Agreement” came into effect in September last year, expanding troop deployments between the two countries, and this month the two sides began negotiations on a new agreement to share classified defense information. In February this year, Australia and Indonesia signed the Jakarta Treaty, a mutual security agreement that commits the two governments to hold regular consultations at the highest level. The report pointed out that this is a front that is not completely unified. None of these agreements creates a NATO-style alliance. Taken together, however, they show how middle powers are trying to make unilateral pressure at sea more difficult and costly. Hunter Marston, director of the Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia program, said that all these countries share common concerns about China and are interested in maintaining the rule of law at sea and protecting the region from coercion by major powers. At the same time, he said, these countries are also aware to varying degrees that the United States may reduce its commitment to regional security, which will inject volatility and unpredictability into the current balance of power. (Editor: Zhu Jianling/Lv Jiarong) 1150629 Support Central News Agency’s choice to stand with the facts. Every donation you make is a small amount of sponsorship to protect press freedom. Download the Central News Agency’s “First-hand News” APP to get the latest news in real time. The text, pictures and audio and video of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
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Southeast Asian countries form a delicate security network to counter China’s power | Cross-Strait | Central News Agency CNA
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