Opinion | Three reasons China’s increasing assertiveness is a threat to Asia’s long-standing peace and stability
- Tensions in Asia are high, not only because of concerns about the impact of Covid-19. The China-India border dispute, Beijing’s militarisation in the South China Sea and the enactment of Hong Kong’s national security law all raise fears of conflict
Asia today is on the edge of a harrowing precipice, and not only because of ongoing concerns about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The recent assertive turn in China’s approach to the world may be of even greater significance as it potentially signals an end to the region’s long post-Cold-War period of relative peace and stability.
A few years ago, similar predictions spurred by an uptick in conflict in the East and South China seas proved to be overblown as such territorial disputes did not lead to war. China’s naysayers appeared to be little more than a flock of proverbial chicken littles.
The number of reported deaths and casualties from the skirmish also far exceed those recorded in any of China’s outstanding border disputes in many years. It now appears Beijing and New Delhi are somewhat backing down from conflict.
However, the fact that fighting of any kind occurred in the Himalayas stands as a watershed moment in China’s relationship with India and the rest of Asia. It has broken a long track record of Chinese restraint when it comes to the use of force.