Indo-Pacific countries ‘should take collective action’ to tackle China’s rise in region
Former Nato commander tells forum in Taipei that Beijing’s military expansion in South China Sea is ‘biggest geostrategic challenge in the region’
A former Nato supreme allied commander has called on Indo-Pacific countries to take “collective action” to tackle China’s rising sea power and military expansion in the region.
But instead of taking a hostile approach, the action should be carried out in smart and diplomatic ways, James Stavridis, a retired US Navy admiral, said on Thursday.
Speaking at a Taipei forum promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region, Stavridis said China’s construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea and the militarisation of those islands had created “the biggest geostrategic challenge in the region”, and had brought the highest potential for conflict there.
“It does not mean we are destined for a war at all,” he said, adding that like-minded countries – including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, France and Britain, which have exercised freedom of navigation in the waters – should take “collective action together” to form a “resolute front” in dealing with Beijing.
He said that while Washington could help to find a way through the challenges in Asia, the US should not necessarily be the one that is always at the front dealing with regional threats like North Korea’s nuclear programme and China’s military expansion in the region, especially in the South China Sea.