Opinion Trade and peace
The unfolding Sino-Japanese contest over a few uninhabited islands,brought into full international view by the collision.
-
Share -
-
-
The unfolding Sino-Japanese contest over a few uninhabited islands,brought into full international view by the collision between a Chinese fishing trawler and the Japanese coast guard last week and the diplomatic argument that followed,casts a shadow over the widely held proposition that economic inter-dependence leads to peace.
China and Japan are the worlds second and third largest economies,with their GDP standing at around $5 trillion. Beijing and Tokyo are now each others largest trading partners,replacing Washington. Bilateral trade is now of the order of nearly $300 billion a year. The gathering conflict,then,over a small group of islands,called Diaoyu by the Chinese and Senkaku by the Japanese,seems incongruous with the deepening economic inter-dependence between Beijing and Tokyo.
Liberal internationalists have long argued that economic integration dampens the normal impulses for rivalry among great powers and strengthens incentives for skirting,if not resolving,territorial disputes. Amidst the all-round improvement of great power relations in East Asia since the end of the Cold War,it seemed the region was well on its way to peace and stability. The institutionalists reinforced the liberals by arguing that regional organisations help deepen economic integration and dampen territorial nationalism.
For the last two decades,it appeared that East Asia was on course to reproduce the post-war European model in our own continent. All that Asia needed was to bridge the institutional gap with Europe. This simplistic view is beginning to take a knock amidst the renewed political tensions between the regions major powers China,Japan and,of course,the US.
Smaller countries that were generally relaxed about rising China are now scrambling to either reinforce old alliances with great powers or seeking new security partnerships. While all of Asia benefits from Chinas economic growth,many in the region are worried about the rapid accretion of Beijings military power and its assertiveness on territorial issues.
Japans will
As China mounts relentless pressure on Japan over the trawler incident,Tokyo has released the ships crew while holding its captain for trial under Japanese law. The Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday demanded the captain be released immediately,and warned that the incident is poisoning the bilateral relationship. Japan is yet to frame formal charges against the captain. Once he goes to trial,there might be a lot less room for compromise.
Indias role
As Asian nations cope with Chinas rise,at least some of them are looking towards Delhi,whose strategic capabilities are growing,if at a slower pace than that set by Beijing. In his address to the combined commanders conference on Monday,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pointed to the growing interest in Asia about defence and security cooperation with India: There is a palpable desire on the part of the countries of this region to enhance cooperation with us which we must reciprocate. On the rapidly changing power balances in Asia,the PM insisted: The Asia-Pacific region,including Southeast Asia,needs much more attention from us and this must seep into our defence and foreign policy planning as never before.
Few in the Indian strategic community will quibble with the PMs proposition. While India must contribute more than ever before to the security and stability of Asia,the big question is whether our defence establishment is really ready to undertake that responsibility. To be sure,Indias defence engagement with many Asian nations,including Japan,South Korea,Vietnam and Singapore,has steadily expanded in recent years. To convert Indias current defence chatter into concrete strategic outcomes,Delhi needs a comprehensive reorganisation of its outdated defence structures.
raja.mohan@expressindia.com
-
Share
-
-
-
Share
