[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min, Beijing=Correspondent Park Sun-mi] U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defined China's military capability expansion as a threat and emphasized partnerships with allies such as South Korea to counter it. Following President Donald Trump, Secretary Pompeo also stressed South Korea's participation in pressuring China, increasing the likelihood that the U.S. will further pressure our government to join the Indo-Pacific strategy.
On the 31st of last month (local time), Secretary Pompeo appeared on Fox News and said, "Regarding the Chinese Communist Party's military development, it is a reality," adding, "General Secretary Xi Jinping is focused on enhancing his military capabilities." At this point, Pompeo referred to Xi Jinping's position as the Communist Party General Secretary. He continued, "We can be good partners with our allies worldwide, including India, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, and Europe, and ensure that the next century remains a Western (led) century that exemplifies the freedom we enjoy here in the United States."
Among the allies mentioned by Secretary Pompeo that day, South Korea, Australia, and India were also countries referenced by President Trump the previous day when discussing the expanded reorganization of the Group of Seven (G7). Including Japan, all these countries are related to the Indo-Pacific strategy the U.S. is promoting to counter China.
He criticized, "Today's Chinese Communist Party is different from ten years ago," stating that the current Chinese Communist Party is dedicated to destroying Western beliefs, democracy, and values. He added, "That endangers the American people."
As the U.S. remains wary of China's military rise, if China actualizes the establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea, significant military clashes between the U.S. and China are expected.
On the 1st, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP), citing military sources, reported that China, which announced a 6.6% increase in its defense budget this year, is preparing to make an announcement soon regarding the establishment of an ADIZ in the South China Sea.
It was reported that since the Chinese government planned the East China Sea ADIZ in 2010, it has been preparing plans for a South China Sea ADIZ and is currently waiting for an opportune time to announce it. The South China Sea ADIZ would include the Pratas Islands (Chinese name: Dongsha), Paracel Islands (Chinese name: Xisha), and Spratly Islands (Chinese name: Nansha), all within the scope of territorial disputes. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Taiwan are engaged in territorial disputes over this region, which is not only rich in natural resources such as oil and gas but also serves as a base for global shipping routes, making it a strategically important area.
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