The US and China showcased their military might in Indonesia and Thailand by holding war games over the weekend, as rival superpowers worked to increase their influence in Southeast Asia.
China sent fighter jets to Thailand on Sunday for the joint air force exercise Falcon Strike 2022, which Beijing’s defense ministry said would “strengthen mutual trust and friendship”.
The exercises in Thailand coincide with the end of two weeks of war games between the US and Indonesia, marking the largest version of the annual Garuda Shield live-fire exercise since it began in 2009. Japan, Australia and Singapore are also participating for the first time.
The exercises in Southeast Asia come amid growing tensions between Beijing and Washington in the region. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August aggravated China, which claims the territory as its own.
The speaker’s trip spurred a series of intimidation tactics from the Chinese military, including live-fire exercises and the closure of the waters and airspace around Taiwan in what analysts say is a simulation of a blockade.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations calls for “maximum restrictions” in one statement avoided mentioning Taiwan by name and said it was “ready to play a constructive role in facilitating peaceful dialogue”.
The United States has historically strong alliances in Southeast Asia and a military presence, although China’s economic influence in the region has grown significantly in recent years.
Beijing’s territorial disputes with several member states East Sea has put several regional governments in competition.
Analysts say the region will continue to be a source of competition between the US and China.
Indonesian leader Joko Widodo made a rare trip to China in July to meet President Xi Jinping, one of the few foreign heads of state to do so since the pandemic began. Jokowi, as he is known, is hosting the Group of 20 summit in Bali in November and has invited both Mr. Xi and US President Joe Biden.
From Indonesia Panglima, or military commander, General Andika Perkasa, trained in America. “He’s as friendly as a commander-in-chief that the US might approach in Indonesia,” said Aaron Connelly, senior fellow for foreign policy and Southeast Asian politics at IISS.
However, the general will reach retirement age this year, he added. “So this is an opportunity for the United States to deepen their relationship [with Indonesia’s military]but probably not a trend line that we can expect to continue. “
Huynh Tam Sang, lecturer in international relations at Vietnam National University, said: “Washington and Beijing could step up naval exercises in the region to exercise strategic deterrence and gain attracting small and medium-sized countries in the Indo-Pacific”.
