Indo-Pacific Region in major powers’ strategies

 Playing a role of importance to forming the world order in the 21^st century, the Indo-Pacific has been a destination of strategies designed by many countries and especially major powers. Hence, contents of those strategies and their impacts on regional security have drawn international attention.

The Indo-Pacific accounts for more than half of the world population, with rich natural resources and sea routes of paramount importance to international trade. This is a region of dynamic development with three top economies of the world, namely the U.S., China, and Japan together with 7 out of 8 fast-growing markets, such as India, China, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This region produces about 60% of global GDP. However, this region is also a “hot spot” for disputes over seas, islands, and natural resources, proliferation of nuclear weapons, and non-traditional security challenges which profoundly impact on regional and global security and stability. According to many experts around the world, as the Indo-Pacific has a key position in economic, political, and defence-security terms, control over this region is basically synonymous with control over the world. Therefore, countries and international organisations, especially major powers have been exerting their influence on this region via their specific strategies and plans in order to achieve their national goals and benefits.

The U.S. Strategy

Since he came to power, US President Joe Biden has attached considerable significance to accelerating the Indo-Pacific Strategy and put the Indo-Pacific at the forefront of American security, economic, and foreign policies. The Strategy is aimed at (1) maintaining the U.S. global leadership when America’s strategic rivals, namely China and Russia are stepping up their operations in the region, (2) protecting freedom of navigation and freedom of the air, (3) effectively responding to non-traditional and traditional security challenges and ensuring regional security and stability. To fulfil those goals, Washington has emphasised the role of economic, political, and security alliances and mechanisms led by the U.S., such as the “Quad” (America, Japan, Australia, and India), the AUKUS alliance (the U.S., the UK, and Australia), the U.S.-Japan-ROK (Republic of Korea) strategic triangle, and the U.S.-India-Japan strategic triangle. Moreover, Washington has also cemented its relations with allied countries, namely Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia in order to share responsibilities and benefits, while expanding its cooperation with ASEAN member states – a link of importance to shaping regional security architecture.

At the same time, the U.S. has induced several countries via the heightening of the principle of “freedom, equality, and reciprocity,” enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation, provided financial and humanitarian aid, made investments in strategic projects, and developed a code of conduct under international law and practices, with a view to gathering forces and creating competitive advantage over its rivals in the Indo-Pacific. Notably, Washington has made strategic adjustments to maintain its military superiority in key regions, prevent threats, safeguard its national security and benefits, and assert its global leadership.

The European Union’s Strategy

In order that it would not be left behind in the Indo-Pacific race, in September 2021, the European Union (EU) announced its Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The release of the EU Strategy expresses this Union’s new thinking and view on the role of the Indo-Pacific in shaping the world order in the 21^st century. Leaders of the EU believe that the Indo-Pacific plays a role of strategic importance to this Union’s position and future development. Thus, the EU has advocated its intervention in the Indo-Pacific as a crucial partner and a factor of global influence so as to build a free and open Indo-Pacific Region for all nations, while establishing long-term, comprehensive cooperation with all regional countries. It has identified seven priority areas for its action, namely sustainable and inclusive prosperity, green transition, ocean governance, digital governance and partnerships, connectivity, security and defence, and human security. Grounded on those priorities, it has proposed many valuable initiatives for cooperation, such as Green Alliances and Partnerships, EU Cyber Diplomacy Network, and Digital Partnership Agreements based on artificial intelligence. Concerning disputes over seas and islands in the region, the EU backs peaceful dialogues and the settlement of differences under international law, while pledging to cooperate with its alliances and partners in protecting freedom of navigation and free trade and building a region of stability and development.

In addition to the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a number of member states, such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands have also announced their own Indo-Pacific Strategies in order to defend their interests and status in this region.

China’s Strategy

China considers the Indo-Pacific as a gateway enabling this country to control oceans. Over the years, together with its “nine-dash line” claim and the presence of its forces in the East Sea - a sea of strategic importance in the Pacific Ocean, Beijing has established the “string of pearls” and the “maritime silk road” from mainland China to the straits of Mandeb, Malacca, Hormuz, and Lombok, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Somalia, and Port Sudan in the Horn of Africa. Within this chain, China has closely cooperated with a lot of countries in constructing economic corridors, such as China – Pakistan, China – India – Myanmar – Bangladesh, Nanning (China) – Singapore including two wings, namely greater Mekong sub-regional cooperation and Tonkin Gulf regional cooperation. Economic projects and cooperative relations within the “Belt and Road” Initiative together with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have allowed China to expand its economic, political, and security influence, raise its prestige and status as a major power, and control crucial areas and key maritime shipping routes within the Indo-Pacific.

Besides, China has attached great value to building a powerful Blue Water Navy in order to respond to challenges from the outside and protect its national sovereignty and benefits within the seas of the Indo-Pacific.

Russia’s Strategy

Like other major powers, Moscow has put the Indo-Pacific at the forefront of its maritime strategy. Thus, Russia’s Indo-Pacific Strategy has been centred around turning the Far East into an “international centre of development” – a bridge of commerce between Russia and other countries in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening Russia’s strategic relations with traditional friends and alliances, and building a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with China to create a counterbalance to the U.S. and reduce pressure from Washington and the West. Russia has also comprehensively fostered its relations with other regional countries, organisations, and economic, political, and security cooperation forums and considered those relations as a significant channel for Moscow to defend its national interests and extend its influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Japan’s Strategy

In April 2017, Tokyo announced the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy (FOIP) aimed at promoting connection between Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, raising Japan’s international status as a major power, and cooperating with its allied countries and partners in ensuring a strategic balance in the region. Japan has concentrated on enhancing its “soft power” via economic cooperation and financial assistance for countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Japan and India have spent hundreds of billions of USD on the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor – an ambitious project on infrastructural development to connect the two continents with great potential. Moreover, Japan has also actively joined alliances with the U.S., India, and Australia and strengthened military cooperation with a number of countries to respond to non-traditional security challenges, protect freedom of navigation, and ensure security and stability within the Indo-Pacific.

As the Indo-Pacific holds a position of strategic importance, many organisations and other countries have participated in the competition for influence on this region. More specifically, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has released the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” India has developed the “Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative,” and Australia has formulated the “Indo-Pacific Oceans Plan.”

Special regard for the Indo-Pacific from major powers will definitely affect regional countries. Positively, strategies by major powers will provide a chance for developing and underdeveloped countries in the region to expand their international relations, take advantage of external resources, and apply scientific and technological advances to boosting their socio-economic development and consolidating their defence and security. However, the strategic competition between major powers, particularly between the U.S. and China will possibly lead to an arms race, bring “hot spots” out of control, and push the region into unrest. Therefore, it is believed that, since the world is confronted with a large number of challenges, particularly COVID-19 pandemic, major powers and regional organisations should promote cooperation on the basis of international law to prevent and repel challenges and build the Indo-Pacific into a region of peace, stability, and development.