ADIZ geopolitics an opportunity for talks

By Ding Gang Source:Global Times Published: 2013-12-11 20:58:01

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT


China can now take the next step in shaping the new security architecture of East Asia with confidence.

With the announcement made by Seoul's Ministry of National Defense on Sunday, regarding the southward expansion of its Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ), China, Japan and South Korea have all finished the demarcation of their own ADIZs.

The actions have led to a complicated situation in Northeast Asia. Some have expressed their anxiety over potential conflicts if the three remain at loggerheads with each other.

However, there is also the possibility that each of them is seeking an advantageous position in the region's future security order, creating favorable conditions for China to initiate negotiations pertinent to regional security management.

China's establishment of the East China Sea ADIZ has raised concerns in some countries mainly because it overlaps their ADIZs.

It seems at first glance that this will intensify the decades-long disputes, but will actually be conducive to promoting security mechanisms.

China's newly established ADIZ will prompt various stakeholders to pay attention to ADIZs and communicate regarding overlapping areas, thus realizing risk control.

Before declaring its own ADIZ, Beijing had neither the eligibility to discuss ADIZ-related issues with other countries, nor laws and regulations to tackle foreign aircraft hovering over the East China Sea which were posing potential threats to regional security.

Kishore Mahbubani, a scholar from Singapore, suggests the US take the lead in coordinating the rules of the game among the ADIZs in this region, which reflects a view of some Asian nations in regard to the formation of a regional security framework.

Permanent peace and stability in Northeast Asia calls for a framework in which Washington must play a role. However, it is critical that China engages in its construction and interacts with the US in an effective way.

Therefore, China's initiative in regard to negotiations on ADIZs in this region could be a way to elevate its own position in the future.

Beijing should make it explicit to parties concerned that demarcating an ADIZ is a move that conforms to international norms. And for China it constitutes a must-do, without which China would remain a follower of the rules of power but could never become a responsible participant in constructing the future order in Asia.

Asia will not enjoy real peace if China remains forbearing, since history has repeatedly demonstrated that a weak China is unlikely to bring peace to this region.

Regional stakeholders must practically take into consideration Beijing's concerns and its determination to safeguard its own interests in a legitimate way. This is the only way to secure an advantageous security system in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

At the moment, China has acquired a position in the negotiations about the security prospects in the Asia-Pacific region, but such a position should be equal with that of other sides such as the US and Japan.

For a long time, Washington has played a rather significant and even decisive part in Asian affairs. Now it has realized the need to listen to China's advice, adapt to the Chinese way of doing things, and respect China's decisions. All of these call for meticulous coordination.

Nowadays the US does not want to micromanage the geopolitics of this area, which constitutes a fundamental difference with its strategy adopted during the Cold War.

Today's Washington is expected to make joint efforts with Asian nations, and in particular Beijing, to seek a peaceful transformation.

During this process, the US will operate Asia by "remote control" by taking advantage of contradictions among different powers in this region and gradually shifting some of its responsibilities to other countries.

One thing is certain in this process: Washington must get on good terms with China if it wishes to stay in Asia and play an important part in Asian affairs.

Similarly, China should make it a top priority to find its own position while dealing with Washington.

The author is a senior editor with the People's Daily. He is now stationed in Brazil. dinggang@globaltimes.com.cn. Follow him on Twitter at @dinggangchina

Posted in: Ding Gang, Critical Voices, Viewpoint

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