A Chinese warship sails next to a boat representing a hijacked vessel for the China-Cambodia Dragon Gold 2024 maritime exercises off the coast of Cambodia’s Preah Sihanouk province on May 24, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Sun Lee
As the United States and its allies work to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to undermine regional stability and challenge the rules-based international order. The CCP’s aggressive actions and expansionist policies pose a significant threat to peace, security, and prosperity in this critical area of the world.
The Indo-Pacific, spanning from the U.S. Pacific coastline to the Indian Ocean, has become the epicenter of global competition between democratic nations and the authoritarian Chinese regime. Home to over half the world’s population and nearly two-thirds of global GDP, this region’s importance cannot be overstated. The CCP’s relentless pursuit of regional dominance threatens the delicate balance of power and the sovereignty of numerous nations.
One of the most alarming aspects of the CCP’s strategy is its willingness to use economic coercion and military intimidation to achieve its goals. Australia, for instance, has faced significant economic pressure from Beijing in retaliation for its calls for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19. This blatant attempt to punish a sovereign nation for exercising its right to seek transparency demonstrates the CCP’s disregard for international norms and its readiness to weaponize economic ties.
The CCP’s aggressive behavior extends to territorial disputes as well. Along the Line of Actual Control with India, Chinese forces have engaged in violent clashes, resulting in casualties and heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. This reckless approach to border issues not only strains bilateral relations but also destabilizes the entire region.
In the East and South China Seas, the CCP’s bullying tactics have reached new heights. Beijing’s expansive maritime claims, in defiance of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, have led to numerous confrontations with neighboring countries. The militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea and frequent incursions into disputed waters demonstrate the CCP’s willingness to use force to assert its claims, endangering freedom of navigation and the territorial integrity of sovereign states.
Perhaps most concerning is the CCP’s increasing pressure on Taiwan. The democratic island nation faces constant military threats and diplomatic isolation as Beijing seeks to undermine its autonomy and force reunification. The CCP’s refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan and its ongoing military buildup in the region create a powder keg that threatens to explode into a wider conflict.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), touted by the CCP as a benevolent infrastructure development program, is another tool in Beijing’s arsenal for expanding its influence. While promising economic benefits, the BRI often saddles participating countries with unsustainable debt and allows the CCP to gain strategic footholds in critical locations. This “debt-trap diplomacy” has already resulted in China gaining control of key ports and infrastructure in several nations, raising concerns about the long-term implications for national sovereignty and security.
Moreover, the CCP’s efforts to establish military bases and sign security agreements with Indo-Pacific nations pose a direct challenge to regional stability. These actions aim to project Chinese military powerfar beyond its shores and potentially disrupt longstanding security arrangements that have maintained peace in the region for decades.
The CCP’s disregard for human rights and democratic values is evident not only in its treatment of its own citizens but also in its approach to international relations. By supporting authoritarian regimes and undermining democratic institutions abroad, Beijing seeks to create a world more amenable to its interests and ideology. This poses a significant threat to the liberal international order that has fostered peace and prosperity since the end of World War II.
In response to these challenges, the United States and its allies have implemented the Indo-Pacific Strategy to counter the CCP’s malign influence. This approach focuses on strengthening alliances, enhancing military capabilities, and promoting economic cooperation among like-minded nations. The formation of groups such as the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) and AUKUS (Australia, the UK, and the United States) demonstrates a growing recognition of the need for collective action to address the CCP’s threats.
However, the CCP’s actions have not gone unopposed. Its aggressive behavior has driven many countries closer to the United States and its allies. India, for example, has significantly strengthened its defense ties with Washington in response to Chinese provocations. Similarly, Japan has taken a more assertive role in regional security, working closely with partners to counter Beijing’s influence.
The CCP’s policies have also backfired in other ways. Its heavy-handed approach to Hong Kong, violation of human rights in Xinjiang, and initial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic have severely damaged China’s international reputation. Many countries are now reassessing their economic dependencies on China and seeking to diversify their supply chains, weakening Beijing’s ability to use economic leverage as a weapon.
Despite these setbacks, the CCP remains a formidable adversary. Its economic and military power, combined with its willingness to flout international norms, present an ongoing challenge to regional stability and global order. The international community must remain vigilant and united in its efforts to counter the CCP’s aggressive tactics and promote a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
As the competition between democratic values and authoritarian control intensifies, the actions taken by the United States and its allies in the coming years will be crucial in determining the future of the Indo-Pacific region and the broader international order. The world must stand firm against the CCP’s attempts to reshape the global landscape in its authoritarian image and work tirelessly to preserve the principles of freedom, democracy, and respect for international law.
Sun Lee is a pseudonym for a writer who covers developments in Asia.
