China is putting military muscle behind president Xi Jinpeng’s call for “a new type of great power relationship.”  World domination is, of course, the ultimate goal for all imperialist  powers. What is China’s strategic intent? That’s what U.S. intelligence analysts are considering in regard to China’s recent aggressive military moves in East Asia.  
Of course, pro-China commentators are asking the same question about U.S. (and Japanese) strategy. Spurred by inter-imperialist rivalry on a global scale, the arms race and military confrontations between China and the U.S. have reached a new level of intensity in the Western Pacific.
A dramatic new stage began Nov. 23 when China declared a new Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea. The declaration demands that anyone flying into the zone notify Chinese authorities and follow instructions from China’s air-traffic controllers. That’s a challenge to the U.S., Japan and South Korea because it claims control over an area that not only is very close to their territory but also includes an area that surveys indicate is rich in resources.
The situation quickly heated up. On the day of the announcement China flew a “maritime patrol,” including fighter escorts and an airborne warning and control-type plane within the ADIZ. In response, Japanese “self-defense” aircraft intercepted the Chinese aircraft. The U.S. quickly denounced China’s move and on Nov. 26 flew B-52s over the area without complying with China’s demands. On Dec. 15, South Korea announced an expanded air defense zone that overlaps China’s, and stated it would fly over the area to defy the Chinese.
Another ominous confrontation occurred a few days later in the South China Sea near Hainan, a Chinese island province in the Tonkin Gulf. The USS Cowpens, a guided missile cruiser, narrowly missed colliding with an escort ship operating with the Liaoning, China’s only aircraft carrier. China objects to U.S. surveillance operations in what it considers its exclusive economic zone, while the U.S. insists the area is part of international waters and that all nations have the right to be there. It is only a matter of time before a deadly incident occurs.
It is clear that the growth of China’s economy and power is pushing other imperialists into preparations for confrontation, if not war. These moves include lining up new support, mainly from Japan, the Philippines and South Korea.
The U.S. has long pressed Japan to expand its already formidable military strength, despite Article 9 of Japan’s constitution that bans it from maintaining military forces. The Japanese “Self-Defense Forces” have been growing since the 1980s, when the U.S. and Japan were confronting the Soviet Union, China and North Korea.
Led by far-right prime minister Shinzo Abe, the Japanese cabinet, on Dec. 17, approved a five-year buildup and $24 billion in military spending, a five percent increase over the previous five. (All understate real spending. U.S. annual “defense” spending is well over $700 billion and China’s is probably well over $100 billion.) The budget came with a national security strategy stating that Japan will seek more “proactive” roles for its Self-Defense Forces abroad and loosen guidelines on arms exports. It also emphasized a strong Japan-U.S. security alliance.  
Just the day before, U.S. Secretary of State Kerry was in Vietnam offering assistance with Vietnam’s disputed maritime borders with China in exchange for more trade and security cooperation. Earlier in the year, U.S. and Philippines agreed to more U.S. military presence in the Philippines, including pre-positioning of equipment. The U.S. promised to help the Philippines defend its territorial waters in any conflict with China.
On a broader diplomatic front, on Dec. 14, Abe and leaders of the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed at a Tokyo summit on the need for “freedom of the high seas and skies.” This was a response to diplomatic gains by China at other regional conferences, where it used lucrative investment projects to win support from Cambodia and other Asian nations.
What are the chances of large-scale military engagements in the short run? The Chinese strategy is a protracted one, and although China is angry about being encircled by the U.S., it realizes it has much to lose in military engagements with a Japan backed by the U.S. The Pentagon is refocusing on Asia with moves that include reinforcing bases in Guam, continuing to station thousands of troops in Japan and Korea, and positioning smaller units of marines and soldiers in Australia and the Philippines.  On Dec 14, the U.S. sent a fleet of drone aircraft to a Japanese air base.
China has mounted a “charm offensive” accompanied by lots of cash aimed at most countries in Asia. It seems to be adopting a divide-and-conquer strategy toward Japan and the Philippines, which are already in the U.S. camp. Over time it might be able to detach these countries from alliances with the U.S. Therefore it probably sees nothing to lose in ratcheting up pressure on those countries. This type of strategy has traditionally been called “inflicting death by a thousand cuts.” Along with steadily expanding economic ties, this approach seems to be paying off in regard to Taiwan, which many CIA officials concede will be in China’s camp in the foreseeable future.
No workers in any of the countries involved have anything to gain by supporting the imperialist aims of their national bosses. The bourgeois political leaders of all large countries only represent the interests of the giant banks and corporations that exploit the working class. All they offer working people is ongoing poverty and military atrocities. Rather than accepting nationalistic propaganda issued by corrupt capitalists, workers must strive to build international ties for communist revolution. Progressive Labor Party is committed to this effort. Join PLP to smash imperialism.