China's military 'offensive' in the Indo-Pacific overshadowed by the Ukraine war
A military agreement signed with Cambodia and a security deal concluded with the Solomon Islands. Australia: China has established 20 military posts in the South China Sea, it could do the same in the South Pacific. Beijing has also militarized disputed areas on the Himalayan border.
Rome (AsiaNews) - Under the shadow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China has launched a military "offensive" in the Indo-Pacific region. Yesterday, Chinese and Cambodian military authorities signed a memorandum of understanding, which many observers see as another move by the Asian giant to strengthen its position in Southeast Asia amid intensifying geopolitical competition with the United States.
General Liu Zhenli, commander of the land forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), inked the agreement with Hun Manet, deputy chief of the Cambodian army and son of Premier Hun Sen (and his likely successor).
Although the two sides did not disclose the content of the entente; the Chinese Ministry of Defense stressed that in recent years Beijing and Phnom Penh have expanded their military cooperation in areas such as joint exercises and training, strategic communication, and personnel exchanges.
To a large extent, Cambodia is economically dependent on China. Relations between the Cambodian government and the U.S. deteriorated markedly after in 2019 press reports revealed the existence of a secret deal between Beijing and Phnom Penh. It would give the Chinese Navy exclusive use of parts of Cambodia's Ream naval base on the Gulf of Thailand. The Chinese deny it, but Washington then imposed an embargo on arms sales to Cambodia.
The Sino-Cambodian understanding comes almost simultaneously with the announcement of the conclusion of a draft security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands. Again, the precise terms of the document have yet to be revealed. It would ensure that Chinese warships have the right to make port calls and refueling operations in the archipelago's ports.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare today clarified that the pact does not provide for the granting to Beijing of a naval base in the South Pacific nation. Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. have expressed concern over Honiara's decision, stressing that it will have an impact on regional security.
Australia's defense minister, Peter Dutton, recalled that China had established 20 points of military presence in the South China Sea, despite its assurances that it would not militarize the region. Canberra fears that Beijing wants to do the same in the South Pacific islands.
In recent days, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander, Admiral John C. Aquilino, said that the Chinese had turned three coral reefs in the South China Sea (Mischief, Subi and Fiery Cross) into full-fledged military outposts. Beijing has territorial claims over almost the entire body of water, a position rejected - with Washington's support - by Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and partly Indonesia, and judged baseless by an international tribunal.
Beijing's military pressure is also growing on the continent. Chinese government sources reported that last month the PLA completed the construction of 624 villages in disputed or conquered areas on the Himalayan border. According to Indian strategic analyst Brahma Chellaney, the militarization of population centers in territories claimed by India, Bhutan, and Nepal is the land equivalent of what the Chinese are doing in the South China Sea.
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