• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

A SEA ChangeBy Marc V. Schanz, Senior Editor The US military is refocusing its attention on the threats and opportunities in South- east Asia, a region often overlooked in the last decade. 22 AIR FORCE Magazine / July 2012 A SEA USAF photo by MSgt. CohenYoung An F-15C takes on fuel from a KC-135 while flying over Korat, Thailand, dur- ing Cope Tiger 2011. AIR FORCE Magazine / July 2012 23 his past spring, a long simmering area of ten- sion flared up, approxi- mately 123 miles west of Subic Bay in the Philippines in the South China Sea. A Philippine military aircraft spotted USAF photo by MSgt. Matt Summers Chinese vessels in the disputed Scarbor- oughT Shoal, prompting the deployment of the Philippine Navy’s largest ship, BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, a former US Coast Guard cutter. Filipino naval personnel boarded the vessel for an inspection and discovered large amounts of illegally col- lected coral, shellfish, and other marine animals. Not long after, two Chinese maritime surveillance ships positioned themselves between the Filipino ship and the Chinese, preventing arrest of the fishing crews, causing a high-level diplo- matic standoff between the two countries. Royal Malaysian Air Force Cpl. Shahzaihar Zainol, a combat air rescueman, “recov- ers” USAF Capt. Daniel Parrish during Cope Taufan, a bilateral training exercise Eventually, the Filipinos withdrew their aimed at sharing knowledge and tactics between the US and Malaysian air services. warship, and the Chinese vessels slipped away. Not long after, Chinese ships re- with the US. In early June, Secretary of Thailand, South Korea, and Japan. It was turned to the shoal and tensions remained Defense Leon E. Panetta referenced the followed by Cope Tiger 2012 in March, an as of the first week of June. the Scarborough Shoal incident during the air combat and mobility exercise featur- The incident was one of several such Shangri-La Security Dialogue in Singa- ing USAF, Thai, and Singaporean forces. skirmishes in recent years where China has pore. He said the US opposes “coercion” In early April, as tensions rose off the forcefully asserted claims in areas around in the region and urged settlement “in a coast of the Philippines, Pacific Air Forces the South China Sea, emboldened by its manner consistent with international law.” sponsored a biennial aerial exercise in increasing economic and military power. Preceding and following the Scarbor- Malaysia—Cope Taufan—featuring 67th As a result, many countries in Southeast ough confrontation, numerous multina- Fighter Squadron F-15s from Kadena Asia have quietly supported a more asser- tional US military exercises unfolded AB, Japan, flying with Royal Malaysian tive US presence in the region as a check across Southeast Asia, rarely grabbing Air Force MiG-29s, F/A-18s, and other on Beijing. While public statements from headlines beyond the region. In Thailand aircraft. PACAF also conducted subject the region’s governments are often cau- this February was Cobra Gold 2012—a matter exchanges with the Malaysian tious, concern about China’s willingness US Pacific Command combat exercise military on topics such as force protection to bully its way through territorial disputes hosted by Thailand, involving forces from and engineering and participated in civil is pressing nations to increase their ties the US, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, affairs projects. And while the standoff evolved at Scarborough, the US and Phil- ippine armed forces conducted Balikatan 2012, the 28th iteration of the multiservice joint exercise, with more than 4,400 US personnel. It featured a range of combat and humanitarian response training events, including aircraft control, communica- tions, and pararescue activities. USAF photo by SSgt. ChadThompson The command chief of PACAF, CMS­­­gt. Brooke P. McLean, visited the exercise and met with many Philippine and US service members. “Having partnered nations and strong capabilities on both sides are very important,” McLean said. “The Philippines has been a treaty ally with us for many years.” The activity is deliberate, even if the timing is coincidental. McLean’s senti- ment reflects the strategic thinking now playing out in the so-called “Pacific A-10Cs taxi at Osan AB, South Korea, on return from deployments to Balikatan in the Philippines and Thailand’s Cope Tiger in 2011. 24 AIR FORCE Magazine / July 2012 rebalancing” of US military priorities, as the US adapts to changing security dynamics. The effort in PACOM intends to safeguard and ensure the interests of allies in Asia and the Pacific. A subtle shift in US attention has great implications. The presence of US military forces in the Asia-Pacific has long em- USN photo by Lt. Cmdr. Mark Jones C. phasized northeast Asia—South Korea and Japan—and American territory in the Pacific Ocean, most notably Hawaii and Guam. While the US continues to capital- ize on the relationships built on Cold War “hub-and-spoke” alliances with Japan and South Korea, it is moving to expand its military and security cooperation activi- ties in Southeast Asia as nations in that A US Marine Corps CH-46 helicopter passes USS Tortuga and the Royal Thai Navy region worry about the growing military ship HTMS Surin during the exercise Cobra Gold in February. Some Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand see a “collective opportunity” for enhanced in- power of the People’s Republic of China. teroperability with the US and other nations in the region. A Rising China the US would maintain its presence despite Minister Julia Gillard and President America’s allies are careful in their a forecasted period of belt-tightening of Obama emphasized the new US Marine statements about the US military in Asia, defense expenditures. His first stop was, presence in the country’s north, the while also voicing their concerns about tellingly, Indonesia, where he met with military agreement will expand USAF’s the Chinese. Singapore’s Foreign Minister the Defense Ministers of the 10-member presence in the future and promises wide- Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam said during Association of Southeast Asian Nations ranging military cooperation. Australian a February speech in Washington, D.C., (ASEAN). He announced the US would officials confirm that future deployments that “the world and Asia are big enough not back away even through hard times. and rotations of aircraft may include to accommodate a rising China and a From PACOM’s perspective, ASEAN heavy bombers (B-52s) and mobility reinvigorated US,” as many nations of and its numerous forums—including its airlift (C-17s). These potentially would Southeast Asia have economic and trade annual meeting of Defense Ministers, the operate from Royal Australian Air Force ties with both countries. But, he added, East Asian Summit, and the Asia-Pacific Base Tindal, about 200 miles southeast “the US has long played a major role in Economic Cooperation initiative— “have of Darwin. the region’s stability and prosperity,” and advanced to become the most effective US forces in the region are also pur- Singapore for one had encouraged the Asia-Pacific multilateral organizations,” suing more multilateral training oppor- US to engage with Southeast Asia “long according to Adm. Robert F. Willard, then tunities, both with traditional allies and before it was fashionable.” PACOM commander. emerging partners, PACOM and PACAF As part of the rebalancing of forces Historically somewhat derided as a officials say. in the Asia-Pacific and the development “talk shop” when contrasted with alliances US relations with the Philippines, In- of concepts such as AirSea Battle, the such as NATO, ASEAN’s influence in the donesia, and Malaysia “seek to enhance Pentagon is reviving traditional ties with region has steadily grown in the last de- current bilateral cooperation [and] where longstanding allies such as Singapore, the cade—especially regarding humanitarian possible expand bilateral relations to mul- Philippines, and Australia, and expanding assistance and disaster relief operations. tilateral,” a PACOM official said, regarding contacts with emerging regional players Singapore and Indonesia, both founding the state of US military cooperation in the such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and even members of ASEAN, have actively pushed region. PACAF is steadily expanding its Vietnam. By doing so, it is expressly for the group to build closer defense ties participation in exercises such as Cope acting on the new US defense guidance, within its ranks. The US has moved to Taufan in Malaysia and Pacific Angel joint which emphasizes the “existing alliances” elevate its security cooperation with humanitarian, capacity-building exercise. in Asia and also the need to “expand our Indonesia in particular and in June 2010 Flexible and tailored partnerships— networks of cooperation with emerging announced a US-Indonesia Comprehen- from small footprint civil affairs visits to partners.” sive Partnership to expand a wide range large-force exercises—will be vital as the The “emerging partners” piece of the of joint activities, according to PACOM US builds mil-to-mil relations in South- strategy is playing a greater part in US officials. Along with the Philippines and east Asia. “Every nation has a bilateral efforts in Asia, as evidenced by senior Malaysia, Indonesia is key in not only opportunity, but multilateral processes Obama Administration officials, DOD the South China Sea, but in the Sulu and [are] critical to having interoperability statements, and visits with allies. Celebes Seas as well, officials with the and unity of effort when it is required,” Even prior to the January 2012 release command note, and building cooperation said PACAF Commander Gen. Gary L. of the Obama Administration’s updated in intelligence, surveillance, and recon- North in February. North said the nations defense strategic guidance, senior Admin- naissance sharing, disaster response, and of Southeast Asia recognize this, and as istration officials telegraphed there would air and maritime capability is of concern their defense and security budgets are be no cutbacks of investment in the Asia- to all three nations.

Load more

  6

Copy Link