Spillover Effect of Anti-Satellite Race in Asia Pacific and Way of Mitigating an Anti-Satellite Dilemma Through Economic

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Spillover Effect of Anti-Satellite Race in Asia Pacific and Way of Mitigating an Anti-Satellite Dilemma Through Economic 7th International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences “ASEAN 2015: Challenges and Opportunities” (Proceedings) Spillover Effect of Anti-Satellite Race in Asia Pacific and Way of Mitigating an Anti-Satellite Dilemma Through Economic 1. Nur Hazlina Saad, National Defense University Of Malaysia, Malaysia, [email protected] Abstract The development of anti-satellite weapons by China in 2007 to compete the United States space capability has posed a spillover effect in the Asia pacific region. The effect can emerge from the use of direct ascent, electric magnetic pulse, lasers, or jammers that could cripple a satellite system in the future. However, below the low orbit, majority of the Asia Pacific countries are enjoying economic activities and trading relationship whether within Asian countries or with the China or United States. The purpose of this paper is to review an economy interests among Asian countries as a determinant factor that could mitigate the spillover effect posed by anti-satellite race by U.S. and China in the Asia Pacific region. This paper argues that economic relationship among Asian countries is too good to be wasted as it has turns to be an important tool for prosperity and security of countries in the region whist U.S. also is exploring a bigger market with the countries in the region. It has shown that the economic factor plays an important role in preserving the regional stability for decades. Therefore, any decision on peace and conflict in the region must be deeply consider this vital factor. Keywords: Mitigating space dilemma, economic cooperation in asia pacific, asia pacific strategic stability Faculty of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University, June 5-6, 2015 681 7th International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences “ASEAN 2015: Challenges and Opportunities” (Proceedings) Introduction This paper suggested the conceptual approach of the spillover effects of anti- satellite race between China and United States in Asia Pacific and current economic trend in the region can appears to be a factor that mitigating the effect. Research has shown that there is anti satellite arms race existing between U.S. and China, and therefore the method of resolution for the race should be bring into the table. Findings found that there are two signs of arms race between two countries, that there are security dilemma attributes has been developing since the – action and reaction – of anti satellites system occurs at times, and this event has bring the situation where a reasonable methods of solution need to bring into table to reduce the tension. Resolution that has been suggesting in this paper is economic cooperation that appears to be a vital factor that reduces the tension especially between China and its neighbour in Asia Pacific. CONTEMPORARY U.S.- CHINA ANTI-SATELLITE RACE It is good to stress out that comparing to first space weapon arms race occurs between U.S. and Soviet Union during the period of Star Wars 1956-1991, the characters and features of anti-satellite weapons between U.S and China is very different because of many different factors and backgrounds. The countries are different, the regimes are different, the military doctrines are different, the foreign policy are different, space technology are different, space budget are different, threat of perceptions are different, geopolitical considerations are different, characters of leaders are different, space ambitions, perceptions of superpower, and perception of friends and foes also different. Such listed factors have play a very much important role to shape the decision to develop and own a very capable anti-satellite weapons and counter-anti satellite weapons. It is not easy to understand why a country have decided to have its own space weapons but perhaps such a list of factors would be able to provide a reader with such a basic knowledge about why one country acquiring space weapons. However, in the world of uncertainty with such a predictable and unpredictable characters from leaders and states, together with such a revolution in military affairs in space technology and aspiration, alongside with changing environment in threat Faculty of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University, June 5-6, 2015 682 7th International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences “ASEAN 2015: Challenges and Opportunities” (Proceedings) perception matters, and to cope with such a dynamisn in leadership characters and state’s foreign policy and grand strategy, it appears for some countries, like China and U.S, that anti-satellite weapons would appears to be an ultimate guarantee for their national security and survivality, not to mention the aspiration to preserve its national power and political influence as well as gaining a status of supremacy and compatibility status (for China and other countries, except U.S.). While discussing about the methods of resolution for the dilemma of security occurs from U.S. and China anti-satellite arms race, it appears that a few methods has been preferred. They are code of Conduct in Outer Space, space treaties, deterrence mechanism, diplomacy confidence building measures, regional organisation role, and economic cooperation. Different from anticipation between U.S and Soviet Union, apparently any methods that potentially proposed to reduce the ASAT arms race between U.S and China must have a consideration of economic interdependence between both respective countries, and between China and its neighbours in Asia Pacific because obviously any change and action in foreign policy and diplomacy would also have an impact into trading ties that has been developed since thirty years ago with his neighbour within ASEAN countries. Neither China’s action nor foreign policy should be perceived threatened his trading neighbour partner in Asia Pacific region. In fact, China has also developed a deep consideration about his future ambition and positions that could affected his further opportunity as a member in Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) as China has become second important trading partner after Japan with countries in this organisation. This economic character is so much different from competition between U.S and Soviet Union during space age as both countries previously hardly related to each other whether in political terms or economic wise because both countries clearly originally from a very different block of ideology and economic structure. While in the case with China, U.S. and China still have a slightly trading cooperation especially for consumer goods besides U.S. foreign investment in China mainland. Thus any changes in space policy or space-relations in either China or U.S. would have an impact towards political or economic relations, or Faculty of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University, June 5-6, 2015 683 7th International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences “ASEAN 2015: Challenges and Opportunities” (Proceedings) future potential cooperation in mentioned areas. Clearly, the impact of space policy in both countries not as simple as in the age of competition between U.S and Soviet Union where competition might motivated from technological and power driven that allowed them to compete separately between two blocks of ideology without relation in any other area of state affairs. IS THERE A CLEAR ANTI- SATELLITE RACE BETWEEN CHINA AND UNITED STATES? Out of all findings, there is little to agree that the degree of development of ASAT weapons of China and U.S. respectively has reach the phase of arms race.1 Even though the development is there, but it is very early to conclude that as a race. Therefore it lead to the little agreement about the level of existence of the race itself. However, due to the responses by the superpower like United States of America (U.S.), community of space warfare tend to perceived that the impact of the race is somewhat strong.2 So does the belief it would disrupt the stability of the Asia Pacific region. Thus, it has comes to the points now that space community tend to believe on their perception based on little sign of existence of ASAT itself. Perhaps that the cognitive decision lead to the such belief is related to the impact of the ASAT weapons itself as they could think it can be very lethal and highly disruptive. The image of the whole electronic system in the country will be left crippled may comes to their mind to define the level threat that ASAT weapons would posed. Not only the electronic system would be disrupted, the enemy also have the ability to strike back with a ballistic missile defence into home country without any sign of early warning that could be detected. This is far too dangerous to be thought, but then it is not the impossible level could be achieved by any ASAT power. Perhaps these types of threat has comes to the mind of space community to agree that ASAT weapons has carried a level of lethal capability with it even though the actual weapon race or the level of existence of the race would not been have clarify yet.3 1 Finding from interviews with scholars and military officers over the world. Refer Thesis prepared for Phd by Nur Hazlina Saad, Phd in Politics, University of Hull. Thesis would be submitted in July 2015. 2 Findings from Online Survey with scholars and military officers over the world. Refer Thesis prepared for Phd by Nur Hazlina Saad, Phd in Politics, University of Hull. Thesis would be submitted in July 2015. 3 Ibid. Faculty of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University, June 5-6, 2015 684 7th International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences “ASEAN 2015: Challenges and Opportunities” (Proceedings) The paper also found that in order to look for solution of ASAT security dilemma in the Asia Pacific region, few factors have to be taken into consideration, that are geopolitical factors, role of superpower as security determinant in the region, and role of regional organization that tightened the common decision of majority states in the region.
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