BEIJING, China: China’s assertive moves across Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Japanese islands are part of a broader strategy to exhaust its regional rivals and establish greater control over contested territories.
Recent incidents, such as the deployment of Chinese military and coast guard vessels to drive the Philippines away from key reefs in the South China Sea, exemplify this approach.
China’s tactics also extend to Taiwan, where an increasing number of Chinese fighter jets and naval vessels aim to maintain constant pressure on the island. Analysts argue that these maneuvers are designed to probe defences, gather intelligence, and ultimately weaken the resolve of opponents like the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan.
The Philippines, under increasing pressure from China, has sought closer ties with the United States, hoping the mutual defence treaty would serve as a deterrent.
However, China appears to be banking on the US being distracted by other global crises, such as the Middle East conflict and its domestic political challenges, to push its agenda further without triggering a direct military confrontation.
China’s tactics are not confined to the South China Sea. In the East China Sea, Beijing has escalated tensions with Japan by sending armed vessels near the disputed Senkaku Islands and allegedly flying military planes into Japanese airspace. These maneuvers indicate China’s willingness to test boundaries and gauge the responses of regional and global powers.
China’s calculated strategy aims to incrementally expand its influence in contested areas by “pushing the envelope” while staying below the threshold of outright conflict. This multifaceted approach reveals China’s broader ambition to reshape the regional order in its favor, challenging international norms and creating a precarious situation where any misstep could lead to broader conflict.
