The world powers vie for supremacy in the Indo-Pacific

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As the whole world watches Ukraine and Russia’s relentless war of aggression, another region of the world is increasingly coming into focus: Asia – the Indo-Pacific, to be precise. A geopolitical region that, in addition to the two most populous countries in the world – India and China – also includes Japan, the two Koreas, Taiwan and Australia. The US, by definition, also belongs to the Indo-Pacific.

The visits of top European politicians to the region show how important the region is for world affairs. In recent weeks and months, they have all pushed the Asian door handle in their hands.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64) visited the region in October. French President Emmanuel Macron (45) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (64) visited the Indo-Pacific countries in early April. The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (42) did the same last week.

Indo-Pacific is the main region

During her visit to South Korea, Baerbock emphasized that the Indo-Pacific is a key region for the 21st century. “We want to get more involved in the Indo-Pacific,” said the green politician, referring to the federal government’s accompanying strategy.

It is more important than ever for the West to strengthen ties with the region. Christian Echle (42), head of the Asia and Pacific division of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin, agrees. “The center of gravity of international relations is shifting to the Indo-Pacific,” he explained in an interview with Blick.

60 percent of the entire world population lives in the Indo-Pacific. Those who have a dominant position there control a global economic center. China has also recognized this.

“China is becoming increasingly confident and aggressive in the region,” says Echle. That is why, according to the expert, it is all the more important that the West now makes itself felt in the Indo-Pacific. Faced with this, countries such as Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan are seeking help to the west. The top European politicians are therefore banging on open doors.

The climate around China is becoming increasingly harsh

More than ever, war games are the order of the day in the Indo-Pacific region. Two weeks ago, China launched a simulated attack on Taiwan. Americans and Australians rehearse together the emergency in the Philippines – China’s ‘courtyard’. Russia is also putting its Pacific fleet on alert. Military alliances are becoming increasingly important.

With good reason: the climate between the US and China is getting rougher and China is increasingly threatening a military conflict with Taiwan. So is an escalation imminent? “Predicting Chinese behavior in the region is like looking into a crystal ball,” Echle explains. But it’s important that you address the question.

At the G7 meeting in Hiroshima (Japan), Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (62) made it clear: “The world will see the determination of the G7 to uphold the international rule of law”.

It’s about more than the economy – it’s about the future

So the Indo-Pacific is about more than just economic connections and new alliances. It’s about the new world order – and where the center will be. According to expert Echle, the Global South is currently increasingly oriented towards non-democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (77) recently sought rapprochement with China – and condemned Western arms supplies to Ukraine.

China itself designed a new world order and presented it in March – the “Global Security Initiative” (GSI). Head of State Xi Jinping (69) presented them for the first time in April 2022: he is engaged in creating new rules for global security, led by China. Beijing wants to put pressure on the GSI, especially in emerging countries and in the Global South – i.e. countries that are quite open to turning away from the current Western-dominated world order.

“Now is the time for the West to show the rest of the world what makes democracies so strong,” emphasizes Echle. This refers not only to the form of government, but especially to economic aspects. It is essential for this that Europe “is present in the region and represents our ideas of order”. The fundamental question you need to ask yourself: “How do we want to work together in the future?”

Source: Blick