ASEAN being pressed by US military to help contain China

[Nilgiri]

ASEAN being pressed by US military to help contain China - Asia Times

HAIKOU – In late September, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen bitterly complained to the UN General Assembly that “some countries” were interfering in its

asiatimes.com

HAIKOU – In late September, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen bitterly complained to the UN General Assembly that “some countries” were interfering in its internal affairs. This cry in the wilderness was only hint of the diplomatic anguish as Southeast Asian countries are increasingly being squeezed between China and the US in the two superpowers’ struggle for military dominance in the region.

Cambodia’s particular concern is that the US sanctioned the Chinese company Union Development Group that is developing a huge tourist zone along its coast. The given reasons included “being a front for China to advance its ambition to project power globally.” The US is worried that China might build military bases or support facilities at the project – something China denies and Cambodia says it will not allow.

Other Southeast Asian countries are clearly being pressed to assist the US military effort to contain China – and some are doing so.

The Philippines and Thailand are still US allies and facilitate US strategy by providing “places” for American military assets. Royal Thai Air Force bases are an important element in the Pentagon’s “forward positioning” strategy. Despite an on-again, off-again agreement between the US and the Philippines, there is a continuing US military presence at five bases there – including some near the South China Sea.

Malaysia’s Butterworth Royal Air force Base is used by US ally Australia and is the headquarters of the Five Power Defense Arrangements’ Integrated Area Defense System. This arrangement also includes US ally the UK, as well as Singapore.

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