US coastguards sail into troubled waters with mission to counter China in Pacific
The United States is leaning on its coastguard to reinforce its presence in the West Pacific as its navy comes under increasing strain in the Middle East. Although this move may be seen as a lower-risk way of countering Beijing’s growing presence in the region, increasing US cooperation with the Taiwanese coastguard risks further mainland Chinese pressure on the island. Recently, the US announced…
In a move to bolster its presence in the Western Pacific, the United States is turning to its coastguard to counter China's growing influence in the region. This strategy, which may be perceived as a safer alternative to deploying naval forces in the Middle East, may lead to increased tension with China. Recent announcements indicate that six US coastguard cutters, previously stationed in the Middle East, will be relocated to the Philippines and Singapore this month.
Additionally, the US embassy in Manila has pledged to provide two new vessels to the Philippines for search and rescue missions and to enhance maritime surveillance. This development comes in the wake of a recent visit by Pentagon undersecretary for policy, Elbridge Colby, who pledged to rotate four fast-response cutters between the Philippines and other regional partners.
Experts argue that the coastguard deployment is a response to the US Navy's strained resources and mounting costs in the Middle East. Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, explains that the US is forced to resort to this option due to its limited naval assets and high operational expenses.
Lyle Goldstein, the Asia program director at Brown University, emphasizes that the US is employing the coastguard as a less politically sensitive alternative to warships, which is well-received by Southeast Asian nations wary of provoking China's wrath. While the US coastguard is primarily a law enforcement and maritime security agency, it is viewed differently by China, which may view US cooperation with Taiwan as a threat to its regional dominance.
China has been conducting regular patrols in the waters around Taiwan and expanding its operations eastward, viewing these actions as a challenge to Taiwan's territorial integrity. The US and its allies, including Japan and the Philippines, are committed to Taiwan's defense and oppose any attempts to coerce the island. Although the US coastguard's deployment may have some drawbacks, such as diverting resources from US domestic security, it is seen as a necessary step to maintain a strategic balance in the Western Pacific.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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