SOUTH KOREA ASSERTS NEW INDO PACIFIC STRATEGY ALIGNED FIRMLY WITH UNITED STATES STRATEGY

Significantly, South Korea's new President Yoon announced formally his nation's "Indo Pacific Strategy" which shed the strategic ambiguity of past Presidents, and in 2023, aligns South Korea more firmly with the United States Indo Pacific Security Strategy aimed at checkmating China's predatory instincts.

South Korea while stressing diplomatically that its strategy is all-inclusive and not aimed at any one country, however, in the enunciation of its core principles leaves no space for any ambiguities that the underlying sentiment is dealing with the threats that China is posing over the vast expanse of Indo Pacific.

The South Korean Indo Pacific Strategy emphasizes that South Korea subscribes to a 'Rules-based International Order' and opposes any moves by any nation to 'Change the existing regional order by use of Military Force'.

These two main principles picked out of the other principles indicates significantly South Korea's firm alignment with Strategic interests of United States and its Allies/ Strategic Partners subscribing to Indo Pacific security. The language is similar to that used by United States, Japan, Australia and India in diplomatic statements.

The intended target in these assertions is China and the China Threat that stands manifested from South China Sea to Senkaku Islands and the Korean Peninsula where China uses its nuclear proxy North Korea to destabilize security and stability in the region.

 Additionally, South Korea intends to reach-out diplomatically and strategically, in terms of bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral partnerships with countries of Indo Pacific sharing the two major principles enunciated in an earlier paragraph.

Special mention here is made of United States, Japan, Australia and India--- notably the QUAD partners.

South Korea already has a Mutual Security Treaty with the United States and hosts significant US Forward Military Presence at South Korean military bases.

In terms of 'Trilateral' security cooperation, it stands pointed out in an earlier Blog that with President Yoon assuming power in South Korea notable steps/ discussions are underway to forge a long-awaited US-Japan-South Korea Trilateral.

The South Korean pointer towards 'Multilateral' security partnerships is towards the QUAD. In a previous Blog, I had emphasized the imperatives to enlarge the QUAD to QUAD + 2 to include South Korea.

South Korea today is economically and a militarily vibrant nation. It has made tremendous strides from the 1980s when I was accredited to South Korea for four years while posted to a diplomatic military posting in Tokyo.

Accretion of South Korea to any Trilateral or Multilateral security arrangements in the region in Indo Pacific would be a substantial gain in military strength and combat potential. 

Other than China, which surely is going to be rattled by South Krea's unveiling of its Indo Pacific Strategy, all Major Nations of Indo Pacific will hail South Korea moving away from its 'strategic ambiguity' on China.

In Conclusion, two points need to be stressed and these are that South Korea should persist in the Indo Pacific Strategy enunciated, and secondly, that Major Nations of Indo Pacific should stand with South Korea as China applies economic screws as ripostes to South Korea firmly aligning itself with the United States & Allies/Strategic Partners.

CHINA AND RUSSIA EMERGE AS MAJOR THREATS TO INDO PACIFIC SECURITY POST-UKRAINE EUSSIAN INVASION.

 Indo Pacific strategic calculus in terms of regional security and stability has undertaken a major shift post-Ukraine invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2002 wherein Russia as a latent threat now emerges as a 'Major Threat' compulsively added to the pervasive China Threat in play more markedly since 2013.

The China-Russia Axis was already in play in various shades, hues, and combinations in the Indo Pacific Region. Post-Ukraine Invasion, the strategic and economic dependency of Russia stands greatly increased.

Russia has no options left post-Ukraine but to embrace China strategically fully and to ditto and underwrite China's predatory aggressive moves in IndoPacific.

The Russia Threat has not manifested itself in terms of massing of military formations on the Pacific littoral but has manifested itself in stark geopolitical terms with enhanced confrontationist stances against United States and hardening of policy attitudes towards Japan.

With India, despite India making great efforts to keep its traditional relations with Russia, the old flavor stands lost. Russia along with China resent India tilting strategically towards the United States.

In strategic terms, while Rusia may not be in military adversarial mode with India, but it can be said with certainty that Russia is no longer a "countervailing asset' for India against China.

Russia, has lately, increasingly participated with China in military, naval and air-force joint exercises. Notably Russian Air Force combat aircraft have participated in Joint Air Patrols with Chinese Air Force in close proximity of Japan and South Korea---both strong Allies of the United States hosting US Forward Military Presence in their territories.

Russia has so far not condemned increased North Korea's ballistic missile tests overflying Japan as China's proxy in the Region.

The crucial question that now arises from this Russian pattern above is whether Russia will actively participate in any inevitable US-China armed conflict?

Going by present indicators with Russia weakened militarily and economically, chances of Russia actively fighting alongside China in a US-China armed conflict are remote. However, Russia opening a second front in the European Theatre to lessen US & Allies military pressure on China in the Western Pacific cannot be ruled out.

Concluding, in the overall context, Russia as a Major Threat alongside China as partner in the China-Russia Axis will continue to figure in Threat Perceptions in the strategic calculations of United States and the West both in the Indo Pacific context and in the European context.

This perception gets reinforced by the fact that both China and Russia are ruled by Communist dictators, wherein both have shown scant respect for international conventions and a Rules-based international order. South China Sea predatory moves by China and Ukraine Invasion by Russia are pointers to unpredictable aggressive impulses of China's and Russia's present rulers.

JAPAN DOUBLES ITS DEFENCE BUDGET TO COPE WITH ENHANCED CHINA THREAT PERCEPTIONS & POST-UKRAINE LESSONS

Japanese PM Kishida rightly described December 16, 2022, as a "Turning Point" in Japan's national security and defence policies when he announced doubling of Japan's Defence Budget from decades-old limit of 1% of GDP to 2% of GDP in response to enhanced China Threat perceptions and military lessons post-Ukraine invasion by Russia.

Japanese PM Kishida unveiled a $ 320 Billion Five Year Plan which would make Japan the world's third largest military spender. 

Japanese Armed Forces were already a potent military force, but its radius of action was self-imposed to immediate defence of Japanese Islands.

Japan's new National Defense Strategy will impart Japanese Armed Forces with conventional 'Second Strike' Capabilities against China.

Japan's enhanced China Threat perceptions have arisen from China's military intimidation of Taiwan and open display of military might by intrusions in airspace and waters around Taiwan.

China has been indulging in submarines and Chinese Navy ships intrusions in Japanese waters. 

In Japanese Threat Perceptions, China's military occupation of Taiwan coupled with China's Full Spectrum Dominance of South China Sea would be strangling Japan's lifelines of energy supplies and trade.

Post-Ukraine invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Japan has drawn tow important military lessons (1) Russia has set a wrong precedent of unprovoked invasion of a smaller neighbor, and which precedent may encourage China not only for military occupation of Taiwan but also Chinese military occupation of disputed Japanese Senkaku Islands.

The second major lesson that Japan has drawn post-Ukraine is that Japan must now militarily be prepared for a prolonged conflict and have military infrastructure and logistics sustainability for prolonged warfare.

Japan's new major military spending doubled to unprecedented levels therefore caters for the twin challenges of (1) Enhanced offensive military capabilities and 'counter-strike' capabilities against its perceived enemies, and (2) Rapid buildup of military logistics infrastructure and WWR (War Wastage Reserves) of holdings of reserve stocks of weapons, military equipment and ammunition to fight and militarily sustain the Armed Forces in event of prolonged conflict.

Reflecting Japan's new resolve to meet enhanced new threats to Japanese security, Japan released three important Documents (1) National Security Strategy (2) National Defense Strategy, and (3) Defense Forces Development Plans.

Surprisingly, reports indicate that nearly 70% of Japanese public supports Japan raising its military preparedness. This is a marked departure from the past normally pacifist inclinations of Japanese public.

The only vociferous opposition to Japan's doubling of defence expenditure has emanated from China which has accused Japan of whipping up regional tensions as pretext to breakthroughs in defence spending. Surely, Japan's acquisition of 'Counter Strike ' capabilities would have a

rattled China.

Concluding, it needs emphasis that Japanese Defence Buildup to credible proportions against enlarging China Threat was overdue. China itself has to blame for pushing Japan in this direction.

In terms of overall Indo Pacific security, Japan's enhanced defence buildup and assertive security profile would impose a cautionary deterrent to China's unrestrained aggressiveness in the region.

'THE SAMURAI HAS ARISEN!!!

UNITED STATES- JAPAN-SOUTH KOREA SECURITY TRILATERAL CRYSTALLISING IN 2022

Geopolitical realities unfolding in Indo Pacific in wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China Threat of Taiwan invasion, Russia-China Axis solidifying and North Korea as China's nuclear proxy destabilizing the Korean Peninsula with repeated missiles tests has forcefully dawned on South Korea the imperatives of regional security resting on a US-Japan-South Korea Security Trilateral.

US-Japan-South Korea Security Trilateral was a Strategic Imperative even in Cold War I when Russia Threat was at its peak. In Cold War II, China Threat to Indo Pacific has emerged in more menacing contours surpassing the erstwhile Russia Threat. 

Geopolitical and strategic imperatives are therefore more pressing in 2022 closing weeks for speedy integration and operationalization of the US-Japan-South Korea Security Trilateral.

Initial moves in this direction were visible from November 2022 onwards with Defense Ministers and senior military officials from the three countries holding consultations.

It needs to be recalled that the United States has Bilateral Secuity Treaties with Japan and South Korea. The missing piece in this security geometry in Western Pacifici was an integrated US-Japan-South Korea Security Trilateral.

For decades, the resistance to this pressing triangular security mechanism stemmed from South Korea opposing it for no other good reason than perceived historical wrongs of South Korea over Japanese colonial rule over South Korea in the last century.

South Korea's reluctance in the past also arose from China being able to drive a wedge in Japan-South Korean relations t suit its strategic ends. In this direction China's economic inducements to South Krea were manipulated by China.

Fortunately, the situation has changed with the Conservative President Yoon taking over the reins of power in Seoul this year. President Yoon realized that South Korean policies of past Presidents of 'Reconciliation' with North Korea had failed miserably when contextually viewed against North Korea's blatant military provocations in the last one year.

Analytically, lurking in South Korea's new policy calculations of positive approach towards a US-Japan-South Korea Security Trilateral would be the stark realization that China despite professions of friendship towards Soth Korea had not actively restrained North Korea - its satellite, from aggressive provocations against South Korea, leaving Japan aside.

Perceptionaly, it appears that China wanted North Korea to intensify its aggressive provocations of missile firings post-Ukraine War by Russia. It suited China in diversion of attention from its Taiwan military adventurism and also US sole strategic focus on assisting Ukraine against Russia 

South Korea too like United States and Japan has significant stakes in security and stability of Western Pacific and South China Sea which China has disrupted with its aggressive moves.

Concluding, in interests of overall Indo Pacific security considerations, Western Pacific security and more specifically stability and security of the Korean Peninsula, the crystallization of the US-Japan-South Korea Security Trilateral needs to be welcomed as a mature security imperative well recognized.

INDIAN NAVY CHIEF'S SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE AT QUAD NAVAL CHIEFS SUMMIT MEET IN TOKYO NOVEMBER 2022

 Significantly strategic messaging stood conveyed by Indian Navy Chief Admiral Harikumar's presence in the opticals of the four Naval Chiefs of QUAD Navies posing together in a formal photograph of the QUAD Naval Chiefs Summit in Tokyo, Japan on November 05, 2022.

Significant it was, as if memory serves me correctly, this was the first time that a Naval Chiefs of QUAD Nations has taken place.

Significant strategically, was the conflictual backdrop of Indo Pacific prevailing turbulent security environment induced by China's saber-rattling over Taiwan, Chinese satellite North Korea's proxy missiles firings across Japan and the overhang of Russia Invasion of Ukraine casting shadows on IndoPacific security.

In a strategic triple whammy, which would not have gone unnoticed in Beijing, the QUAD Naval Chiefs Summit in Tokyo also coincided with Japan's Internatinal Fleet Review, commencement of the 'Malabar Navl Exercises' in Japanese seas of QUAD Navies and the Western Pacific Naval Symposium.

The Indian Naval Chief 's presence was scheduled at all these events.

Significantly, in my assessments over decades, is the reality that while Chinese Navy may be numerically stronger in numbers of Navy combatant ships, but the Japanese Navy is "Qualitatively Superior" and more powerful than the Beijing's Chinese Navy.

When QUAD Navy Chiefs main theme of discussion focusses on "Interoperability" then the strategic message should be amply clear. They had not met in Tokyo for a garden party! 

Humanitarian and disaster relief missions overplayed by Indian diplomacy are overshadowed by the real intent of QUAD when it was resurrected in 2017. The real intent is checkmating China and the maritime threats that China poses in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Concluding, it needs to be stressed that India must invest more heavily on the strategic intents of QUAD Nations and make it more potent in naval terms. It should not be forgotten, as I have stressed in my writings and even on TV Channels, that India can keep the Indian Ocean as "Indian" against China's naval depredations only with deep collaboration of QUAD Nations Navies. 

In overall pursuance of India's national security interests, India should now refrain from de-emphasizing of QUAD's real strategic intent. The QUAD Naval Chiefs Summit meet in Tokyo seems to be the first step in that direction.

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