China military buildup spurs Asian arms race
China military buildup spurs Asian arms race
By Pierre-Antoine Donnet
TOKYO (AFP): The threat of China's military build up has spurred other Asian countries, from Indonesia to Japan, to rearm at a rate not seen since the Cold War, analysts here say.
"A major reason (for the arms build up) is that many of these Asian countries have become richer and now have money to buy weapons," said Masashi Nishihara, chief researcher at Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies.
"But another big reason is China's perceived military build up which is worrying. China is seen as a growing threat," Nishihara added.
Regional arms purchases have not yet reached an alarming level, analysts say.
But they point out that many Asian countries are actively acquiring sophisticated military hardware, in stark contrast to most Western countries, which generally have been slashing military budgets since the end of the Cold War.
Singapore increased its military expenditure 91 percent from 1985 to 1994 in real terms, while South Korea boosted spending 59 percent over the same period and Japan's defense budget was up 58 percent.
The Philippines increased spending 37 percent over the period, while Thailand's was up 35 percent and Taiwan's 31 percent, according to international studies.
The threat of China in the regional balance of power materialized last year in the Spratly islands when territorial markers put up by the Chinese navy on a disputed shoal were blown up by the Philippines.
The Spratlys, which are believed to sit atop large oil deposits, are also claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Chinese activity near the islands was "a big shock for ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) as well as for other countries, including Japan," a Japanese diplomat said.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Tensions between China and Taiwan have contributed to a sense of instability in Asia, particularly since Beijing has repeatedly said that it does not rule out using force against the Taipei government if it declared independence from the mainland or in the case of foreign interference.
China's armed forces suffer from a high level of obsolete equipment despite declared annual defense spending increases around 20 percent, albeit amid high inflation.
But analysts said real defense spending by China was difficult to estimate due to a lack of transparency in accounts and a modernization drive within the navy and the air force.
China has bought state-of-the art weapons from Russia, including powerful Sukhoi-27 fighter planes which it reportedly plans to assemble itself later.
The current military build-up in Asia began in the mid 1980s, amid tension triggered by the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia and with the former Soviet Union then still wielding mighty influence in the region.
Both of these threats have disappeared and China now seems to have taken the role of potential threat to regional security.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Winston Lord said last week in Manila that the mainland Chinese were "clearly building up their capability for the Taiwan Strait, for the South China Sea."
The Japanese government has made regular official requests to Beijing for greater transparency of its military program.
Defense analysts said that the regional military build-up is also fueled by competition for prestige among ASEAN members and by a market which rewards purchasers -- including political leaders -- with hefty commissions for large contracts.