America under siege in the Far East? Too much, too many on one plate

There is little doubt that China, whose ambition for world military and economic dominance has been seen to threaten America's lone superpower dominance, sees a weakness in America today (and part of that weakness is  America's colossal debt). 

Over the last few months China has shown  brazen and aggressive posturings in the Far East, i.e., against Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines, three of the key allies of the United States in the Far East, against Vietnam and has openly engaged all four countries over territorial disputes.

In response to the China challenge, America has been forced to vigorously 'swing' from the Middle East to the Far East. In reality, it is not only China's aggressive military posturings that have prompted America to re-calibrate its forward defence operations but the rise of India as an economic, and potentially, a military power as well...

And as if America did not have enough on its plate, Russia may just also begin to 'challenge' the US in the region. If Valdimir Putin's recent ASEAN pronouncements are a good indication, Russia is turning to the Far East too and has ambitions of asserting itself in the Pacific Rim, a region which has always been considered to belong to America's sphere of influence. 

Is it a coincidence when early this year,  Russian anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Panteleev found herself face to face with USS Wayne E Meyer, a US guided missile destroyer while she was on a goodwill visit in Manila, Philippines, a key US ally in the region?

With Russia possibly wanting to join the fray, the United States must now enhance, enlarge and re-construct its Pacific command  from where an already busy America operates in the Middle East.  


Evidently, this 'swing' to the Far East or pivot to the Pacific is leaving North Atlantic flank wide open. This is why America is very eager for the rest of NATO member countries to strengthen their defence structures to help America guard against threats to their north Atlantic flank.

Too much, too many on any one plate...

~~ Adb