US’ Collaborative Leadership in the Indo-Pacific Dynamic

The West and the US have engaged in the Eastern Europe conflict. The changes in the European region affect the political dynamic in the Asia region, which raises concern about the peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in Taiwan. Therefore, the US and its allies want to uphold the stable situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Up to this point, Beijing has not used military force to occupy Taiwan, but as usual, they send their fighter jets into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ANI). Even when Russia invaded Ukraine, Beijing also sent 9 of its fighter jets to ANI. The fighter jets’ move signaled the presence of Chinese power in the Indo-Pacific.

China refuses the double standard of Taiwan and Ukraine issue.

The Chinese government rejects the idea of a ‘double standard’ in the Taiwan and Ukraine issues. China perceived the Taiwan issue as a domestic problem in the Chinese nation and a bilateral dispute. “We have seen that some people emphasize the principle of sovereignty on the Ukraine issue but continue to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Taiwan issue. This is a naked double standard,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The Chinese government refuses the double standard of the situation in Ukraine and Taiwan, but China also refuses to be treated like Russia.

The Chinese government has repeatedly urged no interference, particularly from the US, for its bilateral issue. It reflects their intention to unite the ‘One China’ again. Meanwhile, Taiwan worried China may take the same path as Russia, although China affirmed that there will only be ‘peaceful growth.” ‘peaceful growth’ clearly threatens Taiwan’s sovereignty and stability as an independent country.

Taiwan firmly rejects any suppression by China that intimidates its political sovereignty. In addition, the change situation may affect Taiwan and its ties with the US in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Indo-Pacific remains as US’ top priority.

According to the Press Release of the US Strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, the US stressed that China is bullying its neighbor and has undermined human rights and international law values. Therefore, as stated on the US official website, President Joe Biden affirms that the US strategy in the Indo-Pacific is to keep an open, connected, prosperous, and secure region, including in Taiwan.

The US needs to work together and strengthen cooperation through collaborative leadership to preserve peace and stability in Indo-Pacific. Giliberto Capabo (2009) argues that leadership is a powerful driver of political and policy change. The powerful driver here is how the US leads and defines a clear strategy in their Indo-Pacific foreign policies, in which Taiwan is the center. Defend Taiwan as one of the essential factors to support the security interest of the US and its allies.

Change happens gradually or rapidly, and it may happen when something is exploited, explored, designed, imagined, and pursued by individuals or groups. In the Indo-Pacific region, the actor who created the significant change is the Chinese government. The rising economic and military nation seeks dominance in the Indo-Pacific regions for securing the shipping routes and more significant influence in the region.

From the US point of view, the major change in the Indo-Pacific situation made by China was an interruption of patterns and policy that may change the value and systems in the region. Consequently, the US strives to function its leadership in this change process in Indo Pacific. The US administration maintains and builds its engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in Taiwan.

As part of its foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific, the US stated that they would use all instruments of power to deter any aggression and counter coercion, including in the Taiwan Strait. The US wanted to secure its role and leadership as a ‘dependable partner.’ The US also wanted to defend its strategic interests in the Info Pacific, as it wanted to counter the Chinese influence that created changes in the region.

The US plan to create ‘NATO’ in the Asia region?

Indeed, the US has a bigger and even strategic vision to empower and support its role in the Indo-Pacific. The US has formed a significant alliance with the Five Eyes (consist of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States), Quad or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (consists of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia), and the latest one AUKUS (Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US). These group formations consist of developed and emerging power for economic and security purposes.

Looking back, even the informal alliance in the QUAD has developed and changed their relations and intentions to more robust security and political relations. Therefore, these alliances may establish robust, balanced, and progressive security, politics, and economic ties among countries.

Thus, the US needs to lead and create a collaborative leadership to form agenda-setting and restrict China’s change. All member states’ collaborative policies and approaches will alert China for its international ambition. There will be an important task to bridge India’s support to be more assertive towards China. On top of that, the US can also protect and build closer cooperation with Taiwan.