U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in Hawaii ( SOD via flickr)

                             by David Parmer

For the second time in less than a week, a high U.S. government official has sent a blunt message to China about U.S. intentions in the Pacific. On May 27, at a change-of-command ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii,  U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter echoed the same kind of tough talk that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden had engaged in less than a week earlier at the U.S. Naval Academy.

 Carter’s speech echoed Biden’s in that he addressed the occasion at hand, congratulated the admirals involved, talked of their service and achievements, and then gave the same message/warning to China that Biden had done. He said that the U.S wants peaceful resolution to all disputes, but that it would not budge on what it considers its rights in international waters.

 First, we want a peaceful resolution of all disputes, and an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by any claimant. We also oppose any further militarization of disputed features.

Second – and there should be no mistake, should be no mistake about this – the United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, as we do all around the world.

Finally, with its actions in the South China Sea, China is out of step with both international norms that underscore the Asia-Pacific’s security architecture, and the regional consensus in favor of a non-coercive approach to this and other long-standing disputes.

China’s actions are bringing countries in the region together in new ways. And they’re increasing demand for American engagement in the Asia-Pacific, and we’re going to meet it. We will remain the principal security power in the Asia-Pacific for decades to come.

 To underscore the points he outlined in Hawaii, Secretary of Defense Carter repeated them and elaborated on the theme in his speech at the IISS Shangra La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30. One might ask why the Obama administration is having two of its highest level officials delivering the same message. One reason might simply be to clearly state U.S. resolve to the American people, and to U.S. allies in the Pacific region. The other is to show U.S. resolve to a rising China, and put China on notice that the U.S. is still very much a world power and player in the Pacific. A final reason that can always be considered is domestic politics. A strong policy in the Pacific and a tough stance toward China might pre-empt any attempt by Republicans to paint the Democrats as “weak” on China in the coming presidential election.

 Secretary Ash Carter’s Hawaii Speech May 27, 2015

http://www.defense.gov/Speeches/Speech.aspx?SpeechID=1944

Secretary  Ash Carter’s Singapore Speech May 30, 2015

https://www.iiss.org/-/media/Documents/Events/Shangri-La%20Dialogue/SLD15/Carter.pdf

Chinese Response to Carter at Annapolis

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-05/29/c_134282034.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                            Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Photo: RIA Novosty)

                            by David Parmer

If all goes well, the beginning of the 21st century will be remembered as the beginning of the rise of Kazakhstan to world power. Kazakhstan could easily become another Singapore; it has many of the same elements that worked in favor of making that country a world-class success including an extremely favorable location, political stability and a multi-ethnic society.

 And now, history seems to favor this Central Asian country. China has proposed a New Silk Road and has allocated funds for its promotion. New rail traffic will flow through Kazakhstan making it the crossroads of the resurgence of the region.

Moreover, where Singapore is blessed by its location, Kazakhstan, in addition to location, is blessed with petrochemical and mineral wealth.  The world’s ninth largest country is also blessed with abundant nature. It has rivers, mountains  and plains of breathtaking beauty that are an incredible asset for its tourism industry.  Kazakhstan will host Expo 2017 with the theme “Future Energy” and welcome visitors from around the world. As for political stability, Kazakhstan’s President, Nursultan Nazarbayev has just been re-elected for a fifth term, so politically one can expect “business as usual.”

                         Almaty Oblast Kazakhstan (aboutkazakhstan.com)

 

The plus side of the equation looks pretty good, but what about the minus side? There are several issues that confront Kazakhstan in this century.

The  U. S. government lists some of them as:

• National identity
• Islamic revival
• Expanding resources and exporting
• Political and social reform

 Of these, perhaps the first two are the most salient. The country has a slightly higher percentage of Kazaks to Russians, the two main ethnic groups in the country.

The challenges for the 21st century are avoiding the dangers of Russian nationalism and separatism and Islamic extremism. Kazakhstan has only been independent since 1991, a very short time on the calendar of history. Can the people of Kazakhstan forge a national identity that supersedes ethnic and religious differences?

With a strong national identity, Kazakhstan can withstand the give and take of national politics and remain united, and at the same time enjoy its good fortune in terms of resources and geographical location. Kazakhstan is indeed at a crossroads, and time will tell which road it takes into this century and beyond.

                                    Astana, Kazakhstan by Night ( Photo: aboutkazakhstan.com)

 

 

    Xi Jinping The Governance of China (Photo: english.cri.cn)

                           by David Parmer

The  unambiguous answer to the above questions can be found in Mr. Xi’s book, The Governance of China. Released in September 2014, the book’s 18 chapters contain speeches, interviews and correspondence by China’s president, who also holds the posts of General Secretary of the CCP and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

 Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has headed in a new direction in Reform and Opening Up. President Xi tells us what he is thinking and where he is going in light of these developments.

Topics covered by Mr. Xi include:

• Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
• The Chinese Dream
• All-round and Deeper-level Reform
• Economic Development
• Rule of Law
• Culturally Advanced China
• Social Undertakings
• Ecological Progress
• National Defense
• “One Country, Two Systems”
• Peaceful Development
• New Model of Major-Country Relations
• Neighborhood Diplomacy
• Cooperation with Developing Countries
• Multilateral Relations
• Close Ties with the People
• Combat Corruption
• The CPC Leadership

The immense value of Mr. Xi’s book is that he spells out the Chinese position in a succinct and easily-understandable manner. Pick a topic and you will find China’s position and Mr. Xi’s thinking stated clearly:

 On Taiwan:

 “…the most important and most fundamental thing to do is to maintain China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Although the mainland and Taiwan are yet to be reunited, they belong to one and the same China which is an indivisible whole.” (Handle Cross-Straits Relations in the Overall Interests of the Chinese Nation)

 On The Chinese Dream:

“In my opinion, achieving the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has been the greatest dream of the Chinese people since the advent of modern times.” (Achieving Rejuvenation Is the Dream of the Chinese People)

On the Environment:

 “Our Party raised a requirement to build a beautiful China at its 18th National Congress. The whole of society should enhance its ecological awareness and strengthen environmental protection in accordance with this requirement so as to build China into a country with a good environment.” ( A Better Environment for a Beautiful China)

On the Military:

 “Our officers and soldiers will maintain an indomitable revolutionary sprit and be dauntless in combat. We will make every effort to combat corruption and promote integrity in the armed forces. Senior officers must take a clear-cut stand against corruption and set an example in abiding by the code of honest conduct.” (Build up Our National Defense and Armed Forces)

 Those interested in understanding China in the 21st century will find The Governance of China a readable and easily-understandable roadmap. One may agree or disagree with the direction  in which China is heading, but one can not claim ignorance when it is all there in Xi Jinping’s book, The Governance of China.