342 Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies N. 5 / 2015 that have led China to elevate political and economic relations with neighbouring States to a new level.15 Examining the documents available, we detected two factors that define that “new situation”: the reorientation of the United States towards Asia and increased tensions in its periphery, including the North Korean nuclear problem and, in particular, the disputes in the East and South China Seas. With the announcement by Washington in 2011 of its “pivot” doctrine (later dubbed “rebalance”), China perceived a change in the American strategy. From a predominantly economic and diplomatic approach adopted by President Obama in an initial phase, this represented a shift to a focus more centred on security issues, underlining a determination to maintain its preeminent position in the region.16 Alongside reinforced bilateral alliances and military presence on the ground, it was proposed that the security agenda be incorporated into the East Asia Summit, a process which the United States formally signed up to in 2010.17 Even the economic chapter gave rise to misgivings in Beijing: the Trans-Pacific Partnership, TPP -promoting the integration of trade and investments between Washington and the Asian States- was drawn up in terms that suggested the containment of Beijing, adopting the Pacific “pivot” in response to its growing influence in the neighbouring environment. The latest White Defence Paper explicitly describes the pressure that the United States represents for Chinese security interests: “Some country has strengthened 15 “Xi Jinping Delivers Important Speech at Diplomatic Work Forum”, Xinhua, 25 October 2013, http://www.sourcejuice.com/1536477/2013/10/26/Jinping-diplomatic-work-surrounding-important-speech- forum/ (last consultation 12.1.15); XI Jinping. “New Asian Security Concept for New Progress in Security Cooperation: Remarks at the Fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit”, Shanghai, 21 May 2014, http://www.fmprc. gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1159951.shtml (last consultation 12-1-2015). 16 CLINTON, Hillary. “America’s Pacific Century”, Foreign Policy, no. 189 (November 2011), pp. 56-63, http://foreignpolicy.com/2011/10/11/americas-pacific-century/ (last consultation 12-1-2015); OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY. “Remarks by President Obama to the Australian Parliament”, Canberra, 17 November 2011, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/ 2011/11/17/remarks-president-obama-australian-parliament (last consultation 12-1-2015). Three years later Obama reiterated the same policy in even more explicit terms: “Remarks by President Obama at the University of Queensland”, Brisbane, 15 November 2014, http://www.whitehouse.gov/ the-press-office/2014/11/15/remarks-president-obama-university-queensland (last consultation 17-11- 2014). 17 In presenting the new strategic defence guidelines, Obama underlined the priority of Asia ahead of Europe and the Middle East: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. “Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense”, January 2012, http://www.defense.gov/news/Defense_Strategic_ Guidance.pdf (last consultation 12-1-2015). The Defence Secretary reaffirmed military commitment to the region, concentrating more than half of its naval capacity: “Remarks by Secretary Panetta at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore”, Singapore, 2 June 2012, http://www.defense.gov/Transcripts/ Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=5049 (last consultation 12-1-2015). http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee
REVISTA IEEE 5
To see the actual publication please follow the link above