Former North Korean defectors with face masks on are tied up as they reenact Korean refugees repatriated by the Chinese government at a rally in Seoul, Dec. 9, 2008.
"It would be wrong to describe it yet as a classic arms race, that is, somebody develops a capacity in relation to someone else's capacity," he says of China and Japan's military back-and-forth. "The acquisition of maritime powers is a product of a phase of development, rather than simply a product of an anxiety of one's neighbors."
China's growing expenditures on its military are consistent with any country that wants to project more of a global influence, he says. The region looks to the U.S. to help maintain the balance that allows all countries, powerful and less powerful, to "pursue their interests without a sense of pressure or problem."
"To ensure it stays that way, it's critical the U.S. plays a role," he says. "The fact that the U.S. engages in the region is important to most of the wealthy powers."
More World News:
- U.S. Tells Allies to Make Good on Afghan Pledges
- Gypsies Take Curious Route Through U.S. to Asylum
- Anti-Monarchists: Royal Baby 'Great' for Cause
Paul D. Shinkman is a national security reporter for U.S. News & World Report. You can follow him on Twitter or reach him at pshinkman@usnews.com.
Reader Comments (