The One Belt One Road (OBOR) or New Silk Road initiative has
been in the news a lot as of late. This brief piece cites yet another instance
of OBOR's expansion. The fact that Beijing would collaborate with Laos is
hardly a surprise but Thailand's inclusion points once again to the weakened
hand of the United States. The US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP) has reduced its standing in the region. While Thailand was not one of the
original members of the TPP, the longtime US ally had aspirations to join the
framework. Where the TPP stands now is still up in the air but without the US,
it won't in any way represent what it once did.
There are many reasons to celebrate the collapse of TPP. Apart
from an extension of globalism it represented an expansion of corporate-state
power and regulation over journalism, ideas and made several creepy strides in
the direction of censorship and information control.
But its demise definitely has harmed the US imperial project.
It was meant to consolidate US influence and restrict China. Its collapse has
led to a surge in Chinese power as Beijing has stepped into the gap and is
quickly maneuvering to create its own Eurasian trade block in the One Belt One
Road project. Since then the US has been running around coercing and sometimes
even threatening its allies to get in line and get on board with the US military
agenda in the region. Some have responded, some haven't. Without the TPP, the
US is left with its traditional satellites (Australia, South Korea, Singapore
and Japan) and the nations on its alliance-periphery such as Taiwan and
Thailand. The trade deal was meant to cement the relationship with nations such
as Vietnam, Malaysia and Sri Lanka and to re-establish strong ties with former
satellites like the Philippines and Indonesia.
Of course the treaty would also help to strengthen US
influence on the South American Pacific periphery. Without the treaty the US is
reduced to military arrangements and essentially arm-twisting to make sure
nations stay on board with the United States.
In recent years the only real 'victory' the US has scored is
the acquisition of and partnership with India. The US has established military
and economic ties and this will certainly affect the wider region as India's
influence is substantial. And yet it has thoroughly antagonised Pakistan which
has moved closer to Beijing.
The future is with China, at least that's how some see it,
hence nations like Thailand are starting to tilt toward Beijing. They're not
severing ties with Washington but they're covering their bases and thinking of
the future.
See also:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.