DPG Indo-Pacific Monitor
Indo Pacific Monitor
Authors Commodore Lalit Kapur (Retd.)
Date: January 31, 2022
At the maritime frontline of the pushback against China’s revisionism, three alliance-related developments continued the trend of a more robust Japan: the Australia-Japan Summit and the resultant Reciprocal Access Agreement on January 06; the meeting of the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2 2) on January 7; and the Japan-US Summit on January 21.
Two other bilateral 2 2 dialogues signalled Europe’s increasing interest in implementing their Indo-Pacific country strategies and playing an active part in the region’s security. In the first, foreign and defence ministers from France and Japan met virtually to share perspectives and strengthen cooperation on January 20. In the second, foreign and defence ministers from Australia and UK came together on January 21 and released a joint statement setting out the contours of their cooperation across eight pillars. They also established a bilateral cyber and critical technology partnership and concluded an infrastructure investment agreement.
USS Benfold conducted the first Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) of 2022, demonstrating US presence and continued resolve to protest China’s excessive maritime claims. While the US was politically preoccupied with Ukraine, the military focus in deterring exploitation of the distractions to create a fait accompli in Taiwan was evident from the unprecedented gathering of American forces in the region.
Russia, Iran and China came together for Exercise CHIRU 2022 in the Gulf of Oman. The third iteration of this exercise focused on constabulary operations, but demonstrated the intent to establish a shared security architecture for the region.
The crisis in Myanmar continued, with a visit by Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen to the country highlighting divisions within ASEAN. Common ground between the National Unity Government (underground) and the Tatmadaw appears increasingly hard to find, even as Myanmar sinks into an economic and humanitarian crisis.
On the other side of the Indian Ocean, the seizure of a UAE flagged vessel off Hudeidah and a drone strike on UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi highlighted the continuing instability in the Arabian Peninsula. This took place as USN presence in the region declined consequent on redeployment of the USS Essex Ready Group to the South China Sea.
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As January ended, Australia announced its intention of joining the proceedings initiated by the EU against Chinese coercion and discriminatory trade practices targeting Lithuania at the WTO.
Two other bilateral 2 2 dialogues signalled Europe’s increasing interest in implementing their Indo-Pacific country strategies and playing an active part in the region’s security. In the first, foreign and defence ministers from France and Japan met virtually to share perspectives and strengthen cooperation on January 20. In the second, foreign and defence ministers from Australia and UK came together on January 21 and released a joint statement setting out the contours of their cooperation across eight pillars. They also established a bilateral cyber and critical technology partnership and concluded an infrastructure investment agreement.
USS Benfold conducted the first Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) of 2022, demonstrating US presence and continued resolve to protest China’s excessive maritime claims. While the US was politically preoccupied with Ukraine, the military focus in deterring exploitation of the distractions to create a fait accompli in Taiwan was evident from the unprecedented gathering of American forces in the region.
Russia, Iran and China came together for Exercise CHIRU 2022 in the Gulf of Oman. The third iteration of this exercise focused on constabulary operations, but demonstrated the intent to establish a shared security architecture for the region.
The crisis in Myanmar continued, with a visit by Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen to the country highlighting divisions within ASEAN. Common ground between the National Unity Government (underground) and the Tatmadaw appears increasingly hard to find, even as Myanmar sinks into an economic and humanitarian crisis.
On the other side of the Indian Ocean, the seizure of a UAE flagged vessel off Hudeidah and a drone strike on UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi highlighted the continuing instability in the Arabian Peninsula. This took place as USN presence in the region declined consequent on redeployment of the USS Essex Ready Group to the South China Sea.
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As January ended, Australia announced its intention of joining the proceedings initiated by the EU against Chinese coercion and discriminatory trade practices targeting Lithuania at the WTO.
