Common fear of China is no basis for a geographically broad alliance without a common vision of a common battlefield to collectively resist China.
Does the success of NATO (even as critics want it disbanded) mean we need an Indo-Pacific version?
A collective defense arrangement for the Indo-Pacific is the most effective deterrent to Beijing’s hegemonic designs. It is time to give serious thought to an Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization. This IPTO would draw on lessons from NATO, whose relevance has been renewed and whose strength is now bolstered by Finland and soon Sweden.
Right now America mostly has bilateral agreements that it weaves together into a kind of theater-wide alliance (Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand) Some countries are reaching out to each other in addition to the ties with America. The author dismisses this as a "patchwork of bilateral defense agreements".
On the surface it seems appealing to create an Asian version of the NATO alliance. One could reasonably ask why such a good idea hasn't been tried before.
Well, there was CENTO. And SEATO. A common front was elusive for those, eh?
But NATO has had a center of gravity that members can focus on
defending. In the Cold War it was defending West Germany. Now it is
defending the Baltic Sea region. Yes, there were and are other fronts. But the main front is clear.
What would be the focus that all countries across the Indian and Pacific Oceans could agree on defending? Well, there isn't one. Taiwan is as close as we have gotten to that. But Taiwan won't be in that alliance. Which is a major flaw in the concept.
All those bilateral ties the author highlights which America is strengthening give an indication of the breadth of our allies and their different defense interests.
But this doesn't mean that cross alliances won't strengthen security against Chinese aggression apart from America's web of mostly bilateral ties:
The Chinese have been intruding on the margins of the Philippines. The Japanese have publicly stated that they will work to strengthen Philippine defenses and help by sending warships in the event China attacks. Japan has also announced that it is increasing cooperation with Malaysia. In addition, China and India have been fighting an off-and-on border war. Japan told India that it was prepared to offer unspecified support.
I don't think it is possible to have more than a debating society masquerading as a unified military alliance in INDOPACOM. That might be a reason that an idea good on the surface hasn't shown up already.
Another bilateral tie to oppose China (tip to Instapundit):
Vietnam and Japan on Monday officially upgraded their relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" during a visit by Vietnamese president Vo Van Thuong to Tokyo. ...
Vietnam has designated five other countries as comprehensive strategic partners, including China, India, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
NOTE: The image was made from DALL-E. I requested "an abstract painting that illustrates the NATO alliance in Asia".
Again, there is a common enemy. But not a common battlefield.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
NOTE: I'm adding updates on the Last Hamas War in this post.
