The Paradox Of Power

By Phar Kim Beng
Founder/Chair
Strategic Pan Indo-Pacific Arena
Strategicpipa.com
Twitter: @indo_pan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Strategicpipa

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What do you do, when two or more countries, guided by all the technical advances of the 21st century, keep getting stronger, not separately, but concurrently? The US, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and even Singapore, have all added more strength to their offensive and defense equipment. One particular set of relationships capture the imagination of all the power-centric dyads out there: the Sino-US relationship.

Both countries have the ability to launch nuclear counter strikes; both have established their imprint in space and in the maritime waters, and including the very integrity of the cyber networks. As the world evolves towards the “Internet of things”, America will face more, not less, cyber threats from China; each of which is a potential dry run to wreak more havoc on the other.

David Gompert and Philip H Saunders have both called for strategic restraint. Instead of allowing the weaponry of each other to create a security dilemma, the key rests with transparency and accountability. Strategic restraint, such as reducing the number of loaded missiles aimed at Taiwan, will make the regional powers more adept at calibrating their attention; to prevent the accidental conflict.

The US should take preventive measures to increase the transparency of both countries; without which they will careen into more conflicts at high sea, and under the waters, with China.