Approving Asia Reassurance Initiative, US Increases Confrontation With China

The US and China are increasing confrontation in Asia, especially in the East Sea region. Photo: AP

According to observers, this week, US President Donald Trump signed into law the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA), a sign that the US wants to maintain allies in the region as well as convince them to deal with China if necessary.

Collin Koh, a maritime security expert at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), said that despite the recent easing of tensions, the ARIA's regional coverage shows that "we will see a gradual impact (of this act) on US-China competition in Southeast Asia".

"We cannot underestimate the possibility that this law will contribute to deepening the US-China confrontation, even if the Trump administration does not actually implement this law," the expert said.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Getty

The rivalry between China and the US has raised concerns in the region, with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warning that Southeast Asian nations may be forced to choose between China and the US. Koh said the intervention of US regional allies could cause China more headaches.

"Regarding the difficulties China faces, it is understandable that strategic pressure may not only come from the US itself, but US allies and regional partners also play an important role," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tony Nash - Director of the research company called Complete Intelligence, said that signing ARIA means "America has friends". Mr. Nash commented: "These friends are not necessarily based on billion-dollar loan commitments, but on political, economic and military commitments. This shows the opposite reality compared to the transactional relationships that China builds through the Belt and Road Initiative".

However, Mr. Nash said that the ARIA Act passed by the US is not a tactic to pressure China to make concessions in upcoming trade negotiations.