China has proven once again that it is not interested in democratic structures. When President Xi installed his new head of government, John Lee, in Hong Kong last weekend, he chose a central figure in the democracy movement. The then head of security in Hong Kong was also on the US sanctions list, which appears to be a special differentiator on China.

Targeted provocation

China is also relying on provocation in other ways in the Pacific region. In the past two weeks there have been many violations of Japanese waters by Chinese naval vessels, but also by Russian vessels; both took turns threatening Japanese sovereignty. There was an airspace violation that in May alone 119 Japanese fighter jets took off to intercept most of the Chinese invaders. It is understandable that the Commander-in-Chief of the US and Japanese navies in the Pacific has now confirmed their cooperation. Defense Secretary Nobuo Kishi told US Fleet Admiral Sam Paparo that the US Navy is critical to keeping the Indo-Pacific “free and open”.

Maneuver near Japan

Among the many challenges worrying Pacific democracies is the security agreement the Solomon Islands reached with China in April. This could be taken as a warning that shortly before the conclusion of the treaty, the Chinese carrier “Liaoning” carried out large-scale day and night maneuvers near Japan for three weeks. The so-called Quad Group of Japan, the United States, India and Australia now wants to counter China’s expansionist push with a new security concept to protect democracy. Because there is a great danger that the pacific region will become the next battlefield for autocratic rulers. DT/ari