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    StategyPlanning the unthinkable warAirSea Battle and its implications for Australia

    Benjamin Schreer

    april 2013

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    Dr Bejami Schreer

    Dr Benjamin (Ben) Schreer is the Senior Analyst for Defence Strategy at

    ASPI. Before he joined ASPI in January 2013, Ben was the deputy head ofthe Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (SDSC) at the Australian National

    University (ANU) where he continues to teach a course on strategic studies.

    He has also frequently lectured at the Australian Command and Staff College

    (ACSC). His current research focus is on Australian strategic and defence

    policy, US AsiaPacic strategy, and strategic trends in Northeast Asia. Prior

    to coming to Australia in 2010, Ben held the positions of deputy director at the

    Aspen Institute Germany; leader of a research group at Konstanz University;

    and deputy head of the research unit European and Atlantic Security at the

    German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft

    und Politik, SWP) in Berlin. He has published widely in both policy-oriented and

    peer-reviewed journals.

    Ackowledgemets

    The author would like to thank Peter Jennings and Andrew Davies for their

    invaluable feedback, and Ms Sheryn Lee for her outstanding research assistance.

    Cover image: Chess pieces on chess board Imaginechina/Corbis.

    About ASPI

    ASPIs aim is to promote Australias security by contributing fresh ideas to

    strategic decision-making, and by helping to inform public discussion of strategic

    and defence issues. ASPI was established, and is partially funded, by the Australian

    Government as an independent, non-partisan policy institute. It is incorporated as a

    company, and is governed by a Council with broad membership. ASPIs core values

    are collegiality, originality & innovation, quality & excellence and independence.

    ASPIs publicationsincluding this paperare not intended in any way to

    express or reect the views of the Australian Government. The opinions and

    recommendations in this paper are published by ASPI to promote public debate

    and understanding of strategic and defence issues. They reect the personal

    views of the author(s) and should not be seen as representing the formal position

    of ASPI on any particular issue.

    Importat disclaimer

    This publicatio is desiged to provide accurate ad authoritative iformatio i relatio

    to the subject matter covered. It is provided with the uderstadig that the publisher is

    ot egaged i rederig ay form of professioal or other advice or services. no perso

    should rely o the cotets of this publicatio without rst obtaiig advice from aqualied professioal perso.

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    Plai te utikable warArSa Bal ad s mplcas fr Asrala

    Bjam Schrr

    April 2013

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    Te Australia Strateic Policy Istitute Limited

    This publication is subject to copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright

    Act 1968, no part of it may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,

    microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in

    a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission. Enquiries

    should be addressed to the publishers. Notwithstanding the above, Educational

    Institutions (including Schools, Independent Colleges, Universities, and TAFEs) are

    granted permission to make copies of copyrighted works strictly for educationalpurposes without explicit permission from ASPI and free of charge.

    First published April 2013

    Published in Australia by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute

    ASPI

    Level 2,

    40 Macquarie Street

    Barton ACT 2600

    Australia

    Tel + 61 2 6270 5100

    Fax + 61 2 6273 9566

    [email protected]

    www.aspi.org.au

    www.aspistrategist.org.au

    Facebook/ASPI.org

    @ASPI_org

    Schreer, Benjamin

    Planning the unthinkable war: airsea battle and its implications for Australia /

    Benjamin Schreer.

    ISBN: 978-1-921302-81-7 (paperback)

    Series: Strategy (Australian Strategic Policy Institute)

    Notes: Includes bibliographical references.

    Military planning--United States.

    Deterrence (Strategy)

    United States--Foreign relations--Pacic Area.

    Pacic Area--Foreign relations--United States.

    Australia--Foreign relations--United States.

    United States--Foreign relations--Australia.

    Other Authors/Contributors:

    Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

    355.033573

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    ContentS

    exeCutive SuAy 5

    CAte 1 8

    irdc

    CAte 2 13

    Challgs

    CAte 3 21

    Asa alls ad parrs

    CAte 4 31

    Asrala ad ArSa Bal

    eCoenAtionS 36

    eeenCeS 37

    AConyS An ABBeviAtionS 39

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    4 PLAnnIng Th nThInAL A: AiSeA BAtte An itS iiCAtionS o AuStAiA

    ASi StAteGy

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    exeCutive

    SuAy

    As par f Amrcas rbalac wards h Asaacc rg, Asralas ms mpra all s rcsdrgs mlar psr dal wh Chas grwg aaccss/aradal (A2/A) capabl, whch s gradall

    rdg Amrcas marm dmac h Wsr acc. Chas mssls ca w rach larg pars f h

    rg. i rsps, h ag s wrkg a ArSa Bal praal ccp ha ams dr ad, f

    cssar, dfa h Chs mlar. Whl fcall h ccp s argd agas a spcc cr

    ad s applcabl lswhr (fr ampl, h Sra f rmz), h uS mlars crasd fcs Cha has

    g h ccp mch prmc h sragc cmm.

    th pal mplcas f ArSa Bal fr Asrala ar far frm ral. uS plcmakrs csdr Asrala

    a k all h ccp, las bcas f r rlabl crb frcs cal pras. W ha a

    majr rs spprg Amrcas rbalacg wards h Asaacc rg ad a crdbl uS warghg

    srag as a drr agas a Cha has crasgl g s mlar mscls. wr, w als d

    hk hrgh h pal mplcas f ArSa Bal. Afr all, hs s ab a pal mlar scala wh amajr clar pwr.

    th Asrala sragc dba ab ArSa Bal, h dgr ha hrs b , has largl crd

    ard w ppsg camps: hs wh s as a dagrs srm ca Cha ad pall drag

    Asrala a clar scala bw h w gra pwrs, ad hs wh mbrac h ccps lgc

    ad arg ha Asrala shld dlp lgrag srk capabls crb pal ffs

    pras agas Cha. wr, s pssbl cm a mr acd ps ha rcgss h

    pal bs f ArSa Bal whl als dfg s shrcmgs ad h prspcs ad lmas f

    Asralas crb.

    th sd addrsss sm k qss rlad ArSa Bal: is fasbl? s mak sragc ss?

    w d k alls ad parrs nrhas ad Shas Asa w h ccp, ad wha rl cld h pla?Wha cld ad shld b Asralas spcc crbs ArSa Bal?

    Chapr 1 dscrbs Chas grwg mlar capac ps a crasgl sphscad A2/A challg fr

    uS frwarddpld frcs. Whl s mpra rsa h crr pwr prjc capabls f h

    pls bra Arm (A), Cha has alrad chagd h mlar balac s ar sas, parclarl

    h tawa Sra. th A ds d rach sragc par wh uS frcs. isad, s asmmrc srag

    ams pr r cmplca uS rs rrral dsps b makg h pal css fr Amrca

    frcs prhbl hgh. ArSa Bal ams a dfag sch A2/A srags b whsadg a al Chs

    aack, fllwd b a bldg campag agas A cmmad ad crl wrks, a mssl spprss

    campag agas Chas ladbasd ssms, ad a dsa blckad agas Chs mrcha shps h

    alacca Sra ad lswhr. impral, s basd h assmps ha h scala ca b kp blw

    h clar hrshld, ad ha Japa ad Asrala wll b ac alls hrgh h campag. ar frm bgjs a fac f ag plars, ArSa Bal has gad sal mmm ad rs sps wards s

    mplma ar bg ak.

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    6 PLAnnIng Th nThInAL A: AiSeA BAtte An itS iiCAtionS o AuStAiA

    ASi StAteGy

    Chapr 2 aalss h fasbl ad l f ArSa Bal. A cmm crcsm s ha h ccp mgh baffrdabl, g sr cs h uS dfc bdg. rr, rsrc ralr mgh bsrc majr

    shfs f rsrcs. wr, dsp abl bdg cs, h uS mlar wll ms lkl b abl spd wll

    r uS$450 bll ( das dllars) aall bw 2013 ad 2021, s sgca acal rsrcs wll b

    aalabl fr ArSa Bal. th uS has alrad bg shfg sm f hs rsrcs awa frm h uS Arm

    ad wards h na ad Ar rc. rhrmr, rsrc ralrs cld b mgad b crprag h

    uS ars ad h uS Arm a bradr srag cr A2/A challgs.

    th bggs qss ab ArSa Bal ar sragc. i prcpl, h a shld b wlcmd as a

    wa srgh Amrcas cal drrc sas Cha b dlpg a ccp fr pras

    marm zs csd b h A. rrc s basd prcps ab s ad capabls. A

    Chs ladr wld d calcla h pssbl f a uS rac rsps a majr mlar ac

    dsgd chag h sas q h Wsr acc. Ad, crar cal wsdm, sas g war r rpaal rss. ArSa Bal cld hs mak a crb rgal sabl b prmg

    drrc SuS sragc affars.

    tha sad, ArSa Bal s pmsd fr hghs cal war bw Cha ad h uS ad s alls.

    i appls l rm cass, sch as a Chs aack tawa, A mssl aacks Japa r uS bass

    h rg, r h skg f a Amrca arcraf carrr. wr, Chs crc mlar acs rrral

    dsps wh s ghbrs (shr f hgh lls f scala) ar mch mr lkl. ArSa Bal s hrfr

    a cach all sl Amrcas cal drrc dlmma h Wsr acc. rr,

    s clar hw ArSa Bal s wh a bradr uS grad sragc framwrk dal wh Chas mlar

    rs. As a rsl, h ccp sffrs frm a mag prblm, as ma bsrrs qa uS amps

    mlarl ca Cha ad wdr ab h rlashp bw praal ad plcal bjcs. Aalss

    ha hrfr calld fr h dlpm f a grad sragc framwrk gd uS Asaacc dfcsrag. Alls sch as Asrala shld prss fr a dclassd, alld rs f ArSa Bal ha a br

    drsadg ab ag hkg.

    ArSa Bal als facs h challg f a pal clar scala. A cral lm f h ccp s

    h dp pra f Chs rrr dsr ad dsrp A cmmad ad crl ds sd fr

    cal pras. B sch a bldg campag cld cras h rsk f a dsprpra Chs

    rsps, cldg clar scala. Bjg mgh wll prc sch aacks as Amrca amps

    dsarm Chas clar drr ad cld hs b mpd clar prmp. ths s mpra als

    csdr alras dbad amg uS sragss, sch as ffshr crl, whch rfras frm drc srks

    agas h Chs malad whl sll rag h capabl d Cha frdm f mlar ac s

    marm apprachs.

    Chapr 3 dscsss h pal rl f k alls ad parrs nrhas ad Shas Asa ArSa Bal.

    n srprsgl, h rsl s md. i nrhas Asa, Japa ad tawa ar h ms cmfrabl wh h

    prmss f h ccp, g ha hr frl sas ad dpl wrrd ab Chas rs ad s.

    Japa, parclar, s mg acqr sgca ar ad marm capabl sppr s uS all h

    f war. sp h fac ha Sh Kra has als bcm mr ccrd ab Cha ad has sard shf

    s dfc plag mr wards marm pwr prjc, s mch mr ambal ab h ccp. is

    ma bjc rmas dfd agas nrh Kra aggrss, ad s plcal dsps wh Cha ar f

    mch lssr s.

    Shas Asa alls ad parrs sm mr gardd, parl bcas s clar hw ArSa Bal

    cld appl hr marm dsps wh Cha. th hlpps s plcall h ms sppr ad cld

    brg addd al as a gsragc lca fr uS frcs. th ms p mlar pwr h rg sSgapr, whr h uS has w frward dpld lral cmba shps ad cld pall s aal bass

    fr sbmars ad rpars. wr, Sgapr ds ha marm dsps wh Cha ad s ambal

    ab hw wld rac ms f war. vam ad idsa cld als pla mpra rls h ArSa

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    7

    ASi StAteGy

    exeCutive SuAy

    Bal ccp. wr, bh a ad Jakara ar als rlca b s b cls Washg. As arsl, plcal sppr fr lm ArSa Bal plag Shas Asa mgh b lw dsp rgal

    crs lkg h uS sppr hr hdgg srags agas a mr assr Cha.

    Chapr 4 aalss h pal mplcas f ArSa Bal fr Asrala. or plcal rlabl as a all,

    r gsragc ps bw h acc ad ida cas, ad h hgh sadard f h A mak s a

    prfrrd uS parr. i h w f sm prps, Asralas mamm crb cld cld:

    prdg sragc dph fr h uS all (cldg b allwg h uS accss Asrala facls), ad

    cdcg scalld sppr rargard pras, b prcg frwardprag rps ad alld

    bass nrhas Asa, ad b dlpg a lgrag srk capabl pra Chs arspac

    cdcg ffs amphbs srk pras h Shas Asa ad Sh acc archplags

    aack Chs facls ad rps prag h ara

    crbg prphral campags (ha s, parcpag h marm rdc f Chs mrcha

    ad rg ssls hra Bjg wh a crpplg dsa blckad).

    th Asrala Grm has a rs makg a ac crb h uS mlar rbalac.

    rdg h uS wh grar sragc dph s mas d s. Whl h raal dplm f a uS

    ar ArGrd task rc (AGt) arw s far has b largl smblc ad drcl d

    Amrcas ArSa Bal plag, h AGt cmba wh lgrag Amrca srk arcraf prag

    frm r rh cld bcm a gral cmp f sch a praal framwrk a Shas Asa

    c. i h (hwr lkl) f a majr war nrhas Asa bw h uS ad Cha, Asrala

    wld ms lkl allw s uS all pra frm Asrala rrr. A majr pgrad f AS Serlg hs

    uS carrr srk grps r h s f Ccs islad arlds fr uS srk arcraf s als a fr p shld

    h sragc rm drra sgcal. all, h A cld prd ch capabls (sch asakr arcraf, arbr arl warg ad crl, ad arbr lcrc warfar asss) ad backll fr uS

    asss ld drc aacks.

    tha sad, fll mbracg h lgc bhd ArSa Bal r dlpg spcc mlar capabls drp

    h ccps mplma ar s far Asralas rss. opl sgg p fr h ccp wld

    sd a srg plcal mssag Cha ha h A s w acl plag ad qppg fr a pal

    war wh h A. thrs d d sh grms dcs h uS ars arw has

    alrad dsplad Asralas plcal cmmm h AnZuS allac. th dlpm f lgrag srk

    capabls agas Cha wld als b a cssar prca Bjg, l al a r csl .

    kws, a srs Asrala amphbs srk capabl s a rahr ralsc prspc. all, a dsa

    blckad agas Cha Shas Asa marm chkps (h alacca, mbk ad/r Sda sras) s

    mch asr prpsd ha d. i a , sch acs wld b csdrd b Bjg as a ac f war. Sll,Asrala cld pla a rl sch pras, g r prm marm chkps ad r marm ad

    ar capabls.

    Asrala grms wll b abl mak a wrh mlar crb a uS ArSa Bal framwrk

    dpdl f a pblc cmmm a ccp has sll s arl sags ad sms dsgd fr a

    sragc rm Asa has marals.

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    CAte 1

    irdc

    th obama admsra has acd rbalac wards h Asaacc rg rassr alls ad

    parrs ab Amrcas cmmm a ra f rla uS dcl ad Chas sragc rs. Csql,

    h uS mlar has sard hk ab h mlar srag dd sppr hs shf. rsl,

    s srag was basd s abl cmmad h cmms, whch ma ha hr pwr Asa

    cld srsl cs h uS mlar h sa, ar ad spac dmas. nw, Chas mlar bldp s

    gradall drmg Amrcas mlar prpdrac. th pls bra Arm (A) s dlpg a

    cmprhs aaccss ad aradal (A2/A) srag, whch calls a crr srag.

    ths srag ams a dg Amrca frcs h abl pra frl Chas ar sasa ara

    sall rfrrd as h rs slad chab rsrcg dplms f uS frcs har (aaccss)ad dg h frdm f mm f uS frcs alrad hr (ara dal). B hrag srk a d

    args sch as uS bass Japa ad Sh Kra, ad hghal mbl args sch as uS carrr srk

    grps, A2/A ams dr r dla uS frcs rg a rgal cc, parclarl r tawa. th

    sragc am s c sch damag uS mlar capabls ha h prspc f a prlgd ad csl

    cc hr drs h uS frm ghg h rs plac r crcs dg h gh.

    Whl h A sll has a lg wa g bfr ca challg h uS h wdr Wsr acc, s alrad

    sgcal chagd h mlar balac h tawa Sra. i h lg rm cld dlp capabls

    d s sragc rach h scd slad cha, whch clds uS bass Gam (gr 1).

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    9intouCtion

    ASi StAteGy

    Fiure 1: First ad secod islad cais

    Src: dlld afr uS (2012a:40).

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    10 PLAnnIng Th nThInAL A: AiSeA BAtte An itS iiCAtionS o AuStAiA

    ASi StAteGy

    As a rsl, h ag has sard hk ab

    h hkabl: a mlar srag fr ghg ad

    wg a pal war agas Cha.

    As a rsl, h ag has sard hk ab h hkabl: a mlar srag fr ghg ad wg

    a pal war agas Cha. th am s dr Cha frm sg mlar ac rsl dsps h

    Wsr acc b sgallg bh rsl ad h capabl prjc pwr h rs ad scd slad

    chas dsp h As grwg abl hld uS frcs a rsk. Srl, a SuS war l sms a rm

    pssbl b wld b caasrphc fr h rg gral. n was war, b drrc srag fllws

    a paradcal lgc: rdr dr war ad prsr h pac, h dfdr has sgal crdbl bh

    ad capabl g war wh h pal aggrssr.

    Te Petao pivots to te Pacifc

    A h bradr sragc ll, h uS Grm has sgalld s srgh Amrcas mlar

    prsc h rg. i Jl 2012, fs Scrar aa acd ha h uS wld assg

    60% f h uS nas ssls wards h Asaacc, cldg s arcraf carrrs ad ms f s crsrs,

    dsrrs, lral cmba shps ad sbmars. r capabls sppr hs w psr wll cld

    fhgra mlrl 35 J Srk ghr (JS) cmba arcraf; hacd vrgaclass claraack sbmars; w lcrc warfar (eW) ad cmmcas capabls; mprd prcs

    waps; w aralrfllg akrs; w lgrag salh bmbrs; ad adacd marm parl ad

    asbmar warfar (ASW) arcraf.

    rr, h 2012 efese Sraegc Gdacewd sr Amrcas abl pra ffcl A2/A

    rms. t d ha, h uS na ad Ar rc had sgd a classd mm 2009 dlp a j

    ArSa Bal ccp basd grag aal ad ar frcs prjc pwr csd zs agas a

    adrsar mplg sphscad A2/A srags. th 2010 Qadreal efese eewfcall drcd h

    dlpm f ArSa Bal, ad h ag sablshd a ArSa Bal ofc facla h ccps

    mplma. r rcl, Chf f naal opras Admral Jaha Grr rmphassd a reg

    lcarcl nmbr 2012 ha ArSa Bal was h k h uS nas p Asa (Grr 2012).

    th pal mplcas f ArSa Bal fr Asrala ar far frm ral. is ab a uS srag gh a war

    wh Cha ad, g r gsragc lca, h hgh sadard f h A ad r plcal rlabl as a

    all, Asrala (algsd Japa) s dd uS sragc dba as a k ablr fr h ccp. of crs,

    uS dfc fcals ss ha h ccps spccall amd a Cha, b hr cr has h abl

    ad h wll ps sch a frmdabl A2/A challg Amrcas ladrshp h Asaacc rg. is

    r hard dsagr wh Gffr tll:

    sp frq prsas h crar, ArSa bal das ar abl asscad wh rahr

    radal plcal assmps whch plcl df Cha as a pa adrsar ha ds b ffs

    rdr prsr a sabl mlar balac h Wsr acc ad mr grall. (tll 2012:8384)

    th A s mrgg as Amrcas dfal adrsar (bbs 2012), ad ArSa Bal s ab maag

    SuS drrc dr sch cds.

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    11intouCtion

    ASi StAteGy

    at is AirSea attle?Whl h ags crr rs f ArSa Bal rmas classd, h 2012 J opraal Accss

    Ccp prds a dald dscrp f hw uS frcs cld cr A2/A challgs (gr 2). th prcpal

    gal s prd uS frcs accss ad frdm f mar csd ar ad marm zs. th m

    s b drrd ad, f cssar, dfad hrgh a rag f ffs ad dfs masrs, cldg

    aackg sphscad m A2/A ssms dph. ths clds srkg dp m rrr, as

    wll as argg s spac ad cbr capabls. ghl grad armarm frcs wll pra acrss h

    dmas f lad, ar, sa ad spac, sagg aacks frm mlpl r ps a har f pras.

    Fiure 2: Multilayered atiaccess/areadeial eviromet

    Src: uS (2012b:11).

    ArSa Bal s ab prparg fr a cc wh a pr cmpr. Csql, h uS dba draws

    frq aalgs h Arad Bal dcr dlpd drg h Cld War dr h S u frm

    adg Wsr erp. th am was ffs h Warsaw acs mrcal adaags hrgh chlgcal

    sprr ad w was f mplg frcs h balld. th Cr fr Sragc ad BdgarAssssm (CSBA), a al uS hk ak, has dlpd a scar fr h applca f ArSa Bal

    a SuS mlar cc:

    rs, h uS wld ccra whsadg al A aacks ad lmg damag Amrca ad alld

    frcs. th wld h cdc a bldg campag agas A bal wrks ad llgc, srllac

    ad rcassac (iS) ssms d h A saal awarss. uS carrr bal grps wld b

    abl r h csd zs sppr a mssl spprss campag agas Chas ladbasd

    mssl lachrs, srfacsrfac mssls ad spprg frasrcr. grag sragc srk

    ad sbmarlachd waps wld als b sd dsr r dgrad Chas ardfc asss ad

    sablsh uS ar sprr. i h f a prlgd cal cc, uS ad alld frcs wld cdc

    fllw pras, cldg dsa blckads agas Chs shps hra Bjg wh cmc

    sragla (a tl al. 2010).

    Spac, lcrmagc spcrm, ad cbr aacks h ssm ad wrks

    ha sppr dplm, mplm & ssam.

    UNITED

    STATES

    US Partners

    ADVERSARY

    TERRITORY

    ucal aacks

    h ifrasrcr ha

    spprs dplm,

    mplm & ssam

    thar

    Ballsc

    ssls;

    Sbmars

    Ashp

    Ballsc

    ssls;

    Srfac

    Cmbaas

    /W Arcraf;

    Adacd Ashp

    Crs ssls

    Aack Bas,

    SrfacAr

    ssls; /W

    Arcraf; uAv/S

    Gdd cks, Arllr,

    rars & ssls

    (GA); naal & ad

    s; Grd ar

    us; Aarcraf Arllr

    Aaccss thras

    Araal thras

    Chmcal, Blgcal, adlgcal, nclar ad gh yld epls (CBne) aacks acrss h spcrm f pras.

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    12 PLAnnIng Th nThInAL A: AiSeA BAtte An itS iiCAtionS o AuStAiA

    ASi StAteGy

    r spccall, sm f h grad arsa pras wld cld: uS Ar rc crspac pras bld h As spacbasd ca srllac ssms ad

    pr argg uS na srfac shps, rdr g h a praal frdm mar

    Ags dsrrs spplmg hr mssl dfc asss frward bass h Wsr acc

    lgrag srk pras dsrg A grdbasd, lgrag marm srllac ssms ad

    lgrag ballsc mssl lachrs pad h uS nas frdm mar ad rdc srks

    uS ad alld bass

    carrrbasd ghr arcraf rllg back A mad ad mad arbr iS ssms ad cmba

    arcraf scr h frward pra f uS Ar rc akrs ad hr sppr arcraf

    uS Ar rc arcraf spprg ASW pras hrgh ffs mg abl uS na shps cdc

    dsa blckad pras.

    Table 1: AirSea attle missio ad capability spectrum

    Whsadg al aack nwrkg bldg ssl spprss Szg h a

    ad ad sabasd

    mssl dfc

    rcs dal aack,

    cldg prag

    srk, cal

    prmp glbal srk,

    crs mssls

    grag srk,

    cldg w lgrag

    bmbr, crs mssls,

    mad/mad

    cmba arcraf, w

    salh prag iS

    icrasg carrr

    sadff ad rach

    (mlmss mad

    cmba aral ssm),

    crs ad ballsc

    mssl aack

    sprsd basg offs ad dfs

    cbr pras

    rcs gdd

    ms fr d,mbl rlcaabl, ad

    hardd / dpl brd

    args

    ASW

    ardg f slcd bass

    (Gam, Japa)

    Spac crl

    pras

    udrsa capabls

    (SSGns/SSns/mssl

    pds spprg

    iS msss)

    gra drsa

    dma

    apd bas rpar ad

    rgra

    dgg pras

    spac

    nw capabls fr bs

    ad asc phas mssl

    aack (arlachd

    hkll ms)

    Ar ad mssl dfc

    icrasd rag ad

    gsragc dph rdc

    lrabl f bass

    Arbr hdgg

    pras

    Arar rfllg

    Src: Basd a tl al. (2010).

    th CSBA rpr frhr assms ha Cha wll a armd hsls, ha mal clar drrc wll hld

    drg a prlgd SuS cal war, ha Asrala ad Japa wll rma ac uS alls drg h

    cc, ad ha Cha wll amp ach a qck cr.

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    CAte 2

    Challgs

    Crcs f ArSa Bal fcs hr k challgs: shrkg bdgs, sal hrdls ad lack f

    sragc l. ths aalss sggss ha whl acal ad sal hrdls cld b rcm, sm f

    h sragc assmps bhd ArSa Bal ar prblmac.

    Is AirSea attle easible?

    i h fac f a sr uS cmc crss, dfc bdg cs ar abl. i 2011, Cgrss passd h

    Bdg Crl Ac, whch wll rdc dfc spdg b rghl 6% frm s plad ll h y 2013

    acal ar ad b ab 10% frm prsl plad lls ach ar bw y 2014 ad y 2021. th

    ag wll d sa a las uS$487 bll r h dcad, ad a pssbl sqsra hras

    add a las ahr half a rll dllars ha.

    n srprsgl, dmsda scars fr h uS mlar abd ad crcs f h obama admsra

    alrad s ArSa Bal as dagrsl drfdd (Blmhal 2012). Accrdg sm sds, h

    ag plas spd rghl uS$267.9 bll ArSa Bal prgrams bw 2010 ad 2016. Arcraf

    wld acc fr r 60% f pss, wh h JS al prjcd cs ab uS$82 bll (Bsss

    Wr 2012). Whl h ag has prd dals f h kds f ssms ad mbrs rqrd

    mplm ArSa Bal, h msss ld ab allw h dca f k ablrs:

    clarpwrd aack sbmars

    lgrag prcs srk capabls, cldg a w lgrag salh bmbr

    cbr, spac ad hr iS asss

    srfac shps capabl f ballsc ad crs mssl dfc

    ffs mg ad amg asss

    ASW capabls

    pass dfc f k uS ad alld bass, sch as hardg cmmad crs, cmmca ds ad

    hagars, ad rwa rpars

    ac dfc dsgd dsr m arcraf ad mssls, cldg hrgh arcraf, mssl, lcrc

    warfar ad cbr pras.

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    14 PLAnnIng Th nThInAL A: AiSeA BAtte An itS iiCAtionS o AuStAiA

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    udbdl, rdcd dfc spdg wll ha a

    mpac sm prgrams ssal fr ArSa Bal.

    udbdl, rdcd dfc spdg wll ha a mpac sm prgrams ssal fr ArSa Bal.

    Shpbldg s ampl: h uS na has alrad had adjs s shpbldg pla fr h 30 ars.

    is lwrd h lgrm gal fr h r f shps frm 328 bw 310 ad 316, rdcd h mbr

    f shps b prchasd frm 275 268, ad acd ha wll b 17 mr hghd cmba shps ad

    24 fwr lssps sppr shps. s lkl, h mbr f dsrrs wll fall blw h gal f ab90 afr 2029; aack sbmars wll fall blw h gal f ab 48 bw 2022 ad 2034; ad clar ballsc

    mssl sbmars wll fall blw h gal f 12 14 bw 2029 ad 2041 (uS 2012c). rr, hrll

    b dlas h csrc ad prcrm f ssms sch as h scd rdclass arcraf carrr;

    h scd Amrcaclass amphbs assal shp; h clarpwrd ohclass sbmar rplacm,

    h SSBn (x); ad h w vrgaclass clarpwrd fas aack sbmar (SSn).

    wr, dlas sch hghd plafrm acqss ar h rm rahr ha h cp. Ad a slgh

    rdc plafrms w sgcal chag h SuS aal balac f pwr larg pars f h

    Wsr acc fr q sm m. th A na s lkl cls h larg qala gap bw Cha

    ad h uS aras sch as drsa warfar ad ASW (C 2011), ad s a lg wa frm dlpg a srs

    blwar a. As frmr fs Scrar br Gas has pd , s mpra kp md ha

    as mch as h uS na has shrk sc h d f h Cld War, fr ampl, rms f ag, s bal s sll largr ha h 13 as cmbdad 11 f hs 13 as ar uS alls r parrs (uS

    2009). th uS na wll hs b abl prd sgca capabl a ArSa Bal framwrk. is als

    crasd spdg sabasd mssl dfc ad ddcad mr rsrcs lss sbl aras, sch as

    appld rsarch fr drsa warfar.

    A scd crcsm s ha h uS mlar cld d p wh far fwr JS cmba arcraf, whch ar dmd a

    crcal ArSa Bal capabl. arl fr bdgar rass, h Ar rc has dfrrd h acqs f h

    arcraf. rr, h mbr f 35As (cal akff ad ladg) b acqrd b h Ar rc

    l 2017 has b rdcd frm 203 166. th plad acqs f shrrag, accal 35Bs (shr

    akff ad rcal ladg) fr h uS ars drg h sam m prd s c frm 50 41. all, h

    carrrbasd ara, h 35C Cv fr h uS na, has b rdcd frm 72 37 (Blmhal 2012:329).

    wr, hs prjcs ar l basd a frar framwrk, ad r h lg r h srcs wllprbabl ha a sgca mbr f JSs hr rs.

    r ggraphcal rass, bass fr h ladbasd 35A nrhas Asa wll b rahr lmd ad sbjc

    Chs ar ad mssl aacks (placg a prmm hardg bass ad rwa rpars). thrfr,

    h carrrbasd 35C Cv ara mgh b mr rla a ArSa Bal c, parclarl f h

    bjc s ach ar sprr r malad Cha. rr, lgrag sragc bmbrs ad

    sbmarlachd crs ad ballsc mssls arg Chs arlds ad lachg ss wld b

    mr crcal, ad h Ar rc s crrl sg w KC46A akr arcraf fr aral rfllg ad a

    gra lgrag salh bmbr, srghg cal prmp glbal srk capabls, ad

    w iS ad cbrspac acs. i h fr, uS frcs cld als s carrr ad ladbasd mad

    cmba aral hcls, sch as h wl dlpd x47B.

    is ssal p h plad uS bdg cs prspc. gr 3 shws ha h sgca grwh

    Amrcas dfc bdg sc 2001 has largl b h rsl f rsg praal css rlad h wars

    iraq ad Afghasa.

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    15CAenGeS

    ASi StAteGy

    Fiure 3: S deece spedi compositio, 19622013 (2005 S$)

    $0

    $100 billion

    $200 billion

    $300 billion

    $400 billion

    $500 billion

    $600 billion

    $700 billion

    $800 billion

    1962 1972 1982 1992 2002 2012

    Year

    Weapons/procurement Operations (e.g. war conduct) Research and development

    Construction

    Personnel pay and housing

    Nuclear programs Other

    Spending(

    2005d

    ollars)

    Src: lmr (2013).

    Wh hs wars cmg a d, sm dcl dfc spdg s abl. B hrs sll a csdrabl

    gap uS dfc spdg sas Asa crs, cldg Chaad hs ds cld alls

    dfc spdg (gr 4).

    Fiure 4: S ad ast Asia deece budets, 2013

    Korea, North1.0%Singapore

    1.3%

    Korea, South

    3.2%

    Japan

    6.2%

    China, P. R.18.7%

    United States

    65.7%

    Src: Sgr (2012).

    Crcs mgh sa ha h uS has glbal rspsbls. B f h rbalac Asa s dd a prrfr Washg, mr mlar asss ad spdg ca b assgd h rg. rhrmr, f

    sqsra wr ccr, prjcd uS dfc spdg bw 2013 ad 2021 wld sll b sbsaal

    (tabl 2).

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    Table 2: Projected S deece spedi, 20132021 (S$ billio)

    y13 y14 y15 y16 y17 y18 y19 y20 y21

    rsds y13

    bdg rqs

    525.4 533.6 545.9 555.9 567.3 579.3 592.4 605.4 617.9

    bdg dr crrl

    plad sqsr

    485.7 475.2 488.7 499.2 511.6 524.0 536.5 549.8 563.2

    Basd arrs (2013).

    tr, dpdg whhr h prjcs ar har dllars, uS dfc spdg cld wll b a

    r h dcad. Sll, hr wld b gh m spd ArSa Bal capabls, prdd uS

    lawmakrs ad h ag prrs dfc acqs accrdgl.

    A scd sal ccr rlad ArSa Bal s rsrc ralr. G ha fcss hal h

    uS Ar rc ad na, h ars ad h Arm arall s as a hra hr w fdg. A ral

    assssm b h uS ars ccldd 2012 ha mplmg h ccp wld b ps ad

    sragcall sd. Ad h Arm has b a pas d a rl wh h ccp. rr, a rpr b h

    Cgrssal sarch Src d ha h nas fcs r ps plafrms sch as h w class

    f arcraf carrrs mgh b drmal cmprhs ffrs cr Chas A2/A challg:

    arclarl a sa f csrad rsrcs, f gh fdg s allcad h na prm

    h na cmg ars maa a f ab 313 shps cldg 11 arcraf carrrs, hw mch

    wld hr prgrams d b rdcd, ad wha wld b h praal mplcas f hs

    prgram rdcs rms f s rall apprach cr mprd Chs mlar frcs ad hr

    msss? (ork 2012:51)

    sp agrg prcpl h mprac f ArSa Bal, h na ad Ar rc cld hrfr als

    cmp fr scarcr rsrcs.

    orcmg sal barrrs ArSa Bal w b as. akg h ccp a plcal prr dpds

    plcal wll Cgrss ad h Wh s. wr, as Cha kps mdrsg s mlar ad

    dg s sragc rach h Wsr acc, uS sragc plcmakrs wll ms lkl bcm

    mr alarmd ab wha h prc as a Chs qs fr ladrshp Asa. rhrmr, rsrc

    ralr cld b mmsd b assgg h uS ars ad h Arm a rl a bradr srag dfa

    A2/A hras. r ampl, AGts sch as h arw cld pla a rl scrg crcal marm

    chkps Shas Asa. Csql, arch 2012 bh srcs dlpd hr w dcral

    crb prag a A2/A rm (uS Arm ad uS ar Crps 2012).

    Does it make strateic sese?

    Amrcas rgal alls ad parrs, cldg Asrala, ha bcm crasgl wrrd ab

    Washgs wll ad capabl cr h As grwg capac prjc mlar pwr ad cs

    marm spac. th ha mch ga frm ArSa Bals pal srgh cal drrc

    rsps Chas grwg mlar pwr. ArSa Bal s ma sgal uS wllgss ad abl

    prjc mlar pwr hs csd zs dfd alls ad parrs as a crb a w ssm

    f cal drrc sas Cha. As d has pd a rc ASi sd, drrc

    Asa has b plad rahr casl ad rml ( 2012:23). i rdr jpards h p

    fr dpr gagm wh Cha, h uS has msl rfrad frm makg plc drrc cmmms,

    parclarl rgardg rrral dsps. i las as ambgs h cds dr whch wld s

    mlar frc agas Chs aggrss a rrral r hr cc.

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    Argabl, sch a psr f ambg has s far srd w prpss. rs, s s far add makg Cha hplc adrsar f uS drr plc whl lag sm cra h mds f Chs dcsmakrs

    ab h cds dr whch h uS wld rsr frc. Scd, s mmsd h rsk ha alls mgh

    fl mbldd ak mr rsk acs rrral dsps wh Cha h assmp ha h uS wld

    cm hr sppr, rdcg h lklhd f h uSs rapm wad ccs r a damagg lss

    f rpa cas f uS r.

    wr, s dbaabl whhr hs apprach s sll fasbl h fac f a Cha has crasgl sg h

    rsl f h uS ad s alls marm dsps. Bjgs prbg srags h Sh Cha Sa ad h

    Sa f Japafr ampl, rc ccs wh h hlpps r h Scarbrgh Shal ad wh Japa

    r h Skak/a isladsla alls wdrg ab h cds dr whch h uS wld dfd

    hr rss. A k challg fr uS srag s hrfr hw addrss h pal crdbl prblm f

    Amrca dfc cmmms f alls far abadm rrral ccs wh Cha whr h uS lhas rpaal rss a sak. r ampl, sm uS cmmars db whhr Washg wld

    dfd tawa h cas f a Chs aack (bbs 2012). Ad h hlpps mgh wdr whhr h uS

    wld sppr h cas f a mlar scala h Ws hlpp Sa.

    ArSa Bal ffrs a paral sl hs dlmma. i sgals Amrcas wllgss sa gagd

    h rg hrgh a srg mlar prsc ad f cssar mps sgca css rsps

    cal aggrss b h A. A Chs plcal ad mlar ladrshp ds calcla h pal

    css f a rs srk agas a uS arg, d r aa. Wld Bjg srsl bl h uS wld rala

    afr h A has srck (r sk) a Amrca arcraf carrr r aackd uS bass Japa? Wld h uS

    back dw afr a Chs srk Gam? ssbl, b hghl lkl.

    ... apar frm prcg uS cmc rss h

    Asaacc, h crdbl f uS ladrshp Asa

    sgcal dpds h pcas f alls ad

    parrs ha h uS wld cm hr dfc...

    Crcs mgh arg ha h uS has l rpaal rss ms Asaacc ccs ad wldrad s Agls fr tap. tha cld b r, b Chs ladrs wld ms lkl als csdr thmas

    Schllgs fams dcm f h hra ha las smhg chac. idd, apar frm prcg uS

    cmc rss h Asaacc, h crdbl f uS ladrshp Asa sgcal dpds h

    pcas f alls ad parrs ha h uS wld cm hr dfc h f a cc wh Cha.

    alr d s, fr ampl h cas f tawa, wld dal a dasag blw h uSs rpa ad

    drrc crdbl. Ad crar cal wsdm, sas hrgh hsr ha f fgh wars

    fr far f a lss f rpa (rcr 2010). rr, wld Cha rall aack a Amrca c wh clar

    waps h kwldg f alms garad ahla hrgh uS clar rala?

    wr, ArSa Bal fcss h hgh d f h cc spcrm. y, hr ar l a fw scars whch

    h hra f a hghs cal rsps agas A aggrss appars crdbl: a Chs amp

    ad tawa, a A prmp aack alld rrr r uS bass, ad a srs aack uS frcs aa.s hr mlar ccs lg Chs frcs wll prbabl l mch lwr lls f scala. i hs

    cass, ArSa Bal facs a rpwr prblm. i a prs Arad Bal rm, h rggr was bs:

    S rcs adacg acrss wlldd lad bdars Wsr erp. trpwrs ar mch lss clar

    a mal marm rm h Asaacc, whr rd ls ar mch mr arbrar.

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    rr, ArSa Bals Cha dms has ld a mag prblm. As a mlar praal ccp, ssppsd crb a bradr uS grad srag fr dalg wh Chas sragc rs. As SuS ralr

    has sd, a mbr f Amrca aalss ha calld fr a mlar cam srag sas Cha,

    ad has cral h wa Chs aalss ha rprd h rbalac ad h ArSa Bal ccp

    (xag 2012). S far, h obama admsra has mphassd ha s Cha plc s basd cam

    b slc gagm. ths s cral ra cmprhs dplmac, cmc ad mlar

    cam f Cha s hr fasbl r dsrabl. Ad uS Cha plc s mch mr acd ha sm

    Wsr bsrrs ar prpard ackwldg.

    wr, h absc f a uS grad srag ha ls h cral pllars fr dalg wh a rsg Cha pas

    h wa fr spcla ha ArSa Bal prsppss a fr SuS sragc rm whch mlar

    cam s a dsc pssblhc h frq aalg bw ArSa Bal ad Arad Bal. B,

    as g Sar has pd :Arad Bal was dsgd fr a sa whch nAto ad h Warsaw ac wr w scrps a

    blprpard fr all war a a mms c, prssd p agas ach hr alg h lda Gap ad

    h nrh Grma la. nhg cmparabl ss h cas f h uSCha rlashp, ad bh sds

    sll sm b cmmd adg sch a al. (Sar 2012:15)

    ArSa Bal hrfr lacks a gdg, rarchg, grad sragc framwrk. is fcsd acqrg

    h mlar mas pra csd zs b fals df h plcal ds f hs praal

    aspras. Asaacc scr prs, cldg ASi, ha calld fr h dlpm f a uS grad srag

    fr h Asaacc rdr prd a clarr mssag alls ad pal adrsars ab whch grar

    plcal bjcs Amrcas sragc rbalac s dd sr (Jgs 2013). Sch a dcm cld,

    fr ampl, clarf whhr Amrca wld b sasd wh h rsablshm f h sas q a afr

    hsls casd b a Chs mlar prca h Wsr acc cm a d.

    Ahr crcal ss rlad ArSa Bal s h rlashp bw mlar mas ad plcal ds

    a majr cal war wh Cha. lar srag s all ab sg r hrag s armd frc

    ach plcal bjcs. Wh cms plag h s f mlar frc agas Cha, hr ar gd

    srags. A mlar scala bw hs w majr pwrs wld rsl mass damag h glbal

    cm ad, wrs, cld lad clar scala.

    Csql, a warghg srag agas Cha has b gdd b w majr assmps. rs, Chas

    grwg clar arsal mpss sgca rsrcs uS argg ps. th rsk f clar scala

    ms b mmsd bcas hr sd wll b abl w a clar chag. Scd, lmd mlar ps

    cssa mds plcal ams. As tx amms has wr, hr ca b a dcs cr agas Cha b

    l a salma whch lads a cssa f cc ad h rr sm frm f h sas q (amms 2012).

    ArSa Bal mgh fac dfcls mg hs crra. rs, hr ar pal prblms wh clar

    scala crl ArSa Bal. As md ab, a crcal assmp s ha wld scala a

    clar cfra bcas agrm s r hra h s f clar waps wld appar

    b bh pars rss (a tl al. 2010:50). Sch hkg appls h lgc f h scalld sabl

    sabl parad, whch assms ha mal clar drrc bw h uS ad Cha shld b sabl

    bcas f whas a sak, whras cfra a h cal ll s a dsc pssbl.

    wr, sch a cm s far frm cra. nclar sabl a ArSa Bal scar crcall dpds

    Chs assmps ab h abl f s clar srk capabl rma affcd b dp uS srks

    Chs rrr as par f a bldg campag. y, whl h A has mad prgrss wards dlpg

    a scr clar scdsrk capabl, s cmmad ad crl ssms ar sll hghl lrabl uS

    sprr cal arsals. Amrca dp srks h Chs malad dsr ms f h Asladbasd lgrag waps ad hr cmmad ad crl ds mgh hs b prcd b h Chs

    ladrshp as a amp dgrad hr clar drr as wll, ad csql cras h chacs f

    Chs clar prmp.

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    ASi StAteGy

    ArSa Bal rqrs sphscad mchasms ad

    mal drsadg mms h rsk f SuS

    clar cfra dr cds f majr

    cal war.

    ArSa Bal hs rass h spcr f a srs f mscalclas bh sds f Bjg prcs cal

    aacks s hmlad as a amp dsarm s clar srk capabl, whch cas mgh b facd wha classcal s hm r ls hm dlmma. sr s lrd wh ampls f sd msjdgg h rd

    ls f h hr. th ud nas (wh h uS h mlar lad) msrprd Chs hkg drg

    h Kra War ad h md frcs cls Chs rrr, rggrg a mass Chs rsps. Ad

    Chs sragss ha alrad dscssd h cds dr whch Bjgs dclarar clar rs s

    plc mgh lgr appl, cldg a majr uS aack wh cal waps Chs rrr. ArSa

    Bal rqrs sphscad mchasms ad mal drsadg mms h rsk f SuS clar

    cfra dr cds f majr cal war.

    asl, f a clar scala wh Cha ca b add, s clar ha h uS cld ach mds

    plcal bjcs b srkg args malad Cha. G Chas ggraphcal sz, dp srks s

    rrr rqr majr mlar pras ha cld rs Chs arspac wh lgrag srk

    capabls. is hard bl ha dr sch cds Cha cld b crcd accpg lmd plcalbjcs. Accrdg glas acGrgr ad yg Km, ArSa Bal hrfr mgh rsk rsmblg a:

    21s cr qal f mdal sg warfar. G Chas sz ad dph, s ahrara clr

    ad spprg ss f ral scr, Amrca ar ad aal srk frcs ar lkl r f

    prcsgdd ms lg bfr h r f args aack r ach cds farabl fr

    accpabl [cc] rma. (acGrgr ad Km 2012)

    i sm, whl ArSa Bal s a sp adjsg uS cal drrc srag, als rass sm crcal

    qss ab h crl f scala ad h achabl f mds plcal ds h f war.

    thrfr, s wrh csdrg alra mdls.

    at are te alteratives?th alras als fcs maag Amrcas mlar accss a A2/A rm rdr dr

    Cha. wr, h d cld drc srks agas malad Cha. r ampl, tx amms (2012) has

    prpsd a srag f ffshr crl ha rls hr cr lms:

    egCha h s f h sa sd h rs slad cha, prmarl b sg aack sbmars, ms ad

    lmd ar srks. ths wld pla h chlgcal ad praal srghs f h uS na, parclarl

    h drsa dma.

    efedgh ar ad sa spac f h rs slad cha dfd alls agas Chs aacks ad crc.

    ths sks pl Chas ggraph b frcg h A gh a lgr rags, whl allwg h uS ad

    s alls gh a grad arsa dfc framwrk r hr w rrrs.

    magh marm prphr b rcpg Chs mrcha ad rg shppg h alacca

    Sra ad hr marm chkps. ths maks s f h fac ha wll b a lg m bfr Cha wll

    b abl prjc sgca pwr prc hs sa ls f cmmca (SoCs).

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    i a smlar wa, Kl ad ghs (2012:3536) ha calld fr a war a sa srag ha wld am a dgCha h s f h sa sd h rs slad cha b:

    dsa rcp f Chs shppg, wdsprad sbmar aacks ad mg sd h rs slad

    cha, ffs aacks b a lla cmpsd f small msslcarrg cmbaas gh h Cha

    sas ad parl ssls fr marm rdc a sras ad chkps, ad ar pdar

    frcs psd hld h Sh Cha Sa slads a rsk, wh f pg grd frcs

    Chas malad.

    th arg ha hs srag wld prd Amrca ladrs wh gradad ps shr f scalar

    srks h Chs malad, makg l mr crdbl b als mr sabl fr a grad srag

    basd hr cpra, cmp, cfra, cc shr f war, r war. rhrmr, h naal

    sgrada Schl ad h uS naal War Cllg ar rprdl wrkg a all d Balspac

    Srag ha als rfras frm ag dp srks h Chs malad ad sad ss uS marm

    sprr d Chs warshps accss hr w wars ad d Chs cmmrcal shppg accss

    h wdr acc.

    ths prpsals ar mr rms f ArSa Bal ha majr alras. Ad hr rskfr, hr.

    r ampl, f a k am f ArSa Bal s dfd tawa, s hard s hw ha cld b d wh

    srkg args malad Cha dgrad h As ashp ad aar ssms dpld alg h

    casl. Ad sa dal pras h tawa Sra wll b a frmdabl ask, g h cls prm

    malad Cha ad h sgca mdrsa f A capabl cs uS abl rga ar sprr

    h f war.

    nr s rl clar hw hs alras cld mms h rsk f scala, as a dsa rcp

    f ssls wld ms lkl b s b Bjg as a ac f war ad cld rggr a mass mlar rsps.ths cms back a p mad ab: ha hr ar gd mlar ps a war wh Cha, js las

    bad s. nrhlss, srags ha fcs dal mgh b a br alra fr ccs shr f majr

    war r tawa r Japa, sch as marm dsps h Sh Cha Sa ad lswhr.

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    CAte 3

    Asa alls ad parrs

    Alls sch as Japa ad Asrala ar s as plag a ac rl h ArSa Bal ccp. y, bcas

    f s Cha dms, ArSa Bal prss alls ad parrs wh h classcal dlmma f bg cagh

    bw rapm ad abadm.

    o h had, h wa ad bcmg rappd SuS sragc ralr. Sgg p fr ArSa

    Bal a a m wh hr sll sms ampl ppr crpra Cha a pacfl Asa

    scr rdr cld b drmal hr rss. ArSa Bal cld hs ha a dsrp ffc uS

    allac rlashps.

    o h hr had, hr sspc ab Chas sragc rajcr has crasd rc ars. As h

    prc a dcl mlar pwr rla Cha, h wa ad bg abadd b hr uS all.

    Sm lms f ArSa Bal cld hrfr bcm a rgasg prcpl fr h uS ad s alls,

    sramlg srag ad frc srcr. Srghg alls ad parrs sa dal capabls sppr

    a ArSa Bal framwrk cld prd al fr uSld pras ad wld als b l wh hs

    crs sragc prfrcs ad frc rsrcrg rds.

    norteast Asia

    Japa, Sh Kra ad tawa ar h k pal plars nrhas Asa wh cms ArSa Bal.

    Japa ad tawa ar frl sas a pssbl SuS cc, whl Sh Kras gsragc lca

    ad s hsg f uS bass als g a pall mpra rl. Whl all f hm ha sgh gag

    Cha rdr crag s pacfl rs, fars ab Bjgs rajcr ha rcl ld hr crasdrlac h uS as a mas f ral balacg. As a rsl, h mgh b mr p sppr a ArSa

    Bal framwrk, alb arg dgrs.

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    Fiure 5: geostrateic situatio i norteast Asia

    Japa

    rps f ArSa Bal rgard Japa as a k ablr. th CSBA rpr sas ha:

    Japa ffrs a masr f sragc dph s rhr ad asr rgs, whl h ggraph f hks slad cha ma pr parclarl adaags fr ASW pras. Wr Japa cas bg a

    uS all r p sa ral h f a SuS clash, h abl c a ArSa Bal ccp

    wld b mad mr dfcl. Abs Japas sppr, a sccssfl dfs f tawa r Sh Kra wld

    b prblmac, a bs. (a tl al. 2010:14)

    th pca s ha Japas sbsaal ar ad aal frcs wld agm uS frcs slcd mss

    aras, cld sbmar ad arbasd ASW, marm iS, marm srk ad ballsc mssl dfs

    (a tl al. 2010:30). th rpr als prpss a rag f j uSJapa mlar acs srgh

    Japas abl pla a k rl h ccp:

    ard slcd bass, cras rapd rwa rpar capacs, ad lca crcal mlar asss ad ss

    (.g. k hadqarrs ad pras ss) dp drgrd r wh mas.

    ll gra s grd ad sabasd ar ad mssl dfc ssms ad pras (cldgllgc ad arl warg cpra) wh uS frcs sad ad ar Japa.

    icras Japas ar ad ballsc mssl dfcs.

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    epad s r f frhgra ghrs ad prcr fhgra ghrs prc s arspacad fr p uS ghrs fr ffs msss.

    epad s drsa warfar ad ASW capabls, cldg s sbmar ad mad

    drwar hcls.

    rpar plas cpra wh h uS na fr sablshg ASW barrrs ha ak adaag f h

    ggraph f h k slad cha. (a tl al. 2010:93)

    Ca Japa l p hs pcas? tradall, s b a cls all f h uS, ad h Japa Slffs

    rcs (JS) has a r hgh chlgcal sadard. wr, csal rsrcs h s f Japas

    mlar pwr ha ld a largl dfs psr ad a fcs prdg ch capabls s Amrca all.

    rr, Japa has als prsd a plc f gagm wards Cha, las bcas f grwg rad rlas.

    ... Chas rc bhar marm dsps s

    wd Japa as a crpg pas ha prbs

    uS ad alls racs rrral dsps...

    wr, Chas grwg assrss has ld Japa abad s ccrs ab rapm. i sks

    ab all pr mlar abadm b h uS a hs crcal jcr SJapas rlas(ghs 2012:219). tk facs grwg Chs mlar capabls acrss h eas Sa, whr fr

    praal accss fr uS frcs cld b lmd r dd. ajr uS prag bass ad facls, sch as ar

    bass okawa (Kada AB) ad iwak, ad h aal bas a Sasb, ar alrad wh srkg rag

    f Chs mssls ad srk arcraf, as ar ma JS bass wsr Japa. rr, Chas rc

    bhar marm dsps s wd Japa as a crpg pas ha prbs uS ad alls racs

    rrral dsps rdr drm whhr hr s a lwr clg f uS drrc cmmm

    (takahash 2012:1516). th crr sadff r h Skak/a islads, whch ar par f h k

    slad cha, has l crasd h Japas pblcs hra prcps f Cha. op plls shw a allm

    lw Japas sm wards s bggr ghbr.

    As a csqc f Japas hghd prcp f hra, Japas 2012 naal fs rgram Gdls

    mad h dfc f h nas (Shwsr) islads okawa rfcr a p prr. A w amcfs rc ccp ams a makg h JS lghr, mr chlgcall adacd, ad qppd wh

    pwrprjc capabls. i hs c, sm Japas dfc prs pc h l f a

    Alld ArSa Bal framwrk. r hm, ArSa Bal wll bcm h k fr mg JapauS dfc

    cpra frwards. r ampl, Japas ar ad aal frcs cld b a k ablr fr hacg h

    rslc f uS aal ad amphbs pras (takahash 2012).

    t assss h JSs pssbl crb, s mpra rcgs ha s sll r mch dfsl

    rd. tak h Japa arm Slffs rc (JS), fr ampl. sp cmmadg argabl h

    ms sphscad srfac ad sbsrfac arsal h Asaacc (afr h uS), s largl b rgasd

    dfs scr llas crb a spcc dsflabr arragm wh h uS na: whl

    h uS prds ffs rpwr, h JS has fcsd dfs asks sch as mswpg, ASW, ad

    ffs sbmar warfar. essall, h JS cld d r dfcl da ssa pras agash A wh uS lgscs sppr (lms 2012).

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    wr, Japa s akg crmal sps mpr capabls ha cld crb a alld ArSa Balframwrk. o ara s ar ad ballsc mssl dfc. Cpra wh h uS jl dlp h adacd

    S3 Blck iiA rcpr mssl cs. ths waps wll b sd Japas f s Ags dsrrs,

    whch h JS plas add w mr shps f h pgradd Aag class. i Spmbr 2012, uS fs

    Scrar aa als acd ha h uS wld dpl a scd mssl dfc radar salla

    Japas sl.

    Japa has dlpd a hghl sphscad ad wrkd srcr dc ad rack hsl ar ad ballsc

    mssl acs. th hadqarrs f h JSs Ar fc Cmmad was md h hadqarrs f uS

    rcs Japa a yka Ar Bas, gg drc accss h uS spacbasd mssl dc ssm ad hr

    Amrca mssl dfc asss. Whl nrh Kras mssl hra s ma drr bhd hs dlpm,

    Japa has als mpld sch asss okawa ad hr slads f h k cha srgh s

    dfcs agas A ar, marm ad mssl frcs (Ball ad tar 2012). ths clds h dplmf mbl radar qpm clsr tawa ( ak, yag, ishgak ad irmjma) ad pgradg

    grdbasd radar ss ak ad okrab slads. t cras marm praal awarss

    hs slads, Japa has rdcd w w Kawasak1 marm parl arcraf wh a rag f p 8,000

    klmrs. i rcl als acd h dplm f Glbal awk mad, hghald, lgdrac

    srllac arcraf b 2015.

    Wh cms pass dfcs, Japas ad uS dfc prs ha sard dscss h hardg f

    crcal frasrcrs sch as yka Ar Bas. S far, uS bass Japa lack hardg cp wh pal

    A srks wh 3 r 21 ballsc mssls. is q pssbl ha bh sds wll s agr ccr

    masrs hs ara.

    Japa has als ak addal masrs dfd dspd slads ad cras h casal dfc f

    s Shwsr islads. i has frward dpld 15J cmba arcraf naha Ar Bas okawa ad s

    w csdrg prmal sag js h Sakshma islads, whch ar clsr h Skak

    islads. rhrmr, tk has dcdd prcr 42 35 cmba arcraf. Sm ha spclad ha h

    cld pra frm Japas hlcprcarrg dsrrs f tk ps fr h 35B shr akff ad rcal

    ladg ara, b hrs dc f ha as . A frhr qs s whhr h Japa Ar Slffs

    rc wld s s KC767 akr arcraf rfl h 35s crar pras agas Cha r

    backll fr uS ghrs gagd drc pras agas h A Ar rc.

    i l wh Japas 2010 naal fs rgram Gdls, s als dlpg a small amphbs frc

    b armd wh srfacshp mssls fr drc dfc f sm f h k islads. th JS wll acqr

    a addal osmclass amphbs assal shp fr ha prps, ad a w C2 sragc raspr arcraf

    wll mpr s sll lmd arlf capabl. th rs dplm f JS arm s yag islad s maas a plcal mssag Cha ab tks cmmm slad dfc, wh mr fllw f cssar

    (Sars 2013).

    all, Japa s hacg s ASW capabls fr pras h wars ard Japa h fac f Chas

    sbmar bldp. is acclrad s w sbmar rplacm ra ad wll cras s frm 15

    2224 bas. Wh h w 4,200 Srclass, h JS w als cmmads Japas rs sbmar

    wh ardpd prpls, whch gs a sgca capabl fr lgrag dpwar pras.

    rr, s ak w w gaclass 19,000 hlcprcarrg dsrrs src. Carrg p

    11 asbmar hlcprs, hr cmparabl lgh arcraf carrrs ad ar als qppd wh bw

    sar, rpd bs ad h ShAsrc rckbasd rpd. Japa plas bld w largr 27,000

    hlcpr carrrs, ach abl carr p 14 hlcprs. ths shps ar dd b h cr f fr

    hlcpr/dsrr grps prag dfc f Japas slads h eas Cha Sa (tll 2012:92). thrdrsa SoSuS (sd srllac ssm) arras ccd 14 shr sas g Japa a sgca

    capabl rack Chs sbmars rasg frm h eas Cha Sa h wdr acc oca.

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    ... s far Japa ams l crmall srgh

    s sa ad ar dal capabls ad has dcdd

    a cmprhs ffs mlar bldp.

    nrhlss, s far Japa ams l crmall srgh s sa ad ar dal capabls ad has

    dcdd a cmprhs ffs mlar bldp. Bdg lmas ad a cd rlac a uS

    mlar prsc mak fr a mds crsslwl crasg sladdfc capabls whl rag sm

    blwar capabls basd s crr f 44 dsrrs prc Japas SoCs. idd, Japa has

    dcd whhr rspd Chas rapd marm bldp b dlpg a fll dgd aradal

    capabl (Sars 2013), b s lag h fdas ad wld b chcall wll qppd d s f rqrd.

    Japas dfc plag has hs sard shf wards cmplmar a pssbl Alld ArSa Bal

    ccp. larl, s crasgl wll placd plg ad pla a fr SuS cc. Ad, g Japas

    gsragc rs maag h sas q tawa, s hghl lkl ha tk wld bcm a

    ac all f h uS gs war wh Cha r h slad. thrfr, wll b pag cls a whhr

    h ag maks h prgrammac ad bdgar shfs cssar m ArSa Bal frward ad

    drwr h rbalac gral. thrs ll db ha tk has a majr rs h sccss f

    ArSa Bal.

    Sout orea

    th ArSa Bal ccp s mr prblmac fr h pblc f Kra (oK) bcas f Sls cmpg

    sragc ccrs. Sc 1953, h oKs cr sragc prr has b dr ad dfa a pal nrh

    Kra as. rr, lk Japa, Sh Kra rmas mr ambal ab h Chs hra. Whl

    Chas bhar h 2010 crss h Kra sla dd mch a Sh Kra, b s amps

    shld nrh Kra frm raal crcsm, a frdl rlashp wh Bjg s sll rgardd as bcal

    fr Sls lgrm plcal gal f pacfl ca f h psla. ArSa Bal rass h rsk f Sh

    Kra bg draw a wad cc wh Cha, ad s w rrr cld cm dr aack drg

    h rs sag a sqc f Chs aacks drcd agas uS frcs, parclarl uS hbs a osa

    ad gak.

    wr, rc ars Sh Kra has bcm mr wrrd ab h pal fr Chs dmac

    nrhas Asa. is ccrs cld sss sch as Chas assrs ab h hsrcal rgs f h

    Ggr Kgdm h rhr par f h psla, Bjgs appar rlcac prssr h nrh

    hal s clar waps prgram, ad sgs f a grwg Chs cmc dmac r Sh Kra.

    rr, bh sds clashd r h Scra ck (als kw as id r Sa) 2006, ad hr wr

    l clashs bw rawlrs r shg grds 2010 ad 2011, as wll as ss r SoCs.

    th oK als ds pla dal wh a pssbl cllaps f nrh Kra. i wll d sfc capabls

    dpl rh m a A shward r scr nrh Kras clar waps, ad dal wh a

    Chs ccpa f sm pars f h rh. th A cld als m cmplca uS ad oK aal pras

    sch a b cdcg marm accssdal pras h yllw Sa (B ad d 2011).

    Sh Kras crr efese efrm 2020pla s sll crd drrg a nrh Kra as.wr, sm lms f h pla ca als b s as a rsps Chas mlar rs. i gral, hrs

    a m awa frm lad frcs wards h oK Ar rc ad h oK na. th k gal s cra a mr

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    chlgcall adacd mlar wh a crasd pdar capabl. th oK Ar rc s acqrgp 60 15K ghr arcraf ad h Bg 737 AeW&C arcraf, ad lks dlp a w fhgra

    mlrl cmba arcraf, h Kx ghr. wr, h gras chags ha b mad h marm

    dma. th oK na has acqrd Ags ardfc ssms fr s hr w Sjgclass dsrrs,

    mlprps Chgmggclass dsrrs, ad h rs f fr 18,000 hghspd amphbs ladg

    shps carrg p 10 hlcprs. i als plas cras s f dsllcrc tp 214 sbmars

    (basd a Grma dsg) frm 15. th oK na s hs mrgg as a srs blwar a

    nrhas Asa (Kda 2010), ad s capabls cld prcpl b sd a ArSa Bal c. all,

    Sh Kra was abl rga a 2001 agrm wh h uS s hghlc mssls, whch w ha

    h rag rach args acrss nrh Kra.

    Sh Kra a hs p sms b mr ccrd

    ab rapm wh cms ArSa Bal.

    Sll, Sh Kra a hs p sms b mr ccrd ab rapm wh cms ArSa Bal.

    ths ccrs mgh pla wh h Sh Kra fc sr has pblcl sad ha h w marm

    bas h shr rsr slad f Jj, sad bw Japa ad Cha, wld lack h capabls hs

    uS frcsdsp h fac ha h w salla cld b hm mr ha 20 oK warshps. mscall,

    h bas s sbjc majr crcsm, ad sm far a scala f ss wh Cha ad a dsablsgarms rac. rhrmr, Sl wll prbabl pps a m b h uS cld Sh Kra ad Japa mr

    clsl a nrhas Asa ArSa Bal archcr bcas f s cg ccr ab gg cls

    tk mlarl.

    As h uS mlar shfs s fcs wards Cha ad mg h A2/A challg h ar ad marm dmas,

    rsrc csras cld s uS lad frcscldg hs h pslaak a back sa. As a rsl,

    Sh Kra has assm grar rspsbl fr s w dfc agas h nrh Kra hra. ths wll

    l bd Sh Kra rsrcs b mgh als acrba s fars ab uS abadm. o balac, g h

    rsks fr Sh Kra hr h chagg Amrca sac, ad pblc ad plcal sm ab a grar

    uS mlar fpr, sms lkl ha Sl wll pl hrw s sppr bhd h ArSa Bal ccp.

    wr, shld rlas bw h oK ad Cha drra dramacall, h oK na, parclar, cld

    pla a par algsd h uS na ad hr adacd marm frcs a ArSa Bal framwrk.

    Taiwa

    Argabl, a pal SuS war r tawa s a h har f ArSa Bal h Wsr acc. th

    pssbl f a mlar scala a hs p sms rahr rm, g ha h crr tawas

    Grm shws cla wards prmg de jredpdc frm malad Cha. wr,

    tawa s h crpc f Chs A2/A srag, ad ca wh wha Bjg ss as a rgad

    prc s sll hgh Chas plcal agda. Whl h uS cral ds ha a rs a majr war

    wh Cha r h slad, h 1978 tawa las Ac ams a de faccmmm dfd tawa

    f h Chs amp cqr h slad b frc. Ad, crar cal wsdm, hr ar als

    gsragc rass wh h uS has a rs dfdg tawa, sch as adg damag uS ladrshpcrdbl (parclarl Japa) ad g p Chs rsrcs ha cld hrws b sd fr mlar

    acs bd h tawa Sra (Brkpf tckr ad Glasr 2011).

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    Cha has gradall chagd h mlar balac h tawa Sra, las b dplg mr ha 1,000 11ad 15 shrrag ballsc mssls pps tawa. thrgh h dplm f frhgra arcraf, h

    A Ar rc s als achg ar sprr r h ara, parl bcas h uS has b rlca prd

    h tawas Ar rc wh mr sphscad cmba arcraf. Ad h A na s acqrg a qala ad

    qaa dg r tawa dsrrs ad sbmars ha wld allw blckad tawa ad ps sr

    challgs fr uS frcs rg h tawa Sra.

    wr, tawa s mg wards a mr asmmrc dfc psr amd a dg A frcs h

    apprachs h slad. ths clds a fcs hardg crcal frasrcr sch as arlds ad prs

    sr A mssl bmbardms, as wll as sms ms, fas mssl bas, aack hlcprs

    ad spcal frcs. th tawas na als plas acqr s w dgsl bl mhg shps r

    h 12 ars cr a pssbl A blckad. i cmba wh tawas arar, aalaal ad

    grdgrd dfs rdc waps ssms, hs srag cld hld ff a Chs rs srk lggh draw uS frcs h cc. G h hr dfcls f largscal amphbs ass,

    tawa wld b a as arg fr h A. rr, tawa s rprdl wrkg a w sprsc

    ffs srfacsrfac mssl ha cld rach Chas cral ad shr rgs, cldg Shagha,

    hrb rag a pshm capabl agas Chs cs rsps a A aack. i nmbr 2012,

    tawa als srd a w sprsc ashp mssl, h sg g iii, whch cld b sd agas a

    fr Chs arcraf carrr ad hr srfac ssls.

    As a pal majr balgrd a SuS cfra, tawa has a gra rs srghg

    capabls rla h ArSa Bal ccp. Apar frm s crbs ar ad marm dal asss,

    tawa cld crb uS saal awarss h ar, spac, sa ad cbr dmas. r ampl, s

    w lgrag arl warg ssm, prdd b h uS, s sad shar daa wh h uS. rr, sm uS

    prs ha argd ha h oC na has a rm grasp f h q drsa ggraph ad hdrlgcalrm f h Wsr acc oca, ad ha maag tawas capac rdc sgl ps f

    falr h As A2/A ssm cld rl h uS f par f s ha praal brd ad rdc rsks f

    scala (Sks ad sa 2012). r hs uS sragss, tawa s a k parr ArSa Bal.

    tha sad, mch dpds whhr h uS wll rall b wllg prd tawa wh mr safhar

    mlar qpm rqrd cr Chas mlar bldp. th obama admsra has parl accdd

    tawas rqss ad 2011 rlasd a uS$6.4 bll arms packag ha cldd sa dal capabls

    sch as Black awk u60 hlcprs, arp ashp mssls, AC3 ar dfc mssls, osprclass

    mhg shps, ad pgrads fr tawas cmmad, crl, cmmcas, cmpg, llgc,

    srllac ad rcassac (C4iS) ssms. B has agrd prd tawa wh h mch wad,

    adacd 16 C/ ghr arcraf, fr far f aagsg Cha. rr, h admsra has dlr

    a pldg mad drg h Bsh prsdc prd tawa wh w dsllcrc sbmarsa dfclprms kp, bcas h uS ds bld hm ad hr as (sch as Asrala, Grma, Sh Kra

    r Japa) wld b rlca sll hm.

    Souteast Asia

    i h ArSa Bal c, Shas Asa bcms mr prm uS sragc hkg. ths s parl

    bcas f h pal fr a dsa blckad c Cha ff frm s SoCs b crllg sragc

    chkps h alacca ad mbk sras. th uS cld s s alls ad parrs ggraphcal ps

    ad adaags hdrgraph sablsh asbmar barrrs alg h ks ad acrss h z

    Sra hrgh h hlpp slads ad shr s frm h Sh Cha Sa (a tl al. 2010:72). ths

    mas ha ds accss bass ad facls fr lgscs ad maac, parclarl Sgapr, hhlpps ad vam.

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    Sll, bh h uS ad s Shas Asa alls ad parrs wll prbabl b cas wh cms ArSa Bal. Washg cral has a rs crasg dfc cpra ad raal accss

    gsragcall mpra lcas h rg, ad has mad clar ha has a majr rs h

    pacfl rsl f rrral ccs h Sh Cha Sa. nrhlss, h uS s als r carfl

    bcm rappd marm bdar dsps h ara.

    th pal fr ArSa Bal as Shas Asa s mch mr lmd ha nrhas Asa. s

    Shas Asa crs wll prbabl b rlca sppr a ccp ha cld rapdl lad majr

    scala, parclarl sc hr marm rrral dsps wh Cha d warra a majr war. isad,

    h cld b mr rsd spprg alra srags basd sa dal cas Cha bcms

    mr assr h Sh Cha Sa.

    PilippiesWashg has clard whhr s 1952 al fs tra wh h hlpps wld appl h

    f a rrral cc bw ala ad Bjg. ths ambg cld affc h dgr f sppr fr ArSa

    Bal ha h uS ca pc frm Shas Asa crs, whch ha grall wlcmd Amrcas p as

    a hdg agas Chs assrss rrral ccs h Sh Cha Sa b whch als wa kp

    hr sragc ps p.

    thrfr, w shld b cas ab prdcg hw mch h uS wll b abl s Shas Asa h

    ArSa Bal c. Sm uS cmmars ha alkd ab h gsragc rr f h hlpps ad

    argd ha Washg shld sppr ala dlp s w s f A2/A capabls cr Chas

    grwg pwr prjc capabls h sas ws f h hlpps. ths cld cld h prs f

    dfs ssms sch as marm srllac arcraf, ashp mssls, ar dfc ssms ad rdarmad aral hcls (uAvs) (thmas ad sr 2012).

    tha wld b asr sad ha d. Argabl, Chas assrss h Sh Cha Sa ad h rlad

    sadff r h dspd Scarbrgh Shal has ld ala sk ( h wrds f hlpps fs

    Scrar vlar Gazm) a mmm crdbl dfc frm s uS all. wr, parclarl bcas f s

    rad dpdc Cha, h grm s als carfl m cls Washg. rr, m

    s scarc ad s a ad ar frc ar a r pr sa. th rsl s ha ala has ak mbrc sps

    mdrs basc capabls fr ar ad marm pras. t rals s praccall s ar dfc,

    h grm dcdd b 12 t/A50 lgh aack ghrs frm Sh Kra, b l afr ccldg ha

    h maac css f 12 uS 16 C/ cmba arcraf wld b hgh. th marm dma ds lk

    mch br. th w agshps f h hlpps na ar w 1960s uS Cas Gard amlclass crs.

    Whl als ams acqr w iala asralclass frgas, whch wld b h as rs mdr,msslarmd, ASWcapabl shps, wll ak ars pra sch mr adacd ssms.

    th uS has ffrd prd a w ladbasd radar cras alas marm awarss, bh sds

    ha crasd j rcss sch as h Balkaa mlsrc cmbd mlar rcs, ad hrs b a

    brf dplm f uS 3 or marm parl arcraf. nrhlss, fr h uS, h hlpps k al

    ArSa Bal s prdg raal accss fr uS frcs. Whl ala has cagrcall cldd a prma

    Amrca prsc, h w crs ha sard gas fr sch ras. uS aal frcs ad mars

    cld hs pall s hlpps facls sag pras h Sh Cha Sa.

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    Siaporei a mr csd sragc rm, Sgapr has bcm mr mpra fr h uS as a parr.

    tpcall, rmas ghlppd ab s cmmms uS sragc psr, b sms ha jdgd

    a crasd Amrca mlar prsc b s rs. Whhr h Sgapra plcal ad mlar

    ladrshp accps h ArSa Bal ccp s clar, b Sgapra fcals ha ffrd prmal

    hs p fr uS lral cmba shps a Chag naal Bas, w mr ha rgall sagd b h uS na.

    ... Sgapr has h mlar capabls pla a

    spprg rl a ArSa Bal c.

    udbdl, Sgapr has h mlar capabls pla a spprg rl a ArSa Bal c. i

    has acqrd s w rmdablclass frgas armd wh arp ashp mssls ad rch Asr15

    ar dfc mssls. is als pgradd s sbmar frm fr s wh h add f w Swdsh

    vasrgladclass sbmars wh ardpd prpls ssms fr dd sbmrgd drac.

    Sgapr lds Shas Asas ms adacd ar frc, wh 74 16 ad 24 wbld 15 srk ghrs,

    spplmd wh arar rfllg arcraf ad Glfsram G550 AeW&C arcraf. i s als parcpag

    h JS prgram. ths capabls wld allw Sgapr mak a mpra crb spcc

    ArSa Bal msss, sch as a dsa blckad f Cha h alacca Sra.

    wr, h Sgapra Grm wld prbabl hk wc bfr cmmg a praal ccp

    ha cld s ld a majr war wh Cha. i fac, Sgaprs b q carfl ad h mprss

    f mg cls h uS, ad wld amacall sppr a uS psh fr a mch ghr sac agas

    Cha. i h f SuS cc r tawa r h hlpps, s clar whhr Sgapr wld allw

    h s f s aal bas rsppl uS carrr balgrps r as a sagg p fr uS lral cmba shps

    (l 2012).

    Vietam

    thrs b mch spcla ab vams rsg sragc rajcr ad s pal rl a w uS

    Shas Asa srag. k h hlpps, s a frl sa h Sh Cha Sa, ad has marmrrral dsps wh Cha. i als ams srgh s aal capabls hrgh h acqs f s

    Klclass dsllcrc sbmars ad Slakclass fasaack craf frm ssa. a s rprdl

    als wrkg wh scw h j dlpm f h SSn25 ashp mssl ad a muAv. i

    nmbr 2012, sgd a dal wh a Swdsh cmpa, umad Ssms Grp, fr h j dlpm

    f a mdmrag uAv. th vams na has acqrd w Gpardclass frgas frm ssa, has sgd

    a crac fr w addal shps a ASW rs, ad s gag a crac prchas fr Sgmaclass

    crs frm h nhrlads. t mpr marm srllac, vam has als prcrd s C6 tw

    or arcraf frm Caada. is ar frc s acqrg a las 20 ssa S30 k2 mlrl cmba arcraf. i

    cmba wh s Su27s, hs acqs wld abl vam cras s aal srk capabl.

    wr, hr ar rass b cas ab vams wllgss ad abl pla a k rl a fr

    ArSa Bal framwrk. Whl s rd a frmal mlarmlar rlashp wh h uS ad srsd uS dfc qpm, vams grad sragc apprach appars b casl pla h

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    uS ad Cha ff agas ach hr (thar 2012). i wll b rlca m cls h uS, parclarlbcas s lad brdr wh Cha maks rml lrabl cas f a mlar cc. rr,

    dsagrms r hma rghs wll p lmas uSvams dfc cpra.

    Idoesia

    idsas gsragc lca maks dall placd pla a rl ArSa Bal wh cms a dsa

    blckad. rg hs s nmbr 2011, obama ad hs idsa crpar ydh rcrmd

    hr cmmm hr cmprhs parrshp. idsa s als sarg cras s marm ad ar

    capabls, f frm a r lw bas ad mal prc pars f s as archplag. is als ccrd

    wh a scar f Chs dma f h Sh Cha Sa. A h sam m, hwr, l wh s plc f

    algm, Jakara s k adg b s as cls h uS. rr, ams ha mall

    bcal rlas wh Bjg, cldg hrgh praccal dfc cpra. idsa sppr fr ArSa

    Bal hs sms b rahr qsabl a hs p.

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    CAte 4

    Asrala ad ArSa Bal

    A Asrala Grm wll d wgh h prs ad cs f sgg p h ArSa Bal ccp,

    f ad wh r uS all asks s mak a crb. A mbr f sragc csdras shld frm

    Asralas ps:

    rs, Asrala has a majr rs srghg uS ad alld drrc h fac f Chas grwg

    mlar pwr. As h Gllard grm has srssd, Asrala als bs frm a cd srg

    uS mlar prsc Asa as a hdg agas wad sragc dlpms. ArSa Bal ca pla a

    al rl srghg uS ad alld cal drrc a mr csd Asaacc sragc

    rm. rrg h A frm mlar aggrss rqrs hkg ab hw ad wh s armd

    frc maa a sabl ad farabl scr rdr. i hs crcmsacs, h grm shldwlcm uS hkg ab ArSa Bal as a crcal lm f h Amrca rbalac ad prd a

    alrd b csrc rsps.

    Scd, r gsragc lca mas ha Asrala s a frl sa a ArSa Bal c

    (lk Japa, tawa ad Sh Kra). Csql, r bggs al fr h uS cms frm r bg a

    rlabl plcal all, prdg sragc dph ad pall makg sm slcd wrh mlar

    crbs f d b. Crar cal wsdm, h uS s prbabl pcg Asrala mak

    majr w sragc cmmms h Asa har bd r mmda ghbrhd, s w cld

    fll r allac cmmms wh fcall sgg p ArSa Bal r dlpg w capabls

    spccall dsgd fr sch a c.

    thrd, s dfcl s wha h Asrala Grm cld ga frm pblcl drsg ArSa Bal

    a hs m. th ccp rsks makg h Chs mlar a m a a m wh Amrca, Asralaad alld grad srag s sll amd a grag Bjg a cpra Asa scr rdr. Whl h

    ccp cld mak ss a Cld Warp Asaacc sragc rm, drsg h ccp

    w wld cssarl cmplca r rlashp wh Cha. i wld sgal Cha ha h A s w

    acl prparg fr a pal cc wh h A.

    rh, a h praccal mlar ll, h A cld b frm parcpag ArSa Bal rlad

    acs. or m, h w praal ccp s lkl lad chags h accs, chqs ad

    prcdrs f uS acc frcs, ad w dcral dlpms sch as hs ha f b drrs f

    chlgcal a h uS mlar. G ha Asrala has a rs maag sgca

    rprabl bw h A ad uS frcs ad has bd mch frm uS mlar chlg rasfr,

    w ha a rs clsl fllwg ArSa Bal dlpms a h mlar ll. B ha ds

    ma ha h A has mrrr h praal ccp.

    i sm, h Asrala Grm shld adp a pragmac apprach ArSa Bal, ffrg slc

    mlar sppr r uS all.

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    Australias possible cotributioWha cld ad shld Asrala crb ArSa Bal? Spprrs f h ccp ha argd ha

    w shld csdr a fll rag f acs sppr r Amrca all (a tl al. 2010, Babbag 2011,

    hma 2011). Sggss cld:

    makg Asrala a majr lgscal hb fr Amrca lgrag srk arcraf, carrr srk grps ad

    clar sbmars

    jl dlpg w capabls wh h uS ad Japa, sch as lgrag srk ad a gra

    ashp ballsc mssl,

    frward dplm prc alld bass nrhas Asa ad crb ASW pras

    Shas Asa ad ocaa

    cdcg amphbs srk pras h Shas Asa ad Sh acc archplags

    crbg a dsa blckad f Chs shps hrgh pras h asr ida oca ad

    Shas Asa.

    Sch hkg s r mch l wh h prs Asrala grm f rm sr K dd

    whs dfc plc cld ha pall mad s a sgca parcpa a uS ArSa Bal framwrk.

    r ampl, hs 2008 S spch dd mphassd h d bs mlar capabls mak Asrala a

    srs marm pwr h fac f a mr csd Asa sragc rm. rr, h 2009 fc

    Wh apr (W) was l plc rms f Asralas asss wh Chas sragc rajcr.

    i als lad a ambs pla hac h As pwr prjc capabls, cldg h dlpm

    f mch mr capabl sbmars abl cdc sragc srk (Cmmwalh f Asrala 2009).

    th grm f Jla Gllard has wlcmd Amrcas p Asa ad has d a uS ar ArGrdtask rc (AGt) ra hrgh arw as a sgal f dplmac sppr fr r all. A h sam m,

    hwr, has d dw s rhrc sas Cha ad h W s pcd fllw hs l. rhr,

    h frc srcr s h 2009 W s f sc wh w scal rals. A fr grm

    wll fac gh frc srcr dcss afr h parlamar lcs ad rmas b s hw

    mch f h 2009 W ambs wll sr. th grm wll hrfr ha a rs makg sm

    crbs a alld ArSa Bal framwrk whl adg rambs cmmms.

    th uS s prbabl ms rsd Asrala

    prdg grar sragc dph...

    th uS s prbabl ms rsd Asrala prdg grar sragc dph, allwg m sm f

    s rps ad asss frhr awa frm Chs mssl rag, hrb rdcg h mpac f a prmp

    Chs ms ad cmplcag A mlar plag. Asrala has lg hsd j cmmad, crl ad

    llgc facls ha pla a mpra par Amrca pras, as wll as prdg uS frcs wh

    accss mlar facls ad rag aras. i h fr, h AGt prsc arw cmba wh

    h ra f uS Ar rc asss (sch as sragc bmbrs ad akr arcraf) hrgh AA Bas tdal

    cld bcm a k facr uS ArSa Bal plag. Asrala cld als sr as a lgscal hb, arsal

    ad rpar cr fr uS frcs. A lss sbl b sfl crb cld b h ara f spac srllac,

    whch cld b sd mr ad rack Chs acs hs ara. o f h fw praccal cms f

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    h las AuSin alks was h dcs rlca a uS CBad spac srllac radar Wsr Asrala 2014 rdr cras crag f spac bjcs r h shr hmsphr.

    upgradg AS Serlg Wsr Asrala pall hs uS clar sbmars ad carrr

    srk grps s prbabl l a lgrm prspc. th Gllard grm has sad ha sch a dlpm

    s lkl h ar fr, g h sgca acal css ld, ad h uS has apparl p

    hs p h abl. th sam gs fr a pssbl pgrad f arlds h Ccs islads, rm alls

    far frm idsa, whch cld pall hs uS mlar arcraf. Apar frm h bdgar mplcas,

    sch a dlpm wld sd a srg sgal Cha ad h rg ab Asralas cmmm

    mrgg uS warghg dcr. y, f h Asaacc rm bcms mch mr csd,

    prdg grar sragc dph s cral a fr p fr Asrala grms ad ha

    wld b wlcmd b r uS all.

    ss Babbag has sggsd ha Asrala csdr h j dlpm wh h uS f a lgrag salh

    bmbr ha cld b sd srk args Cha (Babbag 2011). Sch a p, hwr, sms hr

    ralsc r sragcall ssbl. is lkl ha h uS wld ha a rs frg parcpa sch

    a hghal prgram, parclarl sc wll b clar capabl. lcall, sch a m wld sgal Cha

    ha Asrala s plag acl parcpa dp srks agas s rrr, makg Asrala a r lkl

    arg f Chs plars. i wld als prbabl b a sgca acal dra.

    is als qsabl whhr a Asrala Grm wld ha a rs dplg h As w ar

    warfar dsrr, qppd wh h Ags cmba ssm pall dfd agas ballsc mssls, a

    nrhas r Shas Asa har h f war. opraall, hs capabls wld b mch br

    sd dfdg crcal asss clsr hm, ad h cld l mak a smblc crb uSld

    pras nrhas Asa. rr, h ar warfar dsrrs ar bg acqrd parl prc h w

    w amphbs assal shps (ladg hlcpr dcks), whch cral w pra a ara cls Cha.

    As fr h A ad amphbs srk pras h idsa archplag ad h Sh acc, sch a

    crb als sms b a srch far. rs p, s clar wh Cha wld am cp Japas Wrld

    War ii acc slads campagwhch s sd b sm as h jsca fr a Asrala amphbs slad

    hppg capabl (hma 2011). Scd, hs hkg assms ha Asrala wll bascall rmdl r lad

    frcs a amphbs frc, whch s a rahr lkl prspc. idd, crr A plag s dpl

    p 2,200 rps h w w ladg hlcpr dcks, b sch a small amphbs frc wld b f

    qsabl praal al agas a srs mlar cdr. rhrmr, mdllg shws ha wll

    rqr alms h r A sppr ad dfd ha frc, g s lrabl ashp mssls, ms

    ad wakhmg rpds. s lkl, wll d p cg h srk f r mds amphbs capac.

    ths s arg agas ladg hlcpr dcks pr s, b h fr f r amphbs frc s rddldwh ma cras. ulss a dcs s mad sgcal rcgr r lad frcs mch largr

    frcs pmsd fr spcal pras ad amphbs srks ad backd b mr salf capac m

    hma h ps f hr cr Arm capablsh amphbs lm rsks bcmg a qsabl

    sh frc. Ad s clar a hs p hw Asrala cld crb amphbs srks a ArSa

    Bal c.

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    th las pssbl Asrala crb wld

    b cdcg prphral pras, sch as

    rcpg Chs mrcha shppg hrgh a

    dsa blckad, dsrg A mlar asss

    prag h ara, r bh.

    th las pssbl Asrala crb wld b cdcg prphral pras, sch as rcpg

    Chs mrcha shppg hrgh a dsa blckad, dsrg A mlar asss prag h ara,

    r bh. Sch pras ha a mbr f pal bs. rs, h pl Chas alacca dlmma:

    rghl 80% f Chas 3.3 mll barrls f crd l pr da passs hrgh h alacca Sra, ad a

    rdc b uS, Asrala r ida frcs drg a crss cld ps a srs hra Chas cmc

    lfl. r h frsabl fr, h A w b abl prjc gh mlar pwr prc s

    al shppg las r par f h wrld. if ampd , wld alms cral fac dfa. Scd,

    prps arg ha hs p wld b pall lss scalar a war wh Cha bcas cld

    ad drc frcfrc gagm.

    th fllwg ps fr A crbs prphral campags ar hkabl:

    dsrp sbmar campags lachd frm h wsr sabard ar rdc sagd frm Asrala bass, cldg h Ccs islads

    aal rdc f Chs shps

    srks a askfrcs rrg frm h ida oca

    brakg Chas Srg f arls ad spprg uS bass h ida oca rg.

    Bcas hs ara f pra s mch clsr hm, Asrala cld cral prd a mbr f mpra

    capabls hs mss spcrm, cldg JS cmba arcraf, ASW capabls, a w class f hghl

    capabl dsllcrc sbmars, ad lgrag marm srllac frm f h w 8 sd ad

    pssbl lgrag, hghald uAvs. Asrala frcs cld als prd sm prc fr h uS bas

    g Garca rl uS asss fr srk pras h ida oca.

    thr wld b praal ad plcal lmas Asrala sbmar pras h ida oca.sllcrc sbmars ar sd fr h asr ida oca ad fr wllkw rass h An

    w acqr clarpwrd vrgaclass SSns. e mr mpral, h rdc f Chs shppg

    wld s Asrala drc cc wh Bjg. e sg a marm mbarg as a masr shr f war

    wld prbabl b s b Cha as a ac f war, as a mbarg wld hra s cmc grwh ad b

    s as a lrabl brach f s srg.

    of crs, a ArSa Bal c, h assmp s ha wr alrad a war, ad prphral pras

    ar js lm a bradr campag. B mplmg a dsa blckad s far asr sad ha d.

    Bardg ad caprg shps s a cmpl drakg, as s dg sabl marshallg aras. rr,

    mrcha shp crws ar f mlaal, rasg h prspcs f dplmac ccs wh hr crs.

    r ampl, l ab 10% f Chas rg akrs ar crrl salg dr h pls pblc f Cha

    ag, makg h dca ad rcp f h hr 90% q a prblmac ask. i rms, skg

    a cpra ssl (fr ampl, a sprakr) wld cra majr rmal damag ad hras

    h cla crw. all, Cha cld alwas r crcm h blckad b sg alra raspr

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    35AuStAiA An AiSeA BAtte

    ASi StAteGy

    rs. Sds ha als ccldd ha a rg blckad f Cha wld b rml damagg fr h glbalcm ad wld prbabl fal rach h plcal bjc f crcg Cha gg r dmads

    (Clls ad rra 2008).

    Te least worst optio

    ths brgs s back r sarg p: hr ar gd ps fr ghg a war wh Cha. Basd

    h aalss s hr, a wrkg assmp fr h Asrala Grm shld b ha Asa h

    ArSa Bal ccp wll prbabl l b rggrd a SuS war r tawa r Japa. G h As

    mds capac, Asralas mlar crb wld lkl b a sppr rl. tha mas prdg

    ch capabls ad backllg fr uS asss gagd drc aacks agas h A. Apar frm hs

    capabls dscssd ab, h uS wld prbabl s gra al Asrala prdg akr arcraf,

    AeW&C arcraf ad lcrc warfar asss (sch as h A As Spr r Grwlr rs). ths ar

    hghal asss fr a Amrca frc prag a A2/A rm, b lmg r crb

    hm wld allw h A fcs dfs pras ad rfra frm ac srk pras agas

    h A. Sch a crb wld als b cmmsra wh Asralas lmd dfc rsrcs, r

    gsragc crcmsacs ad r sragc rs adg drc cmba pras agas Cha.

    i h al aalss, h Asrala Grm wld b abl mak a wrh crb a uS ArSa

    Bal framwrk dpd f a pblc cmmm a ccp has sll s arl sags ad ha

    sms dsgd fr a sragc rm Asa whch s fll marals.

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    eCoenAtionS

    A srg uS mlar psr Asa prd drrc ad rassrac s Asralas sragc rs.As Amrca rbalacs wards h Asaacc rg, Asrala grms mgh b askd frmla

    a ps ArSa Bal. i prcpl, h Asrala Grm shld ackwldg ArSa Bal hkg

    as a mpra crb adjsg uS drr srag Asa. y, g h cras ad pal

    shrfalls srrdg h ccp h grms rsps shld b alrd b csrc. th

    sps csdr fr grm cld cld h fllwg:

    th grm shld sk a dald, classd brg frm s uS all ab h spccs f ArSa

    Bal. ths wld dmsf h ccp. i wld als g s a br da f wha s pcd f Asrala

    ad prd a ppr dscss crcal sss sch as h rlashp bw ArSa Bal ad

    scala crl.

    th grm shld crag h rlas f a dclassd rs f ArSa Bal. ths wld d

    spcla amg alld ad parr crs, ad wld als sd a clarr mssag wards paladrsars sch as Cha.

    th grm shld rfrc calls r Amrca all dlp a Asaacc srag prd a

    rarchg grad sragc c fr ArSa Bal. thr s wrkg ard h fac ha h ccp

    has a mag prblm ad ha lf addrssd hs cld bcm a labl fr fr cpra. th uS

    shld prd a clar mssag hw ds dal wh Chas grwg mlar pwr ad wha rl

    ArSa Bal wll pla.

    thr s d fr h grm r fc pblcl drs ArSa Bal. th uS slf s sll h

    prcss f drmg h spccs f mplmg h ccp. s f r Asa parrs ar als sg

    h fc awag frhr uS clarca h scp f ArSa Bal. A hs p f m w als d

    ha a rs sgallg Cha ha h A s prparg fr a fr mlar cc wh h A. i

    h (lkl) f a war wh Cha, Asrala cld l prd h uS wh grar sragc dphb als crb A mlar ch capabls wh hag fcall sgd p fr ArSa Bal.

    th uS AGt ad uS Ar rc lms rag hrgh r bass h rh cld h fr pla

    a rl a ArSa Bal c. th Asrala Grm shld sk dscsss wh r uS all

    ab hw hs frcs wld b sd h f cc. W wll als d csdr h mplcas

    fr Asrala, cldg a pssbl gra f h A a Shas Asa ArSa bal framwrk

    prag algsd uS frcs.

    ArSa Bal ams a a w ll f chlgcal ad dcral gra f uS frcs. i h rs

    f maag a sfc dgr f rprabl wh Amrca frcs, h A ds acpa

    h pssbl mplcas f ArSa Bal hs ara. i shld hrfr sk cpra ArSa

    Bal rlad acs cldg war gamg, parclarl hrgh cls rac wh uS acc

    Cmmad. rr, h A shld hk hrgh h dcral mplcas f ArSa Bal fr frcal pras.

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    eeenCeS

    Babbag 2011. Asralas sragc dg 2030, Kkda apers, . 15.

    Ball , tar 2012. th rasfrma f h JASs llgc ad srllac capabls fr ar ad

    mssl dfc, Secr Challeges, 8(2):1956.

    B BW, d J 2011. nrh Kra cllaps: mlar msss ad rqrms, ieraal Secr,

    36(2):84119.

    Brkpf tckr n, Glasr B 2011. Shld h ud Sas abad tawa?, Washg Qarerl, 34(4):2337.

    Blmhal, 2012. th uS rsps Chas mlar mdrza, tlls AJ, tras t (ds), Sraegc

    Asa 20122013: Chas mlar challege(pp. 309339), naal Bra fr Asa sarch, Sal.

    Bsss Wr 2012. esearch ad markes: arsea bale cceps, ke prgrams, ad frecas, 23 brar.

    Clls GB, rra S 2008. n l fr h lamps f Cha?, naal War Cllege eew, 61(2):7995.

    Cmmwalh f Asrala 2009, efedg Asrala he Asa acc Cer: efece rce 2030, Cabrra.

    C o Jr 2011. Assessg he dersea balace bewee he uS ad Cha, SS wrkg papr, it, Cambrdg,

    assachss.

    bbs J 2012. War wh Cha, Sral, 54(4):724.

    Grr J 2012. Sa chag: h na ps Asa, reg lc, 14 nmbr.

    amms tx 2012. Srag fr a hkabl cc, the plma, Jl 27.

    arrs t 2013. Wha h scal clff dal mas fr fs, CSBA Backgrder, Cr fr Sragc adBdgar Assssm, Washg C.

    lms J 2012. Japas Cld War a, the plma, 15 ocbr.

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    Planning the unthinkable warAirSea Battle and its implications for Australia

    As part of Americas rebalance towards the AsiaPacic region, Australias most

    important ally has developed an AirSea Battle concept that aims to deter and, if

    necessary, to defeat the Chinese military in a future conict. The aim is to reassure

    its Asian allies and partners, including Australia, about the credibility of the US

    defence commitment at a time when Chinas growing anti-access/area-denial

    (A2/AD) capability is gradually eroding Americas maritime dominance in the Western

    Pacic. While ofcially AirSea Battle isnt targeted against any specic country,

    the US militarys increased focus on China has given it much prominence in the

    strategic community. And some US policymakers consider Australia a key ally in

    operationalising the concept. We certainly have a major interest in the emergence ofa credible US war-ghting strategy as a deterrent against a China thats increasingly

    exing its military muscles. However, we also need to think through the potential

    implications of AirSea Battle and our practical military contributions. After all, this is

    about a potential military escalation with a major nuclear power.

    There are no good military options for ghting a war against China, only least

    bad ones. Seen through this lens, AirSea Battle has the potential to provide for

    US-Sino deterrence stability by signalling American resolve and capability to resist

    major Chinese attempts to change the status quo in East Asia by military means.

    Australia should welcome it as such. At the same time, AirSea Battle cant provide a

    panacea for lower level maritime conicts and it seems partially disconnected from

    broader US China strategy. Further, Asian allies would benet from more detailedexplanations about the concepts concrete implementation. Also, unlike Japan, South

    Korea and Taiwan, Australia is not a frontline state in an AirSea Battle context. Any

    future Australian government will be able to make a noteworthy contribution to an

    AirSea Battle framework independent of any public commitment to a concept thats

    still in its early stages and that seems designed for a strategic environment in Asia

    which is yet to emerge.