China and Russia approach, so that the United States, Japan, Australia and India "out of focus"
Author: Deep Sea Turtle
Source: Deep Sea Zone
WeChat platform editor: Zhou Yue
If you want to focus on China, you have to be distracted from Ukraine; if you are distracted from Ukraine, you can't help but touch Russia... In the face of this dilemma, Mo said that the "little brothers" of the United States are inconsistent, and even the United States itself feels powerless.
One is the immediate Ukrainian issue, and the other is the long-term plan for China. The representatives of the four countries of the United States, Japan, Australia, And India, who are holding a "four-way security dialogue" in Australia, are undoubtedly a little embarrassed.
"Distracted" Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, currently in Australia, is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Australia since the Biden administration took office.
As the fourth ministerial meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the four countries of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India are eager to continue the tradition of concentrating their firepower on China. However, the boiling issue of Ukraine has forced them to be distracted.
The foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, Australia, India and India gathered on the 11th, and the center was Australian Prime Minister Morrison. Image source: Reuters
On February 12, US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will talk again. It will be the first call between the two sides since the end of December last year. The focus of the current policy of the United States is self-evident.
"The Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin at any time, including during the Winter Olympics." Blinken continued to express his position on the Ukraine issue in Canberra on the 11th, "seeing very disturbing signs of escalation by the Russian side, including the arrival of new troops on the Ukrainian border." ”
US media quoted a senior official of the US Department of Defense as saying on the 11th that US Defense Secretary Austin has ordered another 3,000 soldiers to be deployed to Poland, and the additional troops are from the 82nd Airborne Division. Polish Defense Minister Błaszczak said on the 10th that the US F-15 fighter has arrived in Poland.
On the 11th local time, US National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan said at a press conference that US citizens should leave Ukraine in the next 24 to 48 hours. According to diplomatic sources, U.S. President Joe Biden has told allies that Russia has made the decision to go to war.
On the same day, the British foreign service advised the public not to travel to Ukraine and advised British citizens who are still in Ukraine to leave as soon as possible. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also raised the level of danger throughout Ukraine to the highest level and called on the Japanese population in Ukraine to evacuate immediately.
The Chinese Embassy in Ukraine also released a message on the 11th, reminding Chinese citizens in Ukraine to strengthen their protection against the new crown epidemic and pay close attention to the local situation.
Consensus is difficult to form
In fact, according to US media reports, blinken's original intention of this trip to the Asia-Pacific region was to strengthen US interests in Asia and contain China. According to the plan, Blinken will then visit the island nation of Fiji in the South Pacific, and then discuss the more complex Korean Peninsula issue with Japan and South Korea in Hawaii.
Previously, after the continuous eruption of the Tonga volcano, the aid provided by China arrived in Tonga for the first time, which was praised by many Pacific island countries. In this regard, the United States and Australia, which have always regarded this place as a sphere of influence, have deep grievances and mixed emotions.
On January 28, the first batch of aid shipments from China arrived in Tonga. Image source: Screenshot of CCTV News
However, before Blinken arrived in Fiji, another Pacific island nation, the Marshall Islands, poured a bucket of "cold water" in advance. Marshall Islands ambassador to the United States Zakios said on the 9th that the negotiations on the renewal of the "Free Association Agreement" between the two countries have been "stalled" unless the United States sends a special envoy of the president to discuss key issues such as the legacy of the US nuclear test.
But that's not how Blinken's biggest headache was.
Regardless of the outcome of Biden's talks with Putin today, the reality of closer Sino-Russian strategic coordination is the existence that is currently the most difficult for the White House.
On the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue," the four countries can still repeat many clichés on China-related issues. However, for Putin's recent visit to China and the latest joint statement issued by China and Russia, the differences between the four countries are visible to the naked eye.
The Australian foreign minister referred to the system dispute in general terms, showing a certain willingness to follow the United States. Japan, by contrast, has been vague and silent about U.S. demands for economic sanctions against Russia. Indian Foreign Minister Jaijashan simply denied having the same concerns as the United States, claiming that the "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue" was "right and wrong."
In the face of such an ally, what can Blinken say?
*Disclaimer: This article only represents the personal views of the author and does not represent the position of this official account
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