Since entering the second half of the year, the situation in East Asia as a whole can be described as turbulent and turbulent. As the operator behind the scenes, the United States continues to hold high the banner of "containing China" and stirs up trouble in the same day and Australia. And India, which has frequently encountered walls due to territorial disputes, also seems to have found a "springboard" to solve the problem. As a result, a second phase of the "Malabar" military exercise against China began in the Bay of Bengal.
The Malabar military exercise, which began in 1992, initially participated only in the United States and India. However, after entering the new century, with the rise of the Chinese navy, the increasing complexity of the South China Sea issue, and the introduction of the "pivot to the Asia-Pacific" strategy by the United States, Japan, as a pawn, has also joined in. This year's situation is also different from previous years, on the eve of the military exercise, India issued an invitation to Australia, so Australia, which has been absent for nearly 13 years, also sent warships to the appointment.
The first phase of the Malabar military exercise was held in the relevant waters of the Philippines from August 26 to 29, and the second phase of the military exercise was selected in the waters near the Bay of Bengal. It is reported that India has dispatched two guided-missile destroyers, the "Lan Vijay" and the "Satpura", a submarine Type 877 Kilo-class conventional submarine, and a P-8I "Poseidon" anti-submarine patrol aircraft. The United States dispatched the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier "Carl Vinson", "Ticonderoga class" "Lake Champlain", and "Ali Burke" class guided missile destroyer "Stockdale".
Of the four countries, Japan sent the largest number of ships, even with a façade battleship, a quasi-aircraft carrier Kaga helicopter carrier, and a destroyer Murayu. Australia, on the other hand, joined in the fun, sending only one frigate and supply ship.
The participants included elite special forces such as the US Navy's "Navy SEAL" commando team and the Indian Navy commando team, which was the largest in the previous "Malabar" military exercises.
In terms of the location of the military exercises, whether it is the Philippine Sea or the Bay of Bengal, the focus of the four countries is only the South China Sea, the former can be regarded as the entrance to the South China Sea, and the latter can be regarded as the closed loop of the South China Sea. In terms of content, in addition to the conventional programs of previous military exercises, India prefers its navy to be strengthened in the field of anti-submarine patrols and underwater operations. From this alone, it can be inferred that the underwater power of the Chinese Navy and its activities in this area have made the Indian Navy more and more uneasy.
It is worth mentioning that on the eve of the military exercise, with the tough stance of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Japanese media Kyodo News Agency also quickly followed up the speculation, and they bluntly mentioned in the report that "this move is aimed at counterbalance" China's maritime activities. Compared with Japan, which has an "iron backbone", Australia, which has always been spineless, has shown a different attitude.
According to Australian media reports on October 14, the chairman of the Australian Foreign Investment Review Committee, David M. Owen said at a meeting that "Australia has not closed the door to investment in China, and the Australian government will continue to welcome investment applications from Chinese investors." ”。 With the coming to power of the Morrison administration, Australia has changed its previous friendly attitude toward China and frequently pressured China on many issues such as the South China Sea and Huawei.
As a result, the economic and trade exchanges between China and Australia have shown a cliff-like decline, and from the data of 2020 alone, China's investment in Australia is only US$783 million, a decline of 61%. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin also said that "from these figures, it can be reflected that there are indeed some problems in China-Australia relations." "As for what kind of problem, Australia, as the initiator, knows very well, and the implication is that the bell must also be tied to the bell.
This exercise made India particularly "hi", India's large and small media are full of interest, talking loudly, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is "overwhelming". India has just lost interest in its border dialogue with China, and its mentality is once again in an "extraordinary state". Therefore, in this exercise, India burst out of enthusiasm for US-India military cooperation and for joint defense mechanisms such as "Malabar" and "Quartet", and in India's view, these "external forces" help to make up for the sense of loss it has suffered from its northern neighbors, and make itself feel at ease, optimistic and "hi".
Today, the "Malabar" has come to an end, and in the waters near Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan, the annual naval exercises between China and Russia were held as scheduled on October 14. I can go, I can go too!