NTERNATIONAL BREAKING NEWS

Dangerous armaments in the Asia-Pacific region

12 July 2020, 22:25 BDT

US allies Australia and Japan have recently announced that they will strengthen their defenses. At the same time, he spoke of conducting military activities more aggressively. The move by the two countries to protect themselves from China's rapid military expansion amid growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region is being called a 'game-changer'.

In late June, the Australian government announced that defense spending would increase by 40 per cent over the next decade to strengthen the defense system. This announcement surprised most observers. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the post-Corona epidemic would make the world more 'fragile', more dangerous and more chaotic. That is why all kinds of preparations have to be made.

Australia is a major partner in the Asia-Pacific region of the United States. So Australia's new strategic thinking is at the heart of the two countries' co-operation. Intelligence exchanges, US military bases in Australia, arms purchases from the United States are still considered major joint issues between the two countries. And when it comes to strategic goals such as countering China's regional influence, it becomes important to them.

China's growing military presence on the South China Sea and on the Indian border has worried many analysts that China is moving towards a military action such as war. With these steps in mind, Australia is slowly modernizing its military. They are bringing modern submarines from France, the first shipment of sophisticated US warplanes has already been received. It is also strengthening the navy due to its geographical location.

The United States is set to sell advanced anti-ship missiles to Australia. These missiles can be fired from warplanes or ships. It has so much power that it can hit and sink a warship within 360 kilometers. Besides, work is also underway to install special nets under the sea. This will send information to the defense forces about the arrival of fake submarines and vessels.

Meanwhile, after World War II, Japan has always relied on the United States for defense. But the country is reducing that dependence. In addition to seeking US assistance, the country is trying to increase its military capabilities on its own. The country's move is being seen as a 'game-changer'. Japan has been increasing its military budget for eight consecutive years. The country's military budget is now ৬ 46 billion. With this huge amount of money, the Japanese government is working to streamline the military system. They are modernizing the air force, buying state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets and early warning warplanes. Not just China, North Korea is also a big threat to Japan. Pyongyang's new test of a long-range missile has become a major headache for Tokyo. Japan is also considering building a massive defense system along the coast to counter attacks by neighboring countries. Although in June a project called Aegis Ashor was canceled. However, the Japanese government has not given up hope of building a defense zone.

U.S. warships have stepped up patrols in the Asia-Pacific region in response to threats from China and North Korea. Occasionally the United States participates in military exercises with allies. India is also increasing its military presence. As a result, the region has now become a dangerous arena for arms races.