Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY – A “stiff” competition between China and America in the Indo-Pacific doesn’t have to become a new Cold War. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claimed that China is “doubling down on” its presence there.

Earlier, China’s President Xi Jinping warned that Asia Pacific must not revert to Cold War tensions and advised against creating small geopolitical circles.

Sullivan made the remarks via videolink from Australia to the Lowy Institute. He stated that the United States had left Afghanistan because it was putting more focus on the Indo Pacific region, which is where it wanted the least possible risk of conflict.

Sullivan answered questions and attempted to minimize fears of a Cold War with China.

Sullivan stated that all the talk about China and the United States entering into a new Cold War is false and they are already on their way to war… but we can choose to not do so.

We have the option to continue with President Biden’s stiff competition. Where we will compete vigorously across multiple dimensions including technology and economics, where our values are being upheld, we also recognize that China is going be an important part of the international system in the future.

He said that the U.S. had a strategy of building a network of allies globally. It formed the Aukus agreement with Australia and Britain in order to share its nuclear submarine technology. The Quad democracy of Australia, India, and Japan collaborated to provide COVID-19 vaccines for the region. And it created a U.S. EU Trade and Technology Council, to counter China’s efforts to develop new technology.

Sullivan stated that while the Aukus agreement showed a more intense engagement in the Indo Pacific region, it didn’t necessarily mean that the U.S. would abandon other parts of the globe, especially Europe.