Russo-Ukrainian War: Implications for the Asia Pacific explores the implications of the Russo-Ukrainian war for American and Chinese engagement in the Asia Pacific. It interprets Russia's invasion of Ukraine which began on February 24, 2022 as part of a complex double game where the Kremlin and Washington simultaneously spar, bluffing for high stakes despite catastrophic risks in the name of lofty ideals, while pursuing expedient default agendas. Both sides champion virtuous global orders compatible with their tastes and objectives. Washington seeks to compel Moscow to abide by its rules and vice-versa.
The immediate impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War on the Asia Pacific has been to confirm Chinese President Xi Jinping's perception that Washington is committed to low-cost, regime-changing Cold War with China to preserve its status as the world's preeminent superpower. Washington is willing to increase hard power defense spending modestly to tackle the Taiwan and South China Sea issues, but will not compete with China in an arms race, curtail productivity stifling government over-regulation and social spending or curb China's abusive state trading.
Emboldened by what Washington considers America's successes in the Russo-Ukrainian proxy war, American President Joe Biden plans to reinforce military spending with attitude management campaigns, moral suasion and coalitions of the willing including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization efforts to spark Chinese color revolution and regime change. Biden diplomatically calls his policy Cold Peace, but his actions bespeak Cold War.
Amid the power contestation among the United States, Russia and China, it is naive in the contemporary world to suppose that the three major powers can permanently subjugate each other. Wise leadership requires satisficing for the attainable good rather than striving for the delusional best.
Contents:
Preface
About the Author
Executive Summary
List of Figures, Tables, and Maps
Introduction
Russo-American Partnership:
Cold War World Order
New Thinking
Partnership
Economic Miracle
Estrangement:
Rearmament
NATO Expansion
Revolution of Dignity
Crimean Annexation
Confrontation:
Minsk II Protocol
Economic Sanctions
Cold Peace
War Path:
Polarization
Hotspots
Flash Point
Revealed Preference
Russo-Ukrainian War:
Proxy War
Cold War
Just War
Pristine War
Color Revolution
Crusade
Nuclear War
Next Time Will Be Different
Battle for the Asia Pacific:
Market Communism
Technology Transfer
Military Modernization
Taiwan
Trade
Sino-American Quandary
Prospects
Conclusion
Appendices:
Bergson's Systems Function
Russian Economic Performance and Prospects
Index
Readership: Students and researchers focusing on international relations, international security and peace studies as well as those interested in the history, politics and economy of Russia, China and the United States. Key Features:
Presents an objective RealPolitik investigation of how America seized defeat from the jaws of victory after the Soviet Union imploded by intriguing to control Ukraine and detach it from Russia's