Concluding part During COVID pandemic world witnessed a declined economy. It was hard to survive for some. Before nations could regain its economic sufferings, conflicts has stated within nations in different regions. Russia-Ukraine war in Europe, Palestine-Israel war in the Middle East, Iranian conflict in the Gulf and India-China border conflict has created tension in the region and beyond. Ukraine war has affected the world economy; Palestine war created inhuman suffering w ith ethnic cleansing. Thousands of Civilian and children has been killed in Palestine within a very short period. Iranian nuclear armaments issues are indicating new US-Middle Eastern crisis. The South China Sea maritime boundary conflict with China with the other costal countries is raising world issues. India-China-Pakistan-Bhutan border disputes are also moving beyond region. Myanmar civil war has displaced Muslim Rohingya people and they have taken shelter in the bordering countries. An over populated country like Bangladesh has sheltered more than millions Rohingya Muslims on humanitarian ground without considering own financial capability and security threats. All these issues are becoming indicating factors towards a new world order or a new world polarization.
Asia pacific region was known as a zone of peace. With a homogeneous atmosphere nations are advancing towards modernizations. The backbone of these development is a sustainable home grown economy and peoples dedication. After the 2nd world war the defence expenditure was a minimum in the Asian countries. Within a span of 50 years, the Asian economy has become an open challenge to the western war economy which suffered heavily more than few decades. Considering the future military supremacy and economical consequence new war scenario has come up in the different region. Indo-Pacific region is not out of it.
The recent geo-political and geo-strategically tension between the US and China is dividing the Asian countries within blocks. The global scenario is again gating gloomy and looking like cold war period. Chinese aggressive foreign policy is supported by its financial indicator. Chinese military is one of the fastest growing military forces in the world. Chinese navy is trying to dominate from Japan Sea to Indo-Pacific even extending towards African region. Chinese long time territorial dispute with Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea. Philippines, Borneo and India is continuing as a security threats to all these regional countries. The land and maritime disputes are mainly for resources and strategically influence. The creation of artificial Island chain around the Sea cost of China including placement of nuclear armaments is a security threat to others. The Island chain is extending Chinese own sea space and squeezing others. Chinese military deployment in the region has threatened the balance of power in the Asia Pacific. Chinese Belt and Road Initiatives are also indicating his extending presence in the different parts of the world.
Presently Asia Pacific reason is projected a zone of conflict in the world affairs. Super powers are articulating own power game in this reason. Economic imperialism is now turning towards defence conflict for regional supremacy. The US counters strategy policy against China on Indian Ocean creating a hot bed of confrontation. Number of alliances in different forms is being formed within the regional countries and also involving external super powers. The mutual defence treaty between the United States and Republic of China (Taiwan) during 1954 was intended to defend the island of Taiwan from invention by the People Republic of China. US defence policy towards Taiwan has outlined a new military alliance QUAD where US, Japan, India Australia as the member. Another forum named AUKUS is with the membership of US, UK, Japan and Australia. The recent development of QUAD Plus and AUKUS Plus is also a significant development in the region. Presently India is having sustainable defence alignment with Japan, South Korea. Viet Num. Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia within the region. All these alliances and forums are designed mainly to contain the Chinese influence in the region and beyond. US Burma Act is also a concerning factors in the Bay of Bengal Region. The counter China policy in the region and beyond is getting aggressive day by bay.
China is expiring to becoming number one economy of the world beating USA. India is following with its rapid growth. Japan and South Korea is having sustainable economy. Bangladesh, Thailand, Viet Num and Sri Lanka are also moving towards a developing nation. Presently Asian countries are having significant contributing towards world economy. Recent world growth attention is towards Asian Continent. With dedications Asian countries has become a manufacturing hub for the world. Human development indicators are also satisfactory. APEC, ACD, ASA, PECE, SASEC, BIMSTEC, BBIN, SAARC, IORA, MRC, MGC, APC, SPECA, SCO, ASPAC, CAREC countries having significant cooperation with common agenda. Economic and security cooperation has enhanced connectivity and has created interdependency. Asian manufacturing countries are having almost common market in the USA, Europe, Middle East and African countries. Imports and exports also indicate the common route and destinations. For maintaining a secure supply chain the Asian countries are almost dependent on each others.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization is opening up with new investment opportunities within the geo-political bloc. The founding countries are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. They are the member of the G-20 groups. Lately Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and United Arab Emirates added to these initiatives and numbers of courtiers are on the process of joining. It is having a coordinated effort to develop bilateral relations, equality, and non-interference for mutual benefits. The new development bank is becoming the basket of BRICS reserve currency projecting an alternative to dollar. Presently number of countries within the BRICS membership is also the part of US dollar participating groups. World financial organizations like World Bank, IMF, IBRTJ. IFC, IDA, ICSID and MIGA are influenced by dollar including western markets. Multilateral transactions system is yet to be balanced by other currency at this moment. On the other side US financial sanctions are also restricting countries for using by-lateral currencies. Considering the countries development goal, financial support program, defence cooperation and Commercial alignment, whether the BRICS alliances can be the part of de-dollarization process and same time can sustain national growth yet to be assessed.
Most of the Asian countries are still leaving below the poverty level. National economy is controlled by few groups or individuals. Rich people are getting richer and poorer becoming poorer day by day. Cities are growing and villagers are leaving houses for security, education, medical and collection of food. Grow together remains a political slogan all over. Other side defence development budget is getting more priority in the national economy. One gun is having how much ammunition is more concern than an individual is getting how much calorie a day. The globe is entering in a new world order by 2040. New generation with new technology is going to rule the world. Artificial Intelligence will be reaching how far probably the present scientists are yet to predict. World is likely to witness a new socio-political, socio-economical and Socio-culturai order. Considering the new world order, can the Asian countries look for an "Asian Union" which may facilitate to bring out the nations from conflicts of interests and armed races for a sustainable development goal.
Looking at the present world scenario, the super powers could not stop the inhuman suffering and killings in Ukraine, Palestine and Myanmar. UN is helpless. Same way Taiwan- China, North Korea-Japan and India-China issues are likely to drug the Asian nation into a major conflict. USA is a common factor to all. How much the Asian Region will be benefited by US- China power conflict time to decide? Considering the regional issue, Kevin-Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister mentioned "Washington and Beijing must create long term cooperative strategies that accommodates each others interest. Doing this would significantly reduce miscalculation and the likelihood of conflict". He also mentioned "US rebalancing is not purely a military one but, rather part of a broader regional diplomatic and economic strategy that also includes the decision to become a member of the East Asia Summit and plans to develop the Trans-Pacific Partnership, deepen the United States strategic partnership with India, and open the door to Myanmar".
The writer is Chairman Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies
