{"id":98534,"date":"2020-02-02T19:22:28","date_gmt":"2020-02-03T01:22:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=98534"},"modified":"2020-02-04T15:08:24","modified_gmt":"2020-02-04T22:08:24","slug":"geopolitical-implications-of-us-govt-mcc-that-sri-lanka-cannot-overlook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/02\/02\/geopolitical-implications-of-us-govt-mcc-that-sri-lanka-cannot-overlook\/","title":{"rendered":"Geopolitical implications of US Govt-MCC that Sri Lanka cannot overlook"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The shift of balance\nfrom West to East is nothing anyone can deny except that it also means the\nchallenges for the East are all the more overwhelming unless policy formulators\nderive ways and means to handle, mitigate and foresee the threats their nations\nwill experience both directly & indirectly in numerous forms & formats.\n The West is unlikely to watch as its\neconomies weaken and would be using an array of\nsoft power tools (cultural, economic, politics) as well as military and\ntechnology to rebalance its position. It is in this context that we must view\nMCC and its interlinked agreements ACSA and SOFA as well as US key strategic\npartners in Asia \u2013 India & Japan. Sri Lankan policy makers must not be\nignorant of the bigger picture in all their diplomatic-economic-cultural\ndealings with the US\/West\/India & Japan including Australia. Sri Lanka\u2019s\ngenuine engagements with these nations cannot overlook the dangers that the\noverall partnerships can deliver to Sri Lanka vis a vis their bigger alliances\nand powerful strategic interests upon which Sri Lanka is only worth a pedestal\nand prop. How Sri Lanka balances these threats against its own development\ngoals is one which will test the abilities and capabilities of Sri Lanka\u2019s\npolicy makers and advisors.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why US is pivoting to Asia?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

US Pivot to Asia i<\/strong>s both a military and a diplomatic pivot launched in\n2011 under Obama administration by Secretary Hillary Clinton. US Pivot to Asia\nwill transfer US presence from Atlantic to the Pacific whereby 60% of US Navy\nwill become based in the Pacific Ocean (US aircraft carrier, 7 destroyers, 10\nlittoral combat ships, 2 submarines & spy planes) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global\neconomic nerve centre is shifting to Asia with 20 emerging countries which can\nimpact on global economy & politics. Asia is home to key trade lanes,\nmineral resources, half the world\u2019s commercial shipping passes through\nIndo-Pacific region. Strait of Malacca is one of the most important shipping\nlanes and strategic chokepoints as it links Indian & Pacific Oceans and\ntransports 25% of trade goods & oil & liquefield natural gas flows via\nsea. 80% of Japanese and 39% of Chinese oil imports pass through Indian Ocean\nfrom the Middle East. There is also untapped oil reserves and 60% of the global\npopulation live in Asia. In\n2018, almost 40 percent of U.S. trade in goods was with Asia. Asia is home to nine\nof the world\u2019s 10 busiest seaports and 60 percent of global maritime traffic. Seven\nof the world\u2019s 10 largest standing armies are in Asia, including those of\nChina, India, North and South Korea, Pakistan, Russia, and Vietnam. There is no\nequivalent of NATO in Asia \u2013 efforts to create one combining Five Power Defense\nArrangement (United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore) via\nSoutheast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

US-Indo Pacific Strategy: Curbing China\nObjective & Quad States (US+India+Japan+Australia) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.eastasiaforum.org\/2020\/02\/01\/the-push-and-pull-in-the-australia-india-partnership\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The United States describes the Indo-Pacific region as ranging\nfrom the west coast of India to the western shores of the United States,\naligned with the Indo-Pacific Command\u2019s area of responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 areas of significance: US bilateral alliances \/ cooperative\nframeworks between states \/ ASEAN connectivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

US has alliances with Japan, Australia, South Korea, Philippines\n& Thailand (with troop presence) & now India. Terrorism has become an\nunpredictable player in the region resulting in various security cooperation\nagreements & strategic dialogues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

China\u2019s BRI has strategically shaped its growing presence via\nAsian Infrastructure Investment Bank, BRI Forum for International Cooperation,\nincreased investments in Africa, Maldives, Hambantota Port, Myanmar Port,\nBangladesh, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (Gwadar Port), <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Role of Japan with US<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan\nis a key alliance partner of US. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

50,000 US\ntroops in Japan & over 10,000 US marines are stationed in Japan under\nstatus of forces agreement. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security\nbetween the United States and Japan in 1951 cement US-Japan ties<\/strong>. The 1960\nUS-Japan agreement granted US right to establish bases in Japan enabling US\nfirst foothold in Asia. Japan\nis responsible for providing host-nation support to the United States\u2014the land,\nlabor, and utilities for stationing U.S. forces throughout the country\u2014the cost\nof which ranges from $1.7 billion to $2.1 billion per year, according to a 2019 report<\/a> [PDF] by the\nCongressional Research Service. How much will Sri Lanka have to pay for\ncompromising its sovereignty via MCC ACSA SOFA?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/asiasociety.org\/policy-institute\/us-japan-alliance-and-america-first-coping-change-indo-pacific\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Role of India with US<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

India\nis America\u2019s centerpiece of US pivot to Asia as seen by the increasing\nstrategic deals & defense cooperation development between the 2 nations. US\npivot to Asia and India\u2019s \u2018Look East\u2019 policy are intrinsically tied. Notably,\nIndo-US closeness increased following India-assisted regime change in Sri Lanka\nin 2015. Strategic partnerships were forged, US provided billions worth\nmilitary equipment to India, logistics, information-sharing and intelligence-sharing agreements have\nbeen signed (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). India was\ndesignated a major defense partner,\u201d resulting in Indian US warships offering\neach other refueling and resupply services at sea. In 2018 several agreements\nwas signed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  •  Communications and Information Security\nMemorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) enabling exchange of encrypted communications\nand communications equipment<\/li>
  • Basic\nExchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), facilitating exchange of geospatial\nintelligence and navigation services<\/li>
  • India\nwas granted India Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1), easing export\ncontrol regulations on arms sales to India with this India became the 3rd<\/sup>\ncountry after Japan & South Korea to be granted STA-1 status. <\/li>
  • India\nestablished a permanent naval attach\u00e9 representative to U.S. Central Command in\nBahrain.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    However,\nIndia has its own ambitions in the region which do not necessarily align with\nthat of US strategy. The recent purchase of Russian planes has resulted in US\nissuing threat to deliver sanctions against India. While India has its own\ninternational ambitions unlike Japan, India is also aware of the West\u2019s\nexpansionist and destructive record. India was quick to ban many Western-govt\nfunded NGOs and are monitoring others closely, India knows too well that these\nwestern-government funded entities are the Wests footsoldiers for bigger plans\nin India and balkanization of India is on the cards and one which Indian policy\nmakers realize will be more of a security threat to India than its concerns\nover China\u2019s rising economic growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Are companies taking over sovereign\nnations?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    An\narticle by Lorenzo Marsili is relevant to this discussion. He says there is no\nAmerica, no democracy and only IBM, ITT, AT&T and DuPont etc. Marsili says\nthe world is a \u2018collage of corporations\u2019 and that \u2018corporations have become the\nnations of the world\u2019 and are increasingly acting so. He gives the example of\nFacebook announcing its own currency \u2013 LIBRA to its 2billion users \u2018its\ncitizens\u2019 to pay for goods and services advertised on FB. China\u2019s population is\n1.34b and India\u2019s population is 1.32b. Currency has been an element of\nsovereignty and now corporations like FB is taking on this role. Marsili also\nhighlights role of corporations like Google & Amazon building global\ncampuses like mini-states with their own \u2018citizens\u2019. According to Marsili\nAmazon has not paid federal taxes $11.2billon of profits in 2018. He also\nhighlights the example of Cambridge Analytica scandal to showcase how\ncorporations can manipulate personal information of billions of people for\nvarious reasons. What we should pick up from these examples is that the\ntraditional concept of state sovereignty is dwindling and being usurped subtly\nand being transferred to corporations which are more ruthless and inclined to\nserve the interests of only a few globalists. However it does provide a wakeup\ncall for nationalism and national politicians to realize the dangers knocking\nat their door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Role of private think tanks in drawing\nUS policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In\nJune 2013 American Enterprise Institute (AEI) released \u2018Securing US Interests\n& Values in the Asia-Pacific\u2019 a memorandum to President Obama &\nCongress. This was the blueprint by which US Govt was to promote economic\nintegration & liberalization, strengthen alliances & security\npartnerships, reinforce US military posture in Asia Pacific. US policy is\ndesigned and funded by private think tanks who exert enormous pressure globally\nand US policy is more aligned to corporate profit & interest than interests\nor benefits to US citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In total, there are 325,000 US military personnel in\nforeign countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \nhttps:\/\/www.military.com\/base-guide\/browse-by-service\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Under Indo-USPacific\nCommand<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • US\nArmy Pacific Command \u2013 80,000 soldiers <\/li>
    • US\nPacific Air Force \u2013 Defensive\/Offensive air operations in Asia-Pacific with\nlocations in Japan, Korea, Alaska<\/li>
    • US\nPacific Fleet \u2013 60% of Navy\u2019s fleet headquartered in Japan, California,\nArtic\/Atlantic coastline.<\/li>
    • US\nMarine Forces Pacific \u2013 headquartered in Hawaii, Okinawa, Korea<\/li>
    • US\nSpecial Operations Command Pacific \u2013 Navy Seals, Warfare units, stationed in\nJapan, South Korea <\/li>
    • US\nForces Korea\/US 8th<\/sup> Army<\/li>
    • US\nCentral Command – Afghanistan<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Replacing Diego-Garcia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In 1966, the UK leased to the US the\nremote, 17-square-mile Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia to be used as a\nmilitary base for US air force missions in the Middle East & refueling for\nAir Force patrols to South China seas. \nUK chased out thousands of natives living in Diego Garcia to enable US\nto use it as a base. About 5000 US troops are stationed in Diego Garcia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      However, ICC has ruled that what UK\ndid was illegal and Diego Garcia must be returned to the natives. Diego Garcia\nis the most strategic position for US \u2013 to the northwest of Diego Garcia is\nMiddle East & South Asia to its East is Asia & West is Africa. Diego\nGarcia was used to launch attacks during the first Gulf War in 1991, then on\nAfghanistan in 2001, on Iraq in 2003 and targeting Al Qaeda & ISIS. Diego\nGarcia also has a deep port able to accommodate aircraft carriers, nuclear\nsubmarines & other ships. No one is allowed to enter Diego Garcia not even\njournalists. Diego Garcia is also used as a secret prison for \u2018extraordinary\nrendition\u2019 programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      So where do 5000 US troops go? Sri Lanka is considered their\nalternate option<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      MCC-SOFA-ACSA interlinked<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Daya Gamage\u2019s article in the Asiantribune is pertinent as he\nquotes US State Dept Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells describing Sri Lanka\nas a \u2018real estate\u2019 for the US in the Indo-Pacific region \u2013 it immediately\nquestions whether $480m is the amount US is handing to buy Sri Lanka\u2019s land\nwith 10 land registries and handled via company that is to be agent for the US\ngovt\u2019s MCC project in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \nhttp:\/\/asiantribune.com\/node\/93356?fbclid=IwAR3EdGWahGUVhEZg1Uww5la2HEBXDH2oA12OX8KsaOXHHzcPmbmVq9iNn5Q\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Leaving\naside the many constitutional, legal, land ownership and judicial issues associated\nwith the MCC, the present review committee cannot overlook MCC together with\nthe ACSA signed with the US in August 2017 as well as the SOFA which will\npermit US boots into Sri Lanka virtually turning Sri Lanka into a US military\nhub. If the dangers of the unfolding scenario is difficult to imagine the\nhumongous building coming up right infront of Temple Trees, the US Peace Corps\nalready in Sri Lanka, the \u2018schools\u2019 being built in Eastern Province courtesy of\nthe Indo-US Pacific Command are all clues as to what US has in mind and is pushing\nevery button to secure approvals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The\nmany soft power arm-twisting includes hiring research firms to carry out\nfavourable reports, engaging lobby groups to strike deals with even China\noffsetting any issues has been the bribe of Hambantota Port, engaging VVIP\nlocals to show the \u2018innocence\u2019 of the \u2018gift\u2019 being offered by MCC to Sri Lanka.\nBut if it\u2019s a gift why have an agreement, why hire lobby groups, why hire\nresearch firms, why repeatedly send officials to push MCC through? These are\nground realities that a committee must take stock of instead of reading only\nthe lines and clauses of the agreement and completely overlooking case law,\nconstitutional provisions, land law, rights of the peasants (bound by\ninternational treaty) issues like landlessness if land is privatized and bought\nby foreign companies \u2013 no committee can simply look at only the clauses of an\nagreement when the agreement is with a country that has illegally bombed nations,\ninvaded and occupy nations, carries out regular regime changes, interferes in\nelections, used drones to kill even civilians and now assassinating and\npublicly claiming anyone going against their security concerns will also be eliminated.\nThese are serious concerns that any sovereign country needs to take stock of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Indian\nOcean must remain a zone of peace and it is good for Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan\nand rest of South Asia to promote this instead of helping to militarize Asia\nand the Indian Ocean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Shenali D Waduge<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      The shift of balance from West to East is nothing anyone can deny except that it also means the challenges for the East are all the more overwhelming unless policy formulators derive ways and means to handle, mitigate and foresee the threats their nations will experience both directly & indirectly in numerous forms & formats. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1498,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shenali-waduge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98534"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98534\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}