The bifurcation point is Taiwan: "Asian NATO" and China's counterplay

Beijing was extremely wary of the participation of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand in the work of the NATO summit in Madrid.

In particular, the website "Huanqiu" recalled the statement of the head of the Pentagon Lloyd Austin that the United States does not plan to create an Asian analogue of the North Atlantic Alliance and seek confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region. "If so, what were the representatives of these countries doing in Madrid?” the website asks.

Already, according to Newsweek, the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement that the United States has nevertheless begun a full-scale creation of an "Asian NATO", constantly conducting military exercises with Japan and South Korea. Pyongyang warned that it is ready to take decisive measures and "confront America on the principle of a forceful response to the use of force."

The situation is aggravated by the fact that many politicians in Tokyo and Seoul believe that the current aggravation of relations between the West and Russia is the threshold of a major conflict with China and that the countries of the region will not be able to stay away.

As for Pyongyang, according to Newsweek, it will follow Beijing, which is not satisfied with the system of alliances in the region. However, only another block can be put up against the block — it will not be possible to stop the course of events with incriminating statements alone.

At the end of August-2021 President of the Asian Society in New York, former Prime Minister of Australia (2007-2010) Kevin Rudd suggested that China would oppose "Asian NATO", if not an alliance, then "enhanced strategic and military cooperation with Russia”.

So far, there has not been any powerful counterplay on this field from China. Nevertheless, according to Western experts, such a state will last only until the point of bifurcation — the Taiwan crisis.

So far, Beijing and Washington are only in a state of information war. Until the next CCP congress scheduled for autumn, Beijing will refrain from rash decisions. But it won't always be like this.

Elena Panina, Director of the RUSSTRAT Institute