A Multinational Joint Force Command in South China Sea - Research Paper Example

FACTORS AND EFFECTS OF ESTABLISHING A MULTINATIONAL JOINT FORCE COMMAND IN SOUTH CHINA SEA Introduction Due to the global economic crisis, countries such as the United States have been forced to formulate a different budget than what they used to do before. Therefore, defense decision have to be made, taking into consideration that resources have become limited while security threats have increased, especially for the case of the United States of America.1 The U.S has to ensure that it strives in terms of power and influence in Asia-Pacific. The nature of the U.S challenges demand that its military forces ought to work as an integrated joint team that involves interagency and multinational partners. Joint forces ought to achieve operational effectiveness. The United States Code provides doctrines that specify the hierarchy of obtaining joint forces’ effectiveness.2 Bearing in mind that most countries the challenges that have been mentioned, every nation regards stability of its economy as a vital aspect because it determines the country’s economic influence and survival in the current global economy that is characterized by stiff competition. Stability of a country’s stability is determined by macroeconomic factors such as its Gross National Product (GNP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Precisely, a country’s stability is directly related to the country’s aggregate GDP. Therefore, it is vital that countries maintain their stability, through stabilization of their economies at all times. On the other hand, it should be noted that a country’s national and economic stability faces various external and emerging factors such as terrorism, inflation, political influences, and even the emergence of a multinational joint force structure. Most of these factors tend to have a negative impact on the country’s economy, therefore, leading to economic and social instability causing a decline in growth and development. As a result, such instabilities may lead to poverty and unemployment, which may emerge as serious national issues. In addition, such issues may lead to further degeneration of the country’s economy, leading to possible events of emigration and poor living standards. Multinational partnerships or alliances are defined as an agreed upon partnership between two or more countries that have shared principles, a common view of threats, and a commitment to greater global security3.The partnerships reached, should aid in ensuring that there are mutual benefits that are derived from such coalitions directly aiding in the stability of a nation. Different nations have collaborated with each other in the region, and this has had an impact on the regional nations’ interests, given that for many past decades, it has been the cause of national conflicts between surrounding nations. This is because of its strategic economic importance and the presence of oil, among other natural resources. For instance, the South China Sea in the pacific region has caused several conflicts between China and other East and Southeast Asian countries.4 The South China Sea, as a whole, plays an important role in ensuring that transportation of goods via the sea waters is applicable and effective for all nations. Due to these increased tension the region has seen amplified military anxiety and the potential for dangerous disputes. The United States (US) has intervened to resolve many of the disputes in the past and must continue to maintain a strong military, economic and political presence in the region to ensure an appropriate counterbalance and an honest broker of regional security.5 However, the constrained national budget of U.S has led to questioning whether allocation of funds for military training and expenses is necessary. Therefore, the United States’ major concern on the South China Sea is to ensure that the regions’ economy and geopolitical system is not destabilized by China’s economic and military power.6 In relation to the aforementioned issue, there was a need to conduct a research to identify how the future stability of a country can be influenced by the above factors. In particular, this study focuses on the multinational joint force structure and its influence on the future stability of a nation. Multinational partnerships/alliances are defined as an agreed upon partnership between two or more countries that have shared principles, a common view of threats, and a commitment to greater global security7.The partnerships created, should aid in ensuring that there are mutual benefits that are derived from such coalitions directly aiding in the stability of a nation. In this case, the independent variable is existence or creation of a multinational joint force while the dependent variable is the future stability of a nation. The study pays close attention to a real world scenario/region that is currently continuing to develop, the South China Sea in the pacific region to help determine whether constructing a multi-national joint force to promote equality and peace between the conflicting nations would lead to global development or strife. The study seeks to find out the major factors or effects that should be considered in future with regards to the stability and security of the global economy and organizing of a multinational joint force, given the recent U.S shift in focus to the Pacific region, if tensions continue to rise in and around the South China Sea and the U.S national fiscal budget constraints continue into the future. At the end of the study, the findings provide some solutions and recommendations pertaining to the inter-relationships between these two variables. Research Question, Hypothesis, Purpose Statement The main research question that the study sought to answer pertains to the factors that should be considered in organizing a multinational joint force and its effects on the future stability and security of the global economy in relation to the recent U.S. shift in focus to the Pacific region, if tensions continue to rise in and around the South China Sea and the U.S national fiscal budget constraints continue into the future. The study was undertaken through a qualitative analysis approach. The analysis was aimed at answering the question pertaining to whether a multi-national joint force will enable global unity, and if so, identify the ways in which this process can be undertaken. The study gathered information from articles, periodical and books previously written concerning the same issue analyze and establish constructive details to answer the research question. The independent variables in the analysis were existence or creation of multi-national force while global development and future stability of countries was the dependent variable. This is because global development and future, peace and harmony are dependent on security, which may be created by the supposed multi-national force. Scholarly articles, periodicals and books by distinguished researchers in this field of research were used to provide clear information. This study’s null hypothesis suggests that there exists a significant relationship between multinational partnership between different countries and the stability of the future world’s economy and security. On the other hand, the alternative hypothesis suggests that there is no significant relationship between multinational partnership between different countries and the stability of the future world’s economy and security. It is presumed that given the increase and high probability that tension will continue in the South China Sea area, a multinational joint force construct with continued exercise engagements, partnerships and alliances would provide the region with the greatest stability in the distant future. It is worth to note that due to modern military technology and current political forces and relationships, it is possible for a modern war to occur, even though a country’s adversaries are not major and the issues at stake do not threaten the immediate survival of the great powers 419 (Clark, 2001). Given this, the study identifies the relationship between the multi-national joint force concept and its impact on the future stability on the world’s economy and security. Results obtained are useful in making amendments, alliances and policies, as well as, helping with decision making concerning the future allocation and use of our nation’s instruments of power. In addition, the study identifies the factors that are considered in organizing a multi-national joint force to ensure that the interests of the affected countries are considered. The results could be used to ensure that those amendments, policies and even treaties are put into place for the equity of all the parties involved. Literature Review Due to an increase in the probability of tension in the South Pacific region, there is a need to determine the impact of constructing a multinational joint force structure in regards to the world’s future stability. The United States’ engagement in military, economic, and social involvement within the pacific region has had for most aspects a positive impact. Various studies have been conducted to identify the influence of multinational joint forces on stability. JP-1 refers to the multinational force as “military elements of nations who have formed an alliance or coalition for some specific purpose.”8 This purpose is usually that of regional security and stability. In the present paper, the role of coalition of different countries on future stability is investigated and the literature review attempts to emphasize the relevance of this hypothesis. Antonia Marquina’s research article has been explicitly used to give a real world example to help illustrate the aforementioned hypothesis. Japan and the United States formed a formal partnership to improve national economies of both countries. Precisely, the U.S-Japan alliance was to be the cornerstone of regional security.9 With the United States’ involvement in the ASEAN region, it was expected that the regional security could deepen and benefit all the stakeholders from the shared security, as well as, help in establishing effective operational cooperation, through enhanced joint training and exercises, which could also aid in the prosperity for the future of China and the U.S.10 The essence of this partnership has brought about long-term peaceful relationships between the U.S and Japan. Marquina notes that that “The Japan-U.S defense co-operations were modified in 1997. The new guidelines redefined and reinvigorated the Alliance, establishing a higher degree of coordination in terms of peace and in case of emergencies.”11 The results of this research article indicate that there is a significant relationship between stability over time and strong national ties, when there are alliances or partnerships between countries. The topic of world stability in relation to a multinational joint force construction can also be addressed through poverty. As noted, China has been trying to strengthen its economic ties with many ASEAN nations by directly influencing their economic growth as well as that of the region. In Dutton’s article, it is observed that many Asians had risen out of poverty because of China’s economic growth and supported infrastructure projects.12 Such results have indicated that the economic growth of any nation can be greatly improved, if multinational joint forces or alliances are formed. An article by Odierno makes reference to the fact that “in Africa, past partnership activities have included assisting local forces in assuming greater responsibility for peacekeeping operations.”13 These enhanced relationships with the United States and many African countries opted for business partnerships with the U.S.A, and as a result, a stable economic trend was achieved. This tends to lend credibility of the hypothesis that national stability can be affected by foreign partnerships. Also, Odierno notes that potential adversaries’ plans to cause instability are thwarted by the presence of army forces in the South China Sea. This contributes to future stability in terms of peace and development because investments that could have been made to address adversaries are directed to other development projects. In addition, given that presence of U.S army in the area, strengthens relationships with European countries, defensive expenditures are likely to be reduced by a great margin. According to the study carried out by Roos, interaction between military forces promotes cohesion and contributes towards peace among neighbor countries because personal and professional level interactions help to dispel the already perceived and historical distrust between neighbor countries. This is because it leads to a creation of military officers who know to work together, which ensures stability of a region because such military personnel, from contributing countries, are well equipped with humanitarian and peacekeeping skills. Given that there are numerous countries that are engaged in a multinational joint force, it is expected that each country will provide a small number of military personnel, compared to the case where each country would have been required to guard its own territories by itself. Therefore, multinational joint forces lead to the reduction of military personnel by each country in the region. This eventual reduction of forces is an indication of regional stability.14 The findings of U.S Army Pacific indicate that multinational joint forces prevent conflicts to create stability and at the same time, they create peace by avoiding war, which could have an adverse effect. In addition, multinational joint forces enhance cooperation among regional nations such that any contingency can be addressed adequately to maintain stability.15 This is because the main aim of such forces is not to keep peace a after war, but to prevent conflict, which might lead to war. Therefore, proactive measures of resolving disputes are applied in the region to foster stability. According Dutton, cases of competition between China and its neighbors in terms of security sovereignty and resources in the South China Sea has created the need for seeking and promoting stability in the region. For the purpose of obtaining military power, the U.S should take part in multinational joint efforts.16 In support of this, Brown asserts that stability in the Asia-pacific normally faces geopolitical and socioeconomic challenges. Also, territorial claims that have been unresolved and historical prejudices have contributed to mistrust among the region’s countries are resolved.17 In Thomas’ article, it has been established that presence of a multinational joint force in a place, creates stability, not only for one or few countries, but for the numerous countries, even those that are outside the region. For instance, as the United States and other collaborative partners plan to have their military personnel withdrawn from Afghanistan, stability of many world regions is expected to be threatened.18 Particularly, the United States should ensure that it maintains a strategic posture across major regions of the world to ensure global development and stability. Engagement and presence of United States military personnel in sensitive conflict areas will lead to both economic and social development activities. From the aforementioned studies, it is evident that the studies have only delved into establishing how construction of a multi-national joint force promotes equality and peace between the conflicting nations would lead to global development or strife. There is a gap because none of the studies mentions the major factors that should be considered in future, as far as creation of multinational joint forces is concerned. This research study seeks to find out the major factors or effects that should be considered in future with regards to the stability and security of the global economy and organizing of a multinational joint force, given the recent U.S shift in focus to the Pacific region, if tensions continue to rise in and around the South China Sea and the U.S national fiscal budget constraints continue into the future. The research further provides the findings and some solutions and recommendations pertaining to the inter-relationships between these two variables. Methodology and Analysis In order to answer the research question, a qualitative analysis was applied. The research sought to find out whether a multi-national joint force will enable global unity, and if so, identify the ways in which this process can be undertaken. The process of data collection involved collection of information from articles, periodical and books, which had been written previously, pertaining to multinational joint forces and their importance so as to gather useful information, which could be used to answer the research question. It was vital to specify the independent and dependent variables of the study, and such this study identified the independent variables as the existence or creation of multi-national force while the dependent variable was identified as the global development and future stability of countries. The reason for this is that global development and future peace and harmony entirely depend on issues of security, which may be created by the supposed multi-national force. In this study, a hypothesis which could be tested was identified. Therefore, this study’s null hypothesis suggests that there exists a significant relationship between multinational partnership between different countries and the stability of the future world’s economy and security have been identified as the null hypothesis. Contrary, the alternative hypothesis of the study suggests that there is no significant relationship between multinational partnership among different countries and the stability of the future world’s economy and security. The major assumption that was made by this research is that given the increase and high multinational joint forces in the South China Sea region such as opening new relationships, enhancing current ones, and promoting regional leadership and security would tend to lend to that of a more stable and economically secure region. The study adopted a qualitative approach because it is an ideal method of collecting rich data pertaining to the issue under research. Given that previous researchers have carried out surveys on the particular issue, it emerged that data collection can be carried out easily. Similarly, the process of analysis of existing qualitative data is relatively easier. The approach led to collection of information pertaining to individual cases, and since the previous studies were carried out in local contexts, it was possible to obtain rich details of phenomena as they occur. However, it was difficult to come up with any quantitative predictions. Conclusion In conclusion, the results from the study showed a propensity of information that indicated that there is a positive relationship between multinational joint forces and their influence on stability. It was also established that because of the advancement of modern technology and current political forces and relationships, it is possible for a modern war to occur, even though the adversaries are not major and the issues at stake do not threaten the immediate survival of the great powers.19 Therefore, the U.S army will have to ensure that they adopt an effective operational design while engaging in multinational joint forces. This means that military officials such as commanders and staffs need to understand the requirements of relevant methodologies to enhance effectiveness because it is expected that they will face both national and non-national enemies and technological issues, among other complex issues.20 It also recommended that in future top military officials of the U.S should work in harmony such that there are no internal struggles for power amongst themselves while they are on the ground for multinational joint forces. For instance, it was discovered that conflicts between the generals were evidenced during the Gulf War and this posed many challenges to performance in the war (Gordon & Trainor, 1995).21 For instance, Powell, who was the dominant Joint Chiefs of Staff, kept the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff informed, but did not require their approval. They were like observers whose work was to provide forces for the conflict. Military and political aims were in conflict, leading to a confusing end. The study further recommends that in future, there has to be rotational deployment of the army so as to increase the chances of achieving greater effectiveness of multinational joint forces. In addition, the United States should ensure that there is continued interoperability and advancement of logistics and skills of military, as well as, intelligence. This requires support from the country’s civil authorities so that the military can be able to device effective strategies of counterterrorism. According to Odierno, the military personnel should be trained on how to multitask. This means that in future, training activities for the military personnel should focus on how to cope with both humanitarian demands and peacekeeping operations. Therefore, it is also expected that tension will continue in the South China Sea area, a multinational joint force construct with continued exercise engagements, partnerships and alliances would provide the region with the greatest stability in the distant future.22 Bibiliography Ackerman, Robert K., Cooper Beverly Mowery, and Eisenhower Rachel. "Harsh Budget Realities: Redefine Future Forces." SIGNAL, 2001, 64-67. Brown, Robert B. "Training Strategy in the Pacific Theater." JFQ, 2007, 62-64. Clark Wesley, Waging Modern War, (New York: Public Affairs Press, 2001), 419. Dempsey, Martin E, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States. Joint Publication 1, (Washington D.C: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Press, 2013). Dutton, Peter. "Three Conflicts and Three Objectives: China and the South China Sea." Naval War College Review, 2011, Vol. 64, No. 4, 42-67. Gordon , Michael R, and Trainor, Benard E, The Generals War: The Inside Story of the Conflict in the Gulf, (New York: Little Brown Co. Press, 1995). Joint Publication 1. "Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States." (March 25, 2013). Marquina, Antonio, "The Japan-US Military Alliance and the Asia-Pacific Challenges: Prospects for Deep Changes." Discussion Papers, Unidad de Investigaciones Sobre Seguridad y Cooperacion International (UNISICI), 2013, 63-80. Odierno,Raymond T, "The U.S. Army in a Time of Transition. Building a Flexible Force," Foreign Affairs, 2012, Vol. 91, No. 3. Reilly, Jeffrey M. "Operational Design: Shaping Decision Analysis through Cognitive Vision." Air Command and Staff College, 2010, 1-120. Ring, Andrew H. A U.S. South China Sea Perspective: Just Over the Horizon. (Harvard: Harvard University Press, 2012). Roos, John. "United States Pacific Commands (PACOM) Engagement Strategy." Armed Forces Journal International, 2001, Vol. 38, No. 7, 35-39. Thomas, Jason. "Multi-National Corporations and Stability Operations: A New Role?" Small Wars Journal, 2012, 1-5. U.S. Army Pacific. "Partnering in the Pacific Theater: Maintaining Peace and Stahility Is the First Line of Defense." Army Magazine, 2013, 39-43. Read More